A Week In… Spain

Barcelona Spain – Madrid Spain

From the startling, whimsical architecture of Gaudí in Barcelona to the Moorish opulence of The Alhambra in Granada… the Baroque, operatic settings of Seville… the panoramic mountain views from clifftop Ronda… medieval Córdoba, rich in stunning architecture and history, once the greatest center of learning in Europe… modern Madrid and the masterpieces of The Prado. Barrios, cathedrals, ornate palaces, vibrant metropolises and sun-kissed, whitewashed villages all wait to share their visual splendors, stories and unexpected treasures.

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Journey off the beaten path, from Málaga to clifftop Ronda and from Granada in the Sierra Nevada foothills through whitewashed Andalucían villages to Seville.

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, entertainment, special dinners, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tauck Director are included. Transportation is included from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Sants Train Station or Franca Train Station to the Le Méridien Barcelona, regardless of the time you check in to the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least three weeks prior to the start of the tour. If you are arriving into another local train station please retain a receipt for your transfer and submit it to your Tour Director for reimbursement. Transportation from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid Barajas International Airport or Atocha train station is also included when you check out of the hotel. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Rates and schedules are not guaranteed until booked and will vary based on departure date.

ITINERARY

INCLUDED

INCLUDED HOTELS

Day 01 :

Welcome to Barcelona

Tour begins: 6:00 pm, Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain. A transfer from Barcelona Airport or the Barcelona Franca train station is included to your hotel, Le Méridien Barcelona, conveniently located on Las Ramblas in the heart of this exciting city. Meet the traveling companions who will experience Tauck’s one-week Spain vacation with you at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.

MEALS – Dinner

LODGING – Le Méridien Barcelona

Day 02 :

Las Ramblas, la Sagrada Família & more

Barcelona is an exceptional city overflowing with history, art and culture. Walk with your local guide along famous Las Ramblas to the Plaça del Pi; explore the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) to get a good look at the 13th-to-15th-century architecture; see the city’s spectacular cathedral. Drive to seaside Montjuic, site of the 1992 Olympics, and visit la Sagrada Família, the fanciful, unfinished cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí I Cornet. Discover Barcelona as you please for the remainder of the day and evening.

MEALS – Breakfast

LODGING – Le Méridien Barcelona

Day 03 :

To Granada via Málaga & Ronda

From Barcelona, Tauck’s Spain vacation continues with an included morning flight to Málaga; take a drive along mountain roads to clifftop Ronda, home to one of the oldest bullrings in Spain. A local guide shares insights about the town’s historic architecture and double-layered arched viewing stands of the bullring on a walking tour. Following lunch at Parador de Ronda, continue to Granada, a jewel of the Sierra Nevada foothills in southern Spain, where you’ll enjoy dinner with wine at your palace hotel tonight.

MEALS – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04 :

From the Alhambra to Seville

Join us for an insider tour of the 14th-century palaces and gardens at the Alhambra this morning. Explore the massive Renaissance palace of Charles V and the lush fountain-filled gardens of the Generalife. After lunch it’s on to Seville via Andalucía, a melting pot of different cultures sometimes referred to as the bridge between two continents. Journey into Andalucía’s rolling hills and view charming villages with whitewashed houses clinging to the hillsides. Continue on to romantic Seville, where your Spain vacation continues this evening with a private performance of flamenco dancing and dinner. Spend the next two nights at the Hotel Alfonso XIII in the heart of Seville, which enjoys a reputation as one of the world’s finest hotels.

MEALS – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner LODGING Hotel Alfonso XIII

Day 05 :

Unforgettable sights of Seville

No Spain vacation would be complete without a visit to charming Seville; get your bearings on an orientation tour of this spectacular city dating back nearly 2,000 years. A horse and carriage ride transports you through Maria Luisa Park, before a walking tour of the Barrio de Santa Cruz and the maze of old streets in the former Jewish Quarter. Enjoy a guided tour of Seville Cathedral, the third-largest Roman Catholic church in the world; tour the Cathedral, the final resting place of Christopher Columbus and home to the famed Giralda Bell Tower. The remainder of the day is free for you to pursue what interests you most in Seville.

