If war and virus abide, my partner and are going to Spain in mid/late May. I would love some input on an itinerary/how to block it out. It's 17 days altogether including a travel-only day on either end. We'll stay in Barcelona with friends for 5-7 days somewhere near the start, and we are currently slated to fly out of Madrid but could also see about changing that if it's ill-advised. Other places that have been recommended or looked interesting to us: San Sebastian, Costa Brava and Cadaqués specifically, Majorca or Menorca. We want the trip to feel relaxing, not hectic, but we also want to feel like we explored and learned and had some cool adventures. Maybe we try to do San Sebastian for the first couple days, then Barcelona, Costa Brava for 4 days, Madrid for the last two, skipping the island trip? Or swapping Majorca for Costa Brava to have more beach/vista time for 3-4 days?

About us: we're a 30s/40s interracial queer couple in Brooklyn. We're good with languages and speak some French but have to study up on Spanish and Catalan. We're inspired by great food, art, design, history, and culture (maybe in that order of priority) but wary of crowds and of feeling too mainstream. We're looking for a mix of city exploration and landscape/water/maybe hiking/definitely resting/less of an urban setting.

Your itinerary suggestions are very welcome! Some mix of editing and strategic planning. Also very interested in recommendations of places to stay, eat, check out.

Donostia-San Sebastian is quite off from Barcelona, it´s a 6h drive, and I cannot see a good relationship with the rest of the itinerary.

You'll have to take my response with a grain of salt as I'm a 50-something heterosexual that travels somewhat main-stream - lol. We've been to Barcelona, Seville, Cordoba, Ronda, Madrid and Toledo on 2 previous trips to Spain. We're hoping to travel to Malaga, Granada, Cadiz and other places next year - fingers crossed.

I'm wondering if you have considered Andalucia? Seville has a vibrant food scene - tapas and other. It would hit the mark on history and culture too, along with some art and design. Some areas of the city may be main stream but I think there are options for not so main stream. Along with Seville, there are other cities and towns in Andalucia that might work for you too. We are looking forward to visiting Granada and the Alhambra - but again, it seems like it would be main stream travel but can't comment for sure. Although we didn't do any real "hiking" when we visited, from my research, I have seen a lot of options in the Andalucia area. Check out El Caminito del Rey. Google hiking in Andalucia - there is lots of info on other hikes. We flew from Barcelona to Seville on fairly inexpensive short flight and there is also the high speed train between the two. Seville also has a good connection to Madrid via the high speed train.

I think you'll love Barcelona and Madrid - something for everyone in both. My 30-something year old daughter has travelled to all kinds of places and Madrid is one of her favourite cities. Do your friends live in Barcelona or are you meeting up with them there? If they live there, they may have good suggestions for you too.

Good luck with your planning and I hope the world is in a good place so you can take this trip. Spain is a wonderful place!

Generally you may find less is more. I suggest explore Barcelona a bit more and also visit Girona, Figueres, Narbonne (over the border, but I promise you the border is nothing) Perpignan. Lots of beaches, lots of different sights and frankly better than hacking down to the south.

Madrid and Toledo yes go there (Madrid has a gay quarter which is very positive)

If you have time then Seville/Cordoba/Granada is a great visit but only if you have time and I think not. If you could open up a few days then yes

May is a good time as not yet too hot, even so you will find the locals are begining to look at longer days and siesta.

We flew to Bilbao from Barcelona and took a bus from the airport to SS. Also, Vueling has cheap flights to the airport 40 min.outside SS (from Barcelona.)
It is a great place to visit , one can even cross into France.
Madrid can be easily reached by fast train from Barcelona (2.5 h.)
It is a fab city with possibilities for many day trips . in addition,
Cordoba, Zaragoza, Valencia, Salamanca can be reached in lees than2 hours by train.
Valencia and Malaga offer much to see + beaches.
We love Spain, visited at least 10 times, but our interest is not beach time or driving.

So how many nights do you have on the ground? I think it's easier to plan trips by counting nights, not days.

I have made two trips to Spain and loved both trips. I really don't think you will be disappointed wherever you go. It just depends on what is the most logical itinerary and how long it takes to get to the different places. Our first trip was to Barcelona and the Costa Brava (Girona and Cadques). Our second trip was to Madrid, Toledo, and Andalucia (Cordoba, Granada, Malaga and Seville). We loved every place.

I would spend 5 to 7 nights in Barcelona because there is so much to see and do there. You could then rent a car and spend some time along the Costa Brava, which will give you beautiful scenery. Cadaques is beautiful and looks like a Greek village. You could visit Dali's house in Port Lligat, very quirky. Then spend a few nights in Girona, a lovely walled medieval city with a river running through it. And for mountain scenery, spend a few nights in the Pyrenees, visiting Besalu, Ripoll, Rupit, etc. We combined Cadaques and Girona for a 3-night roadtrip but could have used more time.

It seems to me you could logically include San Sebastian and Bilbao in a trip to Barcelona if you don't visit Madrid.

It also makes sense to visit Madrid. It's an easy train ride from Barcelona. I would spend 4 nights in Madrid, which has some outstanding art museums. And then spend a night or two in Toledo. Don't visit Toledo as a daytrip. We spent one night in Toledo and it was so charming in the evening when the tour buses left and the city is illuminated.

May is a great time to visit Andalucia, too. But I think you would have to omit Costa Brava and Madrid if you want to visit Andalucia. In Andalucia, you have the Moorish history and architecture and delicious food, flamenco in Seville. The Alhambra in Granada, Mezquita in Cordoba, and Alcazar in Seville are beautiful historical sites. Perhaps you could fly home from Seville if you choose to omit Madrid.

One possible itinerary could be: Barcelona (5 - 7 nights); Cadaques and Girona road trip (3 nights); Madrid (4 nights), and Toledo (2 nights).