Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Allow roughly 1–2 hours after landing at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport for immigration and baggage, then around 30–60 minutes to reach your hotel, depending on traffic and where you’re staying. A taxi to the central area has a regulated flat fare of about €33; the Metro is cheaper, but involves a transfer or walk depending on your hotel and can be less convenient with luggage. After checking in, keep the first outing flexible: if your flight is delayed or you’re tired, shorten the walk rather than rushing through it.
Walk to Plaza Mayor for an easy first look at Madrid’s old centre; allow about 45 minutes to wander beneath the arcades and around the square. Then stop at Mercado de San Miguel, just beside it, for tapas—budget around €15–30 per person and allow about an hour. It can be busy, especially at peak lunch times, so expect to share space at the counters; check its current opening hours before setting out, as holiday-period schedules can vary.
Continue to Puerta del Sol, about a 5–10-minute walk away, and spend around 30 minutes taking in the square and its landmarks. Finish at Chocolatería San Ginés, a short walk from Sol, for churros and thick hot chocolate; allow about 45 minutes and budget roughly €5–10 per person. It’s a classic first-day treat, but if the queue is long, take a breather nearby and return when it eases.
Start at Museo Nacional del Prado when it opens; allow 2.5–3 hours for a focused visit, as the collection is far too large to cover in one go. Timed admission is worth booking ahead, especially for a busy weekend or holiday, and costs vary by ticket type. Then walk a few minutes to the Real Jardín Botánico for about an hour among its glasshouses and seasonal plantings. Winter hours are shorter than in summer, so check the garden’s calendar before setting out and keep this visit flexible if opening times don’t suit.
Head to Restaurante La Sanabresa in Barrio de las Letras for a traditional Spanish lunch; set aside 1–1.5 hours and budget roughly €15–30 per person. It’s an easy walk from the museum-and-garden area. If you’re visiting on a holiday, check whether the restaurant is open and consider reserving—Madrid’s dining hours can shift on public holidays.
After lunch, stroll through Parque del Retiro for about 1.5 hours, taking the paths around the lake and gardens; in December, aim to arrive with daylight to spare. Finish at the Círculo de Bellas Artes on Gran Vía for rooftop views across the city. Allow about an hour, but check rooftop access and closing time before you go, as both can vary with the season and weather. If the day runs late, shorten your Retiro wander rather than rushing the Prado.
Allow roughly 4–5 hours door to door from your Madrid hotel to your Seville hotel, including getting to Madrid Atocha, station check-in, the train and the transfer from Sevilla-Santa Justa. Choose an early service and book ahead; the rail journey itself is usually about 2½–3 hours, with fares varying by operator and how early you book. After dropping your bags, head to Seville Cathedral in Centro. Allow 1½–2 hours for the cathedral and Giralda; advance tickets are advisable, and visiting access can change around religious services. Because of the travel time, this is a full arrival day—if your train gets in late, keep the visit focused rather than trying to rush.
A short walk beside the cathedral brings you to the Archivo General de Indias, where you can spend around 45–60 minutes with exhibits on Spain’s overseas history. Visitor access and hours vary, so check the official schedule before setting out; it may not be practical if your train arrives late. Continue to Bodeguita Romero for Andalusian tapas—allow about an hour and budget roughly €15–30 per person. It’s a small, popular spot, so expect a possible wait at busy lunch times.
Finish at Plaza del Cabildo, a peaceful semicircular courtyard just around the corner from the cathedral. Give yourself 20–30 minutes to look around and slow the pace before checking in or taking an easy stroll through the surrounding lanes. Keep some flexibility in the afternoon: the cathedral visit and archive hours are the main constraints on fitting everything in.
Start at Real Alcázar of Seville and allow 2.5–3 hours for the palace rooms and gardens; it’s easy to linger among the tiled courtyards and shaded paths. Timed tickets are essential—book directly in advance and check the official calendar for the opening hours and access rules for your travel date. Admission is roughly €15–20, depending on ticket type. From there, walk through Santa Cruz to Hospital de los Venerables (about 5–10 minutes); give its courtyard and art collection around an hour. Budget roughly €10–15, and confirm holiday opening arrangements before setting out.
