Europe Private Tour (SPN001) Grand Spain (9 Days 8 Nights)

Arrive in Madrid at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. You will take a connecting flight to Barcelona, where we will be waiting to welcome you and take you on a full-day tour of Barcelona.

Barcelona is known as a Mediterranean metropolis, beautiful and prosperous through its port and commerce, and a must-visit European travel destination that Europe lovers cannot miss.

Stroll along the famous La Rambla pedestrian street, stop for souvenirs and local bites at Mercat de la Boqueria, admire the Columbus Monument (Monument a Colom) at the end of La Rambla, and explore the historic Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic).

Ride the cable car up Montjuïc hill, offering sweeping, gorgeous views over all of Barcelona. Visit the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya if you wish, and enjoy shopping.

P.S. If desired today, you can watch a football match or take a football stadium tour.

hotel Overnight Barcelona : · example hotel Holiday Inn Express Barcelona City 22@

In the morning, if you love art, we will show you the works of Spain's most celebrated artist, Antoni Gaudí, which has earned Barcelona the title of the City of Gaudí.

Admire the Sagrada Família basilica, along with Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera), both commissioned for wealthy patrons, as well as Park Güell.

Next, visit the Camp Nou stadium of FC Barcelona, with a capacity of 98,787 spectators, the largest football stadium in Europe, located right in Barcelona. If there is a scheduled match, you can watch it today.

When it is time, we embark on a 350 km journey to Valencia. If you attend a football match, the trip to Valencia will be postponed to the following day.

hotel Overnight Valencia : · example hotel Hotel Mediterraneo

In the morning, we explore "Valencia", an autonomous community and the third-largest city in Spain. It is home to Valencia Club de Futbol (the "Bats").

Its historic center was once one of the largest in Spain. Valencia is also an industrial, cultural, and tourism hub, and one of Spain's oldest cities—charming and wonderful to visit.

Visit Torres de Serranos, a medieval city gate fortification situated northwest of the old town, considered one of the best viewpoints over the city.

Admire Valencia Cathedral, built in a blend of styles including Gothic, Neoclassical, and Baroque. Adjoining it is the Basilica of the Virgin, the city's patron saint. Along the streets, you'll find numerous restaurants, bars, cafes, and souvenir shops.

Explore the central old town square, home to the City Hall, Central Post Office, shops, and the bullring. Be sure not to miss Valencia Cathedral, or Catedral de Santa Maria de Valencia, located right in the heart of the old town and surrounded by notable landmark buildings.

If time permits, visit the City of Arts and Sciences, another key landmark of Valencia. It is an architecturally striking and intricate cultural complex designed by Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela, built over a total area of 350,000 square meters.

Visit San Miguel De Los Reyes Monastery, an ancient monastery built in the 16th century by the Duke of Calabria (Duque de Calabria). Constructed during the Renaissance, it features sophisticated architecture and stands as an exceptional masterpiece of Valencian art.

Travel to Murcia for an overnight stay.

hotel Overnight Murcia : · example hotel Balneario de Archena - Hotel Leon

If you like, we can make a brief morning stop in Murcia to stroll along the pleasant bayfront. Then, we head toward Granada, the Moors' last stronghold and former capital, which reached the height of prosperity in both material wealth and the fine arts through a harmonious blend of Moorish and Jewish cultures.

Visit the magnificent Alhambra Palace, renowned for its exquisite detail and regarded as an unofficial wonder of the world showcasing the pinnacle of Moorish art. Tour the Nasrid Palaces, the gorgeous gardens, and the Generalife—the sultans' summer palace nestled amidst lush, tranquil grounds (advance ticket booking recommended).

Next, explore the Albayzin neighborhood, see the cathedral, the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real), and the shopping area. At night, the city comes alive with vibrant energy.

Overnight in Granada: Sample hotel Reina Cristina 5 Malaga - Seville

Depart for Seville, Spain's 4th largest city located in southern Spain. It is the capital of Andalusia and situated not far from the border crossing into Morocco.

A world-renowned travel destination. Visit the Cathedral of Seville (Catedral de Sevilla), the largest Gothic church in the world and the third-largest church overall after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and St. Paul's in London, making it the biggest in Spain.

