The journey from Perth to Madrid will take roughly 24–30+ hours door to door with at least one connection, so treat this as an arrival day rather than trying to fit in a full sightseeing schedule. After immigration and baggage, allow around 30–60 minutes for the transfer into the centre: a taxi is simplest with luggage, while the Metro is cheaper if you’re travelling light and your accommodation is near a station. Once checked in, head to Plaza Mayor for an easy 30-minute wander; it’s a lovely first glimpse of old Madrid, and there’s no need to rush.
Continue to Mercado de San Miguel, a few minutes’ walk away, for a relaxed snack of Spanish small plates. Budget about €15–30 per person, and expect it to be busiest around lunch and dinner; check the market’s hours before setting out, as they can vary. If you still have the energy, finish at Chocolatería San Ginés for churros and thick hot chocolate, around €5–10 per person. It’s traditionally open very late, but check before you go—especially after a long-haul arrival—and feel free to call it an early night if jet lag catches up.
Allow 4–5 hours door to door for the morning transfer, so plan your Seville visits around the train you actually book rather than assuming an early arrival. After dropping your bags, head into Santa Cruz; from Sevilla Santa Justa, a taxi is usually the simplest option with luggage, or take a bus and walk the final stretch. Start at Seville Cathedral and allow 1.5–2 hours, including security and queues. Book a timed entry in advance—access depends on the slot you secure—and dress respectfully for this active place of worship. Admission is generally around €13–€15.
It’s a short walk through Santa Cruz to the Real Alcázar of Seville. Allow about 2 hours for the palace and gardens; timed tickets should be booked ahead, and you’ll need to arrive for your reserved slot. Standard admission is roughly €15, with possible extra charges for special areas. Finish at Bar El Comercio in Centro for churros and chocolate, around €5–€12 per person. It’s a classic stop, but check its opening hours on the day; if your train and timed entries push the visit late, save the churros for another time rather than rushing the Alcázar.
Allow roughly 3–4 hours door to door from Seville to Málaga, including getting to the station and onward to the centre. Once you’ve dropped your bags, head to Mercado Central de Atarazanas for a relaxed browse and casual lunch; the market is generally open on weekday mornings and closes in the afternoon, so check hours before you set out. Pick up a few tapas from the stalls and budget about €10–20 per person.
Walk around 10 minutes from the market to the Museo Picasso Málaga. Give yourself about 1.5 hours for a focused visit; opening hours vary by season, and it’s worth checking ahead and booking online if you want to avoid waiting. From there, continue uphill to the Alcazaba of Málaga for a roughly 1.5-hour wander through its courtyards and fortifications, with lovely views over the city. The climb is manageable but can feel warm in the afternoon, so bring water; allow extra time if you’d rather take the lift up from near the town hall.
Finish at El Pimpi, a short walk back down toward the historic centre. It’s lively and popular, so go a little early or expect a wait at peak dinner time. Settle in for Andalusian dishes and a glass of local wine; allow 1–1.5 hours and around €20–40 per person.
Allow 4–6 hours door to door from Málaga to Ibiza, and check the actual flight and connection before counting on time in town. After dropping your bags, head to Dalt Vila; the steep lanes and ramparts are best explored at an easy pace, with around 1.5–2 hours for viewpoints and wandering. The public streets and walls are generally accessible without a ticket, though individual museums and sites have their own hours and admission.
Stay in Dalt Vila for dinner at La Oliva, a relaxed choice among the old-town lanes. Allow 1–1.5 hours and budget about €30–50 per person; booking ahead is sensible, especially in May, and check that the restaurant is open on your date. Afterward, make your way down toward Platja de ses Figueretes—it’s roughly a 25–30-minute walk from the old town, or a short taxi ride if you’d rather save your legs.
Leave about an hour to unwind along Platja de ses Figueretes, a handy stretch of waterfront close to town. It’s a pleasant place for a stroll and sea views; bring a light layer for the breeze, and check sunset time if you want to catch the last light. If your flight arrives late, keep the old-town visit brief rather than rushing through all three stops.
Allow 4–6 hours door to door for today’s travel and arrival logistics, so keep the Lisbon plans flexible around your actual schedule. Sintra is too much to fit in after the journey: save it for a separate day rather than squeezing in the train ride and sightseeing. Once you’ve dropped your bags, an easy central walk is a good way to get your bearings.
Spend about an hour wandering Baixa and Praça do Comércio. The broad, mostly level streets make for a gentle first look at the city; from the square, stroll along Rua Augusta and pause for a coffee or a riverside view if you have time. Then head to Time Out Market Lisboa in Cais do Sodré for an informal dinner, allowing around an hour and budgeting €15–30 per person. It’s a popular food hall, so expect it to be lively; check current hours before setting out, especially if your arrival runs late.
Allow 5–7 hours door to door for the flight, airport formalities and transfer into Naples; the day’s shape depends on the actual schedule, so head out only after dropping your bags. Start at Spaccanapoli in the Centro Storico and follow its lively, narrow streets for about an hour. Watch for scooters, and take a moment to step into a church or browse a small artisan shop if something catches your eye.
Continue to Pizzeria Starita in Materdei for classic Neapolitan pizza—budget roughly €10–20 per person. Check its hours for your date: if your flight arrives too late for lunch, aim for an early dinner rather than counting on a midday table. Then return to the Centro Storico for Museo Cappella Sansevero and the Veiled Christ. Book a timed entry in advance; Saturday opening and the final admission time can shape the plan, and the visit takes about an hour.
Finish at Piazza del Plebiscito, a broad, atmospheric square that’s lovely for an unhurried 30–45-minute stroll. A taxi from the museum is the easiest way to get there; otherwise, allow time for the walk across the city. This is a full day after travel, so keep the evening simple—and if your arrival is too late to fit the chapel before its last entry, you’ll need an earlier flight or another night in Naples to do the planned stops in order.
