Best of Spain Tour: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville & More

Welcome to Barcelona, a city that brims with life. The narrow alleys bubble with energy and the seaside is graced with charm. The culture is boundless and the architecture verges on the fabled. The aromas of fresh seafood paella with noodles and almond sweets rolled in pine nuts overtake the scent of the Mediterranean Sea. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and takes you to your plush accommodation giving you the remainder of the day at your leisure to relax, enjoy, and explore the city.

After breakfast, you can traverse the beautiful and charming cities of Girona and Figueres. When you arrive in Girona you will have a private walking tour of the city. The well of history dates back to the Iberians, who ruled the Peninsula around the 6th century BC. Your guide takes you through the city and you arrive at the Ancient Walls of Girona. You can follow the narrow streets behind the cathedral to view baroque towers and large glass windows. In Figueres, you can visit the Teatre-Museu Dali. The building’s décor is as captivating as the artist’s work.

Early in the morning, the streets are quiet, calm, and empty. As the city comes to life, you can watch locals jog alongside the sand or bike ride on the winding pathways near the water. La Rambla is the most famous street of the city and offers you insight into the culture specific to Catalonia. The Gothic Quarter is the heart of the old city and can be reached from the edges of La Rambla and the seafront. Many of the buildings date back to medieval times and maintain a decorative charm over the streets.

Contemporary Barcelona has always been known for its boundless energy and particular style. After breakfast you will have a half-day tour of the city’s unique artistry that has brought fame to the skyline and facades of various neighborhoods. The Cathedral of la Sagrada Familia was consecrated in 2010. Construction began in 1882 and continues today. The cathedral remains one of Gaudi’s most famous works and one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks. The gothic cathedral looks like something out of a storybook. The spires rise to a height of 560 feet. Three grand facades decorate the church, including the Nativity façade.

In the morning you set off for Madrid and find yourself in the capital of Spain. The city is filled with soul and intimacy that resembles much of Spain. Museums hang Picassos and the plazas and boulevards are filled with families and lovers, for an elegant mural of the cityscape. The Palacio Real is the largest palace in Europe, encompassing 1,450,000 square feet with over 2,800 rooms. The Throne Room has crimson-velvet wall coverings and a ceiling decorated by the Venetian painter Tiepolo. The extravagant ambiance will emanate from every room and reach admirable heights.

The old center of Madrid is known as the Casa de Austria, because of its connection to the Habsburg Dynasty of the 16th century. Plaza Mayor can still be considered the heart of the city’s vibrant life, combining the classic architecture with the drama of Spain’s emotional past. The surrounding residential building contains 237 balconies that overlook the square. The ground level consists of a colonnade decorated with arches and filled with vivacious restaurants and shops. A bronze statue of King Philip III sits in the square’s center.

Toledo is a city that has collected cultures century after century and is a city filled with creativity and invitation, incredible heritage, and indescribable scenery. The city continues to boast its history as a multicultural capital of medieval society. The synagogue was constructed in the 14th century and now houses the Museo Sefardi, a museum dedicated to the history of Jewish people and the culture of the area. It was once the private family synagogue of the king’s treasurer and features elements of Nasrid style, Hebrew inscription, and Moorish arches.

Cordoba has built its modern city around the magnificent architecture of its past. The Arabic influences of the Middle Ages now decorate the city like artwork as opposed to structures still in use, from homes to government buildings. Many of the golden buildings rise near the Guadalquivir River, and wind around narrow streets near the Mezquita. The great mosque of the city almost glows with lavish decoration and refinement that has come with the centuries. The edifice’s exterior is imposing, both massive and forceful. The embellishments create an inviting ambiance with pillars colored red and white beneath the double arches.

Seville is a city of flamboyance and charisma, always bustling with captivating music and alive with equally alluring cuisine. A private walking tour of the city brings you to the famous Alcazar, a royal palace called one of the most beautiful in all of Spain. The palace was built in the 1300s and remains the official residence of the Spanish royal family. Puerta del León contains 19th-century tile-work adorning the open portal. The lion holds a cross in its claws and bears gothic writing. Once inside the complex, you will head to the Palacio de Don Pedro, the Mudéjar Palace.

The morning is calm and bright. The city reflects the sunlight off of the historic center, Explore the modernity within the Metropol Parasol, a walkway in the old quarter that claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world.

Soon you will have a private transfer to the airport, but for now, you can stroll through the city and enjoy the tranquil sunlight along the shimmering stones of the city’s illustrious past. Vacations in Spain are never forgotten, and you will have many memories to cherish on your flight home.