Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please consider clicking through them if you choose to make a purchase; this helps support my ability to run this blog. Thank you! All reviews are based on my honest opinion.
In need of a 2-week Spain itinerary? Look no further.
I was really, really looking forward to our Spain trip after we had to scrap our 2021 travel plans. That said, having a year to anticipate and design the trip may have made me a little obsessive about the details of our trip. No restaurant was too small to research thoroughly, no hotel escaped my scrutiny of their photo gallery, Instagram, and trip advisor reviews. I’ve learned to balance structure and improvisation, often veering off my (at times) hour-by-hour itinerary, resulting in an amazing, but also relaxing trip. Lest it go to waste, here’s the two week travel itinerary I put together that took us from Madrid to Córdoba, Málaga, Marbella, and a luxury farm resort nestled in the Andalusian mountains above Montecorto.
Travel resources
Before you go anywhere, don’t forget to check the US Embassy’s COVID-19 information, as well as the Spanish government’s Travel Health Program. We had to upload our vaccination documents and travel info to the SPTHP app, and in fact most countries have some kind of health portal you’ll have to fill out these days. Make sure you research and square away the necessary steps and paperwork ahead of time to minimize stress!
A sunny morning at The Principal Madrid. Wearing a washable silk sleepwear set from Lunya – get 15% off your first order w/ code THEPRIMPYSHEEP
Itinerary
Every time I’ve traveled from the East Coast to Madrid we’ve arrived early in the morning. The trick to not starting off your trip exhausted is 1) to try and sleep on the airplane (a glass of wine works wonders) and 2) take a brief 1-2 hour nap in the afternoon the day your arrive. Yes, I realize this is dangerous, but if you can be strict and get yourself up afterwards, you’ll have enough energy to eat a Spanish dinner around 9:00 pm and stay up until a “normal” time (midnight)!
Day 1 – Madrid
9:00 am – Arrive at the airport and take an Uber downtown. Taxis cost a regulated flat rate of 30 euros which, when we were there in May, did not apply to Ubers. As a result, it only cost us 15 euros to get to our hotel—that may change.
10:00 am – We checked into our hotel, The Principal Madrid, and asked to upgrade to a room with a balcony. Request a room on an upper floor if possible, as those have the best views and are a little quieter than lower levels! This hotel is located right on the Gran Vía with beautiful views of the Metropolitan building’s gray and gold dome (though unfortunately under construction during our trip). Traffic can get loud if you open your windows, but secure them closed properly and your room will be completely soundproof.
11:00 am – Grab a late breakfast at La Chulapa de Alcalá around the corner from The Principal. We stumbled upon this restaurant and were too tired to worry over whether it was a tourist trap. It was actually filled with locals catching a quick bite before work. Get the excellent, runny tortilla española and a café con leche.
12:00 pm – If you have the energy, venture out to visit the Templo de Debod (closed 2-6pm) and swing by the Mercado de San Miguel for a drink and a snack on the walk back.
4:00 pm – Take a nap!
6:00 pm – Enjoy an early evening cocktail on the rooftop of The Principal – a must, whether or not you stay there.
9:00 pm – Make a dinner reservation at El Paraguas in the adjacent, swanky Salamanca neighborhood, about a 20 minute walk away.
Day 2 – Madrid
10:00 am – Visit the Prado museum
2:00 pm – Go back to The Principal for a light lunch on the rooftop – the serving of jamón ibérico is generous and the tinkling water fountain is incredibly zen. Or if you missed it on Day 1, go to the Mercado de San Miguel.
4:00 pm – Walk along the Gran Vía through the Puerto del Sol and Plaza Mayor. While the restaurants ringing the square tend to be tourist traps, it’s worth getting a glass (or bottle) of cava and soaking in the scene. Alternately, grab churros at the famous Chocolatería San Ginés. They’re very heavy and generous with the servings; I recommend splitting one order with a friend. Sit outside to soak in the street vibes – and prevent everything you’re wearing from smelling like deep-fried pastries!
9:00 pm – Make a dinner reservation at Restaurante Angelita, known for its terrific wine list and just a short walk from the hotel.
Day 3 – Madrid
10:00 am – Get brunch at Casa Dani in the Mercado de la Paz, famous for its tortilla española
11:00 am – Pick up picnic items at the market
12:00 pm – Walk through Retiro Park and find a good spot for a long lazy picnic and maybe even a nap
4:00 pm – Tour the Royal Palace or Madrid Archeological Museum
9:00 pm – Make a dinner reservation at Taberna Laredo
Day 4 – Madrid→Córdoba
11:00 am – Check out, catch the 12:35pm train to Córdoba arriving 2:17 pm
3:00 pm – Check into the Hospes Palacio del Bailío and have a late lunch at their garden cafe. The gazpacho is delicious! It’s super smooth and comes in a tall glass over ice—perfect for a hot day.
5:00 pm – Ask for a tour of the 2,000-year-old Roman ruins underneath the hotel (see my reel for a sneak peek).
7:00 pm – Walk past the Roman Temple to the Calleja de las Flores, or street of flowers. It’s tiny but famous for its flower pots that line the narrow walkway. Afterwards, find a street cafe for a glass of cava.
9:00 pm – Walk across the Roman Bridge at sunset. When we were in Córdoba in May this happened at 9:17 pm.
