​Tour Price Includes:
Transport between cities – 10 nights in selected 3- & 4-star hotels – 2 daily food experiences* (20 meals) – 
entrance fees to all visits – hop on- hop off bus in select cities – guided city sightseeing & walking** tours as per itinerary
 
* Breakfast and either lunch, the main meal of the day typically a three-course meal, or dinner
**Expect to walk an average of 2-3 miles a day
 
Included Visits:
Reina Sofía Museum – Royal Palace – Prado Museum – Roof-top bar – El Mercado San Miguel – Segovia’s Alcázar – 
Cathedral de Toledo – Convento Santa Isabel – Cathedral de Toledo – Iglesia Santo Tomé – Barrio de Santa Cruz tour – 
Bullring Tour – Sevilla’s Gothic Cathedral and Giralda Tower –Barrio de Triana tour – Granada Flamenco evening – 
Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens – Olive Oil Tour

12 day itinerary

pdf version of Itinerary

Evening plane ride

Day 1: USA
September 13, 2022

Departure from the USA on an overnight flight to Madrid.

0 Kilómetro, Puerta del Sol

Day 2: Madrid
September 13, 2022

                       ¡Buenos días Madrid! 
Arrive at the Madrid airport and make to way to the hotel where your tour directors anxiously await your arrival at the hotel for check-in. In the early afternoon we begin our tour in the heart of Madrid, kilómetro 0 in Puerta del Sol, making our way along the pedestrian street to the historic Plaza Mayor where we will enjoy a tapas style welcome lunch in a tavern underneath the plaza.  In the afternoon we will take the hop on-hop off bus circuit to meet historic Madrid, with sites such as the famous Puerta de Alcalá, Barrio de Salamanca, Plaza Colón, Templo de Debod, and Puerta de Toledo just to name a few. In the early evening, savor a Madrid favorite, churros con chocolate at the famous San Ginés before we head back to the hotel for an early night. ​(Lunch and evening snack included)

Palacio de Cibeles

Day 3: Madrid
September 14, 2022

Today we begin with a short walking tour of the city center.  We begin in Puerta del Sol, making our way along the pedestrian street to Ópera and continue to the capital’s main square, Plaza Mayor, where we will enjoy a café in one of the plaza’s many terraces before our visit to El Prado Museum where you will admire masterpieces by El Greco, Velázquez and Goya on your guided tour.  After we will enjoy a leisurely lunch before taking a pleasant stroll through El Retiro park.Along the way we will see Plaza de Cibeles, Palacio de Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá. Our plans for the evening include a visit with 3600 views of the city on a roof-top bar (drinks at your own expense). Optional for tonight: dinner along the famous Gran Vía (at your own expense). 
​(Breakfast and lunch included)

Paella mixta

Day 4: Madrid
September 15, 2022

Today we continue to explore the capital city.  A short morning walk takes us to the 18th century Royal Palace for a guided tour, from there, we will take the hop on-hop off bus making stops to see Cervantes´ Plaza de España and Egypt’s gift El Templo de Debod with its breathtaking view of Madrid. We head off to savor a succulent paella for lunch. In the afternoon we will take the hop on-hop off bus making stops to visit the Reina Sofía Museum to see works by Dalí and Picasso’s masterpiece, Guernica and Las Ventas to see the bullring.  Optional for tonight: “ir de tapas” at El Mercado de San Miguel to try a variety of appetizer-sized specialties (at your own expense) (Breakfast and lunch included)

Roman aqueduct, Segovia

Day 5: Madrid -SEGOVIA - Madrid
September 16, 2022

Today we will begin our day with a short train journey to Segovia. We will spend the day visiting this World Heritage city, an important military post in Roman times, to see its incredible aqueduct and to tour its cliff top Alcázar, the romantic fortress of Queen Isabel.  We will enjoy a typical Segovian lunch, cochinillo asado as we admire views of the aqueduct followed by free time to stroll along the streets of the quaint city center.  We will return to Madrid in the late afternoon where you will have free time to enjoy the vibes of the capital city.  Dinner on your own tonight.  (Breakfast and lunch included)

