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Marvellous Escapes · Tailor-made rail holiday

Barcelona & Andalusian Treasures

Eleven-day Spanish rail journey from Barcelona through Andalusia to Madrid

Illustration of Barcelona & Andalusian Treasures

Marvellous Escapes offers an 11-day independent rail journey through Spain's major cities and Andalusian heartland. You depart from Barcelona, travel by Renfe train to Seville, then continue by rail to Cordoba, Granada, and finally Madrid on the high-speed AVE. Each city provides multiple nights to settle in and explore, with guided tours of Seville's Cathedral and Alcazar, Cordoba's Great Mosque and Cathedral, and Granada's Alhambra Palace and gardens. A Flamenco performance with tapas in Granada's Sacromonte caves is included, as are hop-on hop-off bus passes in Barcelona and Seville for independent sightseeing. Hotels offer breakfast daily, and Marvellous Escapes provides 24-hour on-trip support throughout. The package suits independent travellers seeking deep cultural immersion in Andalusian architecture, history, and cuisine, with the structure of guided highlights and rail connections to remove logistical stress. A return flight to the UK or optional roundtrip rail journey from London St. Pancras concludes your trip.

What to know before you look closer

  • The return leg from Madrid is a flight to the UK (or optional roundtrip rail via London St. Pancras with an extra Barcelona night); confirm your preferred return method when booking
  • Day 11 involves a morning transfer to Madrid airport; limited time for further city exploration on the final day
  • Single supplement pricing is not stated; check with Marvellous Escapes for solo traveller costs

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Welcome to Barcelona! After arriving, head to your hotel for a two-night stay and enjoy the evening at one of the city's fantastic restaurants.

  2. Day 2overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona

    Explore the city in all its glory today, visiting the sites you wish to explore with your included Hop-on Hop-off bus pass.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Seville

    Seville

    Board a direct Renfe train to Seville. In the evening, consider a leisurely stroll along the river or ascend the Metropol Parasol for a breathtaking view of the city.

  4. Day 4overnight: Seville

    Seville

    Enjoy your included hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Seville, discovering landmarks such as the Seville Cathedral, the Alcazar, Plaza de Espana, Torre del Oro, and Maria Luisa Park.

  5. Day 5overnight: Seville

    Seville

    Join a small-group tour of Plaza de Espana, San Telmo Palace, the Royal Alcazar, and the grand Cathedral, home to the tomb of Christopher Columbus. In the afternoon, consider a river cruise along the Guadalquivir.

  6. Day 6overnight: Cordoba

    Cordoba

    Journey to the ancient city of Cordoba for a two-night stay. Relax with a refreshing drink and tapas or take a leisurely stroll across the picturesque Roman Bridge.

  7. Day 7overnight: Cordoba

    Cordoba

    Delve into the rich history of Cordoba with a small group tour of The Great Mosque of Cordoba, the Cathedral, Alcazar & Synagogue.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Granada

    Granada

    Board the train bound for Granada and check in for a two-night stay. Tonight, venture to the caves of the Sacromonte quarter for an immersive Flamenco performance accompanied by tapas and beverages.

  9. Day 9overnight: Granada

    Granada

    Enjoy further exploration of Granada's narrow streets at leisure, and tour the Alhambra Palace and Generalife gardens, a true highlight of Andalucia.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Madrid

    Madrid

    Hop on the high-speed Ave train to Madrid. Once settled into your hotel, explore the city with your Hop-on Hop-off bus pass, then soak in the restaurant scene with local tapas and wines.

  11. Day 11rail

    Return home

    Today you'll head to Madrid airport for your flight home. If you'd like to return via rail, or spend longer exploring Spain, speak to our experts.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Direct Renfe train from Barcelona to Seville; evening option to ascend Metropol Parasol for a view of the city
  • Day 5Small-group guided tour of Seville's Royal Alcazar and Cathedral, then optional river cruise along the Guadalquivir
  • Day 7Small-group tour of Cordoba's Great Mosque, Cathedral, Alcazar, and Synagogue
  • Day 8Train journey to Granada; evening Flamenco performance in the Sacromonte caves with tapas and beverages
  • Day 9Guided tour of Granada's Alhambra Palace and Generalife gardens

Included

  • 2-nights hotel accommodation in Barcelona with breakfast included
  • 3-nights hotel accommodation in Seville with breakfast included
  • 2-nights hotel accommodation in Cordoba with breakfast included
  • 2-nights hotel accommodation in Granada with breakfast included
  • Overnight hotel accommodation in Madrid with breakfast included
  • Secure reservations for the Eurostar, TGV inOui & Renfe trains
  • Return flight to the UK (or a roundtrip train journey from London St. Pancras, with extra night in Barcelona)
  • Hop-on, hop-off bus tour in Barcelona & Seville
  • Seville full-day tour with Alcazar & Cathedral Skip-the-line Tickets
  • Cordoba tour with tickets to Mosque, Cathedral, Alcazar & Synagogue
  • Flamenco Show in a cave restaurant in Granada

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?
Yes. Secure reservations for the Eurostar, TGV inOui, Renfe, and AVE trains are included in the package price from GBP 2,399
Is this a guided or independent tour?
It is an independent tailor-made journey with guided excursions at each stop (Seville and Cordoba tours, Flamenco show in Granada) plus 24-hour on-trip support
What is included in the price?
Hotel accommodation with breakfast in all five cities, train reservations, return flight to the UK (or roundtrip rail option), hop-on hop-off bus passes in Barcelona and Seville, full-day Seville tour with skip-the-line tickets, Cordoba tour with museum tickets, and a Flamenco show in Granada
How many nights are spent in each city?
Barcelona (2 nights), Seville (3 nights), Cordoba (2 nights), Granada (2 nights), Madrid (1 night)
What if I prefer to return by rail instead of flying?
Marvellous Escapes offers a roundtrip train journey from London St. Pancras as an alternative to the flight, with an extra night in Barcelona included

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