Enchanting Spain: A 15-Day Road Trip

Suggestions for the day: Barcelona Uncovered

• Today you have the whole day to discover all the well and less-known corners of Barcelona. Make sure you see the unfinished La Sagrada Família, explore the Plaça de Catalunya, and pay a visit to Park Güell. Ramble through El Born for delicious tapas or consider visiting a Catalan-style restaurant for a delicious dinner of local specialties. We also recommend visiting the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat and seeing the shrine of the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia. 

Suggestions for the day: Coastal Escapes - Peñiscola to Valencia

• The sweet scent of oranges will accompany you on our journey along the Costa Dorada south to fortified Peñíscola (2h drive), where you can visit the ancient castle used in the film 'El Cid'. Continuing through fertile Huertas, arrive in sunny Valencia where you will stay the night. Once there, visit the modernist-style Mercado de Colón, the Bullring, the Towers of Serrano and Quart, and the Art Nouveau Estación del Norte. Witness the modern verve of Valencia and view the City of Arts and Sciences, a large-scale urban recreation center for culture and science, designed by Santiago Calatrava. Spend the night in Valencia. 

Suggestions for the day: Granada - Moorish Splendor in the Sierra Nevadas

• Get ready for an exciting journey through the Sierra Nevadas! Our recommendation for your first stop here will be Guadix. Here you can witness the incredible craftsmanship of locals who have carved cozy homes into the rocky terrain. Don't miss the chance to explore the troglodyte cave dwellings seamlessly blending into the landscape. Then, drive through the rugged Mora Pass en route to Granada and pay to the incredible Alhambra palace - its golden façades and extraordinary Moorish architecture reflect centuries of multicultural history, which you will have a rare opportunity to explore as you wander through its palaces and exotic water gardens. 

Suggestions for the day: Costa del Sol Retreat - Málaga

• This morning consider exploring the medieval Moorish Quarter of Granada - Albaicín - with its narrow winding lanes, churches, minarets, and palaces. Leave Granada behind for the sun-kissed shores of the Costa del Sol - Málaga (1h45 drive from Granada), where you’ll spend the next two nights. Stroll along the beachside promenade, relax at one of the nearby beach cafes, or visit the picture-perfect whitewashed Andalusian village of Mijas - the choice is yours. 

Suggestions for the day: Blissful Days on the Costa del Sol

• Another day in paradise for you to kick back, worship the Spanish sunshine, and taste la buena vida. You can drive 30min and enjoy fresh seafood in Torremolinos, relax on the bleached beaches, and soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere, or consider further exploring the Andalusian capital of Málaga. These are our recommendations for things to do in Málaga:
  • Visit the Alcazaba
  • See the Roman Theater
  • Climb to the top of the Cathedral
  • Take in the views at the Gibralfaro
  • Picasso Museum
  • Málaga Museum
  • Palmeral de Las Sorpresas
  • Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga
  • Mercado Central de Atarazanas
  • Eat at a Local Chiringuito
  • Explore the Soho Neighborhood
  • Take a Boat Trip around the Bay (at sunset!)
  • Hike the Caminito del Rey

Suggestions for the day: Gibraltar and Seville - A Tale of Two Worlds

• Embark on a scenic drive to Marbella (a 45-minute drive from Costa del Sol) and explore the city. After, back on the road and on to La Linea. Cross to the Rock of Gibraltar and consider visiting St. Michael's Cave to see this wonderful natural cave formation and the Barbary Macaques (Rock Apes). In the afternoon, continue through the Andalusian countryside past Jerez - famous for its sherry production - to Seville. The drive from Gibraltar to Seville will take you around 2 hours.

Suggestions for the day: Seville Serenade - Flamenco, Cathedrals, and Gardens

• Ahead of you is the whole day to explore breathtaking Seville! We suggest you start with a visit to the symbolic Giralda Bell Tower. Stroll through the Maria Luisa Park, home of the 1929 Exposition. This Moorish-style park boasts half a mile of fountains, ponds, pavilions, and lush plantings. You can also opt to walk through the imposing Plaza de España and visit the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world - The Seville Cathedral - where explorer Christopher Columbus is entombed. As the day winds down, consider booking a fiery flamenco performance of twirling colorful skirts and rhythmic clapping of castanets.

Suggestions for the day: Cordoba - Moorish Marvels and Timeless Treasures

• Drive to Córdoba (1h30 drive from Seville). Once a significant Moorish capital, here you can visit the Mosque of the Caliphs and learn about centuries of Moorish rule and its influence on the culture and architecture of the region. Take a look at the remains of the 14th-century Mudéjar-style synagogue in the old Jewish neighborhood, before spending the rest of the day at leisure admiring the city's extraordinary Moorish architecture and heritage. 

Suggestions for the day: Toledo - A Journey Through Time

• On day 13 of your road trip, leave Andalucía and cross Don Quijote's La Mancha region, famous for its windmills, wines, and cheese. Make sure to stop and taste some! Toledo, your next stop is calling to be explored. The trip from Córdoba to Toledo will take you 3 hours and 30 minutes. Once there, visit the Church of Santo Tomé, home to El Greco's masterpiece – 'The Burial of the Count of Orgaz', and the Santa María La Blanca Synagogue, the oldest one still standing in Europe. Spend the night in Toledo.

Make your way to Madrid (1 hour from Toledo) for the last portion of your memorable Spanish journey!

Suggestions for the day:

• Visit the Royal Palace, Cibeles Fountain, and Retiro Park, created as retreats for the royal family. Admire the world's finest collection of Spanish art at the Prado Museum, and indulge in some last-minute shopping on Gran Vía. This evening marks the end of your memorable journey exploring Spain, so we recommend scheduling a live Flamenco show

For now, it's time to say a fond farewell to the beauty of Spain at the end of a memorable holiday!