- Tour code
ESPADV01
- Start
Madrid
- End
Barcelona
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Classic
- Trip pace
Easy
- Language
English
Southern Spain rewards people who like a bit of everything. One afternoon you are walking through thousand-year-old courtyards, the next you are working out which tapas to order at a crowded bar counter. This route strings those moments together so you never have to pick.
You start in Madrid, with a walk past Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace and time for the Prado, then head south into Andalusia. In Granada you spend a full day inside the Alhambra and climb into the white lanes of the Albaicín for the view at sunset.
On the way to Seville you break the journey in Córdoba to see the Mezquita and the old Jewish Quarter. Seville brings the Alcázar, the cathedral and an evening of live flamenco, before a train carries you north to Barcelona for the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas and a hands-on paella class with the group.
Hotels, the main transfers, orientation walks, the flamenco performance and the cooking class are arranged for you, and your Soca Islands Host travels with the group throughout. That leaves your energy for the places, the food and the people you are traveling with.
Why This Journey
Spain's great cities each have their own pace, and linking them yourself means juggling trains, road transfers and timed entry to sites like the Alhambra. Here the route, the transport and the key visits are lined up, with two nights in most cities so you are not repacking every morning.
It suits travelers who want history and art without a lecture-hall feel, and who would rather spend evenings at a tapas bar or a flamenco show than planning tomorrow. Groups are small, from 6 to 16 travelers, so it works well if you are traveling solo and want company along the way.
Where You'll Stay
Madrid (2 nights): H10 Villa de la Reina, on Gran Vía near Puerta del Sol. Granada (2 nights): Hotel Alhambra Palace, a short walk from the Alhambra. Seville (2 nights): Hotel Inglaterra, on Plaza Nueva in the historic centre. Barcelona (1 night): H10 Madison, beside the cathedral in the Gothic Quarter. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Madrid (MAD) and out of Barcelona El Prat Josep Tarradellas (BCN); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
From Madrid's plazas to Barcelona's Gothic lanes and waterfront
Moorish Andalusia: the Alhambra, Córdoba's Mezquita and Seville
Flamenco, tapas, local wine and a paella class
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Lunches and dinners not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and entrance fees for free-time visits
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Fly into Madrid whenever suits you; your arrival transfer takes you to the hotel on Gran Vía. The rest of the day is yours to rest or take a first look around the centre.
Later on, your Soca Islands Host gathers the group for introductions and a rundown of the week ahead, so you head to bed knowing exactly how things will run.
A morning walk with your Host gives you your bearings in the Spanish capital, from the arcaded Plaza Mayor towards the Royal Palace.
From there the day is open. The Prado holds one of the great art collections in Europe, the Retiro park is a pleasant place to slow down, and there is no shortage of tapas bars when you need a break.
Today is mostly about the drive south through the olive country of Andalusia. Once you arrive in Granada, a short walk introduces the city.
Then you climb into the Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter of white houses and steep alleys. Stay up there for sunset if you can; the views across the rooftops to the Alhambra are worth the effort.
The Alhambra fills the day: palace halls covered in carved plaster, water channels running through the courtyards, and the Generalife gardens looking back over the city. It is one of the most visited monuments in Spain for good reason.
Come evening, Granada's tapas culture takes over. Pick a bar, order a glass of wine and see what arrives on the plate.
You leave Granada for Seville with a long stop in Córdoba. Walk the narrow, flower-lined streets of the Jewish Quarter, then step inside the Mezquita, where a Christian cathedral sits inside a vast forest of striped Moorish arches.
Seville is your base by evening, with time to find your feet around Plaza Nueva and the streets nearby.
Seville is yours to explore. Wander the lanes and small squares of Santa Cruz, tour the royal Alcázar and its gardens, or climb up beside the Gothic cathedral. Plenty of Moorish history survives here if you know where to look.
After dark the group heads to a live flamenco show, a proper introduction to the music and dance Andalusia is known for.
A train takes you north across Spain to Barcelona. After arrival your Host takes you on foot around the Gothic Quarter and down Las Ramblas.
Tonight you roll up your sleeves for a paella class, then sit down together to eat what you have made. It is the one included dinner of the trip, and a good way to close out the week.
Have breakfast, say your goodbyes and take your departure transfer to the airport in time for your flight.
If you are staying on, Barcelona is an easy city to keep exploring on your own; we recommend an afternoon or evening flight so there is time for a last walk through the old town.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
H10 Villa de la Reina
A boutique hotel in a historic early-20th-century building on Gran Vía, in the centre of Madrid. Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Barrio de las Letras are within walking distance, and the Royal Palace and the Prado are an easy walk or short metro ride away.
Breakfast is served in the Las Infantas restaurant, with an early option from 6:00 in the lobby, and La Villa bar in the lobby serves light dishes and cocktails.
Rooms are 31 m² (334 ft²).
Hotel websiteHotel Alhambra Palace
A landmark neo-Moorish hotel opened in 1910 on the Alhambra hill, a short walk from the palaces and the Generalife and around ten minutes on foot from the historic centre. Its terraces look out over the city and the plain of Granada.
The Terraza Príncipe restaurant and the panoramic lounges keep their original decoration. With 126 rooms, the hotel can keep a small group together.
Hotel website
Hotel Inglaterra
A long-established hotel on Plaza Nueva in the centre of Seville, a short walk from the Cathedral, the Real Alcázar, the Santa Cruz quarter and the bridge to Triana, with coach access at the door.
There is a rooftop terrace, a restaurant and tapas bar, a buffet breakfast and 24-hour reception.
Rooms are 20–30 m² (215–323 ft²).
Hotel websiteH10 Madison
A hotel in the Gothic Quarter, a few metres from Barcelona Cathedral, with Las Ramblas, El Born and Passeig de Gràcia all within walking distance.
The rooftop Terrassa del Gòtic has a bar and views of the cathedral, there is a small heated plunge pool on the top floor, and a buffet breakfast is served in The Avenue restaurant.
Rooms are 22 m² (237 ft²).
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$788 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 1, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) and out of Barcelona–El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN).
Proposed accommodation is H10 Villa de la Reina in Madrid, Hotel Alhambra Palace in Granada, Hotel Inglaterra in Seville and H10 Madison in Barcelona (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included: into Madrid (MAD) at the start and out of Barcelona (BCN) at the end. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
7 breakfasts (Days 2 to 8) and 1 dinner, the paella class and group meal in Barcelona on Day 7. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Best of Southern Spain trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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