Plan your trip
Spain travel guide: what to see, do and eat
Build your Spain trip around the places you want to experience, with time for meals and breaks. Start by deciding how long to spend in each city. This guide connects our Madrid and Barcelona suggestions with practical questions for a first visit.
Visiting Madrid: what to see, do and eat
What to see and do
For a first visit, choose the Royal Palace area, the Prado and Literary Quarter, or a morning in Retiro Park. Group sights by area rather than crossing the city for each stop. Museum and monument interiors require separate planning and any applicable tickets. Preview the public route stops before choosing.
Explore the routes →What to eat and how to choose
Cocido madrileño and the calamari sandwich are part of Madrid’s food traditions. For tapas, compare Narváez, the Literary Quarter and Chamberí around your walk. A tapa and a ración are different sizes: check the menu and ask how much to order for your group.
Explore the routes →A travel app for your route
GidePass is a travel web app you can open on your phone, with eight prepared Madrid walks. Use the map alongside stop information and the camera to help understand a menu. Check what the pass includes and prepare your account access before heading out.
Explore the camera →Visiting Barcelona: what to see, do and eat
What to see and do
Choose Sagrada Família and Sant Pau for architecture, the Gothic Quarter and El Born for streets and squares, or Barceloneta for the seafront. Give Montjuïc its own time. Book any interior visits separately and avoid crossing the whole city between every sightseeing stop.
Explore the routes →What to eat and how to choose
Start exploring Catalan cooking with pa amb tomàquet, escalivada or crema catalana. At a market, check prices and decide whether you want a tasting stop or a full meal. Seasonal dishes and availability vary; confirm ingredients and dietary requirements directly with the venue.
Explore the routes →A travel app for your route
The GidePass web app brings together eight prepared Barcelona walks and practical travel tools. Preview the stops before choosing and use the Barcelona pass for its city. The camera helps with menu wording; it cannot replace the restaurant’s confirmation of ingredients.
Explore the camera →Barcelona in one, two or three days
- One day: choose the Gothic Quarter–El Born or Sagrada Família–Sant Pau as your focus. Leave time for a meal and any interior visits you have booked.
- Two days: spend one on the old town and another on Modernista architecture. Check each route’s stops before combining them.
- Three days: add Port Vell–Barceloneta or set aside a day for Montjuïc. Adjust the plan around bookings, breaks and your walking pace.
What to order in Barcelona
Pa amb tomàquet is bread with tomato and olive oil. Escalivada features roasted vegetables, including peppers and aubergines. Both introduce Catalan cooking.
For a fuller meal, look for botifarra amb mongetes; for dessert, crema catalana. Check the menu: each restaurant chooses its dishes and preparation.
At La Boqueria, compare prices per item, portion or weight and decide between a snack and a meal. Confirm ingredients and allergens with staff.
Read the official food guide →What to eat and how to choose
Food varies by region. In Madrid, discover cocido and the calamari sandwich; in Barcelona, try pa amb tomàquet, escalivada or crema catalana. Paella originates in Valencia and does not represent every Spanish region. Check ingredients, portion sizes and prices before ordering.
Plan your trip
Group sights by neighbourhood and allow time for transfers. A museum or monument interior needs its own time slot and any required ticket. Check official sources for reservations, transport and entry requirements for your nationality. This guide does not replace those checks.
GidePass currently offers Madrid and Barcelona city passes. This page does not claim that the app has routes in every Spanish city. Read the public guides before deciding whether to buy.
Each city pass costs €4.99 for seven days from activation. One payment, no automatic renewal. Transport, meals and admission are separate. Maps, camera and AI features need internet access.