Cultura RM Exclusive/Anthony Charles/Getty Images. We enjoyed the Mudejar style, which takes inspiration from Islamic architecture and was often created by Muslim artists for non-Muslim buildings and patrons. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". If its warm enough, head to the coast and visit Klaipeda. You can also save more money by looking at ready-to-eat meals at grocery stores or cooking in the hostel is possible. Outside of town, take the opportunity totaste Mulsum, an ancient Roman wine that's still being made today. Day 2 Arrive in Madrid Lithuania is rich in cultural preservation, so much so that their folk dance was considered by UNESCO as one of the intangible cultural heritages. It's a beach destination, a market mingler's paradise, and an eater's daydream. Were Matt and Alysha, the two endlessly curious travelers behind this site., We spent the past two years traveling, which included 18 national parks here in the United States, and an extended trip to Europe., Recently, we have chosen to put down roots in Portland, Oregon, and look forward to exploring even more of the Pacific Northwest (Matt grew up in Seattle, so he knows it well).. Next, make a pit stop in the town of Tarragona, which was founded as an important Roman Military camp in 218 bc. $800 in eastern Europe will not work for Scandinavia. Spain is well-known for its lively culture, flamenco, arts, literature, as well as its wines, beaches, and of course, football. Barcelona has a very nice international airport with plenty of domestic and international flights available, and Sevilles, though smaller, will still give you plenty of options (though youll need to connect if youre flying back to the US or Canada not a whole lot of direct flights go from Seville to North America).. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. You can take a swim on its sandy beaches, lakes, and rivers. Poland and Czechia are both affordable destinations compared to their neighbouring countries. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There are three markets in Barcelona that we liked (though we went to a couple of the more local markets that are found in each neighborhood and enjoyed those too). Theres a small (former) mosque in the center of Toledo near Puerta del Sol that was built in 999 AD. Narbonne was the first Roman colony outside of Italy and was located at the crossroads of the Via Domitia, the Roman road linking Italy to Spain. Other than Bucharest, you have to go to the Transylvanian region, known as the home of Dracula. Last but definitely not least is Estonia, which is famous for its dense woods, thousands of uninhabited islands, and rich history. Norway is also known as the Land of the Midnight Sun. This country has over 1,000 natural springs water, hence, the popularity of its thermal baths. This list is obviously not exhaustive, and for more detail you should head over to our guide to 2 days in Seville, which goes deeper on the city and what to do and see while youre there. However, if you are crossing countries and they are not next to each other, you are probably better off flying than doing a long drive. Instead, wed recommend taking the time in the places you do visit to really get a feel for each place and go deeper on the unique histories and cultural quirks, which is what makes each place special. We had heard from the guide on our walking tour that the Royal Chapel was the best part of the Cathedral complex to visit, and wed have to say we agree with that assessment. Allow for at least three days in Barcelona, everybody's favorite port city on the Mediterranean. Its where we stayed, and we basically walked everywhere we went in Madrid. Here is one possible itinerary for you to consider: Go early in the morning for the best experience, and get some fresh fruit or fruit juice for breakfast (Satans Coffee Corner a few blocks away is where you should go to get coffee). Youre going to want to invest in the fabulous Hola Card if you stay here, which gives you access to unlimited transportation from between 24 hours and a week (in 24 hour increments). Youve seen Christianity, youve seen Judaism, now for the last of the three main monotheistic religions, Islam. This recommended itinerary gives you an idea of how much you can reasonably see in 21 days, but of course you'll want to adapt it to fit your own interests and time frame. Iceland is not a big country, but spending four days here is plenty. We have a specific 2 weeks in Spain itinerary, this might help you plan a trip there if you decide to spend your trip in one European country only. So try to book your long-distance train tickets as far in advance as possible to save money! The best way to get to Madrid is by train. Its undeniable that the UK has the most famous monarchy in the world. The UK is popular for many things including its monarchy, culture, history, and performers. Plus, its a gorgeous small town set on a river (multiple rivers, actually) and Game of Thrones filmed a bunch of major scenes from Season 6 in Girona. Last but definitely not least is Denmark, which is well-known for its coastal