Photo: kallernaIndependent city guide
The Best Cities in Spain to Visit: 8 Picks and How to Choose
Eight cities for a first trip, from Madrid’s museums to San Sebastián’s pintxo bars. Who each suits, how many days, the trains between them and the tickets to book early.
- ✓ 8 city guides, 5 planning guides
- ✓ Real GetYourGuide tours, checked October 2026
- ✓ Every fact sourced and dated
For a first trip, start with Madrid or Barcelona and add Seville and Granada in Andalusia. Valencia and Málaga add the sea and are about two to three hours from Madrid by high-speed train. San Sebastián and Bilbao, in the Basque Country, are about five hours from Madrid by train, so they suit a longer trip. Plan on two or three days per city.
Spain has more great cities than one trip can hold. These eight cover the big sights, the food and the coast, and all of them are on direct train lines from Madrid. Three hold UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Alhambra in Granada, the cathedral and Alcázar in Seville, and the works of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona.
The 8 cities at a glance
| City | Best for | Days | Getting there from Madrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | The Prado and the Paseo del Prado, the Royal Palace, train links | 3 | The hub: most routes start here |
| Barcelona | Gaudí’s buildings, the old town, the beach | 3 | 3 h 02 to 3 h 47 by AVE from Atocha; Iryo and Ouigo too |
| Seville | The Real Alcázar, the cathedral, flamenco | 2–3 | 2 h 38 to 3 h 09 from Atocha (Renfe, Iryo, Ouigo) |
| Granada | The Alhambra and the Albaicín quarter | 2 | 3 h 23 to 3 h 41 from Atocha, 4 direct trains a day |
| Valencia | The Silk Exchange, the old town, Las Fallas in March | 2–3 | 1 h 54 to 2 h 05, mostly from Chamartín |
| Málaga | The Alcazaba, Picasso’s birthplace, the beach | 2–3 | 2 h 44 to 3 h 15 from Atocha |
| San Sebastián | Pintxo bars, La Concha bay | 2–3 | 5 h 25 to 5 h 37 from Chamartín, 3 direct trains a day |
| Bilbao | The Guggenheim Museum | 2–3 | 5 h 10 to 5 h 14 from Chamartín, 2 direct trains a day |
Train times are for direct Renfe trains on Wednesday 21 October 2026, from Renfe’s published timetable data, downloaded 14 October 2026. The days column is our suggestion for a first visit. More in getting around Spain.
How to choose
- One week: Madrid or Barcelona, then Seville and Granada. See the 7-day plan.
- Art first: Madrid for the Prado, Bilbao for the Guggenheim, Málaga for Picasso.
- Food first: San Sebastián for pintxos; Valencia, home of paella.
- The sea: Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga and San Sebastián all have a city beach.
- Summer trip: go north. Bilbao and San Sebastián average highs of about 25–26°C in July and August, against 36°C in Seville (best time to visit).
Book the big tickets before you go: the Alhambra, the Sagrada Família and the Real Alcázar all sell tickets online, and the Alhambra gives you a fixed slot for the Nasrid Palaces. See Spain tours and tickets.
Tours and tickets worth booking
All tours, by city →
Madrid
Madrid: Royal Palace Expert Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line
Entry to the Royal Palace and its gardens, a professional guide and headphones; the walk in goes through Plaza de Oriente.
From €37on GetYourGuide →
Barcelona
Barcelona: Sagrada Familia Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Skip-the-line Sagrada Família ticket and a guided tour with a certified Barcelona guide and an audio headset.
From €47on GetYourGuide →
Seville
Seville: Alcázar, Cathedral & Giralda Skip-the-Line Tour
Guided tour of the Royal Alcázar, the Cathedral and the Giralda with skip-the-line entry tickets for all three, a licensed English-speaking guide and audio headsets.
From €53on GetYourGuide →
Granada
Granada: Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Tour with Tickets
Guided tour with tickets for the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens and the Alcazaba; bring a passport or ID card.
From €49on GetYourGuide →
Valencia
Valencia: Oceanogràfic Entry Ticket
General admission ticket with access to all exhibits; food and drinks not included.
From €37on GetYourGuide →
Málaga
Málaga: Alcazaba and Roman Theatre Guided Tour With Entry
Guided tour of the Alcazaba with entrance tickets included.
From €12.6on GetYourGuide →
San Sebastián
San Sebastian: Pintxos and Wine Tour
Guided walking tour in English with 8 pintxos and 4 drinks; shared or private option.
From €103on GetYourGuide →
Bilbao
Bilbao: Guggenheim VIP Experience. Small Group. Expert Guide
Small-group tour of the Guggenheim with an art-history guide, skip-the-line museum entry included.
