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The short answer
For a first trip, we’d fly into Madrid, travel south by train through Andalusia and fly home from Málaga. We are a guide to Andalusia, so we are not neutral. But the route also runs in one direction, so you never travel back over the same ground.
- Nights (9): Madrid 2, Córdoba 1, Seville 3, Granada 2, Málaga 1.
- Book first: the Alhambra, then the Real Alcázar.
- What we’d drop: Barcelona, unless it matters most to you, plus the Basque Country, Valencia and the islands. In Andalusia, this route leaves out Cádiz, Ronda, the white villages and beach days.
We have no guides to Madrid or Barcelona, so those stops are short here, and you will need another guide for them.
If the Madrid line is still closed
This route uses the Madrid to Andalusia high-speed line on day 3, and that line is closed for now (see the notice at the top of this page). The times below are for normal service. Until the line reopens, we’d change the route in one of these ways:
- Skip Madrid. Fly straight into Seville and see Córdoba as a day trip. You keep the rest of the route and gain two days in Andalusia.
- Keep Madrid and fly south. Take a flight from Madrid to Seville or Málaga on day 3. From Málaga, run the route in reverse.
- Keep Madrid and take the bus. Madrid to Seville takes about 6 hours, so it uses most of a day. See Madrid to Seville.
Fewer trains are expected at first when the line reopens, so check before you book anything that depends on it.
The route at a glance
| Day | Where | What | Sleep in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Madrid | A short walk, an early night | Madrid |
| 2 | Madrid | The Prado and the Retiro park | Madrid |
| 3 | Train to Córdoba | Jewish quarter, Roman bridge at sunset | Córdoba |
| 4 | Train to Seville | Mezquita at 8:30, Seville by the afternoon | Seville |
| 5 | Seville | Real Alcázar, Santa Cruz, cathedral | Seville |
| 6 | Seville | Plaza de España, Triana, flamenco | Seville |
| 7 | Train to Granada | Cathedral, sunset from the Albaicín | Granada |
| 8 | Granada | The Alhambra | Granada |
| 9 | Bus to Málaga | Albaicín in the morning, Málaga in the evening | Málaga |
| 10 | Fly home | The Alcazaba, if your flight is late enough |
Two notes. The Mezquita’s free early entry runs from Monday to Saturday only. The Prado costs €15 on its official site, and one visitor guide says it is free in the last two hours, with a queue.
Hotels we’d look at: Hotel Marisa in Córdoba, Hotel Simón in Seville, Hotel Casa Morisca in Granada and Soho Boutique Bahía Málaga in Málaga. In Madrid, we’d sleep near Atocha station for the train south.
Trains and buses: times and prices
| Leg | Option | Time (approx.) | Lowest fare (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid → Córdoba | High-speed train, many a day | 1 h 45–2 h | €7–9 |
| Córdoba → Seville | High-speed train, many a day | 45 min–1 h | €7–9 |
| Seville → Granada | Direct train, 4 a day, or Alsa bus | 2 h 45, or about 3 h | About €50 (one ticket site), or €12 |
| Granada → Málaga | Alsa bus, or direct train, about 3 a day | 1 h 30–2 h 30, or about 1 h 20 | €8, or varies |
| Madrid → Seville | High-speed train | About 2 h 40 | €9–15 |
| Madrid → Málaga | High-speed train | 2 h 45–3 h 15 | €15 |
| Madrid → Barcelona | High-speed train, many a day | 3 h–3 h 15 | €25 |
| Barcelona → Seville | Direct train, a few a day | 6 h 15–6 h 45 | €25–33 |
| Barcelona → Málaga | Direct train, 1 or 2 a day | 6 h 20–6 h 40 | €39 |
| Granada → Madrid | Direct train, 4 a day | 3 h 30–3 h 50 | €27 |
These are normal-service figures from our own guides, Ouigo’s website and the ticket sites Kombo and Trainline, checked on 3 November 2026. Average fares on Kombo were much higher, such as about €31 from Madrid to Córdoba, so book early. Compare trains and buses on Omio.
Check your date. Press reports said speed limits add about 25 minutes between Madrid and Barcelona, at least until the end of 2026. In October 2026, limits were also in place on the Madrid to Seville line in Córdoba province, with no end date given.
Flying in and out
We’d book an open-jaw trip: into Madrid or Barcelona, and home from Málaga or Seville. Search for “multi-city” and compare the price with a normal return.
- From the UK: Málaga has the most flights in Andalusia, and Seville has direct flights from London and several other UK airports. We’d also price two one-way tickets.
- From the US: expect a change on the way home, as Seville has few long-haul flights. United flew Málaga to Newark from May to the end of September in 2026, and a local report called it the only non-stop link between Andalusia and the US. Check the 2027 schedule.
- From Canada: a June 2026 trade report lists Madrid, Barcelona and Málaga as year-round Air Transat destinations. Check what flies from your city.
