Spain's Classics With Optional Post Tour Extension

You are on your way to a colorful and cultural adventure featuring the best of Spain.

Welcome to Madrid, Spain's lively capital and largest city. Tonight, gather with your fellow travelers and enjoy a welcome dinner. Today dinner will be included.

During a locally guided panoramic tour of Madrid's historic center, see iconic sites such as the Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, where events have been held since the 17th century. Join a local expert to explore the priceless masterpieces of the Prado Museum, which opened in 1819 and boasts the world's finest collection of art by masters such as Velazquez and Goya. Tonight, you might choose to experience Madrid like a local with a metro ride, a walking tour and dinner with traditional entertainment at a local restaurant. Today breakfast will be included.

Travel to the hilly town of Toledo (UNESCO), the capital of medieval Spain until 1560. Embark on a comprehensive tour, highlighting the magnificent Gothic cathedral. Then, visit the Church of Santo Tome and view El Greco's masterpiece painting, The Burial of Count Orgaz, before returning to Madrid. Today breakfast will be included.

Travel to the extraordinary Moorish city of Cordoba by the AVE high-speed train to reduce travel time and allow you to enjoy more free time in Cordoba. Embark on a walking tour of Cordoba's well-preserved and historical old Jewish Quarter. Then visit La Mezquita (UNESCO), an 8th-century mosque that was converted into the city's cathedral in the 16th century. End your day in Seville, considered to be Spain's "cultural capital" with dinner at a local restaurant. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

Embark on a panoramic tour before arriving at the iconic Plaza de España. Then decide on how you see Seville because it's your choice! Walk the charming and quaint Santa Cruz Quarter with an expert guide, admiring the orange trees and white-washed houses -OR- see the city from a different perspective with a boat ride on the Guadalquivir River, drifting by timeworn bridges and towers. Later, visit the Seville Cathedral* (UNESCO) – the largest gothic church in the world – and see Columbus' tomb and the Giralda Bell Tower. End the afternoon with a tapas lunch at a local taberna. This evening, enjoy an authentic flamenco show (UNESCO) featuring Seville's top performers. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.

*The Seville Cathedral requires that visitors adhere to dress codes where open toe shoes, shorts, bare shoulders and hats are not allowed.

Travel to Granada, the last great capital of the Moors in Spain before it fell to the Catholic monarchs in 1492. Upon arrival, join a local expert for a tour of the world-famous Alhambra** (UNESCO), a stone fortress overlooking the entire city and serving as a mesmerizing example of Islamic architecture. This evening, a guided tapas tour on foot is on the menu! Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

*Alhambra tickets not guaranteed and subject to availability per Spanish Governing Authority. If tickets are not available, you will visit another top Spanish attraction. Your travel agent will be notified. Full passport information required 120 days prior to departure to book Alhambra.

Travel through Spain's amazing landscape on your way to the Mediterranean coast. Pass by rolling hills dotted with picturesque olive and orange groves before arriving in the city of Valencia. A treasure trove of Roman and Arabic architecture, Valencia is Spain's third largest city melding historic and modern culture. Today breakfast will be included.

On a panoramic tour of Valencia, see the City of Arts and Sciences – an ultramodern educational institution. Explore the city's old town on foot, discovering the history with a local expert. View the ornate towers before wandering through the bustling central market, where you'll shop side-by-side with the locals. Travel to Albufera, the area where paella first originated. Enjoy a boat ride on the canals surrounding the rice field plantations. Visit a traditional fisherman's home, known as a barraca, and enjoy a paella-making demonstration and an authentic paella lunch. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.

Travel to Barcelona, one of Europe's most beautiful and exciting cities. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Barcelona's fascinating boulevards including the famous Las Ramblas, dotted with colorful bird and flower stalls. Today breakfast will be included.

Embark on a panoramic tour of Barcelona, showcasing the Columbus Monument, Parc de Montjuic, and Antoni Gaudi's Batllo House and Casa Mila building (UNESCO). A local expert will accompany you on a visit to the awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia*** (UNESCO), considered to be the most famous of Gaudi's works. Work on the basilica began in 1882, and it is scheduled to be completed in 2026 on the 100th anniversary of the architect's death. As the day draws to a close, enjoy a farewell dinner celebrating the end of your trip to Spain. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

***On the rare occasion that the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is not available, you will instead visit another top Spanish attraction. The order of inclusions on this day may change based on the timing of the Sagrada Familia tickets.

Return home with memories of a beautiful land and a diverse cultural heritage or begin your Costa Brava post-trip extension. Today breakfast will be included.