Best of Spain 10D (Muslim-friendly coach tour)

Get ready to discover the essentials of Madrid. From the Muslim origins of the city —the current Royal Palace stands on the site of the Arab Alcazar (fortress)— to the district of the Hapsburgs, the oldest, with emblematic places such as the Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa. Next, the Madrid of the Bourbons, with other emblematic landmarks such as the Cibeles and Neptune Fountains, the Puerta de Alcalá, or the Prado Museum.

The tour will also take you through contemporary, commercial and financial Madrid: the Gran Vía, Paseo de la Castellana, the Salamanca district and one of the capital's great landmarks: the Real Madrid Stadium.

Afternoon at your leisure.

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 Qurtuba, peak splendor of Al Andalus. There we will visit the impressive Great Mosque (which currently houses the Cathedral). It is considered the most important Islamic monument in the Western world.

During our visit to Córdoba, we'll stroll through some of the narrow streets of the old medina or we will enjoy other highlights of the city, 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 short 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. In the morning, the monumental and panoramic city tour will include the visit to the Cathedral (the old main mosque) 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.

After breakfast at the hotel, departure to the Mediterranean coast, destination Valencia, one of the most important cities on the Mediterranean coast and the third largest in Spain. For centuries Valencia was the Islamic Balansiya. Today it stands out for being one of the main tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, for its attractive contrast between tradition and avant-garde, and for being the cradle of the famous paella. Accommodation at the hotel.

In the morning visit to the luminous Valencia. The city tour will begin in the historic center and then we will visit the most "avant-garde" complex, the City of Arts and Sciences, whose emblematic buildings we will admire from the outside. Early afternoon departure northward along the Mediterranean coast towards Catalonia via Tarragona, the Roman Tarraco. Our final destination is Barcelona, the second most important city in Spain and a real gem for its visitors. Its 2,000 years of history and its economic dynamism have given it a captivating personality, a unique mix that you will love. Accommodation at the hotel.

This morning you will enjoy a panoramic tour that will take you to discover some of the most emblematic buildings and places in Barcelona: impressive modernist buildings by Gaudí such as La Pedrera or Casa Milá and Casa Battle —declared World Heritage buildings—, the Montjuic Park with spectacular views of the city, the Olympic Ring, the monument to Columbus. You will have the afternoon free to continue enjoying this charismatic city at your leisure.

We leave Barcelona heading southwest, towards Madrid. Halfway down the road, about 300 km, we arrive in Zaragoza, Spain's fifth-largest city and the capital of the Aragon region. It was one of the most important cities of Al Andalus, an independent Islamic kingdom called Saraqusta. Before it was Caesar Augusta for the Romans. The Ebro River, the longest in the peninsula, is another of its hallmarks. And also, the imposing Basilica del Pilar, according to Christian tradition, the world's first temple with a special dedication to the Virgin Mary. You will have free time to explore the surroundings of the basilica, the main monumental area.

Continuation to Madrid. Overnight at the hotel.

Or maybe you prefer to say "see you soon"? Ten days full of experiences and good feelings are coming to an end, but it is very likely that you are already thinking about going back... In any case, to complete a top experience, the package includes, after breakfast, a comfortable transfer from the hotel to the airport.