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Help on basic Itinerary

Posted by (Southeast Minnesota) on

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to get our Spain itinerary sorted out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Here is my rough start:

Tuesday, 10/21/25 Arrive Madrid at 1:25pm(Stay in Madrid near Atocha station)

Wednesday, 10/22/25 Train to Barcelona (in the morning to maximize that day in Barcelona)

Thursday, 10/23/25 Barcelona Sights Sagrada Familia tour could be any day

Friday, 10/24/25 Barcelona morning/Travel to Madrid in afternoon/evening

Saturday, 10/25/25 Madrid (5k Trail in the morning) This is something we really want to do

Sunday, 10/26/25 Madrid

Monday, 10/27/25 Granada Alhambra (again could be any day)

Tuesday, 10/28/25 Granada (all day hike in the mountains) could be any day in Granada

Wednesday, 10/29/25 Granada

Thursday, 10/30/25 11:35 am Flight from Madrid to Chicago

The 5k is a must do, so we have to be in Madrid on that day. Everything else can be changed around. I just feel like the way I have it set up has so much time back tracking through Madrid. Currently I'm planning mostly train travel between cities, but would not rule out busses or flights if it makes itinerary make sense. Also, we plan to be back to Spain again when we retire in a few years, but kind of want to knock out the biggest touristy things this trip and spend more time in the country and on the coasts on our return trips.

Posted by
2834 posts

It is a lot of backtracking. Why not fly into Barcelona and out of Madrid? You would book this as a multi-city trip, sometimes only available in the airline’s full website (not app) and under advanced search options. It’s rarely much more than a round trip, and saves you a day and train ride. You could also look at flying out of Granada.

Posted by
587 posts

I'd echo the first responder in that I would also start this trip in Barcelona. If you are Chicago-based (my guess based on the last day of the itinerary), both American and United offer seasonal nonstop Chicago-Barcelona flights that appear to operate in late October. I'd recommend changing to one of those flights.

Posted by
4 posts

Flights are already booked. We are Minneapolis based, I tried the multi-city flight option but just couldn't get the cost/dates to work. Actually had to add a couple days in Spain to get the ticket prices down.

Posted by
3298 posts

I would cut out one of the three overnight clusters in Madrid. If the 5K is a must for you, then what you could do is fly into Madrid and then depart for Barcelona either on a 75-minute flight at 15:55 for $100 or take a high-speed train taking 2:45 immediately to Barcelona from Madrid’s Atocha station. A flight will be much easier.
Flying to Granada doesn’t work as well on 10/21 as the only direct flights leave in the morning.
After Barcelona you’re pretty much locked in to returning to Madrid, then going to Granada (3:30) by high-speed train and returning to Madrid the night before your return flight home.
You’ll be an expert on Madrid’s newly-remodeled Atocha train station by the end of this trip!

www.Skyscanner.com for flights
www.TheTrainline.com for train schedules

Posted by
8252 posts

Agree with Kenko- travel onwards to Barcelona on arrival day.

Wednesday, 10/29/25 Granada
Thursday, 10/30/25 11:35 am Flight from Madrid to Chicago

You should be IN Madrid Wednesday night

Posted by
106 posts

Whatever itinerary you end up with you need to make specific plans for the Alhambra and La Sagrada Familia. Buy the Alhambra tickets ASAP. The La Sagrada Familia tickets must also be purchased in advance. Right now they're selling through September. Make sure you use the official websites.

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