Allow 3–5 hours door to door from Naples, depending on Sunday schedules and connections. Check the ferry timetable with Travelmar or NLG before you set out; services can be busy or weather-affected, so keep the train-and-ferry alternative in mind. Once in Amalfi, drop your bags and head to Amalfi Cathedral in the town centre. Give the cathedral complex and its striking cloister about 1–1.5 hours. Visitor access can pause around services, so check the latest opening information and leave time for the entrance queue; admission is usually a few euros.
Afterwards, take a breather at Pasticceria Pansa on Piazza Duomo for coffee and local pastries—budget around €5–12 per person and about half an hour. Then walk through town to Museo della Carta, where a visit of roughly an hour gives you a look at Amalfi’s paper-making history. Sunday hours may vary by season, so confirm the museum is open before making it part of a tight afternoon.
Finish with a leisurely seafood meal at Ristorante Da Gemma in the town centre. Allow 1–1.5 hours and around €35–60 per person; booking ahead is sensible, particularly on a Sunday. The centre is compact, but expect steps and uneven paving between stops, so comfortable shoes will make the day easier.
Allow 6–9 hours door to door from Amalfi to Catania, including the onward transfers, airport time and arrival into town. Start as early as the schedules allow and check the full route before booking; the timing will determine how much of the centre you can comfortably see. After dropping your bags, head to Piazza del Duomo for the Elephant Fountain and the baroque facades around the square—about 45 minutes is enough for a first look.
Beside the square, browse Pescheria di Catania, a wonderfully noisy fish market, if you arrive while it’s operating. It’s generally a morning market, so after a long transfer it may already be winding down or closed; check locally rather than counting on it. Then go to Osteria Antica Marina nearby for Sicilian seafood; budget roughly €25–45 per person and check its opening hours and book ahead if you’ll arrive at a busy mealtime.
Finish with an easy 45-minute walk along Via Etnea, Catania’s main avenue, where views toward Mount Etna open up on a clear day. If your arrival runs late, keep this as a short wander rather than rushing the market and meal; the historic centre is compact, and a taxi is handy for the final trip back to your accommodation.
Allow 3.5–5 hours door to door from Catania, including getting to the station or bus stop and onward travel in Palermo. The direct SAIS Autolinee bus is usually the simplest option; check the timetable and book ahead, especially if you want to protect time for sightseeing. After arriving, take a taxi or walk into the historic centre to Palermo Cathedral. Give yourself about an hour to take in its blend of architectural styles; opening times and access to the roof can vary, so check before setting off.
From the cathedral, walk about 15 minutes through the old town to Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cappella Palatina. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the palace and chapel, and check current visitor access and ticket requirements before you go; chapel entry may be managed separately or require advance booking. Then head south to Antica Focacceria San Francesco in Kalsa for Palermo street-food classics—budget around €10–20 per person. It’s a good place to try local favourites such as panelle or sfincione; check the day’s opening hours, as they can change.
Keep the rest of the afternoon unhurried, then make your way to Quattro Canti for a short look at the Baroque façades where the historic centre’s main streets meet. It’s an easy walk from Kalsa; allow around 30 minutes to admire the details and wander nearby lanes. The crossroads are outdoors, so you can visit at any time, and early evening brings a lively street scene without needing to plan a formal stop.
Allow 6–9 hours door to door from Palermo to Santorini, including airport time, any connection and the transfer to Fira. The day only works as planned if your flight gets you into town early enough; check the full itinerary before relying on sightseeing time, and arrange a taxi or pre-booked transfer from the airport. Once you’ve dropped your bags, spend about an hour wandering Fira’s clifftop lanes and taking in the caldera views.
Visit the Archaeological Museum of Thera for an hour with finds from the island’s ancient settlements. Check its opening arrangements and last-entry time for your date before setting out, as museum hours can change. Then walk through Fira to Argo Restaurant for a Greek meal with caldera views; budget around €30–50 per person and reserve ahead if you want a terrace table.
Finish with a relaxed 45–60-minute walk along the caldera path from Fira toward Firostefani—a lovely viewpoint stroll, without committing to the much longer walk to Oia. This is a packed arrival day, so if your flight lands too late to fit the museum, meal and walk comfortably, add a night on Santorini rather than rushing through them.
Make Akrotiri Archaeological Site your first stop, allowing about 1½–2 hours to walk the sheltered paths above the remarkably preserved Bronze Age settlement. Check the site’s opening hours and ticket arrangements before you go; hours can vary seasonally, and this visit depends on being able to arrive early enough. From your accommodation, arrange a taxi or use the local bus if its timetable suits—the bus ride from central Santorini takes roughly 20–30 minutes, while a taxi is more direct.
Continue by taxi to Santo Wines in the Pyrgos area for a relaxed tasting and caldera views; allow 1–1½ hours, and expect tastings to cost roughly €15–€40 per person depending on the selection. Book ahead if you want a particular tasting or table, and keep the visit compact if your flight is later today. This plan only works comfortably with a suitably late flight: the island visits and transfers take several hours, and getting to Santorini Airport and then onward to Athens adds roughly 2–4 hours door to door.
Fly from Santorini Airport to Athens International Airport only after confirming the full routing to Perth and leaving a generous connection buffer—especially if the flights are on separate tickets, when an overnight in Athens is the safer choice. If time genuinely allows, grab souvlaki near the airport for around €10–€20 per person; don’t leave the airport unless you have ample time to return and clear security. The onward journey to Perth will take most or all of the day, so skip any stop that puts your connection at risk.
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