Continue on foot to Casa de Pilatos in Alfalfa—around 15 minutes from Hospital de los Venerables—for a 1–1.5-hour visit. The palace’s mix of Mudejar detail, tiles and quiet patios makes a lovely contrast with the Alcázar. Check which areas and ticket options are available on your date; admission is generally around €12–15. Then settle in for a late lunch at El Rinconcillo, a short walk away. Order classic Sevillian dishes and take your time; allow 1–1.5 hours and about €20–35 per person. It can be busy, so arriving outside the main lunch rush is a good idea.
Walk about 10–15 minutes to Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) in Encarnación and take the elevated walkway for rooftops and a broad view over the city. Allow around an hour, and check current opening times and ticket access before going—hours can vary by season or special date. If your visit falls on a public holiday, verify the opening arrangements for all five stops in advance; don’t assume regular hours apply, and keep the palace visits flexible around any timed Alcázar entry.
Allow 5–6 hours door to door for the flight day, including getting to the airport, check-in, baggage and the transfer into Barcelona. Because flight schedules and delays vary, plan the sightseeing below only if you arrive with enough daylight and energy; confirm your flight before booking anything non-refundable. Once you’ve dropped your bags, head to Plaça de Catalunya for a relaxed 30-minute orientation at the meeting point between the old town and Eixample.
From the square, walk down La Rambla toward the waterfront, giving yourself 45–60 minutes to take in the street life and market façades. It can be crowded, so keep valuables secure and skip meals at the most tourist-facing terraces. Continue to Gran Teatre del Liceu in El Raval to admire its exterior; allow 45–60 minutes if you’d like to take a tour, but check the theatre’s official schedule and availability first, as tours aren’t guaranteed and performances can affect access.
Finish at Bar Cañete, a lively spot for Catalan and Spanish dishes. Budget around €30–50 per person; reserving ahead is sensible, especially for dinner. It’s a short walk from the Liceu. If your arrival runs late, keep the stop to the Liceu’s exterior and go straight to dinner rather than counting on a tour.
Book an early timed entry at Sagrada Família and allow about two hours for the basilica; tickets are date- and time-specific, so reserve well ahead through the official site. Tower access requires a separate ticket and is subject to availability. From there, walk roughly 15 minutes to Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau for 1.5–2 hours among its former hospital pavilions and courtyards. Check its current opening hours and admission options before setting out.
Head back toward La Paradeta Sagrada Família for a relaxed seafood lunch. You choose from the day’s display and pay by weight; budget about €20–35 per person, and expect a wait at busy times. Its hours can vary, so check before you go and keep a little flexibility in the schedule.
Walk or take the metro toward Passeig de Gràcia for about 45 minutes of architectural browsing along the boulevard. Finish at Casa Milà (La Pedrera), a short walk along the avenue; allow 1.5–2 hours for the interior and rooftop. Reserve a timed ticket in advance, and check the day’s visiting hours—fitting all five stops comfortably means starting early and keeping lunch unhurried but not overly long.
Head to Park Güell early, allowing about two hours for the paths, gardens and Gaudí’s architectural details. The Monumental Zone requires a timed ticket, so book through the official site and arrive with time to spare; entry prices and seasonal opening hours can change. From the central Eixample area, the metro to Lesseps or Vallcarca followed by an uphill walk takes roughly 30–40 minutes; a taxi is easier if you want to save your legs for the park.
Walk down into Gràcia for around 30 minutes at Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia—a pleasant place to pause and watch neighborhood life before lunch. Then eat at La Pubilla, near Plaça de la Llibertat, for Catalan market-style cooking; allow 1–1.5 hours and budget about €20–35 per person. Check its current lunch service and book if possible, as restaurant schedules can vary.
