Best of Andalusia: Culture, Nature, & Food - 13 Days

Highlights

• Learn about tapas and flamenco in the charming neighborhoods of Seville
• Wander through the picturesque streets of Cordoba's Jewish Quarter
• Visit a winery near Ronda for a private tour and tasting
• Explore Málaga's citadels and art galleries
• Have dinner overlooking the Alhambra, set against the Sierra Nevada mountains

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Seville - Evening Tapas Tour

Welcome to Seville—the capital of Spain's Andalusia region! Upon arrival, you'll be met by a private transfer who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city's old town. Take a little time to settle in and rest before your evening excursion.

At the designated time, you'll meet your private guide in the lobby and then jump in a taxi for a tapas tour. Your guide will show you his/her favorite tapas places as you sample excellent food and drink options while rubbing shoulders with locals. This is an exciting (and tasty) way to see another side of Seville not usually experienced by tourists.

Day 2: Private Walking Tour of Seville

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up by a private guide to experience Seville's most emblematic landmarks. Enjoy a long, leisurely stroll through the city to visit a number of sites including the Seville Cathedral (the largest Gothic cathedral in the world), Christopher Columbus' tomb, and the magnificent Alcázar with its many Mudéjar (Neo-Moorish) palaces and beautiful, oasis-like gardens. 

At the end of the tour, your guide will drop you off at a recommended tapas bar for lunch. You'll then have the afternoon to continue exploring Seville at your own pace.

Day 3: Private Tour of Triana with Tapas & Wine Tasting

After breakfast, you'll meet up with your guide for a private tour of the Triana neighborhood, located on the fringe of Seville. Historically, this original working-class settlement was often shunned by the main population, left outside the city walls and unprotected against the wrath of the Guadalquivir River. Against all adversity, Triana gradually created its own identity eventually becoming a place full of gypsy flamenco, exquisite ceramics, and famous bullfighters. It was also the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition. 

Your guide will take you through the quiet side streets where you'll step away from the city center monuments and the tourist bustle. Listen to swashbuckling tales from the times of Christopher Columbus, discover the origins of the renowned ceramic tradition, hear humbling stories of the Spanish Inquisition, and meet some of Seville’s most unique characters of today and yesteryear. You'll also enjoy stunning views across the river towards the main city. 

Once you have soaked up the local culture, your guide will introduce you to Triana's best tapas followed by a wine tasting (three varietals) with an enthusiastic expert.

Day 4: Transfer from Seville to Granada, via Córdoba

After breakfast in Seville, your driver will meet you at your hotel to take you to Córdoba in under two hours. Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to take you to the city center to meet up with a local guide where you'll discover the very best of Córdoba's old town. Your driver will also look after your luggage while you are on the tour so you won't have to worry about carrying it around with you!

During the excursion, you'll get a private tour of the breathtaking Mezquita, a pagan temple that was converted into the great mosque of the Ummayad caliphate and later transformed into a Catholic church (yet it retains much of the original mosque). In addition, The Alcázar of the Catholic Kings, where Christopher Columbus negotiated and gained approval for his voyage west in search of the Indies—as well as the winding side streets of the old Jewish Quarter—will also be a memorable part of your tour.

Your guide will then drop you at a recommended restaurant for a Córdoban lunch and more time to wander before your driver picks you up for the road transfer to Granada—a journey of about 2 hours.

Day 5: Private Tour of the Alhambra - Dinner with a View

This morning will be one of the highlights of your holiday in Spain! At the designated time, you'll be picked up by a driver and delivered to the entrance of the Alhambra, where you'll meet your private guide for a tour of this truly magnificent place. With as many myths and legends as there are arches and fountains, the Alhambra's fortress and palace complex—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is enthralling, so expect your visit to fly by. 

After the visit, you'll have the rest of the day to relax and explore Granada's city center where you can wander through the labyrinth-like streets and lively city center stopping, perhaps stopping at the Granada Cathedral, Royal Church, Alcaicería (old silk market), and Madraza (medieval koranic school).

A visit to Granada would not be complete without experiencing a dinner of traditional Granadino food on the balcony of a Carmen (Moorish palace house). Overlooking the Alhambra, with the silhouette of the Sierra Nevadas in the distance, this restaurant is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip.

As you stroll back to your hotel after dinner, you’ll find yourself on tiny cobblestone streets lined with Moroccan tea houses and stalls selling everything from clothes and shoes to traditional tajines—feel free to stop and browse for souvenirs.

Day 6: Private Tour of the Albaicín

Today, you'll have the morning free to explore Granada on your own. In the afternoon, your private guide will collect you from your hotel to take you on a relaxed and informal exploration of the Albaicín district, Granada's former Moorish quarter, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your guide will show you how this medieval Islamic city within a city has kept its identity into the modern age, explaining its social history and character in anecdotal style.

