A Vegan's Travels Through Spain

As a vegan who is gluten-free, I was nervous to travel to Spain, but determined to make my first solo trip a success. Spain has always been on my ever-growing bucket list, and I was anxious to test my Duolingo skills in Spanish. Yes, there is a lot of meat —especially Iberian ham. Still, I had wonderful meals while there, and that's saying a lot from an Angelino used to a plethora of gluten-free and vegan options.

I only had eight days for both Barcelona and Madrid. While in Barcelona, I took a day trip to Figuera and Girona. Figuera is the hometown of Salvador Dali, and, while I'm not typically a surrealist art fan, I left enlightened and appreciative of his genius. Girona was charming with deep Jewish and Roman history. If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you'll recognize the cathedral. I booked this day trip through Viator, and the vendor was In and Out Barcelona Tours. It was terrific.

Barcelona is very spread out. I highly recommend the 48-hour hop-on / hop-off bus to not only get your bearings but to also use as transportation. Advance tickets are a must for La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, where I recommend taking a picnic and enjoying the park leisurely. I also enjoyed a Flamenco show at Casa Sors, also a Flamenco guitar museum. It was very intimate. I would have preferred seeing a show at the Palau de Musica just for the architecture alone, but it was not available while I was there.

Barcelona restaurants

• Honest Greens. There are several locations, and they were also in Madrid. They serve meat but had delicious vegan, gluten-free options. They are fresh, healthy fast food with informal community seating. The one closest to my hotel in the Latin Quarters was on Las Ramblas.

• Veggie Garden at Gran Via de les Cortes. The restaurant, while very casual, was entirely vegan and had so many things I wanted to try and I didn't have enough days to try them all.

I took the train to Madrid, which took about three hours and was a great way to get there. Arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes early. Advance tickets are always recommended. I used Omio to book. The site is in English and I find it very easy to use.

My stay at the Westin Palace could not have been in a better location. I love art, and the triangle is known for the three museums: Museo del Prado, which you definitely need advance tickets to not waste time. The Thyssen, which is free on Mondays though only open from 12pm to 4pm. And Sofia Reina, for which I also got advance tickets and booked a tour through Viator. If you do this museum yourself, use the offered audio guide.

Strolling through Puerta Del Sol was a must. Do not miss the Parque de Retiro, with the peaceful grounds, lake with kayak-boating, street musicians, the Crystal Palace and the moving "Fallen Angel Statue", known to be the world's only artistic statue of Lucifer. This is a great place to pack a lunch, sit on the grass and soak it all in.

I highly recommend a day trip to Toledo and Segovia. Toledo was the capital of Spain and home to the world's best sword-making. Segovia is a marvel with the ancient Roman aqueduct. No nails, no mortar, just sheer genius used to build this architectural masterpiece. It is quite a bit cooler in this area, so be aware of potential temperature changes.

In Segovia, I ate at Baaar Yum, a delicious vegan joint. There is no shortage of vegan options in Madrid, but after trying a few, I found myself enjoying Honest Greens for the food and the vibe.

If you have the chance, Spain should be high on the list. The people are friendly, and it is full of culture and charm, history and beauty.

The Westin Palace in Madrid is a beautiful hotel with a great location. It is, however, currently under construction. If noise after 8am is a concern, I would recommend checking to see when renovations will be complete before booking. I was not concerned because I was out and about every day exploring the city.

I recommend getting advance tickets to any popular tourist site. If you do not book a tour, definitely purchase the on-site audio guide to make your visit more meaningful. I love the hop-on / hop-off busses whenever I visit a new city, though I did not use them in Madrid because it is such a walking-friendly city.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Spain. In need of further inspiration? Check out Ruchika Bhatia’s guide, The Best of Spain in 10 Days.