Highlights of Spain

True to its name, you'll find only the highlights here, the Alhambra, the Modernist architecture of Barcelona, the Prado Museum and Cordoba's Mezquita to name a few.

Insight Vacations - Highlights of Spain Highlights Plus These Extra Tour Features

Included Premium Highlights

    * Visit the elaborately carved courtyards and golden mosaics of the Alhambra Palace in Granada
    * Visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus in Seville's Gothic Cathedral, built in the 15th century
    * Visit the magnificent Mezquita of Cordoba - a Roman Catholic cathedral and former Mosque
    * Admire the paintings of Velázquez and Goya on a guided visit to Madrid's Prado Museum

Included Personal Insights

    * Enjoy a short group tutorial on the wines that complement your evening meal in Barcelona

Included Additional Excursions & Sights

    * See the Olympic Games complex in Barcelona and enjoy views from Montjuic hill
    * See the Ramblas and Gothic cathedral in Barcelona's old town
    * Drive through Barcelona's Modernist Eixample district
    * See Antoni Gaudi's controversial Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona
    * See the white walled cottages and castle of Peniscola
    * See Valencia's Gothic Generalidad Palace, octagonal El Miguelete Tower and Cathedral
    * See the City Gates and the Centre for Arts and Sciences in Valencia
    * See the Giralda Tower, pretty Santa Cruz Quarter and Alcazar in Seville
    * See the Don Quixote statue in Plaza de España in Madrid
    * See Madrid's Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, and cross the Puerta del Sol
    * Scenic drives - Jalon River Valley, Cross the Sierra Nevada, Plains of La Mancha

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
    * Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 10

Included Quality Dining

    * Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Barcelona (DA)
    * 9 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 3 three-course table d'hote Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

ITINERARY Insight Vacations - Highlights of Spain Highlights

Tour Pace

Well paced tour with two night stays in the major cities of Madrid, Barcelona & Seville; allowing you time to indulge in each city's treasures. Perhaps become better acquainted with Gaudi in Barcelona? In Seville, you have a whole day (Day 7) to relax or explore.

Day 1 - BARCELONA AT LEISURE

Welcome to Barcelona, capital of Catalonia, a land that retains its own distinctive language, culture and traditions! On arrival at Barcelona Airport, your airport transfers leave for the tour hotel at 09:30 & 12:30. Relax and settle in. In the evening, join your fellow guests and Tour Director for a Welcome Reception and light informal meal.

Hotel: Melia

Meals: Welcome Reception

Day 2 - BARCELONA SIGHTSEEING

Join your local guide in the Plaça Nova in the heart of the Gothic quarter. See the cathedral and walk through the Roman gate to tour the narrow lanes and old squares. Now drive by the lively Rambla and along the Passeig de Gràcia, adorned with elegant wrought-iron street lamps and some of the most flamboyant Modernist buildings. Continue through the Eixample district, to visit Gaudi’s extraordinary, unfinished Sagrada Familia church. Both inside and out, it defies belief! The afternoon is at leisure.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 3 - BARCELONA - PENISCOLA - VALENCIA

Follow the sunny Costa Dorada past the rice fields of the Ebro Delta to stop in Peñíscola. Explore the lanes and white-walled cottages clustered around the sea-lapped castle, used in the film El Cid. Now through the famous orange groves to Valencia where you see the ultra modern Centre of Arts and Sciences. Circumnavigate the old town, past the City Gates of Serranos and Quart to reach your central hotel. Maybe take a pre-dinner walk to the castellated Lonja (Silk Exchange) or the Cathedral with its octagonal bell tower.

Hotel: Husa Reina Victoria/NH Centre

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner

Day 4 - VALENCIA - GRANADA

Heading along the Costa Blanca, Benidorm suddenly rises like some Mediterranean Manhattan. Continue past the castle at Lorca and troglodyte dwellings hollowed out of the soft rock at Purullena. Drive along the Sierra Nevada, with magnificent mountain views, and over the Mora Pass to glorious Granada. Overlooking the town, stands one of the most remarkable fortresses ever built, the Alhambra. Explore this exquisite palace; a fantasy of stone cut lace, arabesque gardens and fountains, built as a citadel by the Moors in the 13th century. Also stroll through the exotic water gardens of the Generalife, the Royal summer residence. Granada has a rich variety of restaurants, so this evening choose your own personal ambience and cuisine from our Dine-Around selection.

Hotel: Saray

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around

Day 5 - GRANADA - SEVILLE

There is time, if you wish, to explore the labyrinthine Albaicin quarter - from the church of St Nicholas there is one of the most exquisite views of the Alhambra. Then drive past gleaming white villages and through olive groves stretching for as far as the eye can see, to Seville. This exquisite capital of Andalucía, the ‘city of Carmen’ is simply one of Spain's most charming jewels. Bask in the romantic aura, enjoy the flavours of Andalucía and share in the passion of Spain’s most fiery region.

