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Highlights of Spain by Rail

Activity

Culture

Overview

Discover the iconic cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Cordoba using the excellent train network

Rediscover the joy of rail travel on this extra-special cultural adventure in Spain. Using the excellent train network, we discover the highlights of Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Cordoba, getting to the heart of each on expertly led tours, a flamenco show in Seville and tapas tour in Madrid. With the train seats prebooked and an expert tour leader managing the schedule, you need only worry about soaking up the culture and sharing the adventure with your small group of like-minded travellers.

Key Information

Trip Code: ASM
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Spain

What's Included

All breakfasts and one dinner
All accommodation
All train travel and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Highlights

Visit Spain’s greatest cities using the excellent train network
Discover Gaudi’s masterpieces in Barcelona
Get to the soul of Madrid on two tours and a tapas crawl
Watch a flamenco show in Seville, the birthplace of the artform
Explore the landmarks in the historic city of Cordoba

Itinerary

First Destination: Barcelona
Next Destination: Malaga

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Barcelona
Next Destination: Malaga

Begin your adventure in Barcelona, a city bursting with art and architecture. The excitement builds with an orientation walk, a chance to see some of the city landmarks.

Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. This evening your tour leader ensures a big Spanish welcome over dinner.

Want more time in Barcelona? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Hotel Catalonia Sagrada Familia/Hotel Catalonia Atenas (or similar)

Meals included:Dinner

Discover Barcelona today, first exploring the fresh produce of La Boqueria, a bustling market filled with fresh produce. After lunch, we walk to Parque Güell, a city green space created by Catalan architect and designer, Antoni Gaudí.

This World Heritage site is an open-air gallery, displaying work packed with religious and political symbolism, while also offering beautiful views over the city and pleasant gardens in which to stroll. Return to the hotel by public transport.

Accommodation: Hotel Catalonia Sagrada Familia/Hotel Catalonia Atenas (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Head to Barcelona-Sants railway station by taxi for our first train ride of the adventure. Arriving in Madrid, we take a taxi to the hotel for check-in.

We then hop back on the metro to travel to the city centre for a two-hour walking tour of the capital’s highlights, including the Plaza Mayor and Palacio Real.

The day ends with a tapas crawl, dipping into different establishments to taste their fine dishes and eating like a local. After, we return to the hotel by metro.

Accommodation: Hotel Gran Legazpi (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Begin today at the Museo del Prado, Spain’s national art museum. This historic establishment houses one of the finest European art collections in the world, including pieces by Goya, El Greco, Rubens and plenty more. Then head to the Museo Reina Sofia, where we can see Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica, which represents the horrors of war.

The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city. There’s plenty to discover and a great selection of historic tapas bars to sample; of course, your tour leader is happy to make recommendations.

Accommodation: Hotel Gran Legazpi (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Enjoy our second train ride of the trip today, reaching the station by taxi for our 2hr 50min train to Seville station. Upon arrival, take a taxi to the hotel for check-in before an exploration of the city.

Walk through the Jewish Quarter with its narrow streets towards River Guadalquivir, where we can see the Triana neighbourhood and Torre del Oro where gold-filled boats arrived from the American colonies during the Spanish empire.

This evening, we have dinner in the centre and attend a flamenco show in one of the popular tablaos – an establishment in which the artform is performed.

Accommodation: Hotel Catalonia Giralda (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Venture into the capital of Andalucia today to visit the highlights, including the Royal Alcazar palace, one of the most beautiful examples of Muslim architecture and art in Spain. We also enter Seville Cathedral, the largest gothic church in the world. Finally, we head to Plaza de España in Parque de María Luisa. Built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition 1929, it displays a magnificent collection of architectural styles.

Accommodation: Hotel Catalonia Giralda (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

After a taxi ride to the station, enjoy the 45-minute train journey to the historic city of Cordoba, the capital of the Muslim kingdom that reigned Spain for centuries. Upon arrival, take a taxi to the hotel for check-in, before we visit the Jewish Quarter, the emblematic flowery courtyards, and the Great Mosque of Córdoba, which was converted into a Catholic cathedral but maintains its very special Muslim heritage. The sightseeing takes four hours today.

Accommodation: Hotel Sercotel Cordoba Medina Azahara (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Enjoy your last train journey of this adventure after breakfast, taking a taxi to the station for our train ride to Malaga. On arrival at Malaga train station, a transfer takes you to the airport for your onward flights. If you’d like a little more time to explore Spain, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Call us on 1 844 260 1517

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Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Luggage: We highly recommend you bring a backpack for your main luggage rather than a suitcase as we will be getting on and off trains and walking to and from the hotels.

Itinerary: Due to variable train schedules, your tour leader may have to amend the timings of some activities.

Key information

Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm
Airport: Barcelona Airport (BCN)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for those booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Spain

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Spain. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/spain
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Spain.html

Vegetarians: While a meat-and-fish diet is the norm in Spain, many vegetarians have not experienced any problems here. However, the choice of vegetarian and vegan meals may not be as extensive as you are used to.

Mealtimes in Spain are later than in many other countries; dinner is usually taken between 9pm and 9.30pm.

Seasons are marked, with pleasant temperatures in the spring, summer and autumn. Heatwaves can hit between mid-June and September. In April and October, expect temperatures around 5C-25C (41F-77F). May, June and September are typically sunny and warm with temperatures of 10C-30C (50F-86F).

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.