TRAVEL ALERT  Flooding in Central Eastern Spain

Best of Spain

15 Days | A jam-packed tour capturing some of Spain's true highlights

4.7 out of 5 based on 80 reviews submitted.
Explorer
Rail
From
NZD $6,140

Kick off this colourful Best of Spain tour in Madrid and let your imagination unfold on a journey through the beautiful Andalucian region. Visit the cities that reflect Spain's diverse history and culture. Experience a fiery flamenco performance in Seville and explore the mysterious maze of alleyways of the old Arab quarter in Albayzin. Follow your tastebuds to a tapas bar and wander among Gaudi's handiwork in Barcelona – this Spanish adventure is as colourful and diverse as the land itself.

Trip overview

Map of Best Of Spain including Spain
Start
Madrid, Spain
Finish
Barcelona, Spain
Theme
Explorer, Rail
Destinations
Spain
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
ZMSG
This trip generates 24 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Experience the fiery passion and rhythm of a traditional flamenco dance performance in Seville.
  • It's a pretty special thing to chill out on a beach in Andalucian Spain, knowing North Africa is just across the water. Explore the scenic coastline, and kick back with some tapas and sangria in Tarifa.
  • The town of Ronda is split in two by a deep rocky chasm. Follow in the path of the Romans, as you cross from one side to the other along an ancient bridge.
  • Discover Cordoba's great mosque, the Mezquita, one of the most accomplished examples of Moorish architecture in the world. The lavish gardens and opulent rooms of Granada's spectacular Alhambra Palace aren't bad either.
  • Witness a spectacular Spanish sunset on a beach in Valencia, while feasting on a bowl of the world's best paella.
  • The cosmopolitan city of Barcelona pulses with culture, art and an outstanding drinking and dining scene. Discover the eccentric modernist architecture of Antonio Gaudi, who made Barcelona his artistic playground. The unfinished masterpiece of La Sagrada Familia is particularly mind-blowing.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Casa Caridad. Donations help them provide basic needs such as food and shelter for people in need in Valencia. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip covers a lot of ground and the majority of travel is done by trains and public buses. It's a good time to sit back, relax and let the scenery roll past your window. Please read the Itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
  • We recommend packing light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations and hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs, and across cobblestones. Train stations often don’t have lifts available.
  • Summer temperatures can be extreme in this region (over 40C/104F). It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Many hotels in Europe have fans, not air conditioning. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
  • Space is at a premium in Europe and your hotel is no exception. Rooms are often small, but usually the central location makes up for that. For those travelling as a duo, hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Itinerary

Map of Best Of Spain including Spain

Inclusions

Meals

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch

Transport

Train, Public bus, Metro, Taxi, Bicycle

Accommodation

Hotel (12 nights), Hostal/Guest house ( 2 nights)

Activities
  • Granada - Guided Visit to Alhambra Palace & Gardens
  • Ronda - Los Molinos (Windmill Valley) Hike
  • Seville - Evening Flamenco Performance
  • Cordoba - Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral) Visit
  • Valencia - City Cycling Tour
  • Valencia - Picnic
  • Barcelona - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia Cathedral visit
Optional activities
  • Madrid - Museo del Prado - EUR15
  • Madrid - Museo Reina Sofia - EUR10
  • Madrid - Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza - EUR13
  • Madrid - Real Jardín Botánico - EUR6
  • Madrid - Royal Palace - EUR14
  • Madrid - Museo Taurino - EUR15
  • Madrid - Tapas Urban Adventure - EUR99
  • Granada - Mirador de San Nicolas - Free
  • Granada - Catedral de Granada - EUR6
  • Granada - Science Park Planetarium - EUR2
  • Granada - Science Park - EUR7
  • Granada - Capilla Real - EUR6
  • Ronda - Santa Maria la Mayor Church - EUR4
  • Ronda - Bandits Museum - EUR4
  • Morocco - Day Trip from Tarifa - EUR66
  • Tarifa - Whale Watching - EUR35
  • Gibraltar - Day Trip from Tarifa - EUR48
  • Tarifa - Castle - EUR4
  • Seville - Andalusian Contemporary Art Centre - EUR3
  • Seville - Casa de Pilatos - EUR10
  • Seville - Indias Archive - Free
  • Seville - Santa Paula Convent - EUR3
  • Seville - Torre del Oro - EUR3
  • Seville - Archaeological Museum - EUR3
  • Seville - Cathedral & Giralda Tower - EUR12
  • Seville - Museum of Fine Arts - EUR2
  • Seville - Museum of Art & Popular Customs - EUR2
  • Cordoba - Palacio Museo de Viana - EUR8
  • Cordoba - Torre de la Calahorra - EUR5
  • Cordoba - Museo Vivo de Al-Andalus - EUR6
  • Cordoba - Casa de las Cabezas - EUR5
  • Cordoba - Tablao el Cardenal - EUR23
  • Cordoba - Museum of the Inquisition - EUR3
  • Valencia - Fallas Museum - EUR2
  • Valencia - Gonzalez Marti Museum - EUR3
  • Valencia - Miguelete Tower - EUR2
  • Valencia - Principe Felipe Science Museum - EUR9
  • Valencia - The Silk Exchange - EUR2
  • Valencia - Valencian Institute of Modern Art - EUR6
  • Valencia - Museum of Fine Arts - Free
  • Barcelona - National Art Museum of Catalonia - EUR12
  • Barcelona - Tapas Tour in El Raval Urban Adventure - EUR99
  • Barcelona - Old Santa Creu Hospital - EUR16
  • Barcelona - Picasso Museum - EUR14
  • Barcelona - Barcelona Cathedral - EUR11
  • Barcelona - Museum of City History - EUR7
  • Barcelona - Ethnological and World Cultures - EUR5
  • Barcelona - Museum of Gaudi - EUR6
  • Barcelona - Guell Palace - EUR12
  • Barcelona - Casa Batllo (advance booking required) - EUR29

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 based on 80 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Christine · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 06 Oct 2024

Susan · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 07 Oct 2024

Troy · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 28 Sep 2024

Jess · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 27 Sep 2024

Eunice · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 13 Oct 2024
Best of Spain
From
NZD $6,140