The Heart of Spain: Andalucía

Fly into the Seville airport or take the fast train (AVE) to Seville from Madrid. 

Meet us at the Hotel Soho Boutique Catedral in the old town by 5 p.m. on arrival day. Relax and unwind in style; all our guests will enjoy a junior suite at the hotel. You're in for a treat! 

After the check-in, we’ll meet for a welcome drink and orientation at Soho's rooftop bar before we embark on a guided tour of the city with our local expert. 

Later, we will enjoy dinner together, and you’ll have a chance to get to know your GG2W co-travelers a little better.

Start your day slowly and peacefully by enjoying a relaxed morning at the hotel and a delicious breakfast.

Today, we'll work with a local chef and discover how to make tapas like a Spaniard. Start your cooking class in the Triana Food Market with a guided tour of the many local offerings. Dig into traditional recipes and come away with the skills to make croquetas, tortilla de patata, and more.

Once we're done, we can savor our creations with some exquisite regional wines.

The afternoon is yours to explore the city on your own, nap, or chill at the pool.

In the evening, we'll gather to enjoy a passionate flamenco performance. Afterward, we'll have a light dinner together at Perro Viejo Tapas Bar. 

Make sure to bring a day pack with you. Today, we’ll drive to Zahara de la Sierra to visit an olive oil farm where you will get the chance to taste oils from Andalusia.

Afterward, we'll stop in one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Situated on a gorge, Ronda was settled in the Neolithic age, but what we’ll see dates back to Roman times. Enjoy a tour of Ronda with our guide. 

Lunch today will be served at Panorámico Ronda by Eboca, a tapas restaurant created by Chef Benito Gomez. Prepare to indulge in his unique take on regional favorites.

You'll have time to stroll around and shop on your own today.

As the sun starts to sink, we’ll head back to Sevilla. 

You are free to choose any restaurant for dinner tonight. 

After breakfast, we’ll head to the 14th-century palace across the street from the hotel. The Alcazar was built for Christian King Peter of Castile. It's built on top of a former Moorish palace. 

The palace boasts a mosaic of architectural styles from Gothic to Renaissance, Romanesque to Mudéjar, all elegantly balanced. The gardens are an absolute delight. They represent a mingling of the Spanish infused with Muslim artistry in a style known as Mudejar. 

You can trace the history of the Moors and Christians through the changes in the garden. Take a close look at the pavilion of Charles V in the Alcoba vegetable garden and the Grutesco Gallery with its many gardens. Water features and gorgeous Spanish tiles reign supreme. Our expert local guide will lead the way. 

You'll be hungry after all the walking, so we'll stop atZelai for lunch. 

In the afternoon, we'll visit Seville’s famous 15th-century Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the Catholic kings and their voyages to the Americas, Seville was all-important. 

Here, you’ll find Christopher Columbus’ tomb, along with great riches. Santa María de la Sede is the third largest church in the world, after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. 

After such a busy day, we'll stroll back to our hotel for a siesta and time to chill. If you'd prefer, you can go out and explore the city or do some shopping. We'll enjoy dinner tonight at Castizo.

Grab your bags and wave “adios” to Seville. We're off to Granada in a private minibus.

The following two days are about Granada and its crown jewel, the Alhambra. We'll stay at the Hotel Palacio de los Patos.

The drive to Granada takes about 2.5 hours. We will break up this journey by stopping at Parador de Antequera for lunch.

Once in Granada, check into the hotel and get settled. This afternoon will be a relaxing one after all the traveling.

Grab your swimsuit because we are off to a hammam or a Moorish-style spa. Enjoy the hot and cold pools and relax among flickering candles. Sip hot tea and unwind. Your visit to the hammam includes a massage.

Enjoy dinner with the group at Alameda Restaurante tonight.

Today, we'll walk over to one of the most impressive architectural sites in the world, the Alhambra and the Generalife. After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll discover the palace and its incredible gardens with a knowledgeable guide. Please wear comfortable walking shoes today.

Our tour ends with lunch at Restaurante El Parador de Granada.

After lunch, enjoy free time in the town center and explore the Plaza de San Nicolas area. This afternoon is devoted to shopping. Hunt for gorgeous Fajalauza ceramics and scour the old Arab neighborhood, the Albaycin, with its lovely, whitewashed houses and narrow streets. You are sure to find a few gems to take home with you.

It is our last night together as a group. We'll gather in the evening for a unique culinary experience as we embark on a guided tapas dinner. We’ll stop at several restaurants to devour bite-sized treats like locals and raise our glasses to toast all the fun we’ve had. Snack your way across town before returning to the hotel to rest for the night.

Kickstart your day on a high note with a fulfilling breakfast at the hotel.

We'll help to arrange a taxi from the hotel to the airport in Granada. Are you planning to extend your stay in Andalucia for a few more days? Great idea! 

If not, say farewell to your GG2TW travel buddies today and head home.

If your flight from Granada departs in the afternoon, you can store your luggage at the hotel until you're ready. You can catch a flight or train from Granada to Barcelona or Madrid, where you will take your international flight home.

Some guests may stay in Granada for one or two more nights to see more of this historic city. If you’d like this, we can assist in arranging your hotel accommodation.