towns, architecture, royalty, and cuisine. We would only recommend this path if you have another week in Spain so three weeks total. Now, back to those two areas. >>TIP: Check out our 2 weeks in Poland post if you prefer to explore that country on a single trip. Romania is famous for its Carpathian Mountains, Salt Mines, and Medieval Fortresses. If you like hiking, add more to CT. Here are some of the things to do in Barcelona that we think should be staples on your trip. Spain Itinerary: Where to Go in Spain by Rick Steves 2 weeks trip to Italy & Spain??? - Italy Forum - Tripadvisor Which is how we experienced the museum. Turns out, Colombia, Read More 3 Days in Bogot, Colombia: A Perfect Bogot ItineraryContinue, In early 2020, after years of planning and saving, we quit our jobs to travel the world. It would take you almost 3 hours to reach your destination. Wed recommend staying in one of the central neighborhoods that makes up the Casco Antiguo, Sevilles charming old town core. There are, essentially, two main options in our minds here. Unforgettable Europe in 3 Weeks: Your Essential Guide to Must-see Wearing a mask is no longer required in many places in Europe, but its smart to carry one just in case you get to countries that still require them. However, if you want to get away from big crowds, head to Seville, Valencia, or even Zaragoza. In Poland is where youll find Europes most ancient forest, Medieval Castle, the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp, amazing museums, and more. One important note: Tickets for the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell especially in high season sell out. Best Spain 2-Week Tours & Itineraries - Compare 21 Trip Ideas If you are a fan of Gaudi, you will want to spend more time in Barcelona than Madrid. Its going to take you three and a half hours or so to get from Madrid to Granada, but we think its worth it and the train ride is pretty beautiful. We have two personal recommendations here. You can move around 2-3 times for a fast paced trip that checks off Italy bucket list items. In this way, you'll have a chance to experience many of the most popular places to visit in Italy over the course of 2 weeks, without doubling back or over-stuffing your schedule. The accommodation will be the most expensive cost, but the food can be budgeted. It does not store any personal data. Getting to Milan: Get to Milan's Malpensa Airport. If you've ever thought about taking a road trip around southern Europe, here's the ultimate guide to get you started. Founded by the Greeks, colonized by the Romans, made famous again by Van GoghArles is the essence of Provence, completewith a great Roman arenaright in the center. Theres a reason why I think its important to know Sevilles history going into your trip. Weve organized this trip going east to west from Barcelona to Seville, but you could easily do it the opposite direction. The Ultimate Two-Week Italy Itinerary The Blonde Abroad [DEAL ALERT] 13D10N ITALY SWITZERLAND FRANCE FROM S$2,988 WITH 2 EXTRA NIGHTS IN DUBAI FREE*! If you follow it as written, youll want to fly in and out of different airports on whats called an open jaw flight. It experienced a boom in tourism recently since it implemented a digital nomad visa. Here's a very comprehensive tutorial from TripAdvisor on how to do it with the official RENFE site, as well as some other sites that may charge a bit more but are easier to use: http://tinyurl.com/cu48wk5. This depends on what you plan to do. Germany is well-known for its cathedrals, castles, palaces, and colourful architecture, as well as its sausages and beers. It takes roughly three hours and costs around 40 Euros per person to start, more if you book closer to your travel dates. The fastest route takes more or less 6 hours. $2,000 will take you a long way if you choose one expensive place to spend a week and the other one is a more affordable country (e.g Germany and Poland or Switzerland and Czechia). If youre looking for a boutique hostel thats a cross between a hotel and a hostel with private, hotel-style rooms and the social aspects youd expect from a hostel look at TOC Hostel. Its a very, very unique style, and the Prado Museum is one of the best places in the world to see it. Before we can really talk about Seville the capital of Andaluca as a Spanish city, we have to talk about its origins. Still, the arches and in the dimly lit interior are quite something. This country is also well-known for waffles and beer and is the home to NATO headquarters. Today, its one of the best examples (outside of Andaluca, I suppose) of the coming together of the three prominent religions and cultures in Spanish history Muslim, Jewish, and Christian. The most popular city is Split and Dubrovnik, but Zadar, Hvar, and Pula are an equally stunning area for swimming and other water activities. Fortunately, Europe has amazing transportation between cities and countries, making it easy to travel around even with limited time. The first path is adding more places along this general route, which is the one wed recommend (and is essentially what we did on our trip). Youre not going