After lunch, visit Casa Vicens, Gaudí’s colorful early residence; allow 1–1.5 hours and reserve ahead if you can. From Gràcia, take a taxi or local bus toward El Carmel for the final uphill approach to Bunkers del Carmel. Save 1–1.5 hours for the climb and city views, and check current municipal access guidance and closing time before setting out. In winter, daylight fades early, so go with enough time to enjoy the panorama before dusk; wear shoes with good grip and bring a layer for the exposed viewpoint.
Allow 4–5 hours door to door for the flight from Barcelona, airport check-in, baggage and the transfer from Ibiza Airport to your accommodation. Check the actual flight schedule before planning the afternoon: this walking plan works best after an early flight, and a later arrival may leave time only for a shorter old-town visit. Once settled, head to Dalt Vila, the UNESCO-listed walled old town. Give yourself about 1.5–2 hours to wander its steep, cobbled lanes and ramparts; wear shoes with good grip, and take breaks for the views over the harbour.
Continue uphill to Catedral de Santa Maria d’Eivissa, set at the top of the old town. Allow 45–60 minutes, but check the cathedral’s access and service times before you go; visiting hours can vary, especially outside the main season. For dinner, walk down to La Bodega Ibiza in the old town for tapas. Budget around €20–35 per person before drinks, and check its current seasonal hours or book ahead if it is open and you have a preferred time.
Finish with an easy 45-minute stroll along the Port of Ibiza, where you can watch the boats and enjoy the waterfront atmosphere. In December, Ibiza is much quieter than in summer and some businesses may have reduced hours or close seasonally, so confirm the restaurant is open and keep the evening flexible.
Head to Cala Comte for a couple of hours on Ibiza’s west coast. In December, expect a scenic coastal walk and sea views rather than a reliably warm beach day: swimming can be cold, and beach facilities or seasonal buses may be closed or running less often. Arrange a rental car or confirm a taxi in advance; relying on summer bus connections is risky.
Continue to Cala Bassa, roughly 15–20 minutes away by car in normal conditions, for a shoreline stroll and a quieter pause. Allow about 1.5 hours, but check access and any open facilities before setting out. Without a car, pre-book a taxi between the coves and onward—winter services are limited, and finding a return ride on the spot can be difficult.
Drive to Restaurante Es Boldadó, near Cala d’Hort, for seafood and coastal views; allow around 1.5 hours and budget about €30–50 per person. Its opening is seasonal, so confirm directly and reserve if it is operating—don’t make the drive assuming it will be open. Then spend about an hour at Cala d’Hort, taking in the view toward Es Vedrà. The restaurant and viewpoint are close, but allow extra time for the winding roads and arrange your return transport before you lose daylight.
Keep the morning deliberately easy in Sant Antoni de Portmany. Have breakfast at Café del Mar overlooking the waterfront; allow about an hour and budget roughly €10–20 per person. It’s a seasonal business, so check its December opening before setting out; if it’s closed, choose an open café along the harbor rather than relying on it.
After breakfast, take a final 30–45-minute stroll along Passeig de ses Fonts, the palm-lined harbor promenade. Then head to Ibiza Airport by taxi or pre-arranged transfer. The drive from Sant Antoni is usually around 20–30 minutes, but allow extra time for traffic and the airport transfer, check-in and security. Aim for an early direct flight to Barcelona-El Prat; the flight itself is about an hour, while the full airport-to-airport leg commonly takes 4–5 hours once check-in, baggage and transfers are included.
At Barcelona-El Prat, collect checked baggage if it is not tagged through, then follow your airline’s instructions for the onward international check-in and security. Don’t assume the domestic and international flights share a terminal or that your bags will transfer automatically: confirm the terminal, baggage arrangements and minimum connection time with both airlines before travel. This same-day connection is vulnerable to delays, especially if the flights are on separate bookings. If the international ticket is not protected, the safer choice is to fly to Barcelona the day before; otherwise, book the earliest suitable Ibiza flight and leave a generous buffer before departure for Abu Dhabi and onward to India.
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