Essential Spain

Welcome to Madrid! Upon arrival at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Madrid

After breakfast, you will head on a tour of Madrid. On this panoramic tour, you will discover the medieval origins of the city with its Arabic fortress at the Barrio de la Morería, famous for its historic buildings. Drive through the courtesan district of the Hapsburgs characterized by Phillip II and its Renaissance and Baroque style buildings, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa; the Madrid of the Bourbons and the complex town planning schemes of Charles III, the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains and the Puerta de Alcalá. Admire the 19th-century work such as the Prado Museum. From there you will explore contemporary Madrid with areas such as Gran Vía, Castellana, the district of Salamanca, Plaza Castilla, and Parque del Oeste, as well as the commercial and financial areas of Modern Madrid, the emblematic Las Ventas Bull Ring and the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore the wonders this city has to offer.

Overnight in Madrid

Optional: Flamenco Show at Tablao La Carmela with Drink
Departure Time: 07:30 PM

Meeting Point: Tablao La Carmela C/ de la Victoria, 4 – Madrid

Enjoy the true art of flamenco at Tablao La Carmela. Located very close of Puerta del Sol, in the old coal cellars of the Taberna "La Carmela" (former Convent of La Victoria, demolished in 1836 after the War of Independence). Every night the best dancers (known as bailaores) come to the Tablao La Carmela, who will make you enjoy this art in each of their shows.

 

Breakfast at the hotel.  Drive along La Mancha, Don Quixote’s land. going by a typical site in Puerto Lapice. Cross through the natural border of “Despeñaperros” and get into Andalusia, a region for itself that shows an enormous heritage from a splendorous past. Reach Cordoba. Impressive tour of its Mosque and other sites that will ease our mind and spirit strolling through its narrow winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, after a short two-hour ride reach Seville.

Overnight in Seville

This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of Seville featuring the Cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peter’s in Rome. You will discover the Santa Cruz Quarter, a natural scenescape for the opera “Carmen” and where the myth of “Don Juan” developed, the Maria Luisa Park and Spain Square. Spend the afternoon at leisure to discover Seville.

Overnight in Seville

After breakfast at the hotel drive east through the Caliphate Road to the heart of Andalusia observing an endless number of olive trees on the way to Granada and its incredible and amazing monumental environment, last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms up to 1492. Visit the world-famous Alhambra complex and Generalife Gardens that have inspired several authors with its sound and sights, such as the “Tales of the Alhambra” by W. Irving.

Overnight in Granada

After breakfast, you will have a free day to enjoy the Nazari capital. Granada is more than Alhambra; the Muslim heritage runs through every corner of the city and mixes with the Christian tradition giving a rise to a unique city. You can participate in this spirit and be immersed in the magical neighborhood of El Albaicín, a World Heritage Site, and discover its secrets. You will have the opportunity to visit the Sierra Nevada, old mosques converted into churches and old palaces, still saturated with Arab aromas.

Overnight in Granada

This morning you will head north to the World Heritage city of Toledo, surrounded by the Tagus River. It is here where three cultures coexist: Christian, Moorish, and Jewish. This entire town is a national monument.  Enjoy a short city tour of Toledo's old historical centre. From there you will return to Madrid.

(April'2026 - March'2027)

Instead of visiting Toledo, for April 2026 onward departures, you will travel north directly to Madrid, a scenic 04–05 hour journey that takes you past Andalucía’s rolling hills, vast stretches of olive groves and the wide-open plains of La Mancha dotted with iconic windmills. The remaining day will be at leisure to explore Madrid at your own pace. 

Overnight in Madrid

After breakfast at the hotel transfer back to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas International Airport to check-in for your flight back home.