# Spain’s architecture and food markets · More time in the middle and at the far end

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/open-jaw/spain-s-architecture-and-food-markets-z0671/>)

More time in the middle and at the far end

- Region: Europe
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 12
- Interests: Design, Sport, Nature, History, Science, Arts & Theatre, Food & Drink

## Route and nights

- Madrid · 3 night(s)
- Valencia · 4 night(s)
- Barcelona · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: The middle base gets time of its own. Book the last gateway separately and compare the total transport cost.

Compare: Rail

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Madrid

- 15:00 to 15:45 · Check in or drop off your bags · Hotel Regina
- 16:00 to 17:30 · Get oriented near your hotel and locate the next transit stop · Madrid. Keep this stop optional if you arrive late.
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Madrid
Overnight: [Hotel Regina](<https://www.hotels.com/ho174616/hotel-regina-madrid-spain/>) · Madrid

### Day 2 · Madrid

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Madrid
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Compare Gran Vía facades and public architecture around Callao · Gran Vía, Madrid
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch around Gran Vía or Sol · Gran Vía, Madrid
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk toward Plaza de España and the civic squares · Gran Vía, Madrid
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Madrid
Overnight: [Hotel Regina](<https://www.hotels.com/ho174616/hotel-regina-madrid-spain/>) · Madrid

### Day 3 · Madrid

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Madrid
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Use a confirmed stadium museum or tour slot if available · Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid. Check the actual stadium route, event days, and ticket availability. [Official information](<https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near the stadium or back in central Madrid · Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk the district or use an alternative city stop if access changes · Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Madrid
Overnight: [Hotel Regina](<https://www.hotels.com/ho174616/hotel-regina-madrid-spain/>) · Madrid

### Day 4 · Valencia

- 07:40 to 08:10 · Check out and collect your bags · Hotel Regina
- 09:00 to 13:45 · Travel from Madrid to Valencia · Valencia. Check the actual train, station, and check-in time at the hotel. [Official information](<https://www.renfe.com/es/en>)
- 13:45 to 15:00 · Late lunch near your arrival station or hotel · Valencia
- 15:00 to 15:50 · Check in or drop off your bags · Vincci Lys. Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.
- 16:10 to 17:25 · Take a short orientation walk near your new hotel · Valencia. Skip the walk if your actual arrival is later.
- 18:35 to 20:00 · Dinner near your new hotel · Valencia
Overnight: [Vincci Lys](<https://www.hotels.com/ho203340/vincci-lys-hotel-valencia-spain/>) · Valencia

### Day 5 · Valencia

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Valencia
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Walk a section of the Turia Garden and choose a turnaround point · Turia Garden, Valencia. Check transit and shorten the walk in heat. [Official information](<https://www.visitvalencia.com/en>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near the garden or on the route to the shore · Turia Garden, Valencia
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Travel to the seafront and take a short beach walk · Turia Garden, Valencia
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Valencia
Overnight: [Vincci Lys](<https://www.hotels.com/ho203340/vincci-lys-hotel-valencia-spain/>) · Valencia

### Day 6 · Valencia

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Valencia
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Walk the Old Town and see the city gates from public streets · Torres de Serranos, Valencia. Check tower opening separately if you plan to climb. [Official information](<https://www.visitvalencia.com/en>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch around El Carmen · Torres de Serranos, Valencia
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Follow the quieter public lanes or walk a short Turia section · Torres de Serranos, Valencia
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Valencia
Overnight: [Vincci Lys](<https://www.hotels.com/ho203340/vincci-lys-hotel-valencia-spain/>) · Valencia

### Day 7 · Valencia

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Valencia
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Explore selected hands-on exhibits at the Science Museum · Museu de les Ciències, Valencia. Check current exhibit access and whether any activity needs a separate ticket. [Official information](<https://cac.es/en/>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch around the City of Arts and Sciences · Museu de les Ciències, Valencia
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk the public architecture paths around the complex · Museu de les Ciències, Valencia
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Valencia
Overnight: [Vincci Lys](<https://www.hotels.com/ho203340/vincci-lys-hotel-valencia-spain/>) · Valencia

### Day 8 · Barcelona

- 07:40 to 08:10 · Check out and collect your bags · Vincci Lys
- 09:00 to 14:40 · Travel from Valencia to Barcelona · Barcelona. Check whether the service uses Joaquín Sorolla or another Valencia station. [Official information](<https://www.renfe.com/es/en>)
- 14:40 to 15:00 · Late lunch near your arrival station or hotel · Barcelona
- 15:00 to 15:50 · Check in or drop off your bags · Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella. Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.
- 16:10 to 17:25 · Take a short orientation walk near your new hotel · Barcelona. Skip the walk if your actual arrival is later.
- 18:35 to 20:00 · Dinner near your new hotel · Barcelona
Overnight: [Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella](<https://www.hotels.com/ho719891040/motel-one-barcelona-ciutadella-barcelona-spain/>) · Barcelona

### Day 9 · Barcelona

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Barcelona
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Walk public Olympic sites around Montjuïc · Olympic Ring, Barcelona. Check which venue is open and whether any stadium visit is off-site. [Official information](<https://www.barcelona.cat/en/>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near Plaça d’Espanya or on the return route · Olympic Ring, Barcelona
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Use a confirmed sports museum or football-history visit if it fits · Olympic Ring, Barcelona
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Barcelona
Overnight: [Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella](<https://www.hotels.com/ho719891040/motel-one-barcelona-ciutadella-barcelona-spain/>) · Barcelona

### Day 10 · Girona

- 08:00 to 10:15 · Travel from Barcelona to Girona, Spain · Girona, Spain. Use an actual service and allow time to reach the first stop.
- 10:25 to 12:15 · Walk the old city and a public section of the walls · Girona, Spain. Check wall access and select actual rail services. [Official information](<https://www.girona.cat/turisme/eng/>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch in the old center · Girona, Spain
- 13:55 to 15:35 · Follow the Onyar riverside and return toward the station · Girona, Spain
- 15:50 to 17:45 · Return to Barcelona · Barcelona. Check the return before deciding when to leave.
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Barcelona
Overnight: [Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella](<https://www.hotels.com/ho719891040/motel-one-barcelona-ciutadella-barcelona-spain/>) · Barcelona

### Day 11 · Barcelona

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Barcelona
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Visit the Picasso Museum and walk the public lanes around El Born · Picasso Museum, Barcelona. Check admission and timed-entry options. [Official information](<https://museupicassobcn.cat/en>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch in El Born · Picasso Museum, Barcelona
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk toward Santa Maria del Mar or explore the neighborhood streets · Picasso Museum, Barcelona
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Barcelona
Overnight: [Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella](<https://www.hotels.com/ho719891040/motel-one-barcelona-ciutadella-barcelona-spain/>) · Barcelona

### Day 12 · Barcelona

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Barcelona
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Browse Santa Caterina or another open public market · Mercat de Santa Caterina, Barcelona. Check market trading and vendor hours. [Official information](<https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/mercats/en>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Have a Catalan lunch near the market · Mercat de Santa Caterina, Barcelona
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk the Gothic Quarter edge and choose a coffee stop · Mercat de Santa Caterina, Barcelona
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Barcelona
Overnight: [Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella](<https://www.hotels.com/ho719891040/motel-one-barcelona-ciutadella-barcelona-spain/>) · Barcelona

### Day 13 · Barcelona

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Barcelona
- 09:15 to 09:45 · Check out and collect your bags · Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella
- 10:00 to 10:45 · Optional short walk near your hotel · Barcelona. Skip this stop if you need the time for departure.