10:00 pm – We didn’t make a dinner reservation at Casa Pepe de la Juderia, but it’s recommended. I got the grilled artichokes with jamón and Reed got the grilled octopus – both dishes were phenomenal!
At the Hospes Palacio del Bailío in Córdoba, the second stop on our 2-week Spain itinerary.
Day 5 – Córdoba
10:00 am – Visit the Mosque-Cathedral Mezquita
11:30 am – Visit the Alcázar de Los Reyes Cristianos (next door to the Mosque)
2:00 pm – Get lunch at the Bodegas Mezquita Cruz del Rastro
4:00 pm – Relax by the pool back at the hotel
8:30pm – Make a dinner reservation at two-Michelin star Noor (see my reel for details). They’ll email you the tasting menus so you can decide which one you want. We both had the largest menu, Wusul, which was delicious and left us both incredibly stuffed!
Enjoying the garden at the Hospes Palacio del Bailío. Shop the look here.
Day 6 – Córdoba→Málaga
12:00 pm – We picked up our rental car from Enterprise at the bus station. (Their website will say it’s at the train station, but it’s really across the street).
1:30 pm – Visit the beautiful Medina Azahara about 20 minutes outside the city. It’s out of the way (west) if you’re headed south, but worth a visit.
5:00 pm – We parked our rental car in a public parking garage and checked into our Airbnb a couple blocks from the Plaza de la Merced. The garage charged us 20 euros per day with in and out privileges. We left our keys with the concierge there for a slight discount, as that allowed them to park our car in a trickier spot. I will say – they left us on our own to get out of said spot two days later and it was a process!
8:00 pm – Walk around the city center and get dinner at El Tapeo de Cervantes.
In our cute Málaga Airbnb.
Day 7 – Málaga
10:00 am – Walk up to Castillo de Gibralfaro/Mirador de Gibralfaro for sweeping views. Pause at the top for a mug of crisp beer at the cafe.
1:00 pm – Get lunch at the Picasso Tapas Bar on the romantic Plaza de la Merced
3:00 pm – Visit the tiny Museo Casa Natal de Picasso (Picasso’s birthplace museum) and then the official Picasso Museum with a large collection of his work.
6:00 pm – Visit the Alcazaba – it’s smaller and less intricate than the Real Alcázar de Sevilla; we got our fill in under an hour.
9:00 pm – Make a dinner reservation at Kortxo
Strolling through the beautiful Plaza de la Merced in Málaga, the third stop on our 2-week Spain itinerary.
Day 8 – Day trip to Marbella
11:00 am – Drive to Nikki Beach by 11:00 am, when the property opens, to enjoy the luxurious space before a noon lunch reservation. Word to the wise—this place will go from classy to rowdy in about two hours, but the people-watching is fantastic.
3:00 pm – Drive into Marbella old town to explore. Visit the Museum of Spanish Contemporary Engravings
7:00 pm – Get dinner at El Patio De Mariscal before driving back into Málaga
The gardens at La Donaira, a luxury farm retreat nestled in Spain’s Andalusian mountains.
Day 9 – La Donaira
10:00 am – Leave early and drive to Finca La Donaira, a luxury farm resort nestled in the mountains above Montecorto. We parked our car in town and hopped into the van service provided by La Donaira.
1:00 pm – Check into La Donaira and get an aperitif before enjoying a delicious 4-5 course lunch
3:00 pm – Pool time
8:00 pm – Enjoy another aperitif before a delightful multi-course dinner from their team of resident chefs.
12:00 am – Pro tip – visit the spa’s indoor pool after dinner for a private midnight swim that aids digestion!
Day 10 – La Donaira
10:00 am – Breakfast
11:00 pm – Hike up to the top of a hill nearby for beautiful views of the Andalusian mountains
2:00 pm – Another delightful lunch
4:00 pm – Reserve private time in the spa and indoor pool, or lounge by the outdoor spring-fed pool again.
8:00 pm – Enjoy another aperitif before yet another delightful dinner. Pro-tip: the spring-fed pool is absolutely stunning at sunset, when everyone else will be gathering for dinner. Pause there around 8:45 for photos.
12:00 am – A post-dinner swim is a must.
The pool at sunset at La Donaira, maybe my favorite part of our 2-week Spain itinerary.
Day 11 – La Donaira→Ronda→Córdoba→Madrid
12:00 pm – Either depart from La Donaira early and get lunch at a cafe in nearby Ronda, or linger and pay extra to enjoy lunch before you leave.
5:00 pm – Drive to Córdoba to catch the late afternoon train to Madrid. Our train left at 6:00 pm and arrived at 7:45 pm, with time to spare for dinner.
9:30 pm – We checked into our Airbnb and got a light dinner at Cinco Jotas Jorge Juan, a chain with a small, cute patio in Salamanca.
Day 12 – Madrid
We spent our last day in Madrid strolling around Salamanca, getting our covid tests (you should no longer need these) and having a long, lazy lunch on the patio at El Paraguas with a bottle of champagne. Having an extra day with no real plans before our morning flight was key to making our 2-week Spain itinerary feel restful and luxurious.
Day 13 – Depart for home
I hope this 2-week Spain itinerary was helpful! Drop any questions or comments below. Follow me on Instagram @theprimpysheep for more reviews and style inspiration – and if you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
Eco Retreat Bliss at La Donaira in Andalusia, Spain
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Alcázar of Seville and Alhambra