Explore Madrid & Seville - 8 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid, Evening Tapas Tour

Welcome to Madrid! Upon arriving at the airport or train station, your private driver will transfer you to your hotel in the city center. Take some time to settle in before heading out to explore.

Spain's capital is made for walking, with wide, elegant boulevards showcasing a range of architectural styles and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It's also renowned for some of the best art museums on the continent, including the Prado Museum, with works by Goya, Velázquez, and other Spanish masters.

In the evening, you'll meet your guide for a walking tapas tour to get a genuine feel for the city and sample some of the best local dishes. You'll see Madrid through a local's eyes as you get a feel for its many districts and neighborhoods. The tour begins with a two-hour city walking tour, followed by delicious tapas in local and authentic bars in the Las Letras neighborhood in the historic heart of the city.

Day 2: Private Tour of Madrid with El Prado Museum

Enjoy a hearty breakfast to prepare for a day of exploring Madrid. When you're ready, a private guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a four-hour walking tour to discover the city highlights. Your guide will adapt to your speed and style, whether it's a leisurely, laid-back stroll or a brisk pace, to squeeze in as many sites as possible.

A good place to start is Puerta del Sol, the central meeting point of Madrid and the radial center of all Spanish roadways. You'll also find the famous statue, El Oso y el Madroño, the bear with a strawberry tree, which has been the city's coat of arms since the 13th century.

Nearby is Plaza Mayor—a great stop for some tapas—and the Royal Palace of Madrid. There are two gardens near the palace: Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro. You can't miss the impressive Catedral de la Almudena, a beautiful Baroque Catholic cathedral. Other sites include the many fountains of Madrid, such as the Cibeles and Neptune fountains, plus the Puerta de Alcalá, the Temple of Debod, and Plaza de España.

For lunch, head to the Mercado de San Miguel, originally built in 1916. Here, you can try different traditional Spanish foods with an endless offering of tapas and meals. You can also try local wine and sherry. At the end of the tour, you'll enter the magnificent El Prado Museum, which is one of the finest collections of European art in the world, including works by Velázquez, El Greco, and Goya. Explore some of these gems with your guide before you continue exploring on your own. Alternatively, your guide will take you to a nearby restaurant or tapas bar, whichever option suits you best.

Day 3: Day Trip to the UNESCO City of Toledo

Today's excursion takes you on an hour-long drive south to Toledo. This historic city was the capital of Spain in the 16th century and enjoys a dramatic location atop a gorge overlooking the Río Tajo.

In the Middle Ages, Toledo was known as the "City of the Three Cultures," where—legend has it—Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities peacefully coexisted. You can see remnants of this in the old Arab, Muslim, and Christian monuments that still stand. These include the 15th-century Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the former Roman palace Alcázar de Toledo, and the Moorish Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, which dates to the 12th century.

Accompanied by an expert guide, you'll visit these historic landmarks, including the grand 13th-century Toledo Cathedral and the 12th-century Church of Santo Tomé. Throughout it all, you'll tour the ancient streets of an incredible city that could aptly be described as an open-air museum. After all, Toledo does enjoy UNESCO World Heritage Status. In the afternoon, your driver will return you to Madrid, where you'll have the evening free.

Day 4: Train to Córdoba, Guided City Tour, Transfer to Seville

In the morning, your driver will take you to Atocha Train Station, where you'll catch a high-speed train to Córdoba —a journey of just under two hours. With comfortable seating and the option to stretch your legs, this is truly the best way to travel long distances in Spain.

Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to take you to the city center, where a local guide will help you discover the very best of Córdoba's old town. During the excursion, you'll get a private tour of the breathtaking Mezquita. This pagan temple 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). You'll also visit the winding side streets of the old Jewish Quarter and the Alcázar of the Catholic Kings, where Christopher Columbus negotiated and gained approval for his voyage west in search of the Indies.

You'll then enjoy a Cordoban lunch and more time to wander on your own, followed by a 1.5-hour drive to Seville. After settling into your accommodation, you can explore the city and find a restaurant for dinner.

Day 5: Explore Seville by Bike

After breakfast, you'll meet up with your private guide, who will have bicycles prepared for an active tour of Seville's numerous sights, such as the Plaza de España, Guadalquivir Riverfront, Setas Marketplace, Plaza de San Francisco, and some of the city's most beautiful gardens and parks.

During the excursion, your informative guide will share anecdotes and explain some of the mysteries and stories behind the city of Seville. This is a fun, healthy, and educational way to get a feel for the city. Following the tour, you'll have the rest of the day to spend as you please, perhaps taking a long paseo (stroll) to enjoy the surroundings at your own pace.

Day 6: Olive Oil Tour, A Night of Tapas & Flamenco

Today, a driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you outside the city to a special locale in the countryside. One of Spain's most popular exports is its high-quality olive oil, and today, you'll witness the production process firsthand on an exclusive tour of an Andalusian olive oil estate. This estate has quite the history, as it was right here back in the 17th century that Christopher Columbus' son Hernando began exporting olive oil to the New World.

After returning to Seville, it will then be time to prepare for your night out. Whether in a small group or private tour, you'll head to Seville's historic old town for a night of delicious tapas and authentic flamenco, a musical style originating in Andalusia. Your expert guide will lead you through two family-run taverns where you'll taste a wide selection of dishes. Traditional tapas on offer include acorn-fed Iberian ham, gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp in oil), and bacalao (salt cod). Of course, throughout the dinner, you'll pair the tapas with delicious local wines.

You'll then switch to the flamenco, experiencing the most authentic version in the historic Santa Cruz neighborhood. Here, you'll enter a 15th-century building that hosts the evening's dance performance. It's the perfect ambience to experience the power, passion, and drama of real flamenco. After the performance, you'll visit yet another family-run tapas bar to cap the whirlwind evening with more incredible wines and equally delectable desserts. All in all, it's a perfect end to a magical evening in Seville.

Day 7: Day Trip to the White Villages & Ronda

Awake early for a day trip to the beautiful hills in the province of Cádiz, enjoying some of the most spectacular views of Andalusia. Driving through olive groves, rolling meadows, cork forests, and mountainous terrain, you'll visit a number of Andalusia's White Villages perched on hillsides, with the iconic whitewashed houses visible for miles around.

Your first stop will be Zahara de la Sierra, perhaps the most beautiful of all the White Villages. Nearby, you'll visit an olive mill to learn about the production process and taste their oils, then drive up and over to Grazalema. Here, you'll sample the renowned payoyo cheese.

During the course of the day, and depending on your schedule, you'll stop for lunch in a typical local restaurant. Afterward, you'll continue to Ronda, where you'll have time to explore the town at your own leisure. Before returning to Seville, you'll visit a winery just outside of Ronda. Here, you'll learn all about how this wine-producing area has grown in the last 20 years and, of course, taste some of the different wines with a host to guide you through it. Upon returning to Seville, you'll have the evening to relax and enjoy the city on your own.

Day 8: Depart Seville

It's time to say goodbye to Spain. After making sure you have all the right souvenirs, your driver will meet you at the reception of your hotel and transfer you to Seville Airport for your onward journey.

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