Madrid, Seville & Granada Itinerary: 10 Days by Train

Madrid, Seville & Granada Itinerary: 10 Days by Train

Duration10 days / 9 nights
RouteMadrid → Seville → Granada
TransportHigh-speed and intercity rail
Ideal forArt, architecture & first visits

Three nights in each city, with Spain's major art, royal, and Andalusian landmarks separated by two manageable rail days.

A three-city Spain route with protected rail days

Spend three nights each in Madrid, Seville, and Granada. The Prado, Royal Palace, Royal Alcazar, and Alhambra sit on separate days so each timed visit has room around it.

Direct services may operate on both intercity legs, but exact trains and stations vary by date. Reserve only after checking the current operator timetable and leave transfers free of fixed attraction entries.

This plan assumes sustained walking over historic paving, heat exposure, and some slopes. It is not accessibility verified; confirm assistance, step-free entrances, and hotel access directly.

Tickets, rail, and summer pacing

Reserve the Alhambra as soon as your dates are fixed and enter traveler names exactly as required by the official ticket. Prado, Royal Palace, Royal Alcazar, and Seville Cathedral entries can also sell out at popular times. Rail disruption, strikes, engineering work, or security procedures can alter a trip. Recheck the operator, train number, station, baggage rules, and platform before every departure. In hot weather, move outdoor walks to morning or evening, carry water, and replace exposed plazas or hill climbs with a shaded rest.

Official planning links

Use these for current rules and tickets

Rail and Madrid

Schedules and official venue information

Andalusian monuments

Timed entry and closure information

10-Day Itinerary Breakdown

1

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid

Do not tie a paid attraction to an uncertain arrival window.

Casa de Correos clock facade overlooking Puerta del Sol in Madrid
ArrivalFlexible

Check in near central transit

Settle in, identify the nearest metro entrance, and keep documents and valuables secure in busy stations and squares.

Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor orientation walk
Late afternoonAbout 1.5–2 hours

Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor orientation walk

Use the two squares as a compact first-day loop. Expect crowds and road works, and return by metro if jet lag makes the walk impractical.

2

Day 2: Prado and Retiro

Keep the collection focused and leave time to sit after the museum.

Museo del Prado facade and Velazquez statue in Madrid
Museo del Prado timed visit
MorningAbout 2.5–3 hours

Museo del Prado timed visit

Reserve through the museum, verify the entrance and bag rules, and choose priority rooms before arrival. Temporary gallery closures can change the route.

Retiro Park shaded loop
AfternoonAbout 1.5–2 hours

Retiro Park shaded loop

Walk only the section that suits the weather and energy level. Park events, heat, wind, or maintenance can affect access.

EveningFlexible

Barrio de las Letras dinner

Stay near the museum quarter and confirm menu, allergy, and reservation details directly with the restaurant.

3

Day 3: Royal Madrid and La Latina

State ceremonies can close all or part of the palace with limited notice.

Royal Palace of Madrid facade with columns and the Spanish flag
Royal Palace of Madrid reserved visit
MorningAbout 2 hours

Royal Palace of Madrid reserved visit

Use the official Patrimonio Nacional channel and recheck closures, identification, security, and photography rules before arrival.

Almudena exterior and Las Vistillas
AfternoonAbout 1.5 hours

Almudena exterior and Las Vistillas

Keep cathedral entry optional around worship and security schedules, then use the nearby gardens or viewpoint for a short outdoor loop.

EveningAbout 1.5 hours

La Latina lanes

Choose a compact dinner route and use well-lit main streets after dark. Crowded tapas areas require normal care with belongings.

4

Day 4: Madrid to Seville

Verify the Madrid and Seville stations printed on the ticket; city names alone are not enough.

Narrow pedestrian street between tall historic buildings in Seville
MorningAllow 4–5 hours door to door

High-speed train to Seville

Reserve the specific service, arrive before the operator's stated boarding cutoff, and include hotel checkout, station security, platform finding, and the final transfer from Santa Justa.

Santa Cruz orientation walk
AfternoonAbout 2 hours

Santa Cruz orientation walk

Follow a short loop through signed lanes and small squares after check-in. Avoid trying to navigate the whole quarter with luggage or in peak heat.

5

Day 5: Royal Alcazar and Cathedral Quarter

Use official timed tickets and check heat or event closures before joining the entry line.

Arcaded courtyard and trees inside the Royal Alcazar of Seville
Royal Alcazar of Seville timed visit
MorningAbout 2.5–3 hours

Royal Alcazar of Seville timed visit

Match ticket names and identification as required, arrive at the stated gate, and choose a shorter garden route if temperatures are high.

Seville Cathedral and Giralda plan
AfternoonAbout 1.5–2 hours

Seville Cathedral and Giralda plan

Enter only with a valid official ticket and current access confirmation. The tower route is optional and should be skipped if slopes, crowds, or heat are unsuitable.

Riverside dinner near El Arenal
EveningFlexible

Riverside dinner near El Arenal

Recover near the center instead of adding another monument. Check the return route and final transit before staying late.

6

Day 6: Plaza de Espana and Triana

Move exposed outdoor time away from the hottest part of the day.

