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Authentic Europe · Guided

The Highlights of Southern Spain

Guided 8-day Spain tour from Madrid to Barcelona via Andalusia

Illustration of The Highlights of Southern Spain

Authentic Europe runs this guided, 8-day, 7-night tour from Madrid to Barcelona, with an English-speaking tour escort accompanying the group of up to 16 travelers throughout. After two days in Madrid, the tour travels to Granada, where day 3 covers the Albaicin Quarter and day 4 brings a guided tour of the Alhambra. Day 5 continues toward Seville with a stop in Cordoba to see the Mezquita mosque and the Jewish quarter, and day 6 in Seville includes a flamenco show. The tour then travels by train from Seville to Barcelona on day 7, its only leg named specifically as rail travel, before the trip ends there on day 8. Along the way, a paella cooking class and dinner are included. This suits travelers more interested in Andalusia's cities, historic sites and cuisine than in a rail-focused itinerary, since most of the route is covered by minibus and bus rather than train. The evidence names only one hotel, Hotel Europa, without specifying which city it is in.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence names only one hotel, Hotel Europa, without stating which city it is in. Hotels for the other stops are not specified here; confirm accommodation with Authentic Europe before booking.
  • The itinerary names a train only for the Seville to Barcelona leg on day 7. The rest of the city-to-city travel, Madrid to Granada and Granada to Seville via Cordoba, is covered under a general 'transportation between destinations' line, and the trip's overall transport list includes a minibus and a bus alongside the train.
  • No current departure dates are listed in the evidence available to us; confirm availability with Authentic Europe.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Madrid

    Arrival in Madrid, the capital of Spain

  2. Day 2overnight: Madrid

    Full day to explore Madrid

  3. Day 3overnight: Granada

    Travel to Granada and visit Albaicín

  4. Day 4overnight: Granada

    Visit the Alhambra and explore Granada

  5. Day 5overnight: Seville

    Travel to Seville with a stop in Córdoba

  6. Day 6overnight: Seville

    Explore Seville, the capital of Andalusia

  7. Day 7railovernight: Barcelona

    Travel by train to Barcelona

  8. Day 8

    Final day and departure from Barcelona

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The tour travels to Granada and visits the Albaicin Quarter.
  • Day 4A guided tour explores the Alhambra in Granada.
  • Day 5The tour stops in Cordoba to visit the Mezquita mosque and the Jewish quarter on the way to Seville.
  • Day 6A flamenco show takes place in Seville.
  • Day 7The tour travels by train from Seville to Barcelona.

Included

  • 7 nights hotel accommodation in a standard room with private shower or bath/WC, including breakfast
  • Services of an English-speaking tour escort throughout the whole tour
  • Orientation walks in Madrid, Granada and Barcelona
  • Albaicin Quarter visit
  • Alhambra guided tour
  • Mezquita mosque visit in Córdoba
  • Jewish quarter visit in Córdoba
  • Flamenco show performance in Seville
  • Mescladis Paella cooking class and dinner
  • Transportation between destinations and activities
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 Emergency phone service while travelling

Questions travellers ask

Is this trip mostly by train?
No. The itinerary names a train only for the Seville to Barcelona leg on day 7. The rest of the transport is listed as a minibus and a bus.
Is it guided?
Yes. An English-speaking tour escort accompanies the group throughout, with a maximum group size of 16.
Which cities does it visit?
Madrid, Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Barcelona.
What cultural experiences are included?
A guided tour of the Alhambra, visits to the Albaicin Quarter and to the Mezquita mosque and Jewish quarter in Cordoba, a flamenco show in Seville, and a paella cooking class and dinner.
What hotels are used?
The evidence names only Hotel Europa, without specifying its city. Hotels for the other stops are not given.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from 1,799 EUR per person, about $2,059 USD, roughly $257 per day.

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