In July 2019, during a major heat wave that overtook most of Europe including Spain, I set out on an 8-day Spanish excursion with my mom. It was the first international trip we took-just the two of us and the decision to go was somewhat impulsive. Summer may not be the most ideal time to visit Spain especially when walking is the major mode of transportation, but alas, I soon realized that Spain is always a good idea. We started out in Madrid where we planned to stay a total of 4 nights. We would venture to Seville via train from Madrid on one of those days. The trip would end in Barcelona where we’d stay 3 nights. Madrid, Seville, Barcelona-three very different regions that would provide a well rounded overview of Spain culture and life.

Madrid: A city as chic as its people

The energy of Madrid reminds me of that of cities like New York and Paris (my two favorite cities in the world) so it was no surprise I fell hard for Spain pretty quickly. We stayed in the Salamanca neighborhood, known as the ritziest neighborhood in Madrid at the Hospes Puerta Alcala Hotel. This is a beautiful hotel situated in a prime area that is walkable to many tourist attractions including Retiro Park, El Prado Museum and Plaza Mayor. We spent the first day walking around the Salamanca area where there are a lot of restaurants and shopping. Madrid is a very fashionable city and most people look runway ready; the voguish shopping experience certainly reflects this as well. We had dinner at El Paraguas and sat in their beautiful outdoor space; the service and food here were impeccable.

The next morning we walked around El Retiro Park and then headed towards the El Prado Museum. After exploring the museum, we went to Plaza Mayor and walked around Sol Gran Via (the city center). In the evening, we made our way back to our hotel and took a cab to La Latina neighborhood for dinner and a Flamenco show. I had looked up several restaurants and Flamenco experiences in the La Latina area and a tapas place, Juana La Loca came up a few times in my search. In general, it is recommended that you make a reservation in advance as it’s a very popular spot, but we were lucky and when we walked in, the manager was kind enough to find us a spot for a quick dinner before our show. After dinner, we went to Corral de la Moreria to see the Flamenco show, which started at 9:30 PM. I highly recommend seeing a Flamenco show while in Madrid-such a unique and culturally enriching experience!

A Day Trip to Seville

The next morning, we took the train from Atocha station in Madrid to Santa Justa station in Seville. When we arrived, we headed to a nearby brunch spot called Torch Coffee Roasters. We had booked a tour through the Tiqets app for the Cathedral de Seville cathedral and Alcazar Palace at 2:30 PM. The Cathedral de Seville is the largest cathedral in the world and the third largest church! It is a work of perfection that incorporates both Muslim and Christian architecture as it’s built around a mosque. The Alcazar Palace is the oldest royal palace in Europe that’s still used today. This palace is famous for its mudejar architecture and remnants of Renaissance, Moorish, Baroque and Gothic elements. We finished both tours around 5 pm and then made it to our 7:15 PM train back to Madrid.

We spent our last day in Madrid walking along Madrid’s most famous street, Gran Via and doing more shopping. We visited the Templo debod, which is an outdoor display of Egyptian sculptures best visualized in the evenings. The next morning, we took an 11 am train to Barcelona and arrived at 1:30 PM. We stayed at Hotel 1898 located off La Rambla, which is the main street in Barcelona near the gothic quarter. I knew immediately this was where we were meant to stay as the lobby had a Magnolia’s, the NYC bakery.

A Gaudi (but definitely not gaudy) experience

We spent our first day in Barcelona exploring the Gothic quarter. Often referred to as a medieval city, the Gothic quarter is a coalescence of old Roman architecture and modern buildings, merging both old and new. Charming shops, cobblestone roads, narrow alleys and tall, looming buildings all add to the unique vibe of Barcelona. After exploring the area and taking in some of the street culture, we walked down La Rambla avenue to find a restaurant for dinner. With so many options and an eclectic range of cuisine, we decided on a delicious tapas restaurant called Ciudad Condal, located near the Obama bar.

The next morning we had brunch at Caravelle near our hotel and did some shopping along Passeige de Gràcia, one of the main shopping and business areas in Barcelona (also the most expensive street). I had purchased la Sagrada Familia tickets for the guided tour through the Tiqets app, which we took at 2 pm. This Antoni Gaudi masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site remains unfinished, but is still a must-see! Along with the tour, you have the option of purchasing an additional ticket to go up in one of the Sagrada Familia towers, the Nativity Tower and the Passion Tower, which overlook the city. I had read that the Nativity Tower offered more picturesque views so I opted to do that one.

I had also gotten Casa Battlò tickets ahead of time so we went there next. This is another one of Gaudi’s masterpieces and probably my favorite structure that we visited. It’s really difficult to capture just how unique and original this building is so highly recommend visiting. For dinner, we went to Oasis Natural Cooking, which I had picked out beforehand when looking for a healthy spot. We spent our last full day in Spain visiting Park Güell. We purchased Park Güell tickets through the Tiqets app ahead of time and did the guided tour. I do think the Park Güell guided tour was worth it as the stories behind the architecture are just as captivating as the architecture itself. We then explored the Gothic quarter on our last night. The next morning we flew home from the Barcelona international airport.

Spain in a summer heat wave can be a daunting proposition and we spent A LOT of the time walking in the hot sun with temps as high as 110 F, but the heat did not take away from how magical Spain is. Spain is such an incredible country with rich history and architecture that visiting once is just not enough. I look forward to returning and trying out all the seasons of Spain in the future.

COVID-related information

With over 80% of its residents fully vaccinated and almost 90% with at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, it is clear that people in Spain trust their public health experts. Spain also has an indoor mask mandate that is strictly followed and until very recently, had an outdoor mask mandate.

As of February 1st, 2022, United States citizens can travel to Spain for non-essential travel if they are full vaccinated and the last dose of the COVID vaccine was given more than 14 days before travel and no more than 9 months prior to travel. If more than 9 months have passed since the last dose, visitors are required to get a booster shot as well. The booster should also be done at least 14 days before landing in Spain. A negative test is not required to enter the country, but there is a health screening process in the airport. Visitors from the US must also get a QR code from the Spain Travel Health Portal. For more information, visit the embassy site.

https://es.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/#:~:text=U.S.%20citizens%20entering%20Spain%20on,or%20a%20certificate%20of%20recovery.