Spain Travel Guide: 5 Days in Barcelona, Andalusia, & Basque Country

Ok we admit, it was Game of Thrones that drew us to travel to Spain. The moment we found out that Dragonstone was a real place, it was immediately on our bucketlist and we took advantage of the holiday to travel to this beautiful country, from the big city of Barcelona to the dramatic coastline of Andalusia to the epic landscape of the Basque countryside. 5 days, 7 cities, 7 flights later...

Day 1: Things to Do, See, and Eat in ​Seville, Spain

• ​Explore the most picturesque orange plaza of Patio de Banderas
• Walk the water gardens of Dorne at the Royal Alcazar of Seville
• Order montaditos pringa (meat sandwich) at the the bar Bodega Santa Cruz
• Row a boat around Plaza de Espanada
• Drive to the city of Granada ​[2.75 hr drive]

Seville, Spain Travel Tips:

• Buy tickets for the Alcazar online, as the line can get very long.
• Have change in Euros for the bus fare. When you arrive at the Prado San Sebastián (Carlos V) bus station, you can use the luggage lockers at Estación Prado San Sebastián (walk through the yellow archway, turn right and walk all the way down to the end). 

Day 2: Things to Do, See, and Eat in Granada, Spain

• Marvel at the architectural details and garden reflections of the Alhambra
• Try all kinds of free seafood tapas and gambas pil pil (garlic shrimp) with drinks at Bar los Diamantes
• Drive to the countryside of Ronda [2.25 hr drive]

Granada, Spain Travel Tips

• Buy tickets for the Alhambra a few months in advance - they can sell out if you don't plan ahead. You'll need to select an entrance time for Nasrid Palaces - we booked the first slot of the day at 8:30 AM, which was perfect because it was not too crowded when we arrived. If you are arriving at Nasrid Palaces first, take the bus all the way to Puerta de la Justicia. Most people will get off at the stop before it, which is for the main ticket office but don't be fooled. You'll skip a long uphill walk this way! 
• Free tapas with drinks is one of the best cultural staples of Granada. Note that each restaurant may do this differently. At Bar los Diamantes, you get free tapas with each round of drinks, proportionate to the number of people in your group, and these tapas are pre-set so you do not get to choose them. At Ávila Tapas, you get free tapas with each drink (so 2 drinks = 2 tapas), and you get to choose from a menu. Most have limited tables and are primarily bar seating. Be assertive, know how to order in Spanish, and get ready for an experience in itself.

Day 3: Things to Do, See, and Eat in Ronda, Spain

• Eat churros and chocolate for breakfast at Churrería Alba
• See the best views at Ronda Bridge View Point
• Sit on the patio and watch the sun set over Puento Nuevo Bridge at the hotel Casa Duende del Tajo

Day 4: Things to Do, See, and Eat in ​Bilbao & Basque Country, Spain

• Explore the canyon waterfall of Salto del Nervion
• Walk the steep path down to Dragonstone at Gaztelugatxe

Bilbao and Basque Country, Spain Travel Tips

• Be warned: getting to Gaztelugatxe is not easy. It is a very steep hike down, and an even more difficult hike back up. We rushed to get to Gaztelugatxe when we landed despite it already getting dark due to the forecasted rain the next day, and it was very challenging making it back up in the dark (yep, that's the moment we caught a cold). But it is most definitely worth it!

Day 5: Things to Do, See, and Eat in Barcelona, Spain

• Watch the sunrise over Gaudi's work at Park Guell
• See colored lights dance through mosaics at La Sagrada Familia
• Walk through the alleyways of the historic Gothic Quarter and see the bridge of Carrer del Bisbe
• Drink pink cava and eat lomo y queso (loin with cheese) and xorico (chorizo) at Can Paixano
• Eat your way through La Boqueria food market and try xuixo (pastries with custard) at Bar Pinxto

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​Barcelona Travel Tips

• Get the T10 Barcelona Transport Card for €10.20, which allows you take 10 trips on the bus, metro, or train. It can be shared between multiple people and is the cheapest way to get from the airport to the city centre, though it is only valid on certain routes from the airport. You can buy the ticket at the Barcelona Airport T1 tobacconist or from the machines at the T2 metro station across the pedestrian walkway (be sure to check operating hours as you cannot access the machines when the walkway is closed). We used the T10 card to take the N17 night bus to our Airbnb and the metro + 46 bus back to the airport.
• The official languages in Barcelona are Catalan and Spanish, so have Google Translate saved for both.
• Stay near Plaça de Catalunya for easy public transportation to main attractions and walking distance to main attractions like the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla.
• To enter the paid part of Park Guell for free, enter before opening hours. You can stay as long as you want once you're inside the paid area.