Highlights of Spain's Capital & Andalusia: Madrid, Seville, & Granada - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid

Welcome to Madrid! Upon arrival at either the airport or train station, you'll be greeted by a private driver who will transfer you to your hotel in the city center. Take some time to settle in and get your bearings 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. 

Break up the sightseeing with a café con leche in a stately square like Plaza Mayor followed by a drink at a rooftop bar for a birds-eye view over the city. After the sun goes down, partake in the city's dining scene, awash with fantastic tapas bars (choose a handful and make it a tapas crawl).

Day 2: Tour of Madrid and El Prado

Start your day with a private walking tour to discover the highlights of the city, accompanied by your guide's anecdotes. This 4-hour tour can be customized to your speed and style, whether you want a leisurely stroll or quick march to fit in as much of the city as possible. You'll also include a visit to the famous El Prado museum, one of the world's finest collections of European art. Visit the highlight of the collection, such as Velazquez’s "Las Meninas," El Greco’s "Fable," and Goya’s "The Countess of Chinchón." Leave your guide after the tour to keep exploring on your own, or let them lead you to a tapas bar to spend the evening.

Day 3: Free Day in Madrid

Keep exploring the city's other districts today. Go shopping on Calle Serrano or Gran Vía, or visit El Rastro Market if you happen to be in the city on a Sunday. If you'd rather go the art route, the Reina Sofia, Sorolla, and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums await; stay outdoors with a rowboat, stroll through El Retiro Park, or watch the city go by from a cafe in La Latina or Chamberi district.

If you prefer a guided tour, you can also find tours that will introduce you to Madrid's artisans, gourmet scene, or the city via Segway.

Day 4: Madrid to Seville via Córdoba

Head to the Atocha train station to take the AVE high-speed train down to Córdoba, complete with comfortable seating and onboard cafeteria. Your first stop is the city of Córdoba, where you'll meet up with your guide for a private tour of the Old Town. Stroll through the highlights of the city, including the Mezquita, a pagan temple that was turned into the great mosque of the Ummayad caliphate and later a Catholic church, with much of the mosque's design still in place. You'll also visit the Alcázar of the Catholic Kings, where Christopher Columbus negotiated his voyage west and the winding side streets of the old Jewish Quarter.

Stop for lunch in Córdoba followed by a bit more walking, then meet your driver to continue on to Seville.

Day 5: Seville Bike Tour

Set off on a spin around the city with a guided bike tour. You'll visit many of Seville's most impressive sights, including the Plaza de España, the Guadalquivir riverfront, Metropol Parasol, and Plaza de San Francisco, along with some of the city's many gardens and parks. Your guide will share some of the stories of the attractions and the city itself during the tour.

You'll have the rest of the day free, so consult your guide for recommendations for some of their favorite spots or just take a paseo and stroll around.

Day 6: Walking Tour & Evening Flamenco

Lose the wheels for a private, guided walking tour of Seville's historic landmarks. Stop in at the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, the tomb of Christopher Columbus, and the magnificent Alcázar with its Mudéjar (Neo-Moorish) palaces and lush gardens. Take a post-tour break in a tapas bar and then explore at your own pace until the evening.

As the sun sets, you'll head to a flamenco show, with more background knowledge provided by your guide. Take in the classic Andalucian music and dance performance, then join your guide for more tapas and drinks and a discussion of life in Andalucia.

Day 7: Seville to Granada via The White Villages

Head to Granada today via a full day's excursion through the hills of Cádiz. Drive through olive groves, rolling meadows, cork forests, and mountainous terrain to Andalucia's hillside White Villages, so named for their distinctive whitewashed architecture.

Your first stop will be Zahara de la Sierra, sometimes considered one of the most beautiful of all the White Villages. Visit a nearby olive mill for a production tour and tasting, then continue to the village of Grazalema, where you'll sample payoyo cheese and stroll through the streets in search of lunch.

Your final village of the day is Ronda, where you'll have free time to explore the town and its monuments. From there you'll continue to Granada. Settle into your lodgings and spend the evening however you choose.

Day 8: The Alhambra

Take a private guided tour this morning of the famed Alhambra. With as many myths and legends as there are arches and fountains, this historic site offers hours worth of wandering, accompanied by a private guide to relay its many tales.

Once you've finished within the Alhambra's walls, make your way down to the city center to continue with your walk through its labyrinthine streets. Seek out the Cathedral, Royal Church, old silk market at the Alcaicería, and medieval Madraza Koranic school.

Day 9: Albaicín District Tour

Today's guided tour takes you on a relaxed exploration of the Albaicín district, the one-time Moorish quarter of Granada and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The medieval Islamic city within a city has maintained its historic identity into the modern age, and you'll learn about its social history and character as you take in the views of the Alhambra's palaces and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada backdrop. Pass churches built on top of former mosques, the walls of the scented gardens of Carmenes, and sedate squares filled with the routines of daily life where you can stop for refreshments.

After your tour finishes, find a special spot for the final dinner of your trip.

Day 10: Depart Granada

Wave goodbye to Granada as you catch a transfer to the airport or train station to make your way home or onward to the next stop on your journey.