Barcelona → Madrid

Mar 7–14, 2026 · Maps · Hours · Tickets · Restaurants · Day trips

BCN base Passeig de Gràcia 15
MAD base Calle de Atocha 55
Arrive Sat Mar 7 · 08:40 BCN
Transfer Wed Mar 11 → MAD ~12:00
Depart Sat Mar 14 · assumed 10:05
Timed entry Sagrada, Güell, Prado, Palace
Day trips Montserrat + Toledo (DIY)
Strategy Walk-first, taxi when needed
MAD taxi €33 flat fare inside M-30

Barcelona (Mar 7–10)

Book timed-entry ASAP

Passeig de Gràcia is your Modernisme-on-foot base. Taxis for Park Güell and Montjuïc. Monday = Montserrat (museums close Mondays). Cathedral moved to Tuesday (closed Sundays for tourist visits).

🎟 Sagrada 🎟 Park Güell 🎟 Montserrat bundle 🎵 Escolania reservation 🎟 Cathedral
Sat, Mar 7
Arrive BCN + Picasso Museum, Santa Maria del Mar & El Born
🌅 07:16 · 🌇 18:48
🧭 Picasso → Santa Maria del Mar
Day plan
TimePlanNotes
08:40Arrive BCN El PratCurbside ~09:30
09:30Transfer to Passeig de Gràcia 15Taxi ~€39–47 · Aerobus €7.75 to Pl. Catalunya
10:30Coffee / brunch near baseKeep light — big afternoon
12:00Wander into El BornCoffee, shops, Passeig del Born
13:00Lunch in El BornRelaxed pace — ease into the city
14:30Picasso Museum~90 min · Sat open until 19:00
16:15Santa Maria del MarCultural visit Sat 10:00–18:00
17:00Waterfront stroll / BarcelonetaGolden hour on the beach
18:30Casa Batlló or La PedreraChoose one; save the other for a rainy slot
20:30Dinner (tapas)Reserve if possible
Stops
Museu Picasso
Winter (to Mar 29): Tue–Sat 10:00–19:00; Sun until 20:00; Mon closed
🎟 Tickets + hours
Santa Maria del Mar
Cultural visit Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00; Sun 13:30–17:00
🎟 Tickets
Casa Batlló
First access 09:00; last access 18:00. Night sessions later.
🎟 Tickets
La Pedrera (Casa Milà)
From Mar 6: daily 09:00–20:30 (plus evening sessions)
🎟 Tickets
Notes
  • Gentle first day — Born + Picasso + waterfront is low-pressure after travel.
  • Santa Maria del Mar has better Saturday hours (10:00–18:00) than Sunday (13:30–17:00).
  • Batlló/Pedrera is optional if you're fading — save it for another slot.
Sun, Mar 8
Park Güell morning + Sagrada Família (12:30) + Sant Pau
🌅 07:14 · 🌇 18:49
🧭 Sagrada → Sant Pau
Day plan
TimePlanNotes
09:30Park Güell (timed entry)Taxi recommended; arrive 10–15 min early
11:30Return to center / coffeeTaxi back or metro from Vallcarca
12:30Sagrada Família (timed entry)Arrive 15–20 min early · ~2 hrs · Sun opens 10:30, closes 19:00
14:45Walk Av. Gaudí → Sant PauBeautiful straight walk; photo stops along the way
15:15Sant Pau Modernista SiteLast access 30 min before close (17:00)
17:00Reset at apartmentShort rest before dinner
20:00Dinner (Eixample)Reserve if possible
Stops
Park Güell (Monumental Zone)
Ticketed tourist entry 09:30–18:00
ℹ️ Hours🎟 Tickets
