How much does it cost?

From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Plus class between London and Paris, First Class TGV rail from Paris to Barcelona and return, and First Class AVE trains throughout Spain.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager throughout the 12 days, and includes guided city tours in Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Granada, and Seville.

What meals are included?

Breakfast daily, one lunch (tapas in Madrid), and eight dinners, including paella in Valencia and a flamenco dinner in Seville. Eurostar light meals are included.

How many nights and where?

11 nights: 2 in Barcelona, 2 in Valencia, 2 in Madrid, 2 in Granada, 1 in Seville, and 1 in Biarritz.

When does the tour run?

Departures are offered in May 2027, June 2027, September 2026, September 2027, and October 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

First-Class Historic Cities of Spain

Great Rail Journeys operates this 12-day escorted tour departing London and ending in Biarritz, combining Eurostar and First Class Spanish rail travel with stays in six cities across Spain and France. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, coordinating guided city tours, meals, and all transfers. Days are structured around city exploration: Barcelona's Gothic Quarter and Sagrada Família; Valencia's coastal charm and authentic paella dinner; Madrid's Royal Palace and El Retiro park; Granada's UNESCO-listed Alhambra palace complex and Moorish Albaicín quarter; Seville's flamenco performance and Royal Alcázar; and the Basque Country coast. Breakfasts are included daily along with eight dinners and one lunch, featuring regional specialties. The itinerary moves at a balanced pace, with two-night stays in the major cities allowing time for both guided exploration and independent discovery. This tour suits repeat rail travellers seeking the comfort of escorted service, history enthusiasts drawn to Andalusian heritage sites, and food-focused visitors keen to sample local cuisine.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £1,200 since 4 Jul, to £4,299.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement (from GBP 4,099) is substantially above half the per-person rate, a 32% uplift.
Hotels are described as 3 and 4-star properties; exact star ratings are not specified for each location.
Maximum group size is 30, which is larger than some specialist operators.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Barcelona
Welcome to Barcelona
Your Spanish holiday begins today at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and your fellow travellers before boarding the Eurostar to Paris, enjoying a light meal in Plus class seats. From Paris, we continue our journey by First Class rail to the Catalan city of Barcelona. Arriving late this evening, we check in to our central hotel and enjoy a welcome drink with the group before settling in for the night.
Day 2overnight: Barcelona
Discovering Barcelona's sights and flavours
A guided tour of Barcelona by coach and on foot awaits after breakfast, taking in the exterior of the Sagrada Família, Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter. This evening, we head to an authentic 17th-century Catalan farmhouse, now a stately restaurant, for dinner of traditional dishes in a private room.
Day 3railovernight: Valencia
To Valencia, a city of contrasts
After breakfast, we transfer to the station and board the train in First Class to Valencia for a two-night stay, enjoying scenic coastal views between Tarragona and Castellón. On arrival, we check in to our hotel and enjoy a welcome drink and canapés.
Day 4overnight: Valencia
Valencia sightseeing and paella dinner
A local guide leads a tour of Valencia including La Lonja de la Seda and Valencia Cathedral, with a stop to sample horchata and fartons. We reconvene this evening for dinner in a local restaurant to savour an authentic paella.
Day 5railovernight: Madrid
Arriving in Spain's capital
A free morning in Valencia before we transfer by coach to the station and board the train in First Class for a journey inland to Madrid. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel and dine together this evening at the hotel restaurant.
Day 6overnight: Madrid
Exploring historic Madrid
A guided sightseeing tour by coach and on foot takes in Madrid's main sights and El Retiro park, concluding with a tapas lunch. The afternoon and evening are at leisure to visit the Prado Gallery or other museums.
Day 7railovernight: Granada
To Granada's Moorish Quarter – the Albaicín
We board a train to Granada for a two-night stay, dominated by the Alhambra. We begin with a walking tour of the Albaicín Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with free time after to explore the Mirador de San Nicolas and beyond.
Day 8overnight: Granada
Granada's impressive Alhambra
A guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Alhambra palace complex and the 14th-century Generalife summer palace. This evening, an authentic Andalucían dinner at a traditional restaurant overlooking the illuminated Alhambra.
Day 9overnight: Seville
A guided tour of Córdoba enroute to Seville
We leave Granada after breakfast and travel by coach towards Seville, pausing to visit Córdoba, crossing the Roman Bridge and the Calahorra Tower to the Mezquita mosque-cathedral. Continuing to Seville, we check in to our hotel and experience a flamenco show before dinner.
Day 10overnight: Madrid
Uncovering Seville on a guided tour
A guided tour with a local guide through the Santa Cruz district, Seville Cathedral and the Real Alcázar of Seville. Later, we transfer to the station and return to Madrid in First Class for dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 11railovernight: Biarritz
Into Spanish & French Basque Country
Leaving Madrid by First Class train, we travel into the Spanish Basque Country to San Sebastián, then continue by coach to the French city of Biarritz. We arrive at our hotel this evening and walk to a local restaurant for the final dinner of the holiday.
Day 12rail
Homeward bound
Your holiday comes to a close this morning as we walk to Biarritz's station and take our First Class seats on the train to Paris. From here, we continue on the Eurostar, enjoying a light meal at our seats in Plus class, before arriving at London St Pancras.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Guided tour of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter and exterior of the Sagrada Família, followed by dinner at an authentic 17th-century Catalan farmhouse.
Day 4Morning guided tour of Valencia with sampling of horchata and fartons, evening dinner featuring authentic paella.
Day 8Guided tour of the Alhambra palace complex, including the Nasrid Palaces with carved ceilings and mosaics, and the 14th-century Generalife gardens, followed by dinner overlooking the illuminated Alhambra.
Day 9Coach stops in Córdoba to visit the Mezquita mosque-cathedral and cross the Roman Bridge before arriving in Seville for a flamenco show and dinner.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
11 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Plus First Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Eurostar light meals
Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 8 dinners
Group luggage transfers between all hotels from Barcelona to Granada, Seville to Madrid
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes Eurostar Plus class between London and Paris, First Class TGV rail from Paris to Barcelona and return, and First Class AVE trains throughout Spain.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager throughout the 12 days, and includes guided city tours in Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Granada, and Seville.
What meals are included?: Breakfast daily, one lunch (tapas in Madrid), and eight dinners, including paella in Valencia and a flamenco dinner in Seville. Eurostar light meals are included.
How many nights and where?: 11 nights: 2 in Barcelona, 2 in Valencia, 2 in Madrid, 2 in Granada, 1 in Seville, and 1 in Biarritz.
When does the tour run?: Departures are offered in May 2027, June 2027, September 2026, September 2027, and October 2027.