Best of Spain 9D (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 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. Accommodation 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) 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 East, destination Valencia, one of the most important cities on the Mediterranean coast and the third largest in Spain. We will reach Valecia via Murcia, an inland province with significant agricultural development (also a legacy of Al Andalus times), and Alicante, also located on the coast. 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. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, visit the luminous city of Valencia. The city tour will begin with a drive through the old town, showing its most prominent buildings. We will then be driven to the most avant-garde complex, the City of Arts and Sciences, whose emblematic buildings we will admire from the outside.

Early in the afternoon, departure northwards 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 visitors. Its 2,000 years of history and economic dynamism have given it a captivating personality — a unique mix 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 places in the city: impressive modernist buildings by Gaudí such as La Pedrera, Casa Milà —declared World Heritage— the Montjuïc Park with spectacular views of the city and harbour, the Olympic Ring, the monument to Columbus and the Olympic Port. You will have the afternoon free to continue enjoying this charismatic city at your leisure.

Or perhaps you prefer to say “see you soon”? Nine days full of experiences and good feelings are coming to an end, but it is very likely that you are already thinking about coming back... In any case, to round off a great experience, the package includes, after breakfast, a transfer from the hotel to the airport.