MEALS – Breakfast LODGING Hotel Alfonso XIII

Day 06 :

Córdoba & on to Madrid by rail

A panoramic tour of the charming Moorish-influenced city of Córdoba with your local guide leads to a walking tour through the historic former Jewish Quarter and a visit to the ornate 8th-century La Mezquita, once one of the world’s largest mosques, and now a Roman Catholic cathedral. Board the high-speed AVE train and have lunch as you travel in Preferente class to Madrid, where your Spain vacation continues for the next two nights in the country’s marvelous capital city.

MEALS – Breakfast, Lunch

LODGING – The Westin Palace, Madrid

Day 07 :

The Prado & more in Madrid

Your day in magnificent Madrid kicks off with a guided tour of the famed Museo Nacional del Prado, one of the finest art museums in the world. Later, a city sightseeing tour takes you to highlights including Palacio de Oriente, the ornate Royal Palace built in the 18th century; grand avenues such as Gran Via and Castellana, and El Parque del Buen Retiro. The afternoon is free to explore as you please and have lunch on your own. Enjoy typical Castilian entertainment at our farewell cocktail reception and dinner this evening, a fitting finale to your one-week Spain vacation.

MEALS – Breakfast, Dinner

LODGING – The Westin Palace, Madrid

Day 08 :

Journey home

Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid’s Barajas Airport or the Madrid Atocha railway station; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS – Breakfast

NIGHTS 1 – 2 BARCELONA, SPAIN

Le Méridien Barcelona

Located in the very center of Barcelona on world-famous Las Ramblas, Le Méridien Barcelona is convenient to many of the city’s most intriguing sights. Long a favorite of celebrities, its guests have included the likes of Pavarotti, Rostropovich, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and the Rolling Stones. A newly redone and fully equipped fitness center and an Internet center are available for guests’ use. Haute cuisine made accessible is the hallmark of the hotel’s new Cent Onze restaurant, representing an innovative gastronomic option that masterfully combines the very best of French tradition, the fresh flavors of the Boquería market, and Catalan creativity in an open, cosmopolitan space with direct access to the Ramblas.

NIGHT 3 GRANADA, SPAIN

Hotel Alhambra Palace

Granada’s most famous hotel, the gracious Hotel Alhambra Palace enjoys a prime location adjacent to the grounds of the Alhambra itself. Built high on a hill overlooking the city in 1912, the hotel resembles a Moorish castle in its architectural design. Its public terraces offer panoramic views of the city and the mountains beyond. Great care has been taken to maintain the unique ambiance and aristocratic atmosphere of this historic hotel, inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1910.

NIGHTS 4 – 5 SEVILLE, SPAIN

Hotel Alfonso XIII

The elegant Hotel Alfonso XIII enjoys an enviable location in the heart of Seville near many notable attractions. Seville’s most majestic hotel, the Hotel Alfonso XIII was built in 1929 for the Expo that took place in Seville during that year. Since then, it has proudly hosted royalty, heads of state and countless celebrities with considerable grace and charm. Dining options include a fine restaurant offering Spanish cuisine with an Andalucían flair and international cuisine. Both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler include the Hotel Alfonso XIII on their prestigious lists of the world’s best hotels.

NIGHTS 6 – 7 MADRID, SPAIN

The Westin Palace, Madrid

This lovely Belle Époque landmark lies in the most elegant part of Madrid and close to many of the city’s must-see sights, such as the famous Museo del Prado. Commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1912, The Westin Palace, Madrid has been surrounding travelers with opulent luxury for a century. Today, the exquisitely decorated guest rooms feature the Westin Heavenly Bed® and offer luxury amenities. Indulge in the WestinWORKOUT® in the beautiful new fitness center located on the roof overlooking the splendors of Madrid. Two delightful restaurants, the Asia Gallery and La Rotunda, named for the hotel’s famed stained glass dome, await your pleasure.