As you walk through Albaicín's twisting alleyways, you will come across stunning views of the city, the majestic Alhambra palaces, and the Sierra Nevada mountains (often snowcapped) that provide a stunning backdrop. You will pass by churches built on the sites of mosques, stroll underneath the walls of the scented gardens of 'Carmenes' and stop in squares to take in the slow rhythms of daily life in this most traditional and yet singular neighborhood. A stop for refreshments in a bar or café is included with the tour.

At the end of the excursion, your guide will say farewell and drop you at a special restaurant to enjoy a delicious Andalusian meal with more spectacular views.

Day 7: Transfer from Granada to Málaga - Evening Tapas Tour

Today, after a leisurely breakfast at your hotel in Granada, you'll check out and meet your driver in the lobby. From here, make your way to Málaga—a port city that has recently gone through a rejuvenation over the last few years. Though it is still trying to shake off its former reputation, Málaga is quickly becoming a hotbed of culture, style, modernity, and art!

Once you arrive, take time to settle into your accommodation before meeting your private guide for an evening tapas tour. During this fun excursion, you'll walk around the city visiting several tapas bars while learning all about Málaga's thriving dining scene.

Day 8: Private Tour of Málaga

This morning, you'll meet your expert guide and embark on a walking tour through the center of Málaga. The city is fast growing in popularity and offers a buzzing atmosphere and a wealth of things to see and do. Your guide will tell you all about Málaga's history, stopping by spots such as the Roman Theatre, the Cathedral of Málaga, and the Picasso Museum where you'll learn about his life and works. Your guide will bring the city to life and give you plenty of ideas on what to see and do in your free time as well.

For dinner, sample the local cuisine of fish and seasonal vegetables, along with olives, almonds, grapes, raisins, and delicious baked goods. Check out the waterfront or the Old Town along Calle Marques de Larios, which offers some excellent restaurant options.

Day 9: Pick-Up Rental Car - Drive from Málaga to Ronda

After breakfast, you'll pick up your rental car in the city center and drive out of Málaga. Keep your camera close as you head down the Mediterranean coast to the luxurious waterfront town of Marbella, long renowned for its pleasant climate, gorgeous scenery, and wealthy residents. Take a stroll along the promenade and perhaps head down to the luxury marina of Puerto Banus, with its 'Golden Mile' of glamorous designer shops. Stop off for lunch in a seafront restaurant overlooking the sparkling blue sea filled with yachts for the ultimate pinch-me-now moment.

After lunch, continue your road-trip journey as you head inland, up and over the mountains, to your hotel in Ronda, the largest of the so-called 'white villages'. Upon arrival, drop off your luggage and settle into your room—your base for a few days—before venturing out to explore this small city overlooking spectacular views atop El Tajo Gorge.

Day 10: Private Tour of Ronda - Winery Visit

After a hearty Andalusian breakfast, you'll have the day to explore Ronda—the capital of the white villages—with a private local guide. The excursion will include a visit to the spectacular Bullring of the Royal Cavalry of Ronda, largely considered one of the most important in Spain, as well as numerous buildings, churches, convents, and palaces that belong to a long and illustrious Roman and Moorish history.

Following the tour, you'll visit a winery just outside of town in Serranía de Ronda to gain insight into this wine producing area, which has taken off in the last 20 years, and of course, taste some outstanding wines with guidance from a host. 

In the afternoon, you'll make the short journey back to your hotel for some free time to relax before dinner.

Day 11: Drive from Ronda to Jerez de la Frontera, via Grazalema

After breakfast, you will depart Ronda and drive to mountainous Grazalema, with various peaks towering over this captivating and picturesque white village. There is a wealth of artisan producers and shops of local goods including leather, cork, cheese, and honey. Take some time to wander through town and try some of these quality products before stopping for lunch in a nearby recommended restaurant.

If you still have energy, the surrounding countryside has a number of fantastic, easily-accessible trails and footpaths to explore among native oak forests with great views and fresh mountain air.

After stretching your legs, continue the road trip to your rural country estate hotel, near the capital of the Cadiz province Jerez de la Frontera. Upon arrival, settle in and enjoy a relaxed evening in rural luxury.

Day 12: Experience Dancing Horses & Sherry Tasting

This morning, you'll make the short drive into Jerez de la Frontera for a special visit to see the dancing horses of the Royal Equestrian Academy, an important institution that the city is famous for. You'll also be able to explore the academy grounds set in a 19th-century palace as well as the saddlery, training areas, carriage museum, and academy museum for a full morning's entertainment. 

After lunch, you'll visit a local sherry bodega (winery) where you'll tour the beautiful old buildings and gain insight into the process of the wine's creation and what makes it unique. For novices, sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes, which are grown right near town. After fermentation is complete, the wines are fortified with an additional spirit (also made of grapes) in order to increase their final alcohol content.

Day 13: Return Rental Car - Depart Andalusia

It's time to say farewell to Andalusia! At the designated time you will return your car rental and transfer to the airport or train station for your departure onwards. Safe travels!