I am looking for both general scheduling advice and tailored tips for a single, male, (Asian-American, if that matters) traveler. This is my first time traveling to Europe, so I am a bit nervous, but excited as well. I will be in Spain during the third week of July. I am pretty adventurous and will be alone so I am looking to take advantage of the flexibility to do lots of new things. My ideal trip would be a balanced exposure of standard sights and cultural exhibits (museums, musical or dance performances, etc.), excellent food, night life, underappreciated gems, mingling with locals and just plain ol' sitting around and enjoying the environment. I am waiting for my copy of Rick Steve's Best of Spain and I certainly will be doing more research on my own, so any suggestions that I might not find in the book would be particularly helpful.
First, any suggestions on what to hit up? I lean more towards a looser schedule that allows for idyllic adventuring (on the order of two planned activities per day) rather than a strict itinerary (but still planning ahead for tickets attractions, of course). The day that I switch from Barcelona to Madrid is very flexible. My still formulating itinerary is as follows:
Evening 1: Arrive in Barcelona. Settle in.
Day 1 - 3: Sagrada Familia, couple museums, church service, weekend markets, a walking/biking tour, time relaxing on the beach, exploring night life.
Day 4: Travel to Madrid by train.
Day 5 - 7: Royal Palace, day trip to Toledo, flamenco performance, other sights.
Day 8: Depart.
Second, do you have any tips for a solo traveler in these locations? Any hostel suggestions in Barcelona or Madrid? Ideally one where solo travelers would be safe and with people I might befriend. I am also apprehensive about how or whether I should attempt any night activities as a solo traveler. I literally have no idea what to expect in comparison to American night life. But I like dancing. I like vibrant activity. So I would like to try it! Other than being wary of pick pockets and being responsible with my drink, any other safety tips?
I appreciate any knowledge you can share!