Compare Premium Spain by Intrepid Travel vs A Week In... Spain 2023 by Tauck

Day 1 Madrid

Beinvenido – welcome to Spain! Your adventure begins in Madrid, a city filled with elegant boulevards, manicured parks and superb cuisine. You will be collected from the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel, where you will meet your leader and small group for a welcome meeting this evening. If you arrive early, you may like to visit the Museo del Prado, then discover modern Spanish masters, including Picasso and Dali, in the Museo Reina Sofia. Finish at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, which displays eight centuries of European painting. Your Spanish adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6:30pm. Once the formalities are out of the way get to know your leader and group over dinner at a wonderful restaurant that showcases Madrid’s famous tapas.

Day 2 Madrid

Travel to the city of Toledo this morning. The unique old town of this city sits on a high craggy rock and is encircled by the Tagus River. As a former capital of Spain, Toledo has immense historic significance and holds many architectural treasures. Examples of buildings from most architectural periods in Spain’s history can be seen here, from the Gothic to the Baroque. Today you’ll experience Toledo’s culture in the form of a marzipan tasting. While a few countries compete for the rights, the Spanish argue that marzipan was invented in Toledo. Either way, the sweet treat made from almond meal, honey and sugar has been produced in this city for generations, and is some of the world’s best. Find out how it’s made, its significance to Toledo, and taste some yourself. Return to Madrid for a free afternoon – you may like to check out the Royal Palace, or stroll around the Parque del Retiro.

Day 3 Seville

Travel from Madrid to Seville by train.The largest city in southern Spain,Seville is famous for its cultural vitality and dazzling architecture.On arrival, check in to your Feature Stay accommodation, a gorgeous family-run boutique hotel.Housed in 27 typical Sevillian cottages with patios and corridors connecting them,the hotel  celebrates its roots with its elegant décor and antique furnishings.Walking about the hotel's interior is like taking a stroll through centuries-old parts of the city: statues, floors, columns, amphorae, jugs, all create the impression that you are in a living museum.Personal touches are everywhere, from incredibly friendly service to hand painted details in the rooms and the owner’s great-grandmother’s shawl hanging in reception. Not to mention, the hotel boasts an unbeatable location on the Alameda de Hercules, lined with cafes, restaurants and music venues. This evening, join your group for a live flamenco show – a traditional Spanish style of dance with roots in Seville. This colourful, lively and rousing performance will certainly be one to remember.

Day 4 Seville

This morning, meet with a local guide who’s an expert on all things Seville and get to know the city during a walking tour. Explore narrow streets, hidden squares filled with orange trees and flower-adorned patios as your guide provides local insight into the history of the city and how it’s enjoyed today. Visit the Alcazar of Seville, a grand royal palace, and uncover its secrets with your guide. Known as one of the most beautiful in Europe, the Spanish royal family still to this day use the Alcazar as their residence in Seville. The rest of the afternoon is yours for further discoveries - you may wish to take an optional visit to the Giralda Tower and the famous Seville Cathedral, one of Europe’s largest cathedrals and home to Christopher Columbus’ elevated tomb.

Day 5 Cordoba

Today you will journey to the city of Cordoba, where Muslim, Jewish and Christian influences are present in the architecture, culture and cuisine, via a private transfer. Cordoba is also home to the Mezquita – a rare site which has served as both a mosque and a cathedral throughout the centuries. Today a cathedral stands within the centre of this amazing mosque – an interesting example of the interplay of Christian and Muslim cultures in Spain. Discover this supreme example of Islamic architecture on a comprehensive guided tour with your leader which continues outside of the Mezquita and explores the charming quarters and hidden corners of Cordoba.

Day 6 Granada

Depart Cordoba and travel to Granada. Along the way, you will learn more about the importance of olive oil production in the Andalucia region by visiting an oil mill. Let the passionate owner of the family-run business walk you through the process of olive oil production, and taste some different variations of the final result yourself, along with olives, olive marmalade, olive pate and wine. On arrival, check in to your hotel. This evening, perhaps head out to explore Granada’s drinking and dining scene with your group.

