Iconic Cities of Spain: Barcelona to Madrid  

 Your Spanish holiday begins today at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and your fellow travellers before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. Taking our Plus class seats, we enjoy a light meal before arriving in the French capital.

From Paris, we continue our journey by First Class rail to the Catalan city of Barcelona. Our route takes us south through the heart of the French countryside before tracing the coast of the Balearic Sea towards our destination. Arriving in Barcelona late this evening, we check in to our central hotel and enjoy a welcome drink with the group before settling in for the night.

• Eurostar Light Meal

 A guided tour of Barcelona by coach and on foot awaits after breakfast.  Taking in the exterior of the Sagrada Família, we continue along the tree-lined boulevard of Las Ramblas and end our tour among the attractive and labyrinthine alleys of the Gothic Quarter.    

If you would like to visit the interior of Sagrada Família, you could do so independently with this afternoon's free time. Elsewhere, several neighbourhoods sit along Barcelona's coast, including former fishing villages, such as Poblenou, which can be reached by metro. Alternatively, the 18th-century residential area of Barceloneta exudes Catalan coastal charm, with leafy squares surrounded by wine shops. Other areas of the city to visit include the expansive hilltop park, where you'll find the Montjüic Castle, and the Boqueria Market, just off Las Ramblas, where you can sample Catalan tapas.      

This evening, we head to an authentic 17th-century Catalan farmhouse, just outside Barcelona. Now transformed into a stately restaurant, we enjoy an excellent dinner of traditional dishes in a private room. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

 After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer to the station and leave Barcelona behind as we board the train in First Class to Valencia for a two-night stay. Along the way, we enjoy scenic coastal views, particularly between Tarragona and Castellón, where the train runs close to the Mediterranean shoreline.   

Set on Spain's sunny Mediterranean coast, Valencia is a city of striking contrasts, combining over two thousand years of history with futuristic architecture and golden beaches. From the winding streets of the old town to the iconic City of Arts and Sciences, there's a wealth of culture and character to discover.    

On arrival, we walk from the train station to our hotel, where we check in and enjoy a welcome drink and a selection of canapes, offering a taste of the region. 

• Breakfast
• Light Dinner

 This morning, we set out on a tour of Valencia led by a local guide. Alongside hidden corners and elegant plazas, we visit the impressive La Lonja de la Seda, a UNESCO-listed Gothic masterpiece which was once the heart of Valencia's silk trade.   

Continuing through the historic centre, we head to the uniquely beautiful Valencia Cathedral, built on the site of a former mosque and Roman temple. The cathedral is also home to a chalice of polished agate believed to be the Holy Grail, which can be viewed in its lavish golden setting. To round off our tour, we stop to sample a traditional Valencian delicacy: horchata and  fartons. Horchata is a sweet, refreshing drink made from tiger nuts and pairs perfectly with fartons, a spongy pastry treat.    

  After the tour, there's free time to continue exploring the city's sights, and you might choose to stroll through the leafy Turia Gardens or venture towards the striking City of Arts and Sciences. We reconvene this evening for dinner in a local restaurant to savour an authentic paella, Valencia's famous culinary creation. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

 A free morning allows you to continue soaking up the sights at your own pace. Valencia is a wonderfully walkable city, and you might choose to wander through the atmospheric streets of the Old Town, browse the colourful stalls of the Central Market of Valencia or pause for a coffee in one of its sunlit squares.

We regroup around midday and transfer by coach to the station, where we board the train in First Class for a journey inland to the Spanish capital, Madrid. Watch the scenery shift from the Mediterranean coastline to rolling plains as we travel towards the heart of the country.

On arrival later this afternoon, we transfer to our hotel, and there's time to settle in and familiarise yourself with your surroundings. Madrid's grand boulevards, elegant squares and lively cafés offer a memorable first impression of a city that blends history with modern energy. We dine together this evening at the hotel restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 This morning, we are taken on a guided sightseeing tour by coach and on foot to discover Madrid's main sights, historical buildings and the city's vast green park, El Retiro. These beautiful gardens were built for Spain's royal family in the 1500s, but now, the park is a public space used by residents and tourists alike. 

Our tour takes us past the magnificent Palacio Real, or Royal Palace, still used for official state functions and filled with impressive paintings, sculptures and antiques, before we conclude with a tapas lunch, sampling a selection of traditional Spanish dishes.

