Cities & Culture in Spain: Madrid, Seville & Granada - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid, Explore

Welcome to Spain! Upon arrival at the airport in Madrid, you'll transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day exploring the city at your own pace. If you're interested in seeing a show, head to Gran Vía (Madrid's answer to Broadway), where you'll find plenty of theaters showcasing plays and musical productions. The options for culture in this city are vast, so you can also visit museums, art galleries, and live music venues if the mood strikes.

When night falls, be sure to indulge in Madrid's culinary scene. If you want to dine amid history, head to the city center and Botín, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest restaurant in the world—it opened its doors in 1725. No less than Ernest Hemingway described it in his seminal novel "The Sun Also Rises" as the best restaurant on Earth.

Day 2: Tapas & Private City Tour, Discover Madrid's Royal Legacy

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll meet a local guide for a half-day tour of Madrid. Spain's capital city has a long history with interesting architecture, public spaces, and culture. Your guide will reveal insight into how different periods influenced Madrid's neighborhoods and buildings and explain the city's biggest sights.

The tour will start at the Madrid de los Austrias. It was built in the 16th century during the reign of the Hapsburg Dynasty's first ruler, Charles I. Located in the city center, it's home to one of the grandest plazas in Spain, the Plaza Mayor, once the heart of Old Madrid. Nearby, you'll find the Royal Palace, the official home of the Spanish monarchs until 1931. You'll tour the grounds and interior of this 3,418-room monument, entering the parade grounds, the chambers of Charles III, several salons, the Royal Chapel, and the Hall of the Crown, which displays Charles I's crown, scepter, and throne.

Later, enjoy a visit to El Retiro Park. Its 308 acres are the green lung of Madrid, abounding with sculptures, fountains, and a man-made lake perfect for an afternoon boat ride. There are also must-visit gardens here, including the Jardín de Vivaces (Garden of Vivacious Plants), Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez (inspired by the Andalusia region), and a rose garden home to over 4,000 bushes—the best time to see these blooms is from May through June.

In the evening, you'll dig into Madrid's culture on a food tour. A local guide will lead you on a two-hour walking excursion that stops at several tapas bars. On this tour, you'll visit Barrio Las Letras, known as the Literary Quarter. This historic neighborhood in the city center was once home to Spanish-lit legends like Cervantes and Quevedo. Besides visiting some historic sights around here, you'll also stop at Calle Huertas for a bite at one of the many tapas bars that line the street.

Day 3: Day Trip to the UNESCO City of Toledo

A half-hour train ride south of Madrid lies Toledo, a historic city once Spain's capital in the 16th century. The layered city is perched atop a gorge overlooking the Río Tajo, its massive 16th-century fortress dominating the scene.

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 a local guide, you'll visit these historic landmarks and others, 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 your walking tour, you'll learn about the steelwork crafted in Toledo. On a visit to the city's historic foundry, you'll see where ancient blacksmiths forged the famous swords made from Toledo steel. These were used by the Roman general Hannibal in the Punic Wars and by the Christian armies in the Middle Ages. These weapons are of incomparable quality, and you can appreciate the craftwork by viewing some of the swords at the foundry. After the guided visit, you'll enjoy lunch and explore the city on your own. Later in the day, you'll return to Madrid.

Day 4: Train to Seville, City Bike Tour & Evening Flamenco Show

In the morning, your driver will take you to Atocha Train Station, where you'll catch a high-speed train to Seville. Upon arrival, 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 check into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon as you please, perhaps enjoying lunch and taking a long paseo (stroll) through the city.

In the evening, you'll enjoy a flamenco show, 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 another family-run tapas bar to cap the whirlwind evening with more incredible wines and equally delectable desserts. Overall, it's a perfect end to a magical evening in Seville.

Day 5: Explore an Andalusian Olive Oil Farm

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.

