Backpacking Spain
Spain is bigger and more varied than most first-time visitors expect. The north is green and rainy, the south is North African in its heat, and the middle is a high plateau that freezes in winter and bakes in August.
This is how to plan a trip that does not involve crossing the country twice.
How long you need
Ten days covers one region properly. Two weeks covers two. Three weeks lets you cross the country without spending every third day on a train.
The most common mistake is trying to combine Barcelona, Andalusia and the Basque country in ten days. Pick a corner and go deep.
- 7–10 days: the east coast, or Andalusia
- 2 weeks: Barcelona to Seville via Madrid and Valencia
- 3 weeks+: add the north, or slow down everywhere
When to go
April to June and September to October are the best months almost everywhere: warm, swimmable on the coast, and far cheaper than the July–August peak.
August is the hottest and busiest month, and it is also when many small businesses in the cities close while their owners go to the coast.
What to pack
For a summer trip on the coast, less than you think. For anything crossing regions or seasons, layers matter more than volume.
- A padlock — most hostel lockers do not include one
- A reusable bottle; tap water is safe nationwide
- Shoes that survive cobbles, especially in Granada and Toledo
- A light rain jacket if you are going north of Madrid
- A power bank for long bus and train days
Shaping the route
The cleanest routes are linear: fly into one end, fly out of the other, never double back. Spain's budget airports make this easy — Barcelona and Alicante, or Madrid and Málaga, both work.
If you are travelling the network, plan the first two stops and leave the rest open. Picking the next city from a partner hostel's reception is generally better information than anything you will find online.
