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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Highlights of Andalucia

Seven-day escorted tour of Seville, Córdoba, and Granada from Antequera base.

Illustration of Highlights of Andalucia

Highlights of Andalucía is a seven-day escorted tour run by Great Rail Journeys, beginning with a morning flight from London Gatwick to Málaga and concluding with a return flight one week later. You stay for all six nights in Antequera, a traditional Spanish town at the crossroads of Andalucía, from which you take day trips by high-speed train and coach to explore the region's major cities. On Day 3, you travel by high-speed train to Seville for a guided tour of the Plaza de España and the Gothic cathedral. Day 4 brings another high-speed train journey to Córdoba to visit the Mezquita exterior and wander the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter. Day 6 takes you by coach to Granada, where you tour the Alhambra palaces with their carved wooden ceilings and mosaics, then have free time to walk the Generalife gardens and the Albaicín quarter. The tour includes a UK Tour Manager, four-star hotel accommodation, all rail and coach travel, daily breakfast, and guided tours. It suits history lovers, first-time rail travellers, and couples seeking a manageable pace with ample free time.

What to know before you look closer

  • All six nights are spent in the same hotel in Antequera; the tour uses day trips by rail and coach to other cities, so you return to the same base each evening.
  • The group size can reach 40 people, which may limit flexibility on some guided tours.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Antequera

    To Antequera in the heart of Andalucía

    Your holiday begins this morning when you meet the Tour Manager and group at London Gatwick, or depart independently from your regional airport, for a morning flight to Malaga. On arrival, transferred by coach to the hotel in Antequera, a traditional Spanish town in the heart of Andalucía, ideally situated to explore Granada, Córdoba, Seville and Málaga. Antequera is a typical Andalucian medieval town with an impressive Moorish fortress, several churches, and a relaxed atmosphere. After a welcome drink at the hotel, there's time to look around before dining independently.

  2. Day 2overnight: Antequera

    Free time in Antequera

    After breakfast, free to get to know Antequera at your own pace. The tourist office is located in the centre near the Plaza de San Sebastián. Plenty of cafés and restaurants to choose from. Nature lovers can visit El Torcal de Antequera national park (5 miles outside the city) or the Dolmen Tombs, some of the largest prehistoric burial chambers in Europe. Dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Antequera

    Seville, Andalucía's colourful capital

    Catch the high-speed train to Seville for a guided tour. Exploring by coach and on foot, first stop is the Plaza de España, created for the 1929 'Fair of the Americas'. Tour ends at the Gothic cathedral, the largest Gothic building in Europe, where Christopher Columbus was interred. The afternoon is free to explore the Santa Cruz district, Alcázar Palace, or walk along the river to the Torre del Oro. Return to hotel by rail.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Antequera

    A trip to Córdoba

    High-speed rail journey to Córdoba, once the largest metropolis in western Europe and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Guided tour of the city's main attractions, seeing the exterior of the famous Mezquita of Córdoba. Tour also takes in Córdoba's historic Jewish Quarter with its tiny ancient synagogue, hidden stone patios and characterful streets. Free time over lunch and into the afternoon; option to visit the Alcázar palace and gardens. Return to hotel by rail.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Antequera

    A day at leisure in or around Antequera

    Free day. Option to visit Málaga by rail (about an hour away): Museo Picasso, cathedral, Roman amphitheatre, Alcazaba fortress, Castillo de Gibralfaro, Centre Pompidou gallery. In Antequera, visit the Roman Villa of the Station. Alternatively, relax at the hotel swimming pool. Dine independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Antequera

    Granada: the Alhambra and the Albaicín

    Travel by coach to Granada to visit the Alhambra palaces and fortress complex, with its stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Guided tour of the Alhambra palaces with intricately carved wooden ceilings, colourful mosaics and beautiful plasterwork. Free time to walk among the 14th-century Generalife gardens. Rest of the day at leisure to explore the Albaicín – the Moorish quarter with steep narrow streets, Moroccan-style tea shops and craft shops. Mirador de San Nicolas offers views up to the Alhambra.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7

    Homeward bound

    Coach transfer from Antequera to Malaga Airport for the flight back to London Gatwick or regional airport.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3High-speed train to Seville; guided tour includes the Plaza de España (built for the 1929 Fair of the Americas) and the Gothic cathedral where Christopher Columbus was interred.
  • Day 4High-speed train to Córdoba; guided tour of the Mezquita exterior and the Jewish Quarter with its ancient synagogue and stone patios.
  • Day 6Coach journey to Granada to tour the Alhambra palaces with intricately carved wooden ceilings and colourful mosaics, followed by free time in the 14th-century Generalife gardens and Albaicín quarter.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 6 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Standard class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Return flights from London Gatwick to Malaga (regional departures available)
  • Breakfast each day
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes standard class rail travel throughout the tour, including high-speed trains from Antequera to Seville and Córdoba.
Is the tour escorted?
Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London Gatwick to the end of the holiday.
What is the hotel?
Hotel Antequera Hills, a four-star property in Antequera, for all six nights.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day. Lunch and dinner are independent, except where noted in the itinerary.
How much walking is involved?
Guided tours include walking through Seville, Córdoba, and the Alhambra complex in Granada. Two days are largely free to explore at your own pace or relax.
Are flights included?
Yes. Return flights from London Gatwick to Málaga are included; regional departures from other UK airports are available.

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