Best of Spain Tour: Barcelona, Andalusia & Madrid

After your buffet breakfast, your local guide will greet you and you’ll set out on a guided group tour. The tour allows you to see the city from the perspective of someone who lives there. Along the way, you’ll visit many special places and learn the culture of the city. You’ll visit Barcelona's atmospheric Gothic Quarter, filled with centuries of fascinating history, and the elegant boulevard of Las Ramblas, one of the great boulevards of Europe. You’ll have the late afternoon and evening free to explore Barcelona. Be sure to visit Gaudí’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Two of the cathedral’s most distinguishing features are the Passion facade that tells the story of Jesus Christ, and the Nativity facade, which tells the story of the holy family in complex detail.

Today after breakfast, you will begin your discovery of Catalan cuisine. Your authentic food experience includes a small group tour that begins with a visit to the colorful La Boqueria market. Your guide is well versed in local cuisine and will help you select seasonal produce that you’ll use in your cooking class. Then you'll make your way to a private kitchen in the Gothic Quarter. A professional chef will teach you how to prepare a typical meal from the region of Catalonia. The menu will depend on what is in season during the time you are visiting, but you can be sure to enjoy a healthy Mediterranean meal. After learning to cook in a friendly and casual environment, you'll get to sample the results of your labor. Enjoy a leisurely lunch in characteristic Spanish style.

In the afternoon, you’ll have free time for sightseeing or to take a leisurely stroll down to the beautiful beaches that are just 10 minutes from the city center. Tonight you should experience the tapas scene. You could try one of Barcelona’s most famous tapas establishments, Cal Pep in Barcelona’s elegant “El Born” district. The Picasso Museum is nearby so be sure to plan a visit beforehand or afterward.

This morning after breakfast, your driver will transfer you to Barcelona airport for a short flight to Granada. When you arrive in Granada, you'll be met by another driver and transferred to your hotel. This four-star hotel is beautifully designed incorporating both historical and modern elements for a genuine Andalusian experience. This famed city of Granada is at the heart of Andalusia, the region of Spain where Moors, Jews and Christians lived in harmony for centuries. During the period of the Islamic rule in the 13th century, Granada’s Alhambra became the palace of royalty. From its vantage point high on a hill above the city, the views of the surrounding mountains are spectacular.

You have the option of adding on a special tour with a local resident of the Albaicín district, the old Arab quarter. On this tour, you’ll have a chance to stroll through this amazing place. You’ll discover the narrow streets, small squares and modest houses. Along the way, you’ll stop for tapas and then at a typical Moroccan Teahouse to enjoy hot mint tea served in decorative glasses.

After breakfast, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Alhambra Palace, a superb UNESCO World Heritage monument. Admire the gorgeous ornate Moorish architecture of this sumptuous historic palace. Then spend some time wandering the lush gardens featuring an elaborate system of running streams and fountains. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring Granada's Old Town at your leisure. Get lost in the ancient streets and soak up the ambience of this special place. You’ll feel like you’re somewhere far, far away.

You can choose to take a private guided tour of the Alhambra along with a special lunch at a traditional Moroccan restaurant for an authentic taste of Andalusian cuisine or arrange for a special tasting dinner at an atmospheric restaurant within the Albaicin.

After breakfast, your driver will take you to the train station for your train ride to Seville (about 3 hours away). When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a private driver who will take you to your hotel. This splendid modern hotel occupies the site of an old aristocratic palace-house of the Marqueses de las Torres. A romantic location, this four-star hotel also offers all the modern comforts. In the afternoon, you’ll join a local guide for a group tour of Seville's old Jewish neighborhood, the Barrio Santa Cruz. With its winding cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses, this picturesque neighborhood is one of the most delightful districts of Seville.

Some other options to consider: Enjoy a special meal with a tasting menu of paired wines at one of Seville's best-known restaurants, just a short walk away from your hotel.  Or perhaps enjoy a morning with our local chef visiting the market and later participating in a cooking class.

Today is at your leisure, so you may begin the day at your own pace. Enjoy the hotel’s lovely atmosphere and indulge in the delicious buffet breakfast that is included. You can spend more time discovering Seville on your own. Stroll the city’s elegant streets and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. You’ll see why so many visitors are drawn to this historic city. Visit the Cathedral to admire its sheer grandeur and to appreciate the historical context. The old mosque was converted to a cathedral after the Christian Reconquest of Spain.

You may wish to indulge in a pampering spa session at the "hammam," the Arab Baths. These traditional baths are enjoying a revival in Andalusia. Enjoy this authentic Andalusian experience and literally soak up the historic Islamic setting. In the evening, you have the option to see a Flamenco performance at a typical venue.

After breakfast, you’ll take a short train ride to Córdoba. When you arrive, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Enjoy the splendid location near the river with wonderful views of the town. After you check in, your local guide will arrive to take you on a tour of Córdoba’s UNESCO-listed historic center. You’ll visit the Jewish Quarter, the old synagogue and the former Great Mosque, that was turned into a cathedral.

You can opt for a special meal at a Sefardí (Spanish-Jewish) restaurant that offers local Jewish cuisine based on traditional recipes from Córdoba.

After breakfast, you’ll transfer by high-speed train to Madrid and you’ll arrive in less than two hours. A driver will meet you at the train station and transfer you to your hotel. This wonderful location near Calle Huertas and Plaza Santa Ana is the ideal area to take advantage of Madrid’s bustling nightlife. After lunch, you’ll take a guided walking tour of Madrid's elegant Habsburg Quarter. Your tour of the historic neighborhood reveals the glory of former royal palaces and convents hidden behind austere walls.

After breakfast, you’ll take a tour of the Museo del Prado. Your museum visit is reserved (so that you skip the lines) and includes an audio-guided tour. At Madrid’s Museo del Prado, you’ll find some of the most important art collections in the world. The rest of the day is at your leisure to continue exploring Madrid. You could stroll through Buen Retiro Park, Madrid’s expansive public green space that is filled with lovely gardens, monumental fountains and elegant conservatories of fine ironwork. Another option is to visit the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, where you can see the works of Joan Miró and other famous contemporary artists or the splendid Thyssen Bornemizsa Museum. As an option with this tour, you can also choose a dinner reservation at one of Madrid's popular contemporary restaurants, or a privately guided tapas tour.

Today after breakfast, your tour concludes. You’ll be provided a private transfer to the Madrid airport for your return flight home.