Madrid is a practical base. In three days, you get museums, the royal quarter, Retiro, evening tapas, and one strong day trip.

1. Day 1: Prado, Retiro, a walk toward Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and evening tapas.
2. Day 2: Royal Palace, Almudena, Gran Vía, and city neighborhoods.
3. Day 3: Toledo or Segovia, depending on whether you want more history, viewpoints, or a more classic day trip.

• Base: Madrid, ideally near the metro or a main rail connection.
• Transport: you do not need a car in the city.
• Good for: a first visit, museums, tapas, city rhythm, and day trips.

Barcelona and Valencia are a good Mediterranean combination if you want architecture, markets, the old town, and the coast.

1. Days 1–3: Barcelona — Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter, markets, the coast, and an evening walk.
2. Day 4: move toward Valencia, the old town, Central Market, and the former Turia riverbed.
3. Day 5: Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias or the beach.

• Barcelona: book the biggest sights ahead, especially in season.
• Valencia: good for a softer pace, paella, Turia, and exceptional architecture.

If you first want to catch Spain’s two most recognizable faces, Madrid and Barcelona are a logical combination. The plan is urban, strong in content, and easy to do by train.

1. Days 1–2: Madrid — Prado, Retiro, Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and evening tapas.
2. Day 3: Toledo or Segovia, or one slower extra day in Madrid.
3. Days 4–5: Barcelona — Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter, markets, and the coast.
4. Day 6: Montserrat, Girona, or a more relaxed final day in Barcelona.

• Madrid: better for museums and day trips.
• Barcelona: better for Gaudí’s masterpieces and a strong visual impression.
• Transfer: the train is usually the cleanest way to connect the two cities.

Seville gives Andalusia its rhythm, Córdoba adds the historical layer, and Granada brings the almost cinematic ending with the Alhambra.

1. Days 1–3: Seville — Real Alcázar, cathedral, Giralda, Plaza de España, evening tapas, and city atmosphere.
2. Day 4: Córdoba — Mezquita, the bridge, the old Jewish quarter, and an evening in the city.
3. Days 5–7: Granada — Alhambra and Albaicín.
4. Add-on: Málaga, Ronda, Cádiz, or one more day in Seville.

• Best rhythm: at least two nights in Seville and two in Granada.
• Alhambra: booking ahead is essential.
• Season: summer can be very hot inland in Andalusia, so spring and autumn are often better.

The north is a different Spain — with a strong regional character.

1. Start: Bilbao or San Sebastián for an authentic Basque experience.
2. Continue: Cantabria or Asturias for the Atlantic part of the route.
3. Finish: Galicia and Santiago de Compostela.
4. Camino: choose a section based on time and preparation.

• Camino del Norte: traditional coastal Spain.
• Galicia: a rich, green landscape and the final stretch of the pilgrimage toward Santiago.
• Tip: when walking, a steady rhythm matters more than a perfect schedule.

Spain is part of the European Union and the Schengen Area. For Slovenian citizens, travel is usually straightforward, but you should still carry a valid identity card or passport.

• For Slovenian citizens: a valid identity card or passport.
• For children: every child needs their own identity document.
• Schengen: regular border checks are usually not in place, but temporary checks can happen.
• For non-EU travelers: check visa requirements, permitted length of stay, and document validity before departure.
• Train or flight: keep your document at hand, because identity checks can happen on some transport services.

The train is one of the best solutions for Spain’s main routes, especially Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Seville, Madrid–Valencia, and connections between larger cities. Prices are dynamic, so for popular routes it is worth buying early enough.

• Renfe: the main official option for Spanish trains and high-speed connections.
• Prices: they change depending on date, demand, class, and ticket flexibility.
• Stations: in Madrid and Barcelona, check which station your train actually leaves from.
• Luggage: trains are usually less stressful than flights, but still check the ticket rules.

In Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, you do not need a car for a city visit. The most practical combination is walking, metro, tram, or local train, depending on the city and where your accommodation is.

• Madrid: the metro is very useful for most city transfers.
• Barcelona: combine metro and walking for Gaudí’s main sights.
• Valencia: Turia and the old town work well on foot or by bike.
• Accommodation: being close to the metro or train is often more important than sleeping in the most expensive center.
• Late arrival: before booking, check the last connections or taxi prices.

A car makes sense for Andalusia outside the main cities, the northern coast, smaller places, or more rural parts. In Madrid and Barcelona, it often means parking, restricted zones, and extra logistics rather than an advantage.

• ZBE: several Spanish cities have low-emission zones, so check the rules before entering by car.
• Parking: choose your hotel also based on the garage, not only the room location.
• Tolls: some highway sections can have tolls, so check your route before departure.
• Rental car: check insurance, deposit, fuel, and pick-up rules carefully.

For Spain, have your European Health Insurance Card arranged, and add travel insurance if needed. The European card is useful for urgent or medically necessary care in the public system, but it does not cover all travel complications.

• European card: arrange it before departure if you do not have it or if it has expired.
• Additional insurance: sensible for assistance, trip cancellation, luggage, and possible transport home.
• Camino: if you plan several days of walking, check coverage for injuries, blisters, transport, and route changes.
• Offline copies: save your policy number, assistance contact, documents, and flight or train details.