Classic Cities of Spain & Alhambra Palace by Rail & Air

Make your own way to London, travel aboard the Eurostar from London to Paris, and then continue by rail to Barcelona. On arrival, we transfer by coach to our hotel for a three-night stay.

After breakfast, we take the Montjuic Funicular to Montjuic Mountain, the birthplace of the city. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean and the Llobregat River has made it significant throughout history. The hill has a medieval Jewish cemetery, declared an area of Cultural Asset of National Interest in 2007. We take the cable car to the Castle of Montjuic where entrance is included. The castle is an old military fortress with roots dating back to 1640.

In the afternoon, we embark on a sightseeing tour of Barcelona in the company of our local guide where you’ll pass by many of the historic sites including the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s extraordinary creation. This evening you are free to dine out in one of Barcelona’s many restaurants.

Included Highlights

Montjuic Mountain Barcelona Sightseeing Tour

Today, we travel by coach to Manresa where we embark on a 2-hour walking tour in the company of our local guide. Located in the heart of Catalonia, Manresa offers a rich cultural heritage, from the majestic basilica of Santa María de la Seo to the medieval streets and bridges of the old town – it’s a city that will surprise you with its charm and diversity!

We then travel by coach to Montserrat base station and take the Montserrat Rack Railway to the mountaintop monastery where we include entrance to the Chapel. The monastery was founded in 1025 and rebuilt between the 19th and 20th centuries. With a community of around 70 monks, the abbey is still in use to this day. We will then return to Barcelona and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Included Highlights

Manresa Guided Tour Montserrat Abbey

We transfer by coach to the railway station for our journey to Madrid. On arrival, we transfer by coach to our hotel for a 2-night stay and enjoy an included dinner this evening.

After breakfast at the hotel, we include a guided tour of Madrid in the company of our local guide. We’ll take in its wonderful artistic treasures and beautiful parks plus we include entrance to the Palacio Real which is the largest Royal Palace in Western Europe.

We later continue to the Museo del Prado where we enjoy an included visit. Housing the most extensive collection of Spanish paintings, this museum is an art aficionado's dream. From the medieval to early modern, its vast collection of European works is housed in a grand building on the Paseo del Prado, in the heart of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art, an area that is now a World Heritage site. Find timeless works from the 12th to the 20th century and admire the Renaissance-era Danaë by Titian and the Surrealist Buste de Femme by Picasso.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore Madrid and eat out in one of the many local restaurants nearby.

Included Highlights

Museo del Prado Madrid Guided Tour Palacio Real

Today we transfer by coach to the railway station and board the train to Seville. On arrival, our coach will be waiting to take us to our hotel on the outskirts of Seville for a 4-night stay. We enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

This morning, we embark on a guided tour of Seville, the Andalucían capital, in the company of our local guide. We include entrance to the city’s impressive cathedral, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral built between 1434 and 1517. Highlights include the Giralda, the mighty bell tower, which incorporates the mosque’s original minaret, the monumental tomb of Christopher Columbus and the Capilla Mayor with an astonishing gold altarpiece.

We continue to Real Alcázar, Seville’s Royal Palace complex for an included visit. This breathtaking site was originally developed as a fort in 913 and has been revamped many times over the 11 centuries of its existence, most spectacularly in the 14th century when King Pedro added the sumptuous Palacio de Don Pedro, still today the Alcázar’s crowning glory.

After our visit, the rest of the day is free for you to explore Seville at leisure. Perhaps you’ll have Tapas in one of Seville’s many tapas bars or spend time at the Plaza de España. We return to our hotel by coach and enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

Included Highlights

Real Alcázar Seville Cathedral Seville Guided Tour

Today, we travel by coach to Granada for what is sure to be one of the highlights of this holiday – a visit to the magnificent Alhambra Palace and the preserved Arabic Quarter – the Albaicín.

Located beneath the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains and situated on adjacent hills, these two areas form the medieval part of Granada. This fortified palace started life as a walled citadel before becoming the opulent seat of Granada’s Nasrid emirs. Their showpiece palaces, including the 14th-century Palacios Nazaríes, are among the finest Islamic buildings in Europe. We see the Moorish salons, courtyards and pavilions and walk through the historic Albaicín quarter of the Moors.

We return to Seville by train and our coach will transfer us back to our hotel for our evening meal.

Included Highlights

Granada Alhambra Palace

Today, we take the train to Córdoba, which is famous for its Great Mosque. The historic old town is a World Heritage site, full of pretty streets to be explored and inviting squares where you can try the local cuisine. We enjoy a visit to the Mezquita, one of the world’s greatest Islamic buildings. We explore the Mosque, Alcazares and walk through the atmospheric cobbled streets of the Jewish Quarter. We take the train back to Seville and our coach picks us up and transfers us to our hotel for our final dinner this evening.

Included Highlights

Córdoba

After breakfast, we transfer by coach to Seville airport for our flight to London Gatwick.