Madrid & Southern Spain - 9 days
9 Days Starting and ending in Madrid, Spain
Visiting: Madrid, Caceres, Cordoba, Seville, Malaga
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 24
Age range:
No minimum age
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Cultural, Foodie and Wine Tours, Gardens & Nature Tours, History
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a captivating 9-day journey through Madrid and Southern Spain, where cultural treasures and stunning landscapes await. Begin in the vibrant capital, Madrid, with a city tour and a delightful tapas dinner. Explore the historic city of Cordoba, visiting the iconic La Mezquita. In Seville, marvel at the grandeur of the second-largest cathedral in the Catholic world. Discover the picturesque town of Ronda and the enchanting Alhambra in Granada. Experience the rich cultural tapestry of Toledo and the coastal charm of Malaga. Enjoy guided sightseeing, local culinary delights, and a flamenco experience. Stay in comfortable 4-star accommodations, with transportation by deluxe coach and expert local guides enhancing your adventure. This small group tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and leisure, ensuring an unforgettable Spanish escapade.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation Name: Hotel Riu Plaza Espana
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Madrid, the Spanish capital! You will be collected at the airport and transferred to our hotel, where the evening is at leisure. Later enjoy an authentic Welcome Tapas Dinner with your fellow travellers and guide.
2024 departures: In 2024, the welcome Tapas dinner is offered on day 2 instead.
Day 2: Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation Name: Hotel Riu Plaza Espana
Meals Included: Breakfast
Madrid - Cordoba. Today, we embark on an all-encompassing coach tour of Madrid. The highlights of our excursion include the historic Barrio de la Morería, the Habsburgs District, Plaza Mayor, and Plaza de la Villa. We will explore the Madrid of the Bourbons, including the complex town planning schemes of Charles III, and visit the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains, and the Puerta de Alcalá. In the more contemporary part of the city, we will see areas such as Gran Vía, Castellana, the Salamanca district, as well as the commercial and financial zones of Modern Madrid.
We will also visit the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium, home to Real Madrid. During the tour, we will enjoy a taste of the typical Madrid-style snack, chocolate with churros, and have an included Welcome Dinner this evening at an authentic Tapas restaurant. After the tour, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
2024 departures: In 2024, chocolate and churros is not included.
Day 3: Caceres
Location: Caceres
Accommodation Name: Hesperia Cordoba
Meals Included: Breakfast
Madrid - Merida - Cordoba. After breakfast, we say farewell to Madrid and head south. Before reaching Cordoba, we visit Mérida, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its well-preserved Roman ruins, including the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre. Explore its rich historical heritage before continuing to Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate.The rest of the day is at your leisure.
2024 departures: In 2024, We visit Caceres and its Old Town, Plaza Mayor Square instead of Merida.
Day 4: Cordoba
Location: Cordoba
Accommodation Name: Hesperia Cordoba
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Cordoba - Seville. This morning, we embark on an impressive tour of Cordoba's Mosque (entrance included) and other sites that will ease our minds and spirits as we stroll through the narrow, winding streets of the Jewish Quarter, accompanied by our expert local guide. In the afternoon, we continue our journey towards Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Tonight, we have the opportunity to discover Andalusian cuisine at a local restaurant with our fellow travelers.
2024 departures: In 2024, dinner is not included this evening.
Day 5: Seville
Location: Seville
Accommodation Name: Melia Lebreros
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we explore Seville on a guided tour. Entrance to the city's cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world, is included. We also visit the Santa Cruz Quarter, where the famous opera 'Carmen' is largely set, also known for the myth of Jon Juan. Wander through Maria Luisa Park and the picturesque Plaza Espana. After our tour, the afternoon is free for you to further explore Seville at your own pace.
Day 6: Seville
Location: Seville
Accommodation Name: Melia Lebreros
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Seville - Jerez - Ronda. After breakfast, travel south through Andalusian villages to Jerez, where you will be captivated by two of the essential elements of the Andalusian soul: wine and horses. We will visit the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art and enjoy a wine tasting in one of the famous local wineries.
Continue to Ronda, where you will visit the olive oil production facility at LA Organic and taste their organic olive oil. The rest of the day is at leisure to discover the secrets of Ronda.
2024 departures: Please note that in 2024, we make a stop in Ronda before heading to the Costa del Sol, where we stay in Malaga or Torremolinos.
Day 7: Malaga
Location: Malaga
Accommodation Name: Sol Don Pablo, Torremolinos
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Ronda - Malaga - Granada. After breakfast, we head to the coastal city of Malaga. We can spend some time exploring the city's Roman and Arab past before continuing to Granada, located at the foot of Sierra Nevada. We will enjoy an included Flamenco dance masterclass before attending an included dinner and Flamenco show. After dinner, we will head to one of the city viewpoints to take in our surroundings.