View of Toledo

Day 6: Madrid - TOLEDO - Madrid
September 16, 2022

This morning we will begin our day with a short train journey to Toledo, Spain’s former capital. Every aspect of this city reflects a glorious period in Spanish history with Christian, Moorish, and Jewish influences on display at every corner. We will visit the classic Gothic Cathedral filled with spectacular stained-glass windows and mudéjar-style decorations, as well as a visit to a workshop in the Convento de Santa Isabel to see Damasquinado craftsman at work.  After lunch we will visit the church of Santo Tomé to see El Greco´s masterpiece The Burial of Count Orgaz followed by time to “lose” yourself in the enchanting city and its Jewish Quarter.  Before we head to the train station, we must stop at the lookout point to soak in Greco´s picturesque view of the city.  We will return to Madrid in the early evening.  Optional for tonight: typical street food Madrid style…bocadillo de calamares (at your own expense). (Breakfast and lunch included)

Plaza de España, Sevilla

Day 7: Madrid - SEVILLA
September 18, 2022

Today we journey by AVE (bullet train) southbound through Castilla to Andalucía’s sunflower covered countryside and its colorful capital Sevilla, “Cradle of the Flamenco”.  Upon arriving in Sevilla, we will check-in to our hotel and hit the sites via the hop on-hop off bus making stops to see the Plaza de España built for the 1928 World’s Fair, bike through María Luisa Park to feed the pigeons and take a guided walking tour through the narrow, winding streets of the Barrio de Santa Cruz.  We will enjoy a leisurely lunch in the Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz.  We will top-off the afternoon with a guided tour of La MonumentalMaestranza, the most important bullring in Spain.  Optional for tonight: Italian dinner in a XII century Arab bath (at your own expense).  (Breakfast and lunch included)

Royal Alcázar, Sevilla

Day 8: Sevilla
September 19, 2022

This morning we will visit the Royal Alcázar dating back to the Middle Ages and explore the city’s Gothic treasures, visiting the Cathedral and climbing the soaring Giralda Tower for a breathtaking view of the old city.  On the hop on-hop off bus, we will cross the Guadalquivir River where Christopher Columbus returned from his travels to the “New World” to stroll through the gypsy quarter of Triana by guided tour.  After lunch, we will continue the hop on-hop off bus circuit back to the center where you can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening in Santa Cruz. Dinner on your own tonight. (Breakfast and lunch included)

Flamenco performance in gypsy cave, Granada

Day 9: Sevilla - GRANADA
September 20, 2022

Today’s train or luxury bus travels take us to Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain.  Upon arriving in Granada, we will check-in to our hotel, take leisurely stroll along el Paseo de los Tristes and have lunch on your own.  After lunch we will meet to visit the arabesque and spellbinding Alhambra Palace, the city’s beautifully preserved example of Moorish architecture and one of Spain’s most visited attractions, and the Generalife Gardens, the former summer retreat of Moorish kings with its intricate pattern of gardens, fountains, and walkways.  This evening we will visit the gypsy quarter of Albayzín for a typical dinner and a passionate zambra, flamenco performance in a gypsy cave.  (Breakfast and dinner included)

Alhambra Palace from San Nicolás lookout, Granada

Day 10: Granada
September 21 2022

Today we will enjoy a half-day excursion to discover the world of liquid gold. The tour will pick us up from our hotel and take us through the beautiful country views of Granada's Vega, the Sierra Nevada and the charming Lecrin Valley. We will drive through the picturesque countryside of olive, almond, orange and lemon trees, mountains, and typical white Andalusian villages. In the Lecrin Valley we will visit a beautifully preserved XV century oil mill, sample various types of olive oil with a wine tasting and tapas. Upon returning to Granada, you can spend leisure time in the afternoon exploring the quaint city. In the early evening, we will go to the lookout San Nicolás where we can relax on roof-top bar with a spectacular view of the Alhambra palace (consumption at your own expense) 
​(Breakfast, and tapas lunch included)

Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid

Day 11: Granada - Madrid
September 22, 2022

Today we will return to Madrid by bullet train to enjoy your last day in Spain shopping and soaking in the hustle and bustle of this amazing capital city.  In the early evening we will have a farewell dinner before you head back to the hotel to pack and get a good night’s sleep. (Breakfast and dinner included)

Flight to USA

Day 12: Madrid - USA
September 23, 2022

                           ¡Adiós España! 
Depart Madrid on return flight to USA.