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
March: Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00 · Sat 09:00–18:00 · Sun 10:30–19:00
ℹ️ Hours🎟 Tickets🧑‍🏫 Guide
Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau
Nov–Mar: daily 09:30–17:00 (last access 30 min before)
ℹ️ Hours🎟 Tickets
Notes
  • 12:30 Sagrada entry is confirmed and booked.
  • Sagrada → Sant Pau is a beautiful 10-min straight walk down Av. Gaudí — no backtracking.
  • Cathedral is closed Sundays for tourist visits — moved to Tue morning (Day 4).
Mon, Mar 9
Montserrat day trip (DIY) — monastery, Black Madonna, Escolania
🌅 07:13 · 🌇 18:51
Reservation required for Escolania Mon Mar 9 13:00 performance is confirmed on escolania.cat, but advance reservation is now required. ~20 min (Salve + Virolai). Arrive 15 min early. No clapping — it's a sung prayer.
DIY day plan
TimePlanNotes
08:00Depart → Plaça Espanya (FGC)On platform by ~08:15
08:26FGC R5 departs (hourly)Rack railway or cable car
09:45Arrive MontserratRack = comfort; cable = drama
10:00Basilica + monastery coreBasilica 07:00–20:00
12:00Black Madonna (timed slot)Throne: 08:00–10:30 & 12:00–18:25
12:45Arrive basilica for Escolania⚠ Reservation req'd · 15 min early
13:00Escolania (~20 min)Salve + Virolai
13:30Lunch + viewpoints / hikeBring a layer; mountain wind
16:30Descend → return to BCNBack for dinner ~18:30–19:30
Stops
Montserrat (Monastery complex)
Basilica 07:00–20:00 · Black Madonna 08:00–10:30 & 12:00–18:25 · Museum 10:00–17:45
ℹ️ Hours🎟 Bundle🎵 Escolania🚂 Getting there
Notes
  • Buy Montserrat bundle online + select Black Madonna timed slot before you go.
  • Poor weather? Prioritize basilica + museum; viewpoints are opportunistic.
Tue, Mar 10
Cathedral (early) + Montjuïc — MNAC + Miró + Cable Car + Castle
🌅 07:11 · 🌇 18:52
Day plan
TimePlanNotes
09:30Barcelona CathedralTue hours: 09:30–18:30 · ~1 hr
10:45Taxi/metro to MontjuïcAim for MNAC by 11:00
11:00MNACOct–Apr: Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00
13:00LunchMNAC café or Poble Sec
14:30Fundació Joan MiróTue–Sun 10:00–19:00
16:30Telefèric de MontjuïcMar–May: 10:00–19:00
17:15Castell de MontjuïcMar: 10:00–20:00 · Skip interior if tired
18:30Golden hour viewpoint → dinnerSunset from castle ramparts
Stops
Barcelona Cathedral
Mon–Fri 09:30–18:30; Sat 09:30–17:15; closed Sundays for tourist visits
ℹ️ Hours🎟 Tickets
MNAC
Oct–Apr: Tue–Sat 10:00–18:00; Sun 10:00–15:00; Mon closed
ℹ️ Visit
Fundació Joan Miró
Winter: Tue–Sun 10:00–19:00; Mon closed
🎟 Tickets
Telefèric de Montjuïc
Mar–May: 10:00–19:00
🎟 Tickets
Castell de Montjuïc
Mar 1–Oct 31: 10:00–20:00
ℹ️ Info
Notes
  • Cathedral at opening (09:30) means minimal crowds and no line.
  • Miró notes the Montjuïc funicular is temporarily out of service; TMB runs a shuttle bus.