Day 7 Granada

This morning you will get acquainted with Granada during an orientation walk with your leader. Learn the fascinating history of the city and discover Islamic architecture and Arab influences at every turn. Enjoy some time for your own explorations of the city – perhaps head to a local teahouse to sample some Moorish pastries. In the afternoon, join an expert local guide for a tour of Alhambra and its perfectly manicured gardens. Dating back to the 11th century, Alhambra represents Muslim art in its final European stages. With ancient defensive walls, turrets and fountains set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, touring this magnificent site is an experience that will stick with you. After seeing the monumental Alhambra during the day, join your group for an included dinner at a nearby restaurant. After this break you’ll return to the Alhambra after dark and explore the famed Nasrid Palaces with your local guide. By now the crowds have dispersed and you are free to explore the site in all its glory. Your guide will bring history to life and provide expert insight as you explore the dominating red fortress towers, opulent palace decor and a multitude of architectural styles through the intricate Nasrid Palaces.

Day 8 Valencia

Depart Granada and travel to Valencia. Along the way you will travel through the distinctive countryside of the region and pass through Elche, capital of the region of Bajo Vinalopó. The historic quarter of Elche preserves part of its Muslim past and Baroque splendour. Walk around palm tree grove, one of the largest and the only one in Europe. Your leader will explain how the grove was established by the Phoenicians and expanded by the Arabs in the 8th and 9th centuries. The palmeral consists of several parts spreading across downtown. Then it's on to Valencia, Spain’s third largest city, to soak up its unique cultural identity and explore the old town centre that dates back 2000 years. On arrival, you’re free to explore the city and discover the harmonious mix of Roman, Muslim and Christian influences in its buildings, monuments and magnificent gardens.

Day 9 Valencia

Start the day with a short drive south of Valencia to discover Albufera Lake, an important ecological site of the region. The lake is surrounded by beach, dunes, lagoons, wetlands and Mediterranean forest, and is home to six small islands. You will visit the island of El Palmar and discover its typical ‘barraca’ houses. Travel by boat to the middle of the lake and learn about the important agricultural crop of the area, namely the local rice. Finish off with an included lunch of the most famous Valencian dish – paella. The rest of the day is yours to explore Valencia. You may like to visit the city's major landmark – the City of Arts and Science, a large and futuristic museum complex designed by Calatrava. Or perhaps head out to a local cafe to enjoy the treats that Valencia has to offer – from horchata to artisan chocolates, the city is a gastronomical heaven.

Day 10 Barcelona

After a leisurely breakfast, bid farewell to Valencia and travel to Barcelona. We arrive into Barcelona early afternoon. Barcelona's quirky character and fabulous Catalan cuisine mixes seamlessly with a ground-breaking art scene, Gothic architecture, superb dining and a non-stop nightlife, making it a city you won't soon forget.  After a walking tour with your leader,  you’ll get to enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant with your group. Celebrate the final night of your trip as you dine on some of the region’s most delicious foods like olives, pickled garlic, lomo Iberico de Belotta, Catalan cheeses, olive oil, and sweet desserts.

Day 11 Barcelona

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you would like to extend your stay in Barcelona and delve deeper into this exciting city, please speak to your booking agent about arranging additional accommodation in advance (subject to availability).

Day 1 Arrive Barcelona

Tour begins: 6:00 pm, The One Barcelona, Spain. A transfer from Barcelona Airport or the Barcelona Franca train station is included to your hotel, The One Barcelona, ideally situated minutes by foot from luxurious Passeig de Gracia and landmarks by Antoni Gaudi. Meet the traveling companions who will experience Tauck's one-week Spain vacation with you at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.

