Complete Spain: South to North Adventure

Arrive in Madrid at any time. The city is the central hub for Spain's high-speed rail and a major international flight gateway. Settle into a hotel in the city center, which leaves the afternoon and evening free to get your bearings before the real travel begins.

The day starts with a short orientation walk to get a feel for the city's layout. Afterwards, Madrid is yours to explore. A full day is enough time to tick off one of the major sites, but not all three. Choose between the sprawling Royal Palace, the masterworks of Goya and Velázquez at the Prado Museum, or simply finding a seat at a café in the grand Plaza Mayor. As evening sets in, follow the locals into the tapas bars of La Latina or Las Letras.

A long-haul bus carries you 420km south from the central plains of Madrid into the heart of Andalusia. The destination is Granada, the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain. After checking in, head straight for the Albaicín, the city's old Arab quarter. Its steep, whitewashed lanes are best explored on foot, and the effort is rewarded with clear views of the Alhambra palace, especially as the sun sets over the city.

Today is dedicated to the Alhambra, a sprawling hilltop fortress complex and the pinnacle of Moorish architecture in Europe. A guided visit is the only way to make sense of the three main parts: the military Alcazaba, the ornate Nazrid Palaces, and the serene Generalife gardens. Booking tickets far in advance is non-negotiable. The afternoon is free to wander back through the city's lower districts, where tapas bars line the streets around Plaza Nueva and the cathedral.

The route pushes deeper into Andalusia, breaking the journey to Seville with a stop in Córdoba. Once the largest city in Roman Spain and a caliphate capital, Córdoba's main draw is its old Jewish quarter and the staggering Mezquita. Inside the former mosque, a forest of 856 candy-striped columns surrounds a full-sized Catholic cathedral, built directly into its center after the Reconquista. After exploring the city, the journey continues by road, arriving in Seville in the early evening.

A full day to explore the Andalusian capital. The city's core is a triangle of world-class sites: the Alcázar, a stunning royal palace still used by the Spanish monarchy; the world's largest Gothic cathedral, with its iconic Giralda bell tower; and the winding, romanticized alleys of the Santa Cruz quarter. Like in Granada, booking Alcázar tickets ahead is wise to avoid long queues. The day ends with a flamenco performance in one of the city's intimate tablaos, a raw, powerful expression of Andalusian culture.

A major travel day, swapping southern Andalusia for northern Catalonia via a 920km high-speed train journey. The shift in culture is immediate upon arrival in Barcelona. An afternoon orientation walk cuts through the crowds on Las Ramblas and into the labyrinthine Gothic Quarter. The evening is spent at a hands-on paella cooking class at a community-run kitchen, offering a practical lesson in one of Spain's most famous culinary exports, followed by a group dinner.

A full, unstructured day in Barcelona. This is the time to pursue a specific interest, whether it's the modern art at the Picasso Museum, the fantastical architecture of Gaudí scattered across the city, or simply finding a spot on the sand at Barceloneta beach. The city's efficient metro system makes it easy to connect the dots between far-flung sights like Park Güell and the Sagrada Família. For a break from the city, local trains run frequently to coastal towns like Sitges.

Leave the Mediterranean coast behind for the rolling vineyards of La Rioja, Spain's most famous wine region. The 486km train journey ends in Logroño, the region's capital. Soon after arrival, you'll visit a local winery for a tasting to understand the terroir and aging process that defines Rioja wines. The evening is a classic Logroño experience: a pintxos crawl. Go from bar to bar on Calle Laurel, sampling each tavern's specialty small plate, which stands in for a formal dinner.

A free day in Logroño offers a chance to dive deeper into wine country. Options include organizing a day trip to the town of Haro, home to some of the oldest and most prestigious bodegas, or simply visiting more wineries around Logroño itself. For those staying in town, the city's cathedral and the Museum of La Rioja offer a break from viticulture. The evening is another opportunity to explore the legendary pintxos scene.

A packed overland day cutting through the Navarre region en route to the Basque coast. The first stop is near Obanos to walk a short but scenic 2km section of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail. From there, the journey continues to Olite to visit its spectacular 13th-century Royal Palace, a fairy-tale castle of turrets and courtyards. A final brief stop in Pamplona allows a quick look around the city famous for the running of the bulls before arriving in the coastal food mecca of San Sebastián.

A morning orientation walk provides the layout of San Sebastián, from the waterfront promenade along La Concha beach to the dense streets of the Parte Vieja (Old Town). The rest of the day is free. This city is arguably the world's greatest food destination, and the main activity is participating in the nightly txikiteo, a convivial pintxos crawl. Beyond the food, you can hike up Monte Urgull for panoramic views or visit a traditional Basque cider house in the hills outside the city.

A short, 100km bus ride west along the coast leads to Bilbao, the industrial and cultural heart of the Basque Country. After an orientation walk through the old town, the afternoon is free. The city's main draw is the Guggenheim Museum, Frank Gehry's titanium-clad masterpiece that sparked Bilbao's revitalization. For a different perspective, climb the Mallona Stairs from the Casco Viejo to Parque Etxebarria for sweeping views over the city and the Nervión river.

The route across Spain concludes in Bilbao. There are no planned activities, leaving the day free for packing and catching flights. The city's international airport is a short bus or taxi ride from the center.