With an afternoon and evening at leisure, you could walk along the wide boulevard of El Paseo del Prado to discover the famous Prado Gallery (booking in advance is recommended) or visit one of the city's other museums. If you want to return to El Retiro, it offers a peaceful contrast to Madrid's lively streets, providing an oasis at the heart of the city. The park has a boating lake, and around that area are often street entertainers, from puppet shows to folk musicians. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

 Our day begins with breakfast and a coach transfer to Madrid's station, where we board a train to the Moorish city of Granada for a two-night stay. The city is dominated by the Alhambra, which dates to the 13th and 14th centuries.  

This breathtaking palace and fortress complex is one of the world's most important and well-preserved examples of Moorish architecture, set against the stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. We begin our explorations with a walking tour in the Albaicín Quarter. Once the Moorish quarters of the city, the area is now a UNESCO World Heritage site that retains the narrow, winding streets of its medieval past.    

After our tour, you are at leisure to continue exploring at your own pace. In the older streets, you will find Moroccan-style tea gardens, bohemian bars and craft shops. A must-visit area is the Mirador de San Nicolas, a wide, terraced area with fantastic views of the Alhambra and a popular spot to see flamenco players or artists selling their work. This evening, you are free to dine independently. 

• Breakfast

 Following a relaxed morning, we visit the UNESCO-listed Alhambra on a guided tour.    

Once the residence of the Moorish leaders of Granada, this spectacular palace complex sits on a plateau overlooking the city with the fairytale Sierra Nevada mountains as its backdrop. The Alhambra is listed as a World Heritage site for its outstanding aesthetic value as the world's only preserved palatine city of the Islamic period and the best example of its architecture. Our excursion takes us through the series of palaces with intricate carved wooden ceilings, colourful mosaics and astonishing plasterwork. We also enter the beautiful 14th-century Generalife, once a summer palace and country estate of the sultans.      

Afterwards, we are transferred back to our hotel with time to relax before this evening's authentic Andalucían dinner at a traditional restaurant overlooking the illuminated Alhambra. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

 We leave Granada after breakfast and travel by coach towards Seville, pausing enroute to visit the historic city of Córdoba. The third of Spain's great Moorish cities, this was once the largest metropolis in Western Europe and is another outstanding UNESCO World Heritage site.

Entering the Old Town area, we cross the Roman Bridge, passing the 14th-century Calahorra Tower before continuing to the Mezquita - a mosque-cathedral considered one of the world's greatest remaining works of Islamic architecture. From its Moorish origins, the tower was transformed over the centuries after Andalucía was reclaimed by the Spanish crown. Today, its interior includes dozens of chapels and several Christian icons. 

Continuing to Seville by coach, we arrive later this afternoon and check in to our hotel for the night. This evening, we experience a captivating flamenco show before dinner - a wonderful way to experience one of Spain's most iconic traditions.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Setting out on a guided tour after breakfast, we get to know Seville with a knowledgeable local guide, who brings the city to life.

We wander through the city's historic Santa Cruz district, a maze of winding lanes and flower-filled squares, before we admire Seville Cathedral, an impressive Gothic masterpiece at the centre of the Old Town. The largest Gothic building in Europe, it was built on the site of a former mosque and features medieval stained-glass windows and the Patio de los Naranjos - part of the original structure. Continuing our exploration, we visit the Real Alcázar of Seville. This UNESCO-listed palace is a masterpiece of Moorish, Mudejar and Christian architecture, and we explore the elaborate patios, tranquil gardens and intricate tilework at leisure.

Later, we transfer to the station and return to Madrid in First Class, where there's time to relax after checking in before we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 Today takes us from the Spanish capital to the beautiful Basque Country, a historic region in the western Pyrenees mountains that spans the border of Spain and France. Leaving Madrid by First Class train this morning, we can watch as Madrid's skyline fades into the distance and the sprawling plains and lush foothills come into view upon entering the Spanish Basque Country. Our destination here is San Sebastián, and after about an hour at leisure in its city centre, our travels continue by coach to the French city of Biarritz.

We arrive at our hotel this evening, and upon checking in for the night, there is time to soak up the views of the ocean from the hotel's lounge area, before we walk to a local restaurant for the final dinner of our incredible holiday.

• Breakfast, Dinner