MEALS : D

LODGING : The One Barcelona

PORTOFCALL : Barcelona, Spain

Day 2 Gaudí, la Sagrada Família, Montjuic & tapas in Barcelona

Barcelona is an exceptional city overflowing with history, art and culture. Your day begins with a drive to seaside Montjuic, site of the 1992 Olympics, and a visit to la Sagrada Família, the fanciful, unfinished cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí I Cornet. For lunch, sample local tapas on an included tasting tour through several of Barcelona's iconic tapas restaurants; discover more of the city as you please for the remainder of the day and evening.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : The One Barcelona

PORTOFCALL : Barcelona, Spain

Day 3 Málaga, then on to Granada

From Barcelona, take an included morning flight to the seaside city of Málaga on the Costa del Sol, hometown of the artist Pablo Picasso. Upon arrival, begin your discoveries with a panoramic tour and walking tour of this historic Andalusian city, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth, chronicling some 3,000 years of civilization. After time for lunch as you please, if you wish, visit the Museo Picasso Málaga – a modern museum opened in 2003, displaying nearly 300 works by native son Picasso, converted from a former 16th-century palace and other historic buildings just a few hundred meters from the artist's actual birthplace. Continue overland to Granada, a jewel of the Sierra Nevada foothills in southern Spain, where you'll enjoy dinner with wine at your palace hotel tonight.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Hotel Alhambra Palace

PORTOFCALL : Granada, Spain

Day 4 From Granada's through Andalucía and on to Seville

Join us for a guided walking tour of Granada where you'll explore Alhambra Palace on a guided tour through its intrepid halls as well as Generalife, the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid rulers. After lunch it's on to Seville via Andalucía, a melting pot of different cultures sometimes referred to as the bridge between two continents; journey through Andalucía's rolling hills and view charming villages with whitewashed houses clinging to the hillsides. Arrive in romantic Seville, where your two-night stay in the heart of the city at the Hotel Alfonso XIII – enjoying a reputation as one of the world's finest hotels – kicks off this evening with a private performance of flamenco dancing followed by dinner.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Hotel Alfonso XIII

PORTOFCALL : Seville, Spain

Day 5 Unforgettable sights of Seville

No Spain vacation would be complete without a visit to charming Seville; get your bearings on an orientation tour of this spectacular city dating back nearly 2,000 years. A horse and carriage ride transports you through Maria Luisa Park, before a walking tour of the Barrio de Santa Cruz and the maze of old streets in the former Jewish Quarter. Enjoy a guided tour of Seville Cathedral, the third-largest Roman Catholic church in the world; tour the Cathedral, containing the final resting place of Christopher Columbus and home to the famed Giralda Bell Tower. The remainder of the day is free for you to pursue what interests you most in Seville.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Hotel Alfonso XIII

PORTOFCALL : Seville, Spain

Day 6 Córdoba & on to Madrid by rail

A panoramic tour of the charming Moorish-influenced city of Córdoba with your local guide leads to a walking tour through the historic former Jewish Quarter and a visit to the ornate 8th-century La Mezquita, once one of the world's largest mosques, and now a Roman Catholic cathedral. Board the high-speed AVE train and have lunch as you travel in Preferente class to Madrid for a two-night stay in Spain's marvelous capital city, which you'll enjoy as you please this evening.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : The Westin Palace, Madrid

PORTOFCALL : Córdoba, Spain

Day 7 The Prado, grand palaces & parks in old Madrid

Your day in magnificent Madrid kicks off with a guided tour of the famed Museo Nacional del Prado, one of the finest art museums in the world. Later, a city sightseeing tour takes you to highlights including Palacio de Oriente, the ornate Royal Palace built in the 18th century; grand avenues such as Gran Via and Castellana, and El Parque del Buen Retiro. The afternoon is free to explore and have lunch as you please in Madrid. Enjoy typical Castilian entertainment at our farewell cocktail reception and dinner this evening... a fitting finale to your weeklong travels through Spain.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : The Westin Palace, Madrid

PORTOFCALL : Madrid, Spain

Day 8 Journey Home

Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid's Barajas Airport or the Madrid Atocha railway station; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Madrid, Spain