Visiting Spain: An Easy and Affordable European Vacation ~ Adventures in Southern California

Plaza de Espana, Seville Spain

One of the great things about living in Southern California is that you can find inexpensive round-trip flights to Europe from LAX in Los Angeles. I've booked flights to Madrid, Barcelona, Prague, Geneva, Rome, Venice, Paris, and Amsterdam for around $500. It's pretty common to find discounted flights if you book about six months in advance. I'll typically start checking in February for flights in September. I've flown several different airlines and never had any major issues. Iberia, Swiss, Lufthansa, and British Airways have all proven to be reliable.

So where should you go? It depends on what you want to do. If you've never been to Europe, I would probably recommend avoiding Paris for your first trip. I really enjoyed Paris, but it was more of a hassle than most European cities, and you're more likely to run into problems. You need to pre-purchase tickets for many attractions, there are lines for everything, there are scams to look out for, and it's crowded and huge. Alternatively, I found Madrid to be much less stressful. We never waited more than 15 minutes for anything in Madrid. We walked right into most churches and museums without a line. It was always easy to find a spot outside to sit down and eat. The weather is generally sunnier and more predictable in Spain, and people seemed to be friendlier and more helpful. Madrid is also connected to Spain's excellent high-speed train network. You can catch a train and visit a ton of other awesome cities like Toledo, Córdoba, Seville, Málaga, Segovia, and Barcelona. Salamanca is another great option, although the train connections aren't quite as convenient.

If you had 10 days to travel, I would recommend going in late September. The weather is usually still warm, but you're avoiding some of the extreme summer heat. You can fly in and out of Madrid, spending three nights in Madrid, two nights in Córdoba, and three nights in Seville before taking the train back to Madrid for your final night. You won't need to rent a car for any of this trip. All three cities have walkable historic centers, and the high-speed trains make getting between them really easy.

Madrid is a great place to start because there's so much to see within walking distance. The Royal Palace is enormous and one of the most impressive buildings in Spain. Right next to it is the Almudena Cathedral, which is worth visiting. You can walk through Plaza Mayor, explore the old streets around Puerta del Sol, or spend a few hours at Retiro Park, which has beautiful gardens, fountains, and a large lake. You can even rent bicycles near the park and ride around its paved paths, which is a great way to see everything. Madrid also has some of the best museums in Europe, including the Prado Museum, with famous paintings by Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco. Another museum worth visiting is the Reina Sofía, which houses Picasso's enormous painting Guernica. The painting depicts the horrors of war following the bombing of a Spanish town by German and Italian aircraft during the Spanish Civil War in 1937. It's one of the most famous war paintings in the world. Make sure to stop at Mercado de San Miguel, a beautiful historic market that operates like an upscale food court with dozens of vendors selling Spanish food, seafood, pastries, and drinks. Another popular stop is Chocolatería San Ginés, which has been serving its famous churros with thick hot chocolate since 1894. Madrid stays busy late into the evening, and there's always something going on.

Córdoba is only about two hours from Madrid by high-speed train, and it's one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. The biggest attraction is the Mosque-Cathedral, an enormous building that was originally a mosque and later converted into a Catholic cathedral. The interior is incredible, with hundreds of arches and columns. You can also explore the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, walk across the ancient Roman Bridge, and wander through the narrow streets of the old Jewish Quarter. Much of the historic center feels like you've stepped back hundreds of years. Córdoba is also famous for its huge stone walls, beautiful flower-filled patios, traditional Andalusian restaurants, and small plazas. It's a smaller city than Madrid or Seville, which makes it really easy to explore on foot. Two nights gives you plenty of time to see the main attractions without rushing.

Seville is about 45 minutes from Córdoba by high-speed train and is easily one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, and one of my top 5 favorite cties in the world. The historic center is packed with incredible architecture, enormous churches, narrow streets, and outdoor restaurants. The Seville Cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world, and you can climb the Giralda tower for fantastic views of the city. The cathedral is also filled with incredible artwork, including paintings by famous Spanish artists like Murillo, Goya, and Zurbarán. There are hundreds of historic paintings inside, making it almost like visiting an art museum inside an enormous cathedral. You can also see the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Right next door is the Royal Alcázar, a beautiful palace complex with gardens, fountains, and detailed Moorish architecture. Plaza de España is another place you shouldn't miss. It's a massive semicircular plaza surrounded by beautiful buildings, bridges, and a canal. You can also walk along the Guadalquivir River, explore the old Santa Cruz neighborhood, or head across the river to Triana for restaurants, bars, and flamenco shows. Seville has excellent nightlife, and the streets and outdoor restaurants stay busy well into the night. Three nights is a good amount of time to explore the city and enjoy it without feeling rushed.

The best part about this route is that you're visiting three very different cities without spending a lot of time traveling between them. Madrid gives you the big-city experience with incredible museums, nightlife, and restaurants. Córdoba has a smaller, medieval atmosphere with some amazing historic buildings. Seville has a little of everything, with beautiful architecture, lively neighborhoods, and plenty to do at night. You can easily do the entire trip by train, and you won't have to worry about driving, parking, or renting a car. All 3 cities have affordable options for hostels, hotels and Airbnbs. I’ve had great luck using Airbnb in Spain and have stayed in some amazing places. For someone visiting Europe for the first time, I think this is one of the easiest and most enjoyable trips you can take.