- Home from Seville: change the order to Madrid, Córdoba, Granada, Seville, and spend the Málaga night in Seville. Córdoba to Granada takes about 1 h 30 to 1 h 45 by train.
- If open-jaw costs too much: take the direct train from Granada back to Madrid on day 9, if it is running.
At Madrid airport, the Cercanías train runs from Terminal 4 only, costs about €2.60 and takes about 25–30 minutes to Atocha. At Málaga, see airport transfers. Check your documents in our pre-trip checklist.
Other versions of the route
| Version | Nights | Hotel changes | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main route | Madrid 2, Córdoba 1, Seville 3, Granada 2, Málaga 1 | 4 | Simplest first trip without a car |
| With Barcelona | Barcelona 3, Seville 3, Granada 2, Málaga 1 | 3 | Lose Madrid and the night in Córdoba |
| By car | Madrid 2, Málaga 1, Granada 2, Córdoba 1, Seville 2, Málaga 1 | 5 | Gain Ronda and white villages, lose a day in Seville |
| Slower | Madrid 2, Seville 4, Granada 3 | 2 | Lose Málaga and the night in Córdoba |
With Barcelona
Barcelona is about 1,000 km by road from Seville, so adding it costs a travel day. We’d replace Madrid with it. Fly into Barcelona for days 1 to 3. The Sagrada Família costs €26 on its official site, so book ahead. On day 4, go to Seville by plane (about 4 h 30 door to door) or direct train. Use day 6 for a day trip to Córdoba, then continue as in the main route.
We wouldn’t fit Barcelona, Madrid and Andalusia into 10 days. You would change hotels too often and see very little of each. With about two weeks, you could keep all three.
By car
We wouldn’t drive from Madrid: Seville alone is about 5.5 hours away. Take the train to Málaga on day 3 (or fly, while the line is closed), collect a car at Málaga airport and follow the 7-day route in our Andalusia road trip. It ends in Málaga on day 9. We count about €65 a day from March to October and about €25 in winter, plus about €25 a night for city parking. Compare car hire.
A slower version
If you dislike packing, we think this is the better trip. See Córdoba as a day trip from Seville, and use the third night in Granada for Sacromonte or the Alpujarras. On day 10, take the direct Alsa bus to Málaga airport, about 2 hours. To go slower still, drop Madrid: see where to base yourself in Andalusia.
Rough budget
Per person, sharing a double room, for 9 nights, without flights.
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfortable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels | €360–540 | €675–1,125 | €1,575 and up |
| Food and drink | €300–400 | €500–700 | €1,000 and up |
| Local transport | €0–50 | €50–100 | €100–300 |
| Four trains or buses | €35–70 | €70–110 | €110–200 |
| Sights | About €75 | About €125 | €125 and up |
| Total | About €800–1,150 | About €1,400–2,150 | About €2,900 and up |
Most rows use the spring figures behind our trip cost calculator. Those come from Seville, and we have not priced Madrid or Barcelona. The train row is our own estimate. Sights are the Prado, Real Alcázar, Seville Cathedral, Alhambra and Alcazaba with Gibralfaro. The higher columns add the Mezquita and a flamenco show.
What to book first
- The Alhambra. Tickets go on sale about three months ahead and often sell out. They carry your name and ID or passport number. Choose your slot first, then fix the route around it. If tickets have gone, see a guided tour.
- The Real Alcázar. We’d book a few days ahead in most months, and one to two weeks ahead from March to May and in October.
- Flights and hotels, once your Alhambra date works.
- Trains. Only four direct trains a day link Seville and Granada.
When to go
We think spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) are best. See the best time to visit Andalusia.
- July and August: we’d avoid them, as Seville and Córdoba often reach 40 °C.
- Busy dates in 2027: Semana Santa is 21–28 March and the Feria de Abril is 13–18 April. Seville hotel prices can double or triple.
- Winter: quieter and cheaper, but Granada can have frost at night.
FAQ
Is 10 days enough for Spain?
It is enough for two regions at a good pace, but not for the whole country.
Should I choose Madrid or Barcelona?
For this route, Madrid is normally easier, with direct trains to Córdoba and Seville in under 3 hours. For now that line is closed, so see the changes above. Barcelona is more than 6 hours from Seville by direct train, so it costs a travel day or a flight.
Can I follow this route while the Madrid line is closed?
Yes, with a change. Fly from Madrid to Seville or Málaga, take the bus, or skip Madrid and fly straight into Andalusia.
Can I fly into Madrid and out of Málaga?
Yes. Search for a multi-city trip and compare it with a normal return. From North America, you will probably change planes on the way home.
Do I need a car for 10 days in Spain?
No. In normal service, trains and buses link every stop on the main route. A car only helps if you want Ronda, the white villages or small beaches.
How much does 10 days in Spain cost?
On our figures, about €800–1,150 per person on a budget and about €1,400–2,150 mid-range, sharing a room and without flights.