This 8-day itinerary checks off Spain's three most exciting cities for an adventure you won't soon forget. Kick-off in Seville where you'll explore Moorish architecture and other top sites in the historic center. Then, train to Madrid (by way of Córdoba) and wander through the elegant streets and El Prado Museum. Finish in cosmopolitan Barcelona for beachy vibes and a private tour of La Sagrada Familia.

Highlights

  • Let a private guide show you Seville's best rooftops at sunset
  • Take a bike tour through the city's most beautiful sites and gardens
  • Break up the sightseeing in Madrid with a boat ride in El Retiro Park
  • Train to Barcelona and join an evening food tour with a private guide
  • Experience Antoni Gaudí’s distinctive modern art and architecture

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Seville - Private Rooftop & Tapas Tour Seville
Day 2 Private Bike Tour in Seville Seville
Day 3 Private Walking Tour of Seville Seville
Day 4 Drive from Seville to Córdoba - Guided Tour - Train to Madrid Madrid
Day 5 Private Tour of Madrid with El Prado Museum Madrid
Day 6 Train from Madrid to Barcelona - Evening Food Tour Barcelona
Day 7 Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia Barcelona
Day 8 Depart Barcelona  

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Seville - Private Rooftop & Tapas Tour

Aerial view of Sevilla from the Space Metropol Parasol
Aerial view of Seville from the Space Metropol Parasol

Welcome to Seville—the capital of Spain's Andalusia region! Upon arrival, you'll be met by a private transfer who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city's old town. Take a little time to settle in before you meet your private guide for a fun excursion to some of the best rooftops in town boasting panoramic views overlooking Seville. 

Once you've soaked in the views, your guide will take you to a local tapas bar to sample Spain's mouth-watering small plates. Learn about Seville's renowned tapas scene—and how to navigate like a pro—before you're left to your own devices to put your newfound knowledge to the test.

Day 2: Private Bike Tour in Seville

See Seville on two wheels!
See Seville on two wheels!

After breakfast, you'll meet up with your private guide who will have bicycles prepared and ready to go for an active tour of Seville's numerous awe-inspiring sights such as the Plaza de España, Guadalquivir Riverfront, Setas Marketplace, Plaza de San Francisco, and some of the city's most beautiful gardens and parks.

During the excursion, your informative guide will share anecdotes and explain some of the mysteries and stories behind the aforementioned sights making this a fun, healthy, and educational way to get a feel for the city! Following the tour, you'll have the rest of the day to spend as you please, perhaps taking a long paseo (stroll) to enjoy the surroundings at your own pace.

Day 3: Private Walking Tour of Seville

Walk through the gardens at the Alcatraz
Walk through the gardens at the Alcázar

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up by a private guide to experience Seville's most emblematic landmarks. Enjoy a long, leisurely stroll through the city to visit a number of sites including the Seville Cathedral (the largest Gothic cathedral in the world), Christopher Columbus' tomb, and the magnificent Alcázar with its many Mudéjar (Neo-Moorish) palaces and beautiful, oasis-like gardens. 

At the end of the tour, your guide will drop you off at a recommended tapas bar for lunch. You'll then have the afternoon to continue exploring Seville at your own pace.

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Day 4: Drive from Seville to Córdoba - Guided Tour - Train to Madrid

Gardens in the Alcázar of Christian Monarchs
Gardens in the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos

This morning your driver will collect you at your hotel for the drive to Córdoba. Upon arrival, you'll meet up with a local guide where you'll discover the very best of Córdoba's old town. Your driver will also look after your luggage while you are on the tour so you won't have to worry about carrying it around with you!

During the excursion, you'll get a private tour of the breathtaking Mezquita, a pagan temple that was converted into the great mosque of the Ummayad caliphate and later transformed into a Catholic church (yet it retains much of the original mosque). In addition, you'll visit the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, where Christopher Columbus negotiated and gained approval for his voyage west in search of the Indies, and the winding side streets of the Jewish Quarter.

Your guide will then drop you at a recommended restaurant for a traditional Córdoban lunch and more time to wander before your driver picks you up to take you to Córdoba Train Station to catch a high-speed train to Madrid in less than two hours. With comfortable seating and the option to get up and purchase refreshments from the cafeteria on board, this is truly the best way to travel long distances in Spain.  

Upon arrival in Madrid, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

Day 5: Private Tour of Madrid with El Prado Museum

Get ready to explore Madrid!
Get ready to explore Madrid!

Make sure to have a hearty breakfast this morning in order to prepare for a day of exploring Madrid. At the designated time, a private guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a four-hour walking tour to discover the city highlights, while sharing interesting anecdotes to bring it all to life. Your guide will adapt to your speed and style, whether it's a leisurely, laid-back stroll or a brisk pace to squeeze in as many sites as possible. He or she will also, of course, do their best to answer all of your questions.

At the end of the tour, you will enter the magnificent El Prado museum with one of the finest collections of European art in the world, including works by Velázquez, El Greco, and Goya. Explore some of these gems with your guide before he/she leaves you to continue exploring on your own. Alternatively, your guide will take you to a nearby restaurant or tapas bar—whichever option suits you best.

Day 6: Train from Madrid to Barcelona - Evening Food Tour

Depart Madrid for another beautiful Spanish city
Depart Madrid for another beautiful Spanish city

After breakfast in Madrid, a driver will pick you up at your hotel for the transfer to Atocha Train Station where you'll connect to your high-speed train to Barcelona—a journey of three hours. With comfortable reclining seats and the ability to get up and buy refreshments from the cafeteria on board if desired, this is an ideal way to travel longer distances in Spain. 

Upon arrival in Barcelona, you'll take a taxi to your hotel in the historic old town. If you're feeling energized, get out and start sightseeing. Otherwise, relax and settle in your accommodations before meeting up with a private guide for an evening food tour. This is your chance to experience Barcelona's culinary scene with a local expert who will show you the city's best off-the-beaten-path favorites!

Day 7: Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia

After breakfast, you'll start your day with a private guided walking tour of Barcelona, which includes its greatest monument, La Sagrada Familia, a spectacular Roman Catholic church and UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. During this half-day excursion, you will see some of the city's most emblematic spots and hidden corners while learning about Gaudí and his jaw-dropping masterpiece, which is still under construction.

Your guide will be on hand to answer all your questions including where to go for lunch! In fact, he or she will take you to a recommended tapas bar or restaurant before parting ways leaving you to enjoy the afternoon exploring Barcelona at your own pace.

Day 8: Depart Barcelona

Goodbye, Barcelona!
Goodbye, Barcelona!

It's time to say farewell to Barcelona! Depending on the time of your flight or train reservation, squeeze in one more walk through the city, perhaps picking up some last-minute souvenirs. At the designated time you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport or rail station for your departure onwards. Safe travels!

Map

Map of Best of Spain Highlights: Seville, Madrid & Barcelona - 8 Days
Map of Best of Spain Highlights: Seville, Madrid & Barcelona - 8 Days