Complete Guide to Spain: Barcelona, Madrid, Majorca and Ibiza

Spain rarely gives you just one holiday. In a single trip you can wander Gothic lanes in the morning, stand beneath a Velázquez by lunchtime, and watch the sun drop into the Mediterranean before dinner. Spain is one of the few European countries that pack such variety into destinations that sit so close together, which is exactly why so many travellers build their itinerary around these four places: Barcelona, Madrid, Majorca, and Ibiza.

This guide covers all four destinations, then pulls them together into a route you can actually follow. Whether you are after culture, coastline or a bit of both, it is a solid starting point for holidays in Spain. For anyone planning Spain holidays for the first time, it should answer most of the practical questions before you even open a map.

Why Does Spain Belong on Your Travel List?

Spain’s regions are strikingly different from one another, shaped by centuries of Roman, Moorish and Christian rule that left behind cathedrals, palaces and fortified old towns placed within short distances from each other. 

Catalonia in the northeast has its own language and a modernist architectural tradition unlike anywhere else in Europe. At the same time, central Spain around Madrid carries the weight of the old royal court. Out in the Balearic Sea, Majorca and Ibiza offer a slower, sun-soaked pace built around coves, pine-covered hills and centuries-old fishing villages. 

Together, they make a worthy starting point for a Spain travel guide, since between them they cover most of what people picture when they think of a Spanish holiday.

Spain’s Most Captivating Destinations to Explore 

Spain is one of the most magnificent destinations in the world. Spain gives you a bunch of beautiful memories from your trip, and the destinations to explore are listed below:

Barcelona: Gaudí Architecture and Mediterranean Energy

Barcelona is built around the work of Antoni Gaudí, whose unfinished Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882 and remains the city’s defining silhouette. The Gothic Quarter’s narrow medieval streets sit only minutes from wide, palm-lined boulevards like Passeig de Gràcia, and the beachfront at Barceloneta, which means you can move from cloisters to sand in under half an hour. 

For anyone drawn to holidays in Barcelona, the city rewards slow exploration on foot: local food markets such as La Boqueria, tapas bars tucked down side streets, and rooftop terraces overlooking the rooftops all add up to a destination that never feels one-dimensional. It is little surprise that Barcelona holidays consistently rank among the most requested city breaks in Spain.

Madrid: Royal Palaces and World-Class Art

Madrid trades the coast for grandeur. The Royal Palace, still used for state ceremonies, sits close to the Prado Museum’s collection of Velázquez and Goya, and the nearby Retiro Park gives the city a proper green lung for slower afternoons.

Neighbourhoods like Malasaña and La Latina keep the evenings lively with tapas crawls that spill from one bar to the next. Madrid also works well as a base for day trips to Toledo or Segovia, both under an hour and a half away, making it a strong addition to any wider Spain holiday itinerary.

Majorca: Coves, Mountains and Historic Towns

Majorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, pairs beach holidays with genuine landscape. The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs along the northwest coast and hides villages such as Deià and Sóller, the latter reachable by a wooden vintage tram. 

Palma’s Gothic cathedral, La Seu, rises directly above the harbour, while the southeast coast offers calmer coves like Cala d’Or for swimming. If your idea of holidays in Spain includes both hiking and sunbathing, browsing Majorca holiday packages is usually the best option.

Ibiza: Beaches, Sunsets and Nightlife

Ibiza’s reputation for nightlife is well earned, but the island’s quieter northern coast, around Portinatx and Cala Xarraca, offers a completely different pace. Dalt Vila, Ibiza Town’s fortified old quarter, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and worth a wander regardless of how you spend your evenings. 

Sunset watching at Café del Mar has become something of a ritual, capturing the balance the island strikes between its party scene and its natural beauty, a balance reflected in the range of Ibiza holiday deals on offer throughout the year.

Must Have Experiences in Spain

A handful of experiences are worth building a trip around. Watching the sun set over the Mediterranean from a rooftop bar in Barcelona, tasting jamón ibérico in a Madrid tapas bar, and driving the coastal road along Majorca’s Serra de Tramuntana all rank among Spain’s most memorable moments. 

Flamenco, though most associated with Andalusia further south, can also be seen in smaller venues in Madrid and Barcelona. A boat trip along Ibiza’s coastline at sunset, taking in the cliffs near Es Vedrà, is another experience that regularly tops visitor lists, and sampling fresh seafood at a beachfront chiringuito is one of the simplest ways to spend an afternoon on the coast.

Getting Around Spain

Spain is a country full of character, offering a diverse mix of cities, landscapes, culture, and experiences. For first-time visitors, choosing the right mode of transport can make it much easier to explore different parts of the country. Let’s look at the main transport options for exploring Spain in detail.

High-Speed Trains

Spain’s AVE network connects Barcelona and Madrid in under three hours, with similarly fast links to Seville and Málaga. Trains are comfortable, punctual and the easiest way to move between major cities without airport transfers.

Domestic Flights

Short domestic flights link the mainland to the Balearic Islands in an hour, making Majorca and Ibiza easy additions to a mainland trip. Budget carriers run frequent routes from Barcelona and Madrid, with fares usually inexpensive if booked ahead.

Ferries

Ferries connect Barcelona and Valencia to Majorca and Ibiza, taking longer than flying but offering a scenic alternative for travellers happy to build an extra day into their route. Car ferries also let you bring a rental vehicle along.

Suggested Spain Itineraries

Every trip has plenty to see, but without a well-planned itinerary, it’s easy to miss some of the highlights. If you’re planning a trip to Spain, creating a day-by-day itinerary from the moment you arrive to the time you depart can help you make the most of your stay. Here are some suggested Spain itineraries to help you plan your journey.

5 Day Trip

Five days suits a single region done properly rather than a rushed tour of the whole country. A common structure is three nights in Barcelona followed by a short flight over to Majorca for two nights of beach time.

7 Day Trip

A week allows a fuller mainland route, similar to this ten-day route through Barcelona and Majorca scaled down slightly: three nights in Barcelona followed by two or three in Madrid, connected by a fast AVE train. Travellers who prefer the coast can swap Madrid for extra nights and split between Majorca and Ibiza.

10 Day Trip

Ten days covers all four destinations without constant rushing: three or four nights in Barcelona, two or three in Madrid, and the remainder split between Majorca and Ibiza depending on whether hiking or nightlife matters more to you. Domestic flights between the mainland and islands are frequent and inexpensive.

Spain rewards a bit of planning without punishing spontaneity. Travelodeal can help shape any of these routes into a holiday that fits your dates and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)