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Rick Steves' Best of Spain Tour, Day by Day
From Gaudí and El Greco to tapas and flamenco, this tour captures the energetic diversity of Spain. Beginning in beautiful Barcelona and ending in sensual Sevilla, your Rick Steves guide will treat you to a sumptuous, two-week cultural buffet — with rich helpings of Catalunya's Gaudí, Toledo's El Greco, masterpieces of Madrid's Prado, and the Moorish and royal treasures of Granada and Sevilla. You'll also experience the delights of whitewashed Andalusian hill towns, prancing horses, tasty tapas, and fine sherry. Tag along on this day-by-day slideshow preview of our Best of Spain in 14 Days tour. Let's go!
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Day 1: Welcome to Spain
We'll gather at our Barcelona hotel for a "Welcome to Spain" get-together. Then we'll join the locals in their nightly ritual and head out for an orientation paseo (stroll) through our neighborhood. We'll finish by getting acquainted over a tapas-style dinner together.
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Day 2: Lively, Artistic Barcelona
Today we'll explore Barcelona's stylish and modern Eixample neighborhood, home to many of Gaudí and his contemporaries' elegant homes. Then we'll make our way to his towering, dizzying Sagrada Família. Afterward you'll be free to experience more of this magnificent city on your own, from the Picasso Museum to Gaudí's playful Park Güell.
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Day 3: Masterpieces of Madrid
All aboard! After breakfast we'll take one of Europe's speediest trains (the AVE) to Madrid. We'll tour one of Europe's premier art museums — the masterpiece-packed Prado — where you'll see paintings by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, and others. Later we'll stroll the lively streets of our neighborhood and enjoy dinner together.
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Day 4: Madrid and the Royal Palace
This morning we'll meet our local guide for a tour through the sumptuously decorated Royal Palace. With 2,000 rooms, acres of luxurious tapestries, and a king's ransom of chandeliers, this is truly one of the great palaces of Europe. Our walking tour will continue through Madrid's bustling Puerta del Sol to its elegant Plaza Mayor. Your afternoon and evening are free to explore Madrid's wealth of museums, stroll through the majestic Retiro Gardens (Madrid's most popular park), and maybe even catch a performance of zarzuela, Spain's delightfully light opera.
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Day 5: Day Trip to Segovia
We'll venture out of the city by bus to the history-rich town of Segovia and its beautifully preserved Roman aqueduct. After a walking tour of the aqueduct and town, you'll have free time to wander and visit Segovia's medieval Alcázar fortress. We'll regroup this afternoon for lunch to savor a Segovian specialty together — roast suckling pig. Then we'll return to Madrid in time for you to enjoy dinner on your own.
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Day 6: Historic Toledo
It's a short bus ride to Spain's old capital city of Toledo (and back in time about 500 years). We'll take a morning walking tour that includes Toledo's magnificent cathedral, the medieval Tránsito Synagogue, and El Greco's Burial of the Count of Orgaz at the Santo Tomé Chapel. This afternoon and evening, you'll have plenty of free time to enjoy the winding streets and varied sights.
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Day 7: La Mancha and Granada
This morning we'll drive through windswept "Don Quixote country," stopping to sniff the saffron and admire a whitewashed windmill or two. After taking a break for lunch at a traditional Venta, one of Andalucia's humble roadside eateries, we'll make our way to Granada, where we'll begin with a neighborhood orientation before heading up the Albayzín hill for dinner together and enjoy a sunset view of the Alhambra.
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Day 8: Moorish Treasures of Granada
Today you'll learn about Spain's Islamic legacy with a visit to the sprawling palace and garden complex of the Alhambra (when available). This last and greatest of Europe's Moorish palaces will awe you with its grace and artistry. You'll also have free time to make your own discoveries along the colorful streets and alleyways of Granada's Old Town.
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Day 9: Ronda
Today's destination is the hill town of Ronda, home to Spain's oldest bullring and its most breathtaking gorge. This afternoon, we'll visit the 5,000-seat bullring built in 1785 before setting you free for the rest of the day. There's plenty to explore including Ronda's Moorish and Mercadillo Quarters, linked together by the famous gravity-defying stone bridge, beautiful balconies, wispy gardens, and panoramic views.
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Day 10: Spain's "Pueblos Blancos"
Today we'll wind our way between the olive groves and whitewashed villages of Spain's pueblos blancos. We'll head into the countryside to visit a bull and horse farm and learn about Spain's most controversial pastime. Then we'll tour an olive oil mill, where we'll discover the traditional methods of producing this extra-virgin export. After a rustic lunch together, we'll press on to the jewel of southwest Spain, coastal Cádiz.
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Day 11: Old Town Cádiz
This morning we'll explore old town Cádiz, founded by the Phoenicians in the 10th century BC and one of the oldest cities in Western Europe. We'll join our local guide for a walking tour of the barrios and their centuries of narrow winding alleys and small squares, bordered by city walls and the sea. The rest of the day is yours to explore more of Cádiz's charming corners, take a walk along the seaside promenade, or soak in the sun at one of its many beaches.
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Day 12: Sevilla's Barrio Santa Cruz
This morning we'll drive directly to Sevilla, Spain's most flamboyant and atmospheric city. We'll begin our visit with a guided tour that takes us from the famous La Macarena (Weeping Virgin) statue to the world's largest Gothic cathedral. You'll have time to do more exploring on your own before we regroup tonight for a performance of sultry, swirling flamenco.
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Day 13: Sevilla's Royal Alcázar
Today we'll start with a tour of the beautifully Moorish-style Alcázar palace (when available), the Sevilla home of the Spanish royal family for the past 500 years. Afterward, you're free to walk in the footsteps of Carmen and Don Juan, linger in Sevilla's charming squares, or stroll along the romantic Guadalquivir River. This evening we'll share travel memories and toast new friends at our final dinner together, capped off with a carriage ride through the streets of Sevilla. Salud!
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Day 14: Tour Over After Breakfast
Sevilla's airport is a bus or taxi ride away with easy connections throughout Europe. Alternately there is an AVE train to Madrid to continue your Iberian adventures on your own. Hasta luego!
We still have seats available on our 2025 Best of Spain tours (save up to $200 on select spring departures). Learn more and sign up at Best of Spain in 14 Days tour!
Itinerary specifics subject to change.