Valencia beaches, SpainVideo: Joan Costa, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Spain
Spain, made simple: late dinners, fast trains and plazas full of life
Spain gives you royal Madrid, Gaudí's Barcelona, the Moorish palaces of Andalusia, paella on Valencia's beaches and islands made for swimming, all linked by some of the fastest trains in Europe. It is friendly, safe and easy to travel, but late meal times, summer heat, pickpockets, the new European entry systems and timed tickets reward a little planning. This guide takes the guesswork out so you travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, seasons, safety advice and health, answered
- LandingAirports, SIM cards, euros and your first night, explained
- Your days in SpainCities, coasts, villages and festivals, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cards, cash, tourist taxes, timed tickets and typical budgets so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Spain should feel like a fiesta from your first plate of jamón, not a puzzle. We answer the questions about entry, money, trains, meal times, heat and pickpockets before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming back from Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Paris, Zurich, London or New York to see family in the pueblo, or bringing your children to Spain for the first time? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your SpainBig cities, Andalusian heritage, beaches or islands: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, the right season and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for tapas bars, markets, museums, beaches and stays across the country.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Madrid, Barcelona and Andalusia by high speed train at a realistic pace.
Everything your Spain trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada and Valencia, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred tapas bars, cafés, markets, museums, beaches and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Seville and Valencia, and stays in every region.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Spain trip
Madrid, Andalusia and Barcelona by fast train
Most first trips start with three nights in Madrid for the Prado, the Royal Palace and late tapas in La Latina. A high speed train runs south to Seville for the Alcázar, flamenco and orange scented plazas, with Granada's Alhambra a short hop away. Fly or take the train to Barcelona for Gaudí, the Gothic Quarter and the beach. Ten days covers a good taste; two weeks lets you add Valencia, Córdoba or a few island days.
- The Prado, Retiro Park and tapas crawls in Madrid
- The Alcázar, the cathedral and flamenco in Seville
- The Alhambra and sunset over it from the Albaicín in Granada
- Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the old town in Barcelona
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, Andalusia and the Mediterranean coast fit together.
Spain destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Spain rewards a little preparation: entry rules checked for your passport, Alhambra and Sagrada Família tickets booked weeks ahead, train seats reserved early, and a season that suits you, since July and August are fierce inland while spring and autumn feel perfect. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic high speed train times between cities
- The right season for beaches, festivals or city breaks
- Where to base yourself in each city
Where to go in Spain
From Madrid's grand boulevards and Barcelona's modernista streets to the Moorish palaces of Seville and Granada and Valencia's beaches, rice dishes and futuristic science city.
Community of Madrid
Madrid
A grand, sociable capital of world class art museums, leafy parks, royal palaces and tapas bars that stay busy past midnight.
Read the guidePhoto: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Catalonia
Barcelona
Catalonia's seaside capital of Gaudí masterpieces, medieval lanes, city beaches, markets and a creative food scene.
Read the guidePhoto: Jopparn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Andalusia
Seville
Andalusia's romantic capital of Moorish palaces, a giant Gothic cathedral, flamenco, tapas and orange trees.
Read the guidePhoto: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Andalusia
Granada
A hillside city crowned by the Alhambra, with a Moorish old quarter, cave flamenco and a free tapa with every drink.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Valencian Community
Valencia
A sunny, easygoing city of futuristic architecture, a long riverbed park, city beaches and the original paella.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Spain safe to visit?
Spain is a safe country with low violent crime. The main risk is pickpocketing, especially in Barcelona and Madrid on metros, in crowded squares and on beaches, plus summer heat and wildfires. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
Do I need a visa for Spain?
Spain is in the Schengen area, so the rules depend on your passport. Many visitors can stay visa free for short trips, while others need a Schengen visa. Check the Spanish foreign ministry and the EU entry pages for your nationality before booking.
What currency does Spain use?
Spain uses the euro. Cards and contactless payments work almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for small bars, markets and village shops.
When is the best time to visit Spain?
April to June and late September to October are ideal for cities and touring. July and August suit the beaches and the north but are very hot in Seville, Córdoba and Madrid. The Canary Islands are mild all year.
How many days do I need in Spain?
Seven days covers Madrid and either Barcelona or Andalusia. Ten to fourteen days lets you link Madrid, Seville, Granada and Barcelona without rushing.
What time do people eat in Spain?
Lunch is the main meal, usually from around two to four in the afternoon, and dinner starts around nine or later. Many kitchens close between services, so plan around tapas bars if you are hungry early.
Ready to find your Bliss in Spain?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.