Planning a trip to Spain? Great choice, but where to go?! This perfect Spain road trip takes you down along the Spanish East Coast. Starting in Barcelona, a beautiful city with lots of diversity. But that’s not the only city you have to see… Ready? Buckle up and let’s go!

Start in Barcelona

The number one place to visit is (of course) the Sagrada Familia, the holy cathedral by Antoni Gaudi. The building isn’t finished but it will be in 2026, on the 100th anniversary of his death. There are so many famous landmarks in Spain that are worth the visit. Gingerbread houses, a magic lizard and mosaic benches are some of the Park Guell’s architectural flourishes. This is also Gaudi’s incredible work.

When you’re a football lover, you definitely have to go to Camp Nou, the stadium of one of the best football-teams of the world: FC Barcelona. Avoid waiting in line and buy your tickets for the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Camp Nou stadium and many more here.

A little vegan tip

Flax & Kale is the hotspot for vegans and vegetarians. With the plant based dishes and the big botanical garden is this the place to be in the summer.

Let’s go to Tarragona!

When you have seen all the highlights in Barcelona, it’s time to start your ‘mini’ road trip. With your own car or pick up a rental car in Barcelona. A small city under Barcelona is Tarragona. This atmospheric city is full of beautiful old buildings and incredible street art. A visit to the Market Hall is also recommended. You can buy tasty Spanish specialties and other food, but the building itself is also worth a look. The market hall is an officially protected monument of the province of Tarragona and both the outside and the inside are very impressive.

Next stop: Modern Valencia

Good food, shopping or culture: in this city you can do all. There is always something to do for everyone. The city’s eyecatcher is the ‘Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias’ (city of arts and sciences). This is a park with six modern buildings including a opera house, a 3D IMAX cinema and a aquarium.

Also the Catedral de Valencia y el Miguelete is a must see. When you walk around the cathedral you can see three different kind of styles are used: Romance, Gothic and Moorish. This because of the conquests in the past. The big Gothic bell tower is called El Miguelete. You can climb this tower to have a beautiful view over the city Valencia.

The silence of Murcia

When you have enough of the crowded cities and full beaches, you’ll have to steer your wheels to Murcia. Boring? Not really! All the shops, restaurants and cafes are open, even in the months September till May. The most gorgeous place in Murcia is without a doubt the breathtaking Sierra Espuna Nature Park. This green heart of Murcia will give you a experience you’ll never forget. Many special plant and animal species live in the pine forests and between the colorful rocks. The smell of rosemary and thyme and the sounds of many birds will guide you through your walk. And dont’ forget to check out the Burial of the Sardine!

Crowded Madrid

Ready to go back again to the crowded streets? The end of this road trip is the capital of Spain: Madrid. There’s a lot to see in this city, so check out this three days in Madrid guide. Save money and get a Madrid Citypass for tickets or discounts on attractions. Most of the time you can also skip the long waiting lines.

The Museo del Prado is one of the biggest and famous art museums of the world. It has more than 5.000 drawings, 1.000 coins and medals, 8.600 paintings and many more. Big names like El Greco, Bartolome Esteban Murillo, Rembrandt, Jheronimus Bosch, Peter Paul Rubens, Velázquez, Titiaan en Joachim Patinir have pieces in this museum.

Book your ticket to the Prado Museum now!

The Palacio Real is also a great palace to visit. The king of Spain’s workplace has 3.418 chambers and is the second biggest royal palace of Europe. And at least, go to the Plaza Mayor. This big impressive square is full of street artists. Around this square are cute little shops where in the past knights and bullfighting took place.

When your finished your trip, you can leave your rental car at Madrid Airport, you don’t have to go back to Barcelona to drop of your rental car. That’s easy!

Are you ready for this Spanish road trip? Or need some tips for packing?