Splendid Spain

Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.

For flight details, see Before You Depart.

Welcome to Madrid, Spain’s grand capital and cultural heart! Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will be greeted at the airport and escorted to our hotel, where our Tour Director will lead a get-acquainted walk around the surrounding neighborhood. We'll enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure before meeting our Tour Director for a welcome cocktail, orientation, and dinner.

Our morning features a guided tour of this splendid city. As we travel along Calle Gran Vía, Madrid’s equivalent to New York City’s Broadway, we'll marvel at the Opera district, Plaza de Colon, the monumental 18th-century Royal Palace (entrance included), Puerto del Sol Plaza and Plaza de España, Madrid’s main square, where we’ll see an imposing statue of Spain’s literary giant, Miguel de Cervantes. We'll end at the enormous, impressive Prado Museum, which holds one of the world’s top collections, including masterpieces by El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya. We'll also visit the famous Museo del Jamón, and enjoy a jamón tapa and a drink. The balance of the day is at leisure. Consider taking a foodie walking tour of the city’s tapas scene (see optional tours). Or do what the Madrileños do. Take el paseo (stroll) to the delightful Retiro Park and then stop at one of Madrid’s excellent restaurants or tapas bars.

Today we will take a high-speed train for Seville, the charming Moorish capital of Spain’s Andalusia Region. On an included guided tour, we’ll discover the passions of the city that create the backdrop for the great operas Carmen and Don Giovanni. Highlights include the Seville Cathedral, the biggest Gothic cathedral in the world, and landmark Giralda Bell Tower, the remaining part of the mosque built by the Moors. Our tour winds through the narrow streets and plazas of the well-preserved Barrio Santa Cruz, the old Jewish Quarter, where we'll delight in the whitewashed buildings, quaint shops and colorful flowers. Later, we'll drive to the Plaza de España, passing the elegant Maria Luisa Park. Tonight, enjoy a local Tapas dinner with drinks.

Today, we'll experience the beauty of Seville as seen from the only major navigable river in Spain, the Guadalquivir. We'll get a complete perspective of both riversides, confronting the old part of town with the most modern one. Tonight, consider catching a performance of the expressive dance form—flamenco! See optional excursions for details.

Today we'll visit Cordoba, one of Spain's cultural gems and home to some of the country's most impressive monuments. On our guided tour, we'll marvel at the Mezquita (Great Mosque) built in the 10th century during Cordona's glory days as the capital of Moorish Spain. The mosque was later converted to a cathedral, but the original architectural details are stunning. We'll also see the reconstructed Roman Bridge and the beautifully restored 14th-century synagogue that survived the expulsion of Spain's Jews. After our tour, we'll continue our journey to Granada, a former Moorish stronghold.

Today we'll visit Granada's crown jewel, the Alhambra. Sprawled over a hilltop overlooking the city, the awe-inspiring Alhambra is an impressive castle and fortress with its romantic Generalife gardens. Later today we'll have free time to explore the city and the mystic Albaicin Quarter.

We're sure to be captivated by the rolling terrain and groves of olives, almonds, lemons, and oranges on our way to Valencia, a city of great culture and beautiful gardens on the Mediterranean coast. On our guided tour this afternoon, we'll see architecture both ancient (Roman, Arabic, and the gothic cathedral) and modern—or should we say futuristic? Renowned architect Santiago Calatrava designed the City of Arts and Science, an eye-popping “city within a city” that gives us a peek into what the future might look like.

The next leg of our journey through splendid Spain hugs the coastline of Catalonia. We'll stop at Peñíscola, a pearl of the Mediterranean. The old town—crowned by a 14th-century castle-fortress that was once the home of Pope Benedict XIII—stands on an imposing rock that rises 64 meters above the azure seas and is connected to the mainland by a thin sandbar that waves wash over during storms, turning the town into an ephemeral island. We'll enjoy a delightful paella lunch before continuing to Barcelona where we'll settle into our centrally located hotel.

The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona mixes medieval charm with avant-garde style. We'll join a local expert for a fascinating tour that begins at the old harbor with a drive along Barcelona’s iconic boulevard, Las Ramblas. We'll see the city’s lively heart, Plaza Catalunya, and picturesque Plaza de España before taking off on foot to explore the charming Gothic Quarter, Barcelona’s old city. Of course, a Barcelona tour isn't complete without admiring buildings designed by the celebrated Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. We'll see one of his most famous works, the unfinished Sagrada Familia Basilica, which has been under construction since 1882! Before free time this afternoon, we will stop at a typical bodega in La Barceloneta Quarter to taste vermut, a typical and popular drink in Barcelona. The rest of the day is free to visit a museum or relax at an outdoor café independently.

Today you'll have a full day to explore vibrant Barcelona on your own. You could return to the enchanting Gothic Quarter and soak up its magical atmosphere of cafes, street musicians, and quaint shops. Seek out more of Gaudi’s masterpieces in the city center or stroll along La Rambla, stopping at the colorful Boqueria Market for freshly squeezed juice, a snack, or more tapas! We'll gather this evening for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.