to be able to see even close to everything in two weeks. Here are some of the top-rated attractions in Spain: Some of the options to reach France from Spain include flying, taking a train, riding the bus, using rideshare or driving. Perhaps, you can focus on hiking instead of being in the city or just spend 14 days in England only, especially if its your first time. The Albaicn is the most romantic and charming part of Granada, at least in our view. First, and most famous, is La Boqueria, which is right on Las Ramblas. You will stay in a hostel and consume street food or grocery store meals. Covering multiple countries, and featuring famous attractions that are historical, cultural, and outdoor activities. Youll need to choose a timeslot for your visit we heard that the later afternoon times tend to be the least busy, but its generally always full in peak season. For more information on Granada, make sure to check out our guide to 2 days in Granada, which has everything you need to know to spend a couple of days in the city, including how to see the Alhambra.. We have an article with 3 different itineraries on how to spend 2 weeks in France. Start in Valencia, Spain's third-largest city. The entire thing is one big mashup of different architectural styles, cobbled together over several centuries with Gothic, Renaissance, Mudejar, and other styles all blended together. Accommodation in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria is costly but affordable in Poland and Czechia. We know we won't be able to hit every major city/site, but plan on returning!! Day 9 CT Click here to check prices, reviews, and availability.. They are Grcia, a more residential and low-key area north of the city center (our personal favorite), and lEixample. Most tourists love staying in Reykjavik, but you dont have to. You can easily move around in your own car, which means it doesnt matter if your hotel is not in the city. To understand the context around Madrid and its role in Spanish history, wed recommend connecting with a local expert. We loved this walking tour of the Albaicn, where we got to learn more about the history of the neighborhood. Here are some specific places to consider: Sol-Gran Va is much more about the central location than how charming it is. You should geat a hop-on hop-off bus that will take you to the top attractions of Paris. If youre up for the first path, here are some other places that would make a great addition to your itinerary, along with how much time to allocate to each place. Just like its neighbouring country of Italy, Croatia is also a fantastic beach destination and so much more affordable. After being frustrated several times, we turned to Omio, a private company that presents all the bus and train options in a significantly more user-friendly package (an app with tickets available offline, no glitches with payments, and its all in English). 1215 expert & traveler reviews on Spain trips. As mentioned before, Croatia is now popular for being the filming location for Game of Thrones, but there are other places to see in this magnificent country. Two Week Travelleris a travel blog that shares, creates, and publishes 2-week travel itineraries. There are 7 of us in the family so is it a good idea to rent a minivan to drive to Italy and Spain or is it better to get to our destinations via rail/ plane? Mingle with locals at the Mercado Central and eat plenty of paellathis is where the famous rice dish originates. This includes the worlds longest road tunnel and the worlds most remote island, among others. How to Plan an Epic 2 Week Europe Trip (+ Europe Itinerary Ideas!) We have an entire section on the Prado below, because we think its that important., Here are some things that you shouldnt miss while youre in Madrid.. Show up on the day you want to go when the ticket office opens to buy tickets for that day. 13 Days Itinerary to Italy, Switzerland and France for a - TripZilla If you do this as a one-way journey working from east to west, that means youll want to fly into Barcelona and out of Seville. Poland also has the biggest castle in the world, and many believe that vodka originated in Poland. To help you plan a trip, in this guide, we share a detailed 2-week Italy itinerary that brings you to all the most famous places in the country: Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, but also the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscan countryside, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and a few other destinations that should be at the top of every Italy 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. $1,000 will be fine for southern-east Europe, and $1,500 will be decent for central Europe. TWOWRVLLR. IS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE AND USES OTHER AFFILIATE PROGRAMS, FOR WHICH WE EARN A COMMISSION AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. One of the unique things youll find in Granada (and other parts of Andalusia, though not nearly as prominently as in Granada), are tea houses, which are a clear example of the influence of the seven centuries of Muslim rule in Granada.