You'll tour the old manufacturing center and view the 16th-century olive oil presses. You'll also visit the estate's working presses, which use modern methods to produce the olive oil they export today. The excursion ends with a tasting of the oils, allowing you to use your newfound knowledge of the ingredients. After the tour, you'll return to Seville and have the rest of the afternoon to explore the city.

Day 6: Transfer to Granada, Hike the Caminito del Rey

Awake early for your road trip through some of Andalusia's most enchanting locales. Enjoy the views as you drive through olive groves, rolling meadows, cork forests, and around mountains, passing the region's famous White Villages—ancient hilltop towns famous for their whitewashed buildings.

Your destination is Granada, located about three hours east of Seville. However, you'll stop for some adrenaline-pumping hiking at the Caminito del Rey—a stunning network of walkways built along a deep gorge carved out by the Guadalhorce River. At times, the gorge reaches harrowing depths of 2,297 feet (700 meters).

You'll arrive at the northern entrance and put on your safety equipment. Then, it's time to head off along the trail. As you hike, you'll enjoy incredible views down the gorge to the river winding through the valley below. This one-way trail typically takes about three to four hours to complete.

Afterward, you'll continue to Granada, where you'll check into your hotel. You'll have the evening to relax with strolls through the city's ancient neighborhoods, such as Albaicín or Bib-Rambla, an area with great shopping, restaurants, and bars.

Day 7: Explore Granada by Bike, Tour the Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

After breakfast, you'll explore Granada on an electric bike tour, which allows you to cover ground quickly as you cruise through this vibrant city, learning about its history and architecture. You'll cycle through the labyrinthine streets, visiting all the major sites, including Plaza Nueva (the oldest square in the city), Albaicín (the medieval/Moorish historic center), Barrio Realejo (the historic Jewish Quarter), and the 16th century Catedral de Granada, the largest and most opulent Roman Catholic church in the city. You'll also visit the Royal Church, Alcaicería (old silk market), and Madraza (medieval Quranic school).

After the bike tour, your guide will lead you through the city's prized site: The Alhambra. Granada was once the last bastion of Al-Andalus (the historic Muslim name for the Iberian Peninsula) when it was ruled by the Moors. You can see examples of this history in the form of Granada's most famous landmark, the Alhambra, which receives more than two million visitors annually.

This imposing Muslim fortress was built atop a hill overlooking Granada and dates to the 9th century. It was rebuilt in the 14th century by the Nasrid Dynasty and served as a Moorish palace until 1492, when it became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella after the Christian reconquest. Your tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site will take you through its grand halls and the Generalife Gardens, filled with colorful flowers, fountains, and panoramic views of the city down below. After the tour, You'll have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure.

Day 8: Return to Madrid, Free Evening

In the morning, you'll transfer to the train station in Granada and board your three-hour journey north to Madrid. Upon arrival, you'll settle into your hotel and have the rest of the day free to explore the areas of the city you haven't yet seen.

You can shop along popular streets like Calle de Serrano and Gran Vía, or, if it's Sunday, explore El Rastro Market in the hip La Latina neighborhood. You can also visit museums like El Prado, Reina Sofia, Sorolla, and Thyssen Bornemisza. Or, if you prefer, spend the afternoon in El Retiro Park, which once belonged to the Spanish Monarchy. Spend some time among the beautifully manicured gardens, fountains, walking paths, museums, and the lake, where you can row a boat around the Monument to Alfonso XII. The Crystal Palace is a surreal space with a revolving modern art exhibit, a great spot to catch the sunset as it bursts through the glass.

Another idea for sunset is a rooftop bar. The terrace above the Círculo de Bellas Artes offers incredible city views, plus tapas and drinks. For dinner, find the city's best international food in the Lavapiés neighborhood, or dress up for a meal in swanky Salamanca. Or, if you're interested in a more traditional tavern, the side streets around Calle de la Cruz are filled with colorfully-tiled facades and delicious Spanish cuisine.

Day 9: Depart Madrid

It's time to say farewell. After a leisurely breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport, where you'll catch your flight home.

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