12 days in Madrid & Barcelona Itinerary

Madrid is known for its cultural and artistic heritage, lively nightlife, and a dynamic culinary scene.

Appreciate the collections at Prado National Museum and Museo del Greco. Your inner history buff will appreciate Plaza Mayor and Catedral Primada. Get out of town with these interesting Madrid side-trips: Hayedo de Montejo (in Montejo de la Sierra), Parque Natural Hayedo de Tejera Negra (in Cantalojas) and Toledo (Synagogue of Saint Mary the White, El Transito Synagogue and Sephardic Museum, &more). There's lots more to do: admire the landmark architecture of Royal Palace of Madrid, examine the collection at Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, hunt for treasures at Mercado San Miguel, and take a stroll through Gran Via.

For where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Madrid planner.

Cairo, Egypt to Madrid is an approximately 8-hour flight. You can also drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Cairo to Madrid. Expect a bit cooler temperatures when traveling from Cairo in December; daily highs in Madrid reach 14°C and lows reach 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 30th (Fri) early enough to fly to Barcelona.

Barcelona, the country’s second-largest city, is a cosmopolitan urban center known for its throbbing youthful energy and stellar architecture.

Get some cultural insight at Basilica de la Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo. Your inner history buff will appreciate Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) and Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Barcelona: Playas de Calella (in Calella de Palafrugell) and Fundacio Mona, Centre de Recuperacio de Primats (in Riudellots de la Selva). Next up on the itinerary: pick up some local products at La Boqueria, pause for some serene contemplation at Barcelona Cathedral, walk around Parc Guell, and examine the collection at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - MNAC.

To find where to stay, ratings, photos, and tourist information, go to the Barcelona travel route site.

Fly from Madrid to Barcelona in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. Traveling from Madrid in December, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be a bit warmer in Barcelona, with lows of 7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Wed) to allow time to fly back home.