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Authentic Europe · Guided

The best of Spain

Guided small group tour across Spain from Madrid to Bilbao

Illustration of The best of Spain

Authentic Europe operates this 14-day, 13-night guided small group tour of Spain, starting in Madrid and ending in Bilbao, with a tour escort throughout and a group size capped at 16 travelers. The route runs south from Madrid to Granada, where a guided tour visits the Alhambra, then on to Seville by way of Córdoba, with a Flamenco show performance included in Seville. From there the tour heads to Barcelona for a paella cooking class, then north to the Rioja wine region for a tasting in Logroño and a pintxos (tapas) taverna crawl, before a guided hike on a portion of the Camino de Santiago trail and a final stop in Bilbao, in the Basque Country. Transportation between destinations is included throughout, using a mix of minibus, train, and bus. This suits travelers who want an escorted small group tour covering Spanish history, food, and wine across several regions, rather than a single-city stay or a self-guided itinerary.

What to know before you look closer

  • The transport list for this tour includes minibus, train, and bus, but the day-by-day itinerary does not specify which mode is used for each leg, so the overall share of rail travel is unclear.
  • The evidence itinerary lists a day of leisure in San Sebastián (day 11) immediately before a day of travel to San Sebastián (day 12); confirm the exact routing and sequence with Authentic Europe.
  • The evidence pack does not list current departure dates; confirm scheduling directly with Authentic Europe.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Welcome to Madrid, the capital of Spain

  2. Day 2

    Day at leisure in Madrid

  3. Day 3

    Travel south to Granada and visit Albaicín

  4. Day 4

    Visit Alhambra and explore Granada

  5. Day 5

    Travel to Seville with a stop in Córdoba

  6. Day 6

    Explore Seville & enjoy a Flamenco performance

  7. Day 7

    Travel to Barcelona & enjoy a paella cooking class

  8. Day 8

    Day at leisure to explore Barcelona

  9. Day 9

    Travel to Longroño in the Rioja region

  10. Day 10

    Day at leisure in Logroño

  11. Day 11

    Day at leisure in San Sebastián

  12. Day 12

    Travel to San Sebastián & walk along the Camino de Santiago

  13. Day 13

    Travel to Bilbao in the heart of the Basque Country

  14. Day 14

    Final day, departure from Bilbao

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4A guided tour visits the Alhambra in Granada.
  • Day 6The tour explores Seville and includes a Flamenco show performance.
  • Day 7The tour travels to Barcelona and includes a paella cooking class and dinner.
  • Day 9The tour travels to Logroño in the Rioja region for a wine tasting and a pintxos (tapas) taverna crawl.
  • Day 12The tour includes a guided hike on a portion of the Camino de Santiago trail.

Included

  • 13 nights accommodation in a standard room with private shower or bath/ WC, including breakfast
  • 13 breakfasts, 2 dinners
  • Tour escort throughout the tour
  • Orientation walks in Madrid, Granada, Barcelona, San Sebastián and Bilbao
  • Paella cooking class and dinner in Barcelona
  • Rioja wine tasting in Logroño
  • Pintxos (tapas) taverna crawl in Logroño
  • Visit Albaicin Quarter in Granada
  • Guided tour of Alhambra
  • Mezquita Mosque and Jewish quarter visit in Cordoba
  • Flamenco show performance in Seville
  • Guided hike on a portion of the Camino de Santiago trail
  • Entrance fee and visit to the royal palace of Olite
  • Visit Pamplona
  • Transportation between destinations and included activities
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 Emergency phone service while travelling

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Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included on this tour?
The tour's transport list includes minibus, train, and bus, but the evidence does not specify which legs use the train.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is a guided tour with a tour escort throughout, and the group size is capped at 16 travelers.
What is included besides accommodation?
13 breakfasts, 2 dinners, a paella cooking class in Barcelona, a Rioja wine tasting and pintxos crawl in Logroño, guided visits to the Alhambra and the Mezquita Mosque, a Flamenco show in Seville, and a guided hike on the Camino de Santiago trail.
What hotels are included?
13 nights in standard hotel rooms with private shower or bath and WC, with breakfast included; the evidence does not name specific hotels or a star rating.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes a guided hike on a portion of the Camino de Santiago trail, in addition to city walking tours.
How much does this trip cost?
Authentic Europe prices this trip from EUR 3,379 per person.

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