Built in Gothic style with breathtakingly ornate interior decor, it was erected on the site of a former mosque with the ambition to be unrivaled in grand scale.

Visit the Royal Alcazar of Seville, an ingenious creation of Moorish craftsmanship that previously served as a palace for Spanish monarchs.

Explore Plaza de Espana, the grandest and most picturesque square, famous as a filming location for several Star Wars films. See Torre del Oro (the Golden Tower) and tour the bullring (Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza) if you wish.

6 CORDOBA - Toledo

Travel to Cordoba, a southern Spanish city in an agricultural region known for olive oil, crops, grapes, cotton, and sunflowers. Blessed with pleasant year-round weather, Cordoba is known as the crown jewel of Andalusia. Stemming from the 10th-century Muslim Caliphate, it was once a dominant metropolis—the second-largest city in the world after Constantinople—thriving with universities, literature, science, philosophy, and medicine.

See the Roman Bridge (Puente Romano) and enter the Great Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba (Mezquita), a colossal sanctuary exquisitely refined across multiple styles, especially the Islamic art featured in the "Mihrab" with authentic Moorish ceramic tilework of sheer beauty.

Take a relaxing walk around the city and enjoy the town gardens before departing for Toledo, Spain's former capital in the 13th century. Toledo is a historic and cultural crossroads blending Christian, Islamic, and Jewish heritages, featuring a rich architectural tapestry of Arabic, Mudejar, Gothic, and Renaissance influences.

Tour the hilltop old town, encircled by a winding river, and admire Toledo Cathedral (Catedral Primada), celebrated as the city's finest architectural wonder.

See Plaza de Zocodover, the Santa Cruz Museum (Museo de Santa Cruz), and the monumental Alcazar. Toledo Cathedral stands as one of the world's grandest Gothic masterpieces; having taken centuries to complete, it originally served as a mosque before Gothic construction began in 1226, later incorporating Mudejar, Baroque, and Neoclassical elements over the next 300 years. It stands as a true testament to Spain's religious legacy, with an exquisitely decorated interior.

Afterward, visit the Church of Santo Tome (Iglesia de Santo Tome) and stroll around town, savoring local dishes and browsing local handicrafts such as fine steel swords and knives.

Before sunset, head to the viewpoint for a panoramic vista of Toledo—the very scenery immortalized across the globe by the renowned Spanish master El Greco.

7 Madrid

Today, we travel to Madrid, the millennia-old capital of Spain and one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world.

Explore downtown Madrid: see Real Casa de Correos (Kilometer Zero), Plaza Mayor, and Mercado de San Miguel, offering a wide array of gourmet treats and souvenirs. A must-try Spanish specialty is Jamon.

Next, we visit the Royal Palace of Madrid, set along the Manzanares River and easily rivaling the grandest royal palaces across Europe. Constructed entirely of stone in a blend of French and Italian architectural styles, it features an impressive 2,830 rooms.

Visit Plaza de Espana, shop along the 1.3-kilometer Gran Via, and continue to Plaza de Cibeles and Puerta de Alcala, Madrid's magnificent city gate. If time permits, enjoy a relaxing stroll in Parque del Buen Retiro.

For football fans, you can also opt for a tour of Real Madrid's stadium (Estadio Santiago Bernabeu).

8 Segovia - San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Depart for Segovia, not far from Madrid, to visit the Cathedral of Segovia (Catedral de Segovia) and the Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, an unforgettable icon of the city. Also visit the Alcazar of Segovia Castle.

We then take you to visit the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, simply known as El Escorial. Formerly the residence of the Spanish monarchy, it was built during the reign of King Philip II between 1563-1584, taking a total of 21 years to complete. El Escorial comprises a school located outside the main palace and a grand palace inside, complete with a Roman church, courtyard basilica, library, and museum. It features 4 prominent towers standing tall and magnificent, with a maze-like garden beside the palace.

Then return for an overnight stay in Madrid.

9 Madrid - Airport

There is no tour today. We arrange a transfer to Madrid Airport.

hotel Overnight Madrid : · example hotel Rincon de Gran Via, second night