Madrid (Mar 11–14)

Toledo locked in

Calle de Atocha: ideal for the "Golden Triangle" on foot. Toledo is a clean DIY train day. Airport inside M-30: €33 flat taxi.

🎟 Royal Palace 🎟 Prado 🎟 Reina Sofía 🚄 Toledo trains
Wed, Mar 11
BCN → MAD + Royal Madrid (Palace + Royal Collections)
🌅 07:33 · 🌇 19:17
🧭 Royal Madrid loop
Day plan
TimePlanNotes
07:30Check out BCN → SantsAt station 30–45 min early
~09:00High-speed train → MADRenfe · iryo · OUIGO
12:15Arrive Atocha → baseDrop bags / check in
13:00Lunch in Barrio de las LetrasStay close; big walking afternoon
15:00Royal Palace (timed entry)Arrive 15 min early · Security · Closes 18:00
17:00Royal Collections GalleryMon–Sat 10:00–20:00
19:30Plaza Mayor + Mercado San MiguelStroll / snack
21:00DinnerReserve for classic/historic
Stops
Royal Palace of Madrid
Winter (Oct–Mar): Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00; Sun 10:00–16:00. Box office closes 1 hr early.
🎟 Tickets
Royal Collections Gallery
Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00; Sun/holidays 10:00–19:00. Free Mon–Thu 18:00–20:00.
🎟 Tickets
Notes
  • 15:00 entry avoids peak crowds (11:00–14:00). After 2pm the Palace thins out considerably.
  • Free Palace admission Mon–Thu 16:00–18:00 for EU citizens/residents + Latin American nationals — but expect queues for the free window. If you qualify and don't mind a line, shift to 16:00.
  • If train arrives later than noon: Gallery first (open later), Palace next morning.
  • Atocha station has luggage lockers if early check-in isn't available.
Thu, Mar 12
Paseo del Arte — Prado + Retiro + Reina Sofía
🌅 07:31 · 🌇 19:18
🧭 Paseo del Arte loop
Day plan
TimePlanNotes
10:00Prado (timed entry)~3 hours for highlights
13:30Lunch + decompressLetras or Retiro picnic
15:30Retiro Park (slow walk)Golden hour near the lake
19:00Reina Sofía (free entry after 19:00)Guernica + 20th c. · Closes 21:00
21:00Dinner in Huertas/LetrasGreat area to end on foot
Stops
Museo del Prado
Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00; Sun/holidays 10:00–19:00
🎟 Tickets🧑‍🏫 Guide
Museo Reina Sofía
Daily except Tue · 10:00–21:00 · Sun until 14:30 · Free Mon, Wed–Sat 19:00–21:00
ℹ️ Hours🎟 Tickets
Notes
  • If only one museum: Prado. Reina Sofía is the perfect Guernica add-on — free after 19:00 saves ~€12/person.
Fri, Mar 13
Toledo day trip (DIY)
🌅 07:29 · 🌇 19:19
🧭 Toledo core walk
DIY day plan
TimePlanNotes
08:00To Atocha station~30 min before train
08:30Renfe Avant → Toledo (~35 min)Book exact time via Renfe
09:10Toledo station → old townTaxi or bus to Zocodover
09:45Mirador del ValleBest panoramic; taxi easy
10:30Toledo CathedralMon–Sat 10:00–18:30
12:15Santo Tomé (El Greco)Daily 10:00–18:45
13:15Lunch in ToledoReserve for special meal
14:45Santa María la Blanca + JuderíaQuick, memorable interior
15:30Museo SefardíTue–Sat 09:30–20:00
16:45San Juan de los ReyesMar: 10:00–18:45
18:00Return → train to MadridBack before sunset
Stops
Madrid ↔ Toledo (Renfe Avant)
~35 min. First departure 06:45.
🎟 Renfe
Toledo Cathedral
Mon–Sat 10:00–18:30; Sun 14:00–18:30
🎟 Tickets
Santo Tomé (El Greco)
Daily 10:00–18:45
🎟 Tickets
Santa María la Blanca
Mon–Sat 10:00–17:45; Sun 11:30–17:45
🎟 Info
Museo Sefardí
Tue–Sat 09:30–20:00; Sun 10:00–15:00; Mon closed
🎟 Tickets
San Juan de los Reyes
Mar 1–Oct 15: 10:00–18:45
🎟 Info
Guided alternatives
Notes
  • Best-of Toledo: Cathedral + Santo Tomé + one Judería site + viewpoint.
Sat, Mar 14
Departure morning (assumed 10:05 flight)
🌅 07:28 · 🌇 19:20
Airport logistics
TimePlanNotes
06:45Leave Calle de Atocha 55Conservative buffer
~07:15Arrive MAD airport2+ hrs early for 10:05
10:05Depart MadridPassport + boarding pass ready
Taxi rule
€33 flat fare to/from airport
Fixed 24/7 for trips inside M-30. No surcharges. No tip expected.
ℹ️ Official info

Sources & double-check links

Hours shift for special events. Re-check linked official pages 24–48 hrs before each visit.

Barcelona
Madrid
Sunrise/Sunset
Prepared Feb 14, 2026 · Tap days to expand/collapse