Passport to Spain 🇪🇸

January 27, 2025 Mercedes Santana

Our Impromptu October Trip to Spain

Well, I wasn’t expecting a trip to Spain, but my job not only sent me to France this year, it also sent me to Spain for a company offsite. I know — what a cool job. It’s the best, but I couldn’t go to Spain and not tack on some PTO. So luckily, Henri met me, and we were up for an impromptu October trip to Spain for 10 days. Here’s how we spent it:

Barcelona: City of Art and Architecture

After finishing my company offsite at a villa in Vilanova i la Geltrú, I arrived to Barcelona early Friday morning. With some time before Henri joined me, I went for brunch at a spot near our hotel called Salut. I was so happy to have an iced matcha latte and salon avocado toast. After some emails, I enjoyed wandering the streets to get a feel for the city’s rhythm. Barcelona is a place where you can feel its energy in every corner, from the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter to the wide avenues of Eixample.

Once Henri arrived around 5:30 p.m., we dived into exploring at Casa Mila.

Day 1 Highlights in Barcelona:

Walking tour: Walking from our hotel in Eixample down to the port and back. Stopping for photos of interesting textures and architecture and shops like the Lego store and El Cortez Ingles.
Palau de la Música Catalana: A stunning concert hall that took my breath away with its mosaics, I took Henri back on one of our walks, but I regret not going to a show that night because when we went back the next day to see if we could do the tour it was closed! So plan in advanced.
Casa Mila: One of Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces. The rooftop views and whimsical chimneys were worth every step.
Dinner at Bar Calders: The perfect introduction to Catalan cuisine: Spanish tapas with a side of sangria.

Day 2 Highlights in Barcelona:

Maldita Coffee: A cozy spot to kickstart the morning.
Breakfast at Enigma 23 Barcelona: This was a quiet spot near La Sagrada Familia for a fresh breakfast of salmon bagels and an acai smoothie.
La Sagrada Familia: Gaudí’s crown jewel. We did the Nativity Tower, as it was all that was available. After taking the spiral stairs down we marveled at the bright rainbow colored stained glass. It made the church feel so whimsical and welcoming.

Parc de la Ciutadella: After La Sagrada we walked to this peaceful retreat in the heart of the city. I really enjoyed watching a group of people who were salsa dancing by the fountain.

Lunch at Casa Lolea: After all the walking we did we stopped for a fresh lunch in this charming setting.
Park Güell: The colorful mosaics and sweeping city views are iconic for a reason. We had tickets for 5:30 p.m. to be here around sunset and we enjoyed the timing to set those golden hour views.

Day 3 Highlights in Barcelona:

Casa Batlló: Another Gaudí gem, a surreal blend of color and light. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to go in before our flight to Mallorca. So we got some nice morning light photos from the street since it was closed for a bike race and continued with a quick cafe crawl!
Mini cafe crawl: We went for a walk to grab coffees at a trendy spot called La Papa and sandwiches at Baluard. Originally, we got one sandwich at Baluard, but once we took a bite we got right back in line to get a second one.

Mallorca: Beach Bliss and Island Charm

After a short afternoon flight, we landed in Mallorca. The island welcomed us with its laid-back vibe and stunning beaches.

Day 3 (continued) Highlights in Mallorca:

Rental Car: Book one in advance, you’ll need it here!
Checking in: After checking in, H went for a quick dip in the ocean in front of our hotel. We wanted to use the pool, but it had odd hours because it was the low season.
Dinner and stroll: We went for a sunset stroll on the Playa del Palma boardwalk and landed at Carrion II for seafood paella, prosciutto wrapped melon, and sangria. We got both red sangria and sangria cava to enjoy as the sun set over the island. We enjoyed a beautiful moonlight walk back along the beach, stopping for an ice cream bar. A simple treat we love on vacation is getting magnum bars from the freezers convenience shops.