2024 departures: In 2024, we travel from the Costa del Sol to Granada and visit the Alhambra Complex today. There is an included Flamenco show and dinner.
Day 8: Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation Name: Hotel Catalonia Granada
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Granada - Madrid. This morning we visit the world-famous Alhambra. This stunning palace and fortress complex was built during the Nasrid Dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries. Originally constructed as a small fortress in 889 AD on Roman remains, it was later transformed into a royal palace by the Moors. The Alhambra showcases exquisite Islamic architecture, with intricate carvings, stunning tilework, and tranquil gardens, reflecting the cultural zenith of Islamic Spain before the Christian Reconquista in 1492, when the Alhambra was surrendered to Ferdinand and Isabella.
After our included visit to the Alhmabra, we make our way back to Madrid, and there is an included farewell dinner this evening.
2024 departures: In 2024 we will visit the hilltop city of Toledo today on our way back to Madrid. There is no included dinner in the evening.
Day 9: Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation Name: Hotel Catalonia Granada
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a final breakfast in the hotel before our tour comes to an end. There is an included transfer to the airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
4-star hotels -
8 breakfasts & 5 dinners (2 dinners in 2024)
Enjoy 8 breakfasts and 5 dinners during the tour, with 2 dinners included in 2024.
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8 nights 4-star hotels
Stay in 4-star hotels for 8 nights during the tour.
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Escorted by an English-speaking local tour leader with local guides for sightseeing
The tour is escorted by an English-speaking local tour leader, with local guides for sightseeing or an expert driver-guide for groups of 10 or fewer.
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Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and departure transfer on day 9
Airport transfers are included on the first and last day of the tour.
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Transportation by deluxe coach with Wi-Fi and audio headsets
Travel in comfort with transportation by deluxe coach, equipped with Wi-Fi and audio headsets.
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Guided sightseeing in Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Granada & Toledo in 2024, Malaga in 2025
Enjoy guided sightseeing tours in Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Granada, and Toledo in 2024, and Malaga in 2025.
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Chocolate & Churros tasting in Madrid (2025)
Experience a chocolate and churros tasting in Madrid in 2025.
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Entrance to Cordoba Mosque, Seville Cathedral & Alhambra in Granada
Entrance fees to Cordoba Mosque, Seville Cathedral, and the Alhambra in Granada are included.
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Visit & Ticket to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez (2025)
Visit and ticket to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez are included in 2025.
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Olive oil tasting at a local Almazara
Enjoy an olive oil tasting at a local Almazara.
What's Not Included
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International flights and visas
International flights and visas are not included in the tour package.
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Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
Tipping is not included and is considered a personal gesture.
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City taxes - to be paid directly at the hotel
City taxes are not included and must be paid directly at the hotel.
Accommodation
Experience the charm of Spain with stays at the 4-star Riu Plaza Espana in Madrid, Hesperia Cordoba by the Guadalquivir River, the stylish Melia Lebreros in Seville, Sol Don Pablo near Bajondillo Beach in Torremolinos, and the modern Hotel Catalonia in Granada, each offering excellent amenities and convenient locations.
Age Policy
No minimum age
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with deluxe coach transportation featuring Wi-Fi and audio headsets, including airport transfers on arrival and departure days. Enjoy guided sightseeing tours in major cities, ensuring a seamless and enriching travel experience throughout your journey in Spain.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes 8 nights in 4-star hotels, such as Hotel Riu Plaza Espana in Madrid, Hesperia Cordoba in Cordoba, Melia Lebreros in Seville, Sol Don Pablo in Torremolinos, and Hotel Catalonia Granada in Granada.
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Are airport transfers included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour includes an airport arrival transfer on day 1 and a departure transfer on day 9.
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Is there a guided tour of the Alhambra included in the itinerary?
Yes, the tour includes a visit to the Alhambra palace and fortress complex in Granada.
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Will there be any special culinary experiences during the tour?
Yes, the tour includes a chocolate and churros tasting in Madrid (2025), an olive oil tasting at a local Almazara, and a sherry wine tasting with a light lunch in Jerez (2025).
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Is there a Flamenco experience included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes a Flamenco experience with dinner and a Flamenco show.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
Transportation is provided by a deluxe coach with Wi-Fi and audio headsets.
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Are there any cultural or historical site visits included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes visits to Cordoba's Mosque, Seville Cathedral, and the Alhambra in Granada, among other cultural and historical sites.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Free Date Changes
CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Terms and Conditions