It’s your first time traveling to Spain, and you are looking for the best 5-day Spain itinerary to fit all your favorite cities, such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Granada. Is it possible?
The answer is yes, it is possible, provided you are spending at least 2 nights in each city. Personally, the schedule is quite ambitious as there are plenty of things to see in every city and you will need at least a week to fully explore each location.
In this 5-day itinerary, we will be covering Madrid and Barcelona, two cities that provide a vibrant heritage and culture.
Start your day with your arrival at Madrid’s Airport. Fun fact: Madrid is the only European capital that has an Arabic name (from the Arabic word “Magrit) with Islamic roots.
After you have checked in to your hotel, it is time to explore the capital of Spain via a city sightseeing tour bus. This is the perfect way to get some rest while visiting all the popular locations, such as the Royal Palace and Puerta del Sol.
Madrid is also very tourist-friendly, and you can get a special tourist travel pass that provides unlimited trips on public transportation.
Image credit: Yevheniia on Unsplash
Step inside to explore the majestic attractions of The Royal Palace, which has close to 2 million visitors every year. Some of its feature spaces include the Throne Room, where the ceiling is decorated with gold leaves, and Charles III’s room, with its unique wood marquetry furniture.
This is also the place where the Royal Collections Gallery is held, featuring paintings, musical instruments, and armory within its three exhibition floors.
Admission to the Royal Palace is free.
Address: C. de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain.
It’s time to have a meal nearby at this Middle Eastern restaurant. Known as one of the best Halal restaurants in Madrid, it serves delicious shawarma, warm rice bowls, and a large variety of vegetarian options.
Address: C. de Tetuán, 26, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain
With its large Muslim population, you can find mosques around the city. One of the closest mosques is the Mezquita Al-Huda, within a 20-minute walking distance from Puerta de Sol and the Royal Palace.
Address: Calle de la Magdalena, 25, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Madrid values its art and culture, even going as far as having a special pathway known as the Paseo del Arte that connects historical monuments and institutions. It has over 100 free and paid museums to explore, notably the Prado Museum.
The city also offers bundle museum passes at a discounted rate if you plan to stay longer to visit more museums.
Spain’s largest museum holds over 700 sculptures and 8,600 art paintings for public viewing. But more importantly, it is the place that inspires artists, featuring renowned painters such as Francisco de Goya and Diego Velázquez.
You can enter the Prado Museum for free at the last two hours before its closing time.
Address: Paseo del Prado, s/n 28014
Your Madrid trip will not be complete if you do not visit the Omar Mosque, the largest mosque in Spain. Home to the Islamic Cultural Center of Madrid, it is built with white marble and features a school, a library, a restaurant, and a museum, among other facilities for the Muslim community.
Address: Calle Salvador de Madariaga, 7, 28027 Madrid, Spain
The train ride from Madrid to Barcelona is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Once you have checked in, you can start exploring the city’s finest attractions, such as Park Güell, a majestic garden that spans around 17 hectares.
Do note that most of Barcelona’s attractions require booking in advance as tickets sell out fast (sometimes a month ahead!)
Image Credit: Taisia Karaseva from Unsplash
Everyone who has been to Barcelona raves about this UNESCO World Heritage Site created by architect Antoni Gaudí. It feels like a fairytale city with its whimsical architecture of stone structures and mosaics while still being able to experience nature.
Although the tour can be completed in 2 to 3 hours, I enjoy walking around at my own pace to appreciate the beauty of this park.
Address: Paseo del Prado, s/n 28014
Get a quick Halal meal that is a 12-minute drive from Park Güell. This family-owned restaurant definitely has the best Halal pizzas and kebabs in town. What is the best part? It is fresh, and the service here is amazing!
Address: Carrer del Torrent de l'Olla, 18, Gràcia, 08012 Barcelona, Spain
While there are no prayer facilities inside Park Güell, there is a beautiful mosque to check out that is a 17-minute drive from the park. The mosque is also spacious, so it can accommodate more people, especially during Friday prayers.
Address: Carrer de Rafael Capdevila, 1-3, Sant Martí, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
Image credit: Sagrada Familia
You can’t visit the iconic park without visiting another one of Gaudi’s works, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. The church is expected to be completed in 2026, signifying 144 years since construction started in 1882.
You can still visit the world’s tallest church in the making by purchasing a ticket in advance. You can also access the towers to get a panoramic view of Barcelona.
Reward yourself with a nice fine dining meal with some Spanish cuisine. If you are a meat lover, you are in for a treat with their Halal-certified lamb that will leave you satisfied.
Address: Carrer de Pau Claris, 70, L'Eixample, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
It is time to buy some souvenirs before flying off. The easiest things you can purchase are postcards but if you prefer something uniquely strange, a caganer (tiny figurine of someone defecating) is perfect to make someone laugh!
There is a multi-faith prayer room situated in T1 with accessible clean toilets. Please bring your own prayer mats and prayer garments at this facility.
While 5 days in Spain is doable, we encourage you to spend more time in every city. Hence, we have Spain tour packages from 7 days to 10 days to visit all of Spain’s iconic sites.
If you are looking for Halal food, check out our top 10 places for a scrumptious Halal meal in Spain!