Day 4 Highlights in Mallorca:

Es Trenc: This larger beach was highly recommended, but being from California this wasn’t quiet what we were looking for. So after about an hour of relaxing and plotting our next spot we continued on.
Cala Santanyi: This was by far our favorite spot in Mallorca! It was exactly what we daydreamed of: crystal clear water in a cove beach with beaming warm Mediterranean sun.
Cala d’Or and Cala Gran: We wanted to cala hop so we went over to Cala d’Or and Cala Gran, which were nice too, but Santanyi was definitely our favorite.
Evening in Palma: Strolling through Palma’s old town, with its narrow streets and historic charm, was the perfect way to end the day. We parked by the stunning cathedral that looked like something straight out of Game of Thrones. We also had a great dinner at a place called La Botana. Henri got a burger and I had a caprese salad and a slider, all were really good. But what was excellent and really took the cake was dessert – a traditional Mallorcan almond cake.

Day 5 Highlights in Mallorca:

Coffee in Palma: We took this day to sleep in and rest before heading out for our day in the west side of the island. We went to two coffee shops since the one I got a drink at first was out of whole milk for Henri. I got an oat milk latte at Nano Coffee Lab and Henri got a cow milk at Mistral Coffee Company.
Port de Soller: We started down at the port de soller, it was an easier drive then we thought threw the mountains and there was an easy parking structure by the port. We explored the shops and walked up towards the ocean museum (Museu De La Mar) which is worth the walk up because there’s a great lookout on the side of it. It’s also a cute little museum that had clean restrooms! Looking at all my fellow IBS girlies 😉
Gazpacho by the sea: We saw a sign for Gazapacho which sounded so refreshing and was on our list of must eats while in Spain. The restaurant was a little bit up the road, so it had a nice view of the port and the little train that runs through it.
Soller town: We did a quick trip up to the town, here’s where the driving got tough. The streets were so narrow! It reminded me of Genovia from The Princess Diaries. We did a quick stop to see the main square were the train passes in front of the church. Because it was low season not much was open so we continued on.
Deìa: Not gonna lie, parts of driving in Deìa spooked me. It was a bit like HWY 1 in California where you’re on a mountain road overlooking the ocean, I scare easily. But we stopped to hike down the whinding road to Cala Deìa. There’s a charming restaurant on the water there that’s all over social media called Cas Oatro March too.
Valldemossa: We arrived to Valldemossa around 5:30 p.m. and it was so QUIET! It was definitely off season for Mallorca. While there were no crowds, there was also a lot of closed restaurants and businesses.

Day 6 Highlights in Mallorca:

This was our last day in Mallorca before taking a night flight to Seville. We had a super slow relaxing day!

Calvia: A picturesque destination known for its stunning cove beaches, where we spent a relaxing day soaking up the pockets of sun. After enjoying the serene surroundings, we took a leisurely stroll to a Mediterranean spot for lunch.
Flight to Seville on RyanAir: I know, I know… why did you use RyanAir? You know they have terrible customer service. BUT! They had the right flights we needed and it was fine flying from Barcelona to Mallorca. However, the attendant from the Palma airport was being so rude! He wanted to charge for my bag which I already had paid for and had no problem bringing to Mallorca, I also didn’t add anything to it. But this guy wanted to argue, saying if I kept questioning him doing his job he would charge for my husbands bag too. After we kept arguing he also threatened to not let me on the plane, so I paid the extra $75 dollars, told him he was a miserable person who needed to calm down, and moved on 🙃

Seville: Flamenco and Andalusian Magic

We woke up the next day in Seville, a city that feels like stepping back in time. We were eager to explore yellow painted streets and Moorish architecture.