From €95on GetYourGuide →
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 14 October 2026; they change, so check the live page. We earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Which city suits you?
Madrid
Art and easy connections. The Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Royal Palace, and the hub for direct trains to every other city here.
Seville and Granada
Moorish Andalusia. The Real Alcázar and the Alhambra, 2 h 37 to 2 h 45 apart by direct Avant train. Book Alhambra tickets first.
Barcelona
Gaudí and the sea. The Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gothic Quarter, 3 h 02 to 3 h 47 from Madrid by direct train.
San Sebastián and Bilbao
Food first. Pintxo bars a short walk from La Concha bay, and the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Cooler summers, more rain.
Spain by season
Month by month →Spring (March–June)
Las Fallas in Valencia (15–19 March), Holy Week and Seville’s April Fair. May and June are the best months for most of Spain.
Summer (July–August)
Hot inland: average highs of 32.8°C in Madrid and 36.3°C in Seville in July. The Basque coast stays around 25°C.
Autumn (September–October)
Highs of 23–26°C in Seville, Granada and Málaga in October. San Sebastián’s film festival in September.
Winter (November–February)
Quiet. Mildest on the coast: Málaga averages 17.2°C in January. The north gets the most rain.
The 8 cities
All city guides →Madrid
Spain's capital: the Prado, the Royal Palace, Retiro Park and fast trains to most of the country.
Barcelona
Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter and the sea, about 3 hours from Madrid by train.
Seville
Andalusia's capital: the Real Alcázar, the Cathedral and Giralda, Plaza de España and Triana.
Granada
The Alhambra, the Albaicín and free tapas with drinks, below the Sierra Nevada.
Valencia
Spain's third city: a Gothic old town, a park in an old riverbed and the home of paella.
Málaga
Picasso's birthplace: a Moorish fortress, a Roman theatre and the Picasso Museum in one compact centre.
San Sebastián
Basque seaside city on La Concha bay, with pintxo bars in the old town and two hills to climb.
Bilbao
Basque river city with the Guggenheim, a compact old town of pintxo bars, and the coast nearby.
Plan your trip
Tours by city
Tours and tickets in Spain's 8 best cities, from GetYourGuide, plus how to book the Alhambra, Sagrada Família and Real Alcázar on their official sites.
Getting around
Spain train travel between 8 cities: Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo, journey times from Renfe's timetable, which Madrid station to use, and when a bus or flight is better.
Itineraries
Three Spain itineraries by train: 7 days in Madrid, Seville and Granada; 10 days adding Barcelona; 14 days with Valencia or the Basque Country. Real train times.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Valencia, Málaga, San Sebastián and Bilbao: one area to choose in each city and one hotel we checked.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Spain is April to June or September to October. Monthly weather for 8 cities (AEMET), summer heat in Seville, rain in the north, 2027 festivals.
Booking the big tickets?
Alhambra tickets are personal, need ID and fix your Nasrid Palaces entry time. Several guided tours on GetYourGuide include the ticket. Planning the whole trip? See the 7, 10 and 14-day itineraries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best city in Spain for a first visit?
Madrid, for most people. It has the Prado and the Royal Palace, and it is the hub of Spain's high-speed rail network: direct trains reach Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Málaga and Granada. Barcelona is the other good start, especially if you fly into it. See getting around Spain.
Madrid or Barcelona?
Do both if you have a week. The high-speed train between them took 3 hours 2 minutes to 3 hours 47 minutes on Renfe's timetable for 21 October 2026, with 25 direct Renfe trains that day, plus Iryo and Ouigo trains on the same line. With only three or four days, pick Madrid for art and the easiest train links south, or Barcelona for Gaudí's buildings and the beach.
How many cities can you see in 10 days in Spain?
Four is comfortable: for example Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Granada, with two or three nights in each. Each hop between them is a direct train of about 2.5 to 4 hours. See our 10-day itinerary.
What is the best time to visit Spain?
April to June and September to October for most of these cities. In July and August, average highs reach 36.3°C in Seville and 32.8°C in central Madrid (AEMET 1991–2020 averages). The Basque coast is cooler but wetter all year. See best time to visit Spain.
Do you need a car to visit Spain's cities?
No. All eight cities have railway stations, and the other seven all have direct trains from Madrid. The exception is Bilbao to San Sebastián, where the practical option is the ALSA bus: 12 a day, 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes (ALSA, checked 14 October 2026).
Do you need to book the Alhambra and the Sagrada Família ahead?
Yes. Alhambra tickets are personal, carry a timed entry to the Nasrid Palaces and must be shown with ID (Alhambra FAQ). The Sagrada Família sells tickets from €26 on its official site (checked 14 October 2026). Book both before you travel. See Spain tours and tickets.