Hotel: Ayre

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner

Day 6 - SEVILLE SIGHTSEEING

Seville has a distinctive character and presence best revealed by a local guide. First visit the Plaza de España in Seville’s Maria Louisa Park. Then stroll through the fashionable Santa Cruz Quarter with its flower decked wrought-iron balconies. Emerge by the Alcazar - a Moorish fantasy in stone set in richly scented gardens. Visit the massive cathedral, burial place of Christopher Columbus and enriched with the spoils of the New World. The energetic can climb the Giralda Tower, former minaret of the Great Mosque, and enjoy views over the city. This afternoon is at leisure.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 7 - SEVILLE - CORDOBA - MADRID

Set off early along the Guadalquivir valley, past villages and towns studded with Moorish towers and fortresses. Stop in the perfectly preserved Moorish city of Cordoba. Cross the famous 2000-year-old bridge before a guided visit to the magnificent Mezquita, an 8th century mosque with a Christian church built inside it. Afterwards there is free time to stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Jewish Quarter. Now follow in the footsteps of Don Quixote, across the plains of La Mancha on your way back to Madrid. En route, hear an informative tutorial about the wines that make this region so famous.

Hotel: Hesperia

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 8 - MADRID SIGHTSEEING

Join a local guide for a sightseeing tour along the noble avenues. Drive by the statue of Cervantes’ fictional hero, Don Quixote, in the Plaza de España. Continue past Cibeles Fountain and the Parliament and cross the Puerta del Sol. Visit the Prado Museum, a rose coloured palace housing works by Velázquez, Goya, Titian, Botticelli, Rubens, and many others. Take time out to relax at a café or shop in the trendy boutiques. In the evening, join a farewell Celebration Dinner in the heart of town, complete with wine and music.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner

Day 9 - MADRID

Board your onward flights today, taking home memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Departure transfers arrive at Madrid Airport at 07:00, 09:00 & 11:00.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast
 

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

BCN04 - MONTSERRAT & THE BLACK MADONNA
An unmissable Montserrat visit includes breathtaking views of unique rock formations (hymns explain how this 'serrated mountain' was carved by little angels with golden saws); a dramatic Benedictine monastery and history that connects the Catalan people and their struggles. It has been Catalonia's most important pilgrimage site for a thousand years. We enjoy the spectacular views before visiting 'La Moreneta', the black Madonna. EURO 35

BCN06 - GUELL PARK & EVENING DRIVE
Park Guell is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site - 'Works of Antoni Gaud'. The highest point of the park offers a panoramic view of Barcelona and the bay. Gaudi incorporated motifs of Catalan nationalism and elements from religious mysticism and ancient poetry into the park resulting in a unique and authentic experience. You will have some free time in Port Olympic to dine in one of the many restaurants, before taking a night drive through the city. EURO 26

GRA03 - ALBAICIN & ROYAL CHAPEL
We take a leisurely walk through the Albaicin World Heritage site which is a national monument and the last bastion of Islam in Spain. We explore the intriguing maze of narrow streets with whitewashed houses and patio gardens of bygone Moorish splendour. Then we visit the Royal Chapel to see the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, the 'Catholic Monarchs'. EURO 32

SVL04 - FLAMENCO SHOW
This evening, enjoy the true spirit of Spain as we watch a spectacular and colourful Flamenco show. Drinks are included. EURO 36

SVL09 - ANDALUSIAN TAPAS & THE ATMOSPHERE OF OLD SEVILLE
Enjoy a delicious selection of tapas specialities in a local restaurant with wine included. Then later we conclude the evening by taking an atmospheric walk through the old quarter of Seville which has a special magicin the evening. EURO 47

MAD01 - TOLEDO EXCURSION
A specialist guide takes us to the unique city of Toledo, Spain's capital during the golden era, and where El Greco lived and worked. We visit the fine Gothic cathedral, admire the old city views along the Tagus gorgeand later visit a specialist Damascene workshop. EURO 41

MAD07 - MADRILENO DINNER & PLAZA MAYOR
First it's off to Plaza Mayor, once the Main Square dating back to 1617 and dominated by the spectacular faÁade of the 'Casa de la Pandaria'. After time for photos we drive to our traditional 'Meson' to try many of the dishes that Madrid is renowned for. Drinks such as regional wine, beer and soft drinks are included but we suggest sampling some of Spain's famous 'Sangria'. All this will be accompanied by a local 'Tuna de Madrid' playing all your favourite Spanish songs on traditional instruments. EURO 57

A Tour Director's Perspective

Your Tour Director acts as your 'Personal Concierge' throughout. They'll make you feel like an insider as they advise on places to visit and places to avoid, assist with a labyrinth of languages and currencies, provide informative commentary, organise border crossings and hotel check-ins and help you make the most of free time.