Best of Spain

This tour is an introduction to Spain through the sights and flavors of its most important cities: Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Granada, and Barcelona.

Begin in Madrid, the Spanish capital known for its elegant squares, stately Habsburg architecture, leafy boulevards and superb museums. With your expert private guide, explore the highlights of the city. See world-renowned museums such as the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia, CaixaForum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Tour the majestic Royal Palace. Stroll through the exclusive shopping and residential districts. Also visit historic squares and lively markets, including the gourmet San Miguel Market. One evening, enjoy a private “tapas tasting” tour of some of some of Madrid’s most beloved tapas bars.

Take the high-speed train to Cordoba, a capital under the Romans and the Moors. During private touring, explore the highlights of the UNESCO-listed city center, such as the incredible Cathedral-Mosque, the ancient Roman bridge, and the narrow backstreets lined with whitewashed buildings and historic buildings in the old Jewish Quarter. After exploring Cordoba, continue to Seville, the capital of Andalusia and a city flavored as much by the sounds of flamenco and the smell of orange blossoms as by its 500-year domination by the Moors. Take an insider’s tour of this beautiful city. Explore the charming Santa Cruz neighborhood, tour the gardens and mosaic tile-covered rooms of the Reales Alcazares—a spectacular Moorish palace, see the world's largest Gothic cathedral (which contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus), browse specialty boutiques and markets, and other cultural highlights. One evening, you may wish to attend a local flamenco performance or a bullfight at the famed bullring.

Next, visit Granada, one of the richest and most populated cities in Europe during Moorish rule and still one of Spain's most breathtaking cities. With your expert private guide, tour the extraordinary Alhambra—one of the highlights of Spain—a stunning Moorish castle, palace and garden complex on a hillside overlooking the town. Visit the Generalife, the summer palace and gardens of Moorish royalty. Also tour the labyrinthine streets of the Albaicin—the old Arab Quarter—and discover a world full of winding, hilly streets, Moorish fountains, and teterías (Arabic tearooms).

Conclude in Barcelona, one of Europe's most dynamic centers of modern design and cutting-edge cuisine. Discover Gaudi’s fantastical structures such as Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo or the hillside Parc Guell. Visit some of the city’s excellent museums, such as the Picasso Museum or Miro Museum. Stroll along Las Ramblas—Barcelona’s most famous boulevard—and explore the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter and La Ribera. If desired, explore the city’s shopping districts, stopping at upscale boutiques along the broad Passeig de Gracia and design shops in the stylish Born and Raval neighborhoods. Also visit the city’s leading food markets, including the Santa Caterina Market and La Boqueria Market.