Hello, All

I'm planning a 3 week trip to Spain with arrival in Barcelona. I've seen a lot of itineraries for Spain but all have been from years ago and I would like a newer look on things. The only thing that I know for sure is my trip will start and finish in Barcelona.

You need to provide some more information before anyone can help.

What time of year? It gets very hot in Spain in the summer time, so a summer trip would tend to point one to the north of Spain, while Fall and Spring would be good just about anywhere, and Winter makes Southern Spain the most logical choice.

What are you interested in? History? Architecture? Natural Beauty? Cities? Beaches? Mountains?

How do you want to travel? All public transportation, or are you open to renting a car for part of the trip?

That's just a start. Once you've identified your broad goals, then we can talk about budget, so as to suggest lodging and such.

I'll be landing in Barcelona on May 8th.
History, Architecture, Stunning Views and Beaches
All public transportation. Don't want to worry about a car.
I plan on doing all Airbnb's and budget is around $1,000 usd per person (2)

Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada would be nice, Cadiz for beach. I don't think of Spain as a beach destination although there are some world class beaches in Galicia and the entire north coast.

US$1,000 for 3 weeks, even if it excludes airfare, is going to be close to impossible (unless you've stinted on the info you've given us).

Here is our three-week trip report to Spain, starting in Barcelona. (lots of photos, too) . Link below ... (agree with StCirq about a $1,000 budget)

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/spain-2015/

Those interests could cover almost all of stunning Spain, which is huge and very diverse. Your budget will cover almost none of it.

I'd recommend that you consult some good guidebooks. The cost will be nugatory in comparison to the cost of your trip, or you could go to a local bookstore or library.

Unless that's 1K a day the budget is way too low.

The better beaches in Spain often are easier to access by car.

Not having a car tends to also mean sticking to the larger cities.

Flying in and out of Barcelona forces you into a circle route of some sort.

Agree that you can't do it for anywhere near that budget. I spent way more than that for two weeks, one person, inexpensive hotels, not a big amount for meals. Even if that amount doesn't include flight.

Welcome to Fodors -- because you are so new you are on sort of 'probation' the first few days, you won't be able to post again until tomorrow.

Your budget is very VERY low. Think about it -- if you actually mean 3 weeks/21 days $1000 is less than $50 a day and that is not enough to cover much. It sounds like you mean $1,000 for accommodations, food, transport, entrance fees, drinks . . . just not doable.

You should either raise your budget (quite a bit) . . . or . . . cut the length of your trip (quite a bit - like in half or more)

<<You should either raise your budget (quite a bit) . . . or . . . cut the length of your trip (quite a bit - like in half or more)>>

Or postpone it until you have enough euros to justify it.

I'm also wondering why all the reports you claim to have researched here "have been from years ago." Hardly a day goes by here that I don't see recent threads about trips to and around Barcelona.

And yes, flying into and out of Barcelona locks you into a trip that involves backtracking, which IMO usually wastes time and money.

I agree that USD 2,000 for two people is a small budget and very challenging but not as silly as some make it appear. Clearly 2,000 for two people in shared accommodation is a more generous budget than 1,000 for one so the many comments that "1,000 is very low" leaves some ambiguity as it might skim over that point.

Play around with the numbers. For example, at that price you can aim for about EUR 50 a night for accommodation for two with Airbnb. That leaves only €40 per day for food for 2, travel (local and city to city) for 2, admissions for 2, etc. Not impossible but not comfortable. I think that the cost of city to city travel is the killer in this so at one extreme, it's pretty well doable if you stay in one place but will get blown out quickly if you want to see a lot of Spain as that example €40 for food/travel will get eaten up very quickly. Obviously expenses vary by city (e.g. Barcelona is not a cheap city) so you'll have to carefully plan around that too.

It's certainly doable but I think you'll have a lot of time and hassle planning around that budget and trying to live to that budget would also require a very high level of discipline (e.g. almost no restaurant eating, skipping admission to many sites, forgoing bars, coffee shops, etc). And most importantly, not moving around too much between cities. Where you exceed a daily/nightly budget, you'll have to make it up elsewhere, potentially creating a lot of stress if you really can't exceed the budget. I think you can have a nicer time with less stress for more like $3000 for 2. That's about €135 per day for 2. Even just $500 more (2,500 for 2 people) gives you €110 per day which gives you more breathing room.

Our 1985 3 week trip to Spain started in southern France, but here is the photographic bulk of that trip:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjp5co3q

the northern part of the trip once over the Pyrenees started in San Juan de la Peña:

Ok, so I'm officially going to Spain for 16 days in May. I'm still coming and going via Barcelona. What are the absolute must do's for a first timer? Let's keep the money factor out of this. My traveling partner would like to go to Venice, Italy for a day if time permits. Thank you all in advance for your recommendations

>> My traveling partner would like to go to Venice, Italy for a day if time permits<<

OK -- is this a serious question? Look at a map. Venice is a 3 day drive, a 2 day train ride, or a 2 hour flight from Barcelona. No you can't do it as a day trip . . . Unless maybe you have access to a private jet?

With the types of questions you've asked my best advice is to get a guide book or two.

Chill. It's not that deep. I asked the question because I've never been to Spain so I don't know if 16 days is too long. What's a 2 hr flight anyways? 2hrs is a day trip imo I've done it before.

>>What's a 2 hr flight anyways?<<

It is a 2 hour flight each way . . plus 2-ish hours at the airport each way . . . plus travel to/from the airport each way . . . so that 2 hour flight actually eats up 9 to 10 hours of your 'day trip' -- you do the math.

16 days is certainly not too long for Spain. Also, have you booked flights? Much smarter to do an open-jaw flight, into Barcelona and home from your last city so you don't waste time and money getting back to Barcelona.

True depending on one's interests. I could easily devise a trip that either requires a lot of zig-zags or might actually have a lesser mileage by doing a round trip from Barcelona and back. The assumption that a round trip is a waste of time and money is an over-simplification. Given the OP's lack of knowledge, any suggestion is appropriate.

<<y traveling partner would like to go to Venice, Italy for a day if time permits.>>

Time will not permit.

And there aren't any "must-do's." There are only things YOU want to do.

Two more reasons to hit up the guidebooks, maps, and internet.