Barcelona, Gems of Al Andalus & Madrid 9D (Muslim-friendly coach tour)

After breakfast at the hotel, presentation at Julia's Estació del Nord office for the Barcelona Highlights tour, a half-day tour that will allow you to discover the history of the city while visiting some of the most important places in a comfortable and easy way.

During the first part of the tour, we will head by coach towards the Montjuic Hill, where you will enjoy spectacular views from the Cable Car and explore the 1992 Olympic area. We will make a stop at the MNAC viewpoint to take in one of the best panoramas of the city. We will then continue along Passeig de Gràcia, one of the most important avenues, and admire the façades of Gaudi's most famous buildings, such as Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.

Back at Estació del Nord, we'll begin a guided walking tour through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of the city and its historical center. We will start near the Arc de Triomf and see the exterior of landmarks such as the Palau de la Música and the Basilica of Santa María del Pi. We will continue towards Plaça Sant Felip Neri, pass under the Pont del Bisbe (one of the most photographed spots in the Gothic Quarter), and finish the tour at Plaça de la Catedral.

Afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this wonderful city. Accommodation at the hotel.

Departure heading southeast, towards Madrid. Halfway through the journey, we will reach Zaragoza, capital city of Aragón, within the banks of Ebro River, the most copious within the Iberian Peninsula. Zaragoza, known as Cesar Augusta during the Roman period, had an important role in Spanish history. Some free time to see the impressive Baroque architecture of the Basilic-Temple of Our Lady Pilar. Continue to Madrid.

Rest of the day at leisure in Madrid. Accommodation at the hotel of the selected category.

(For operational reasons, transportation between Barcelona and Madrid may be provided by High-Speed train in Tourist Class without a tour escort).

Heading to the South of Spain. After traveling through La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote, and reaching Andalusia, our first destination will be Cordoba, the Islamic Qurtubah, peak splendor of Al Andalus. There we will visit the impressive Great Mosque, the most important Islamic monument in the Western world.

We'll stroll through some of the narrow streets of the old medina or we will enjoy other highlights, such as the Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir River, still standing thanks to the crucial reconstructions carried out out during the Islamic period.

In the afternoon, after a two hours ride, we will arrive in Seville. Overnight at the hotel.

The lovely Seville, the current capital of Andalusia, was also one of the capitals of Al Andalus. Many people consider this city the most beautiful in Spain, and you will discover why. The morning panoramic city tour will include the visit to the Cathedral (the old main mosque, ticket included) and its bell tower, the Giralda, an old Almohad minaret which today constitutes the most iconic monument in the city. The tour will also take us through the streets of the picturesque quarter of Santa Cruz and to other emblematic places such as the Plaza de España and the Maria Luisa Park.

Afternoon at leisure for you to discover the incomparable flavor of this city on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Overnight at the hotel.

Early in the morning, drive east through the Caliphate road to the heart of Andalusia surrounded by an endless number of olive trees on the way to Granada, the Islamic Gharnata, the last Muslim kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula. There you will enjoy one of the highlights of this unforgettable tour, the breathtaking Alhambra –fortress, citadel and palace at the same time—, one of the pinnacles of the Arab-Islamic art. The visit to the Alhambra complex will include its different palaces —among them the famous Nasrid Palaces— and the fragrant Generalife gardens. 

Accommodation at the hotel. In the evening, optional Flamenco Zambra show.

Breakfast and full day to enjoy Granada at your leisure. Granada, the city where Muslims stayed the longest, is much more than the Alhambra. The Albaicín quarter is one of the essential visits, a World Heritage Site. It is the embryo of Granada and still keeps the essence of its Muslim past. Here, in a strategic location next to the famous San Nicolás viewpoint and with excellent views over the Alhambra, you will find the Great Mosque of Granada. Optionally, you can join a tour to explore the Albaicín. Other places not to be missed are the Alcaicería (old silk market), the romantic promenade along the River Darro —Paseo de los Tristes— and squares like Bib Rambla, full of charm.

After breakfast, departure heading north towards Madrid. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel. You can round off this magnificent tour by enjoying the capital at your own pace. For example, how about some shopping in the main commercial areas of the city centre?

The hotel on the last night in Madrid may differ from the one on the first stay

Breakfast at the hotel. Nine days full of experiences that will remain in your memory come to an end. Transfer to the airport and end of our services.