Canal, bridge, and tiled brick buildings at Plaza de Espana in Seville
Plaza de Espana and Maria Luisa Park
MorningAbout 1.5–2 hours

Plaza de Espana and Maria Luisa Park

Walk the public square and a shaded section of the park. Events, filming, maintenance, or extreme heat can alter access.

Triana market area and river walk
Late afternoonAbout 2 hours

Triana market area and river walk

Cross by a central bridge, browse only open public areas, and keep the riverside portion short in severe heat or rain.

Reserved flamenco performance
EveningOptional

Reserved flamenco performance

Choose a licensed venue with clear duration, seating, age, accessibility, and cancellation terms. A performance is optional rather than a guarantee of a particular style or cast.

7

Day 7: Seville to Granada

Do not attach the Alhambra to this transfer day.

Granada rooftops and trees viewed from above near the Albaicin
MorningAllow 4–5 hours door to door

Train to Granada and check in

Verify whether the service is direct, the departure station, boarding requirements, and any replacement transport. Allow for the city transfer at both ends.

Lower Albaicin orientation loop
Late afternoonAbout 1.5–2 hours

Lower Albaicin orientation loop

Stay on a short route around Plaza Nueva and the lower hillside. Use a local bus or taxi for steeper sections and save the main viewpoint for conditions that suit your party.

8

Day 8: Alhambra Reserved Visit

The ticketed entry time and named traveler rules take priority over this suggested sequence.

Alhambra palace reflected in a long courtyard pool in Granada
Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces timed route
MorningAbout 3–4 hours

Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces timed route

Carry the required original identification, use the entrance and palace time on the ticket, and confirm which gardens and monuments are included. Distances and slopes inside the complex are substantial.

Generalife or early return to the center
AfternoonAbout 1.5 hours

Generalife or early return to the center

Continue only within the access on your ticket and according to weather and energy. The bus back to the center is a sensible alternative to walking downhill.

EveningFlexible

Restful central Granada dinner

Keep the evening close to the hotel after the long monument route and verify dietary needs directly with the venue.

9

Day 9: Granada Monumental Center and Realejo

Cathedral and chapel tickets are separate products; select only what fits the day.

Stone facade and bell tower of Granada Cathedral
Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel area
MorningAbout 1.5–2 hours

Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel area

Check worship closures, official tickets, dress, and entrance locations. Enjoy the exteriors and nearby squares if queues or services limit entry.

Realejo lanes and Campo del Principe
AfternoonAbout 2 hours

Realejo lanes and Campo del Principe

Walk a compact section of the old Jewish quarter with a shaded break. Street gradients vary, so use local transit for the return if needed.

EveningFlexible

Alcaiceria and Bib-Rambla evening

Browse the public lanes without treating market goods as authenticated craft unless provenance is documented. Keep normal care with belongings in crowds.

10

Day 10: Carrera del Darro and Departure

Omit the riverside walk for an early train or flight and protect the onward connection.

Stone bridge and historic buildings along Carrera del Darro in Granada
Short Carrera del Darro walk
MorningFlexible · about 1 hour

Short Carrera del Darro walk

Follow a short, central riverside section close to luggage storage, then turn back before the route climbs. Skip it when departure timing is tight.

DepartureAllow a conservative connection buffer

Continue by rail or airport transfer

Confirm the correct station or airport, live local transport, and operator check-in requirements. Granada and Malaga airports require different transfer plans.

Route overview

Travel south from Madrid to Seville, then east to Granada, keeping a full arrival afternoon in each new city.

  1. 1

    Madrid

    Days 1–4 · Puerta del Sol, Prado, and Royal Palace

  2. 2

    Seville

    Days 4–7 · Santa Cruz, Royal Alcazar, and Plaza de Espana

  3. 3

    Granada

    Days 7–10 · Albaicin, Alhambra, and historic center

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 days enough for Madrid, Seville, and Granada?

It is a balanced first route with three nights in each city. Add days if you want Toledo, Cordoba, or Malaga; inserting those trips here would displace core city time.

What should I know about luggage on Spanish trains?

Pack so you can lift and control your own bags, and check the specific operator's size, quantity, restricted-item, and boarding rules. Leave time for station security and do not assume large cases will stay beside your seat.

How much buffer do the rail transfers need?

Arrive before the operator's stated cutoff and keep attraction tickets off transfer afternoons. Include hotel checkout, city transit, security, platform finding, and the final transfer at the destination, plus recovery time for delays.

Which reservations are essential?

The Alhambra is the first priority because named, timed entry can sell out. Then consider the Prado, Royal Palace, Royal Alcazar, and Seville Cathedral through their official channels once trains are fixed.

What if a train is disrupted?

Check the operator's app or station notices, retain the original booking, and follow its rebooking or refund instructions. Do not assume a ticket is valid on another operator, and keep enough time to use a later service.

Should I rent a car for this route?

No car is needed in these city centers. If you add one, confirm ZBE or restricted-zone rules, parking, tolls, license or IDP requirements, insurance exclusions, deposits, named drivers, and one-way fees before entering any city.

Make this plan your own

Copy this plan into your account in one click — keep the original for reference and edit your copy any way you like.

Sign in once to save and edit your own copy.

Plan from scratch