Highlights
- Enjoy delicious tapas and a flamenco show in historic Seville
- Pamper yourself at an ancient Arab bath spa
- Go wine tasting and sip regional sherry in Cádiz
- Take a walk through Granada's Alhambra palaces with a private guide
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Seville, Private Tapas & Flamenco Experience | Seville |
| Day 2 | Cathedral & Alcázar, Guadalquivir River Cruise, Ancient Baths | Seville |
| Day 3 | Drive to Cádiz, History, Culture, & Wine Tasting | Cádiz |
| Day 4 | Drive to Ronda, Private Walk | Ronda |
| Day 5 | Drive to Granada, Evening Stroll in the Albaicín District | Granada |
| Day 6 | Private Visit to the Alhambra & Generalife Gardens | Granada |
| Day 7 | Depart Granada |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Seville, Private Tapas & Flamenco Experience
Welcome to Spain and the historic capital of Andalusia, Seville. After transferring from the airport to your accommodation with a private driver, you'll have time to settle in before enjoying your first evening in the city. Then, enjoy a cultural experience with a local private guide, combining tapas and flamenco in Seville. You'll stroll through one of the city's charming neighborhoods, watch an authentic flamenco performance and taste traditional tapas and wine. This activity allows you to dig deep into Spanish culture from the very start.
Flamenco was born in Andalusia, so Seville's historic Jewish Quarter and Triana districts are excellent places to experience a genuine show that locals love. You'll start by strolling through one of the neighborhoods, learning about architecture and history from the Romans, Arabs, Christians, Muslims, and more, ending at an authentic theater for your flamenco show. Afterward, enjoy a typical Spanish evening with new friends, conversation, tapas, and wine at two family-run taverns.
Day 2: Cathedral & Alcázar, Guadalquivir River Cruise, Ancient Baths
In the morning, join a private guide and visit Seville's most important monuments: Seville Cathedral and the Royal Alcázar. You'll skip the long lines and enjoy a personalized experience starting at the cathedral (the world's largest Gothic cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). You can climb the bell tower, La Giralda, for incredible city views. Then make your way to the Alcázar, a royal palace replacing the original Moorish fortress and offering one of Spain's best examples of Mudejar architecture.
After visiting these two monuments, relax with a cruise along the Guadalquivir River, a unique experience that lets you view the city and its monuments from a different perspective. The river played a leading role in many historical moments, including when Ferdinand Magellan sailed his ships from the city on his first trip around the world in 1519. The cruise starts just north of the Puente de los Remedios near Plaza de España, and the boat offers bar service.Day 3: Drive to Cádiz, History, Culture & Wine Tasting
Today you'll start your road trip through Andalusia. Your first step is picking up your rental car; then, you'll drive to the historic coastal city of Cádiz, which takes about 1.5 hours. Break up the trip with a stop in the Moorish town of Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its Sherry wine production. It's also home to the Royal Equestrian Academy, one of the premier riding schools in the country. The horse-racing culture in this region runs deep and dates back to the earliest days of Muslim rule in Spain. You could also stop at a vineyard for the ultimate Sherry experience. Read more about a road trip from Seville to Cádiz here.
After settling into your accommodation, enjoy a culture and history walk in Cádiz. This city is the world's oldest still-inhabited city, and your guide will share all the historical details and colorful architecture that tell its unique story. Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, and Arabs all settled in this region, primarily thanks to its proximity to the sea. Stop to admire the city's parks, markets, monuments, and more, then end your stroll at a local tavern to taste a few wine varietals.Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Drive to Ronda, Private Walk
Today you'll drive from Cádiz to the hills of Ronda, one of the most popular stops on Spain's famed Route of the White Villages. The journey takes about two hours, but you might want to make a few stops. This area has many historical influences, including Roman, Visigoth, and Berber, resulting in unique elements like cavelike homes and rock paintings. Consider visiting Arcos de la Frontera, Zahara de la Sierra, Olvera, and/or Setenil de las Bodegas. All are on the way to Ronda and offer a lot of history. Learn more about what stops to make on a road trip from Cádiz to Ronda here.
Day 5: Drive to Granada, Evening Stroll in the Albaicín District
Today you'll make the journey from Ronda to Granada. The drive usually takes two hours, though you'll want to stop in Antequera, a Spanish-Baroque city. This charming town is called the "Heart of Andalusia" since it sits in the center of several regions. You can visit the Iglesia del Carmen, the Convento de Belén, the Moorish Alcazaba, and the numerous viewpoints (Cerro de San Cristóbal is one of the best). Or you can enjoy some hiking options along the way. Read more about a road trip from Ronda to Granada here.
Then, after dropping off your rental car and settling into your accommodation, spend the evening with a local guide and stroll through the historic Albaicín district, Granada's former Moorish quarter. Your guide will show how this medieval Islamic city-within-a-city has kept its identity in the modern age, explaining its social history and character. You'll stop at five different viewpoints (many with vistas of the Alhambra), admire churches, enjoy the cobbled streets, and end with a drink and tapas with your guide.
Day 6: Private Experience in the Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Your final full day in Spain is about Granada, once the capital of Al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim rule). You'll learn about this history with a visit to the Alhambra and its Generalife Gardens fortress dating to the ninth century, though the Nasrid Dynasty rebuilt it in the 14th century. It was an essential Moorish palace until after the Christian reconquest when the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella took control.
The palaces you can see are the Palacio Real ("Royal Palace"), Palacio de Comares ("Palace of Ceremonial Rooms"), and Palacio de los Leones ("Palace of the Lions," the Sultan's private quarters), each with a traditional courtyard. The oldest part of the palaces is the Mexuar, once used as a courtroom and then a chapel. You'll also view the Patio de los Arrayanes ("Court of Myrtles"), the Sala de los Embajadores ("Hall of the Ambassadors"), and the stunning Sala de las dos Hermanas ("Hall of the Two Sisters").
Day 7: Depart Granada
It's time to say goodbye to Spain! A private driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Granada and transfer you to Granada International Airport (GRX).
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