Day 7 Highlights in Seville:

Jester Coffee: Hands down the best iced coffee we had in Spain! It was so good, we went back two more times. A must-visit for coffee lovers.
Santa Cruz Neighborhood: Wandering through this historic maze of narrow streets felt like uncovering hidden treasures. Each corner had a story to tell.
La Mala Brunch (Rivero Location): A cozy spot with fresh, flavorful dishes perfect for starting the day.
Palacio de Las Dueñas: A hidden gem filled with history and charm, showcasing stunning Andalusian architecture and tranquil gardens.
Seville Cathedral & La Giralda: The grandeur of the cathedral is breathtaking, and the climb up La Giralda tower is rewarded with stunning views of the city.
Jester Coffee (Yes, Again!): We couldn’t resist returning for another round of the best iced coffee—it’s that good.
Torre del Oro: A quick visit to this historic watchtower is perfect for snapping photos and soaking in Seville’s riverside charm.
Maria Luisa Park & Plaza de España: A leisurely afternoon spent exploring Seville’s most iconic spots. The park’s lush greenery and Plaza’s grandeur made for unforgettable moments.
Dinner at Bodeguita Reyes Antonio Romero: A true taste of Seville! Highlights included croquetas, espinacas con garbanzos, and other authentic Andalusian tapas.

Day 8 in Seville

Real Alcázar: A masterpiece of Mudéjar architecture. Every room, arch, and garden outdid the last with its beauty and detail. Truly unforgettable.
La Mala (Santa Cruz Location): A perfect lunch stop in the heart of the neighborhood, offering a mix of modern and traditional dishes.
Plaza de Toros de Sevilla: Visiting Spain’s oldest bullring gave us a glimpse into this cultural tradition, even if just for the architecture and history.
Tapas at El Favorito: A cozy tapas bar serving flavorful dishes in a relaxed atmosphere. We loved the fried fish and patatas bravas.
Flamenco Show (Airbnb Experience): Rainy weather turned into a magical evening! After dinner, we booked a nearby flamenco show through Airbnb. Within an hour, we were spellbound by the passion and artistry of the performers. A post-show gelato and a leisurely stroll made it even more memorable.

Madrid: A Grand Finale

Our final stop was Madrid, Spain’s vibrant capital. We hopped on the first train from Seville to Madrid, eager to explore despite Henri feeling under the weather. It was also October 12, Spain’s National Day, so many attractions were closed, but we made the most of our time.

Day 9 Highlights in Madrid:

Brunch at Zenith: We found this trendy and buzzing brunch spot and opted for a big brunch to escape the rain for a bit. We indulged in creative breakfast dishes and perfectly brewed coffee, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere while enjoying an Acai Bowl and Eggs Benedict with Spanish jamon serrano.
Plaza de Oriente & Royal Palace: A grand square with stunning views of the Royal Palace. Though we didn’t tour the interior, the palace’s exterior was impressive, especially with the festive National Day atmosphere. To be honest, I didn’t even know Spain had a royal family until this trip!
Almudena Cathedral: Located next to the Royal Palace, this modern cathedral blends traditional design with contemporary touches. Its colorful stained-glass windows and starry ceiling were a standout.
Plaza Mayor: A lively historic square, perfect for people-watching and soaking up Madrid’s charm.
Prado Museum: A treasure trove of art featuring masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Bosch. Even with limited time, we managed to see the highlights.
El Retiro Park: We ended the day with a peaceful walk through Madrid’s iconic park. The crystal-clear lake and manicured gardens provided a serene escape in the heart of the city.
A Failed Attempt at Gourmet Basque Cheesecake and Dinner: We had our hearts set on trying authentic Basque cheesecake from Alex Cordobes, but it wasn’t meant to be since it was closed for the holiday. Many restaurants and cafés don’t start dinner service until later in the evening, so plan accordingly if you’re dining out in Spain. We called it an early night since Henri was sick and we wanted to pack for the flight home from Madrid to LAX!

Reflections on Spain

Every city offered something unique: Barcelona dazzled with its art and architecture, Mallorca provided beachside serenity, Seville enchanted with its history and passion, and Madrid was a vibrant finale.

Spain, you were unexpected, but you were perfect. Until next time!

Accommodations

Wondering where to stay? Here’s the complete list of hotels we stayed at. My favorite was the Allegro Barcelona, a Barcelo hotel in the Eixample district. The bed was comfortable, the room was ready early, and the location was excellent. I love Barcelo hotels, we’ve stayed at a handful of their all inclusives in Mexico and they always deliver great service and a comfortable stay at a reasonable price.

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