At 8:15 p.m., start at Puerta del Sol for a quick look around Madrid’s lively central square—about 20 minutes is plenty. Then walk roughly 5 minutes to Plaza Mayor and spend half an hour under its historic arcades; after dark, the square feels especially atmospheric.
From Plaza Mayor, step next door into Mercado de San Miguel for a light bite and a look around the food stalls. Allow 30–45 minutes, but check what’s serving when you arrive, as individual stalls may keep different hours. The market is commonly open into the evening, though hours can change.
Finish with dinner at Casa Lucio in La Latina, about a 10-minute walk away. With the earlier stops, you’ll likely arrive around 9:45–10:00 p.m.; reserve ahead if possible, especially if you have a specific dinner time in mind. Allow about 1½ hours and budget roughly €40–70 per person.
Take a morning high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona and allow roughly 4–5 hours door to door, including getting to the station and onward travel from Barcelona-Sants. To fit the sightseeing in without rushing, aim for an early arrival and book a timed entry at Sagrada Família that leaves a little breathing room for the station-to-basilica transfer. Allow 1.5–2 hours inside; tickets need to be booked in advance, and entry depends on the slot you secure.
Stay in the Eixample for lunch at La Paradeta Sagrada Família, a casual seafood spot near the basilica. You choose from the day’s selection at the counter, so budget about an hour and €20–35 per person; queues can add time, and lunch service is generally the sensible target. Check that the branch’s hours line up with your basilica slot before you set off.
Head to Casa Milà (La Pedrera) on Passeig de Gràcia for the rooftop and interiors, allowing around 1.5 hours. It’s roughly a 25–30-minute walk from the basilica, or a short L5 metro ride from Sagrada Família to Diagonal. Check the day’s visiting hours and book ahead if you want to go inside. This is a full arrival day: if your train or timed entry doesn’t leave enough room for both sights, keep the sequence but choose an earlier train or accept a later finish.
Allow 4–5 hours door to door for the Barcelona–Seville flight and airport transfers; choose an early flight so the sightseeing still fits comfortably. From Seville Airport, a taxi to the center usually takes about 20–30 minutes, while the EA airport bus takes around 35 minutes and stops near the center. Head to Seville Cathedral and La Giralda in Santa Cruz for a 1.5–2-hour visit. Reserve timed entry in advance, and check the cathedral’s official visitor hours for your date—access times can vary, and the tower climb is optional if you’re short on time or energy.
After the cathedral, spend 45–60 minutes wandering Barrio de Santa Cruz: its narrow lanes and little plazas are made for an unhurried stroll, so leave room to pause in the shade. Finish at Casa Morales, a traditional tapas bar near the cathedral, for about 1–1.5 hours; budget roughly €20–35 per person. It’s a good place to share a few classic plates—arriving outside the busiest dinner rush can make finding a table easier.
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