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Vacations By Rail · Independent vacation

Madrid & Highlights of Andalucia

Nine-day independent Spanish rail loop connecting Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, and Granada on AVE trains

Illustration of Madrid & Highlights of Andalucia

Vacations By Rail's Madrid and Highlights of Andalucia is a 9-day independent vacation through Spain's southern heartland, centered on four great cities. Starting and ending in Madrid, you travel by Spain's high-speed AVE trains to Cordoba, Seville, and Granada, staying in four-star hotels and using private transfers between the stations and city centers. The trip blends free time with included local experiences: private guided walks of Madrid's central plazas and palaces, a tour of the Prado Museum, an evening equestrian show at Cordoba's historic Royal Stables, guided sightseeing in Seville including the Cathedral and Real Alcazar, a flamenco dinner show in Granada's Sacromonte caves, and a guided tour of the Alhambra fortress and Generalife Gardens. Evenings include tapas tours with wine tastings in both Seville and Madrid. This trip suits first-time European rail travelers, couples, and anyone drawn to Spanish art, architecture, and food.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights to Madrid are not included; arrange separately.
  • The route starts in Madrid and ends in Madrid after a 9-day loop, not a one-way journey to Toledo despite the route data listing Toledo as the end.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Madrid

    Arrive in Madrid

    Private driver transfer to the hotel, followed by a private walking tour taking in Plaza Mayor, Puerta de Alcala and the Royal Palace.

  2. Day 2overnight: Madrid

    Prado Museum

    Guided visit to the Prado Museum, then free time to explore Madrid independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Cordoba

    Madrid to Cordoba by Train / Cordoba Equestrian Show

    High-speed train to Cordoba, private transfer to hotel, evening equestrian show at the Royal Stables of Cordoba.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Seville

    Cordoba Sightseeing / To Seville

    Private walking tour of Cordoba including the Mosque-Cathedral, Synagogue, Alcazar and Jewish Quarter, then high-speed train to Seville.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5overnight: Seville

    Seville Touring

    Guided tour of Seville including the University, Palacio de San Telmo, Torre del Oro, Real Alcazar and Cathedral, followed by an evening tapas tour.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Granada

    Seville to Granada by Train

    Train to Granada, free time on arrival, then dinner and a Flamenco show in a cave of the Sacromonte.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Granada

    The Alhambra

    Guided tour of the Alhambra fortress and the Generalife Gardens.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8railovernight: Madrid

    Granada to Madrid by Train

    High-speed train to Madrid, free day at leisure, evening Taverns and Markets tapas tour with wine, ham and cheese tastings.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9

    Return Home

    Included transfer to Madrid's International Airport.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Private walking tour of Madrid takes in Plaza Mayor, Puerta de Alcala, and the Royal Palace.
  • Day 3Evening equestrian show at the Royal Stables of Cordoba, where the purebred Spanish Andalusian horse originated.
  • Day 5Guided Seville tour includes the Cathedral, Real Alcazar, Torre del Oro, and an evening tapas tour with wine tastings.
  • Day 6Dinner and flamenco show in a cave of the Sacromonte in Granada after arrival by AVE train.
  • Day 7Guided tour of the Alhambra fortress and the Generalife Gardens in Granada.

Included

  • Hotel accommodations for 8 nights
  • Rail travel on Spain's high-speed AVE train
  • Private transfers throughout
  • 11 meals, including a flamenco dinner show in a cave of the Sacromonte, and a tapas tour
  • Madrid private sightseeing tour
  • Seville private sightseeing tour
  • Cordoba walking tour
  • Equestrian show in Cordoba
  • Seville city tour, including entrance tickets to the Alcazar and Cathedral

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance (not included but can be arranged)
  • Flights and Airport transfers not included

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes. Vacations By Rail includes all high-speed AVE train journeys between Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, and Granada, plus private car transfers at each city.
Is this an escorted tour or independent travel?
It is independent travel. There is no tour manager. You travel independently between cities on the AVE, and Vacations By Rail arranges private guides for included walking tours and excursions (Prado Museum, Cordoba sightseeing, Seville tours, Alhambra) and private transfers.
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily, plus 3 dinners: a flamenco show with dinner in Granada, and two evening tapas tours with wine and cheese tastings in Seville and Madrid.
How many nights are there?
8 nights in four-star hotels: 2 in Madrid, 1 in Cordoba, 2 in Seville, 2 in Granada, and 1 back in Madrid.
What is not included?
Flights to Madrid, airport transfers on arrival, cancellation and travel insurance, and meals not listed above.
When does this trip run?
The operator does not publish a departure calendar in the evidence provided. Contact Vacations By Rail to confirm available dates.

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