Spain's Costa del Sol & Madrid

Get ready for a true taste of southern Spain, from the sparkling blue waters of Costa del Sol to the chic avenues of Madrid. Your tour begins with an overnight flight.
Hotel Name: Occidental Fuengirola

Welcome to Málaga, one of the oldest cities in Europe, known for its sunny, Andalusian lifestyle and for being the birthplace of artist Pablo Picasso. Settle into your new surroundings and start enjoying the town of Fuengirola. Depending on your flight arrival time, join your Tour Manager and fellow travelers this evening for a welcome reception at your hotel.

Visit Area: Málaga
The birthplace of Picasso, Málaga is a vibrant port city radiating with energy, passion and culture. The city has gone through somewhat of a transformation, and now this little metropolis is thriving with new art galleries, Michelin-star restaurants and high fashion boutiques. And, when you explore the compact streets, you’ll see how architecture blends old and new as you venture from the Pompidou Centre to a Moorish fortress.

Discover the port city of Málaga with a local guide. Walk through the colorful market stalls and learn about the history and culture of this seaside community. Let Málaga’s winding old town streets and historic Roman Theatre transport you back in time, then it’s your choice! Venture into the The Alcazaba and get to know the fortified palace with a local guide -OR- enter the Picasso Museum, and explore at your own pace many of the paintings by this iconic artist who called Málaga his first home. No matter which you choose, reconnect with your fellow travelers during lunch at a local’s home.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Málaga Alcazaba or Picasso Museum
While in Málaga, you will have the choice between two activities. First, you can choose to do a difficult, but immersive walk as you venture into the Málaga Alcazaba. The fortified palace is perfectly adapted to the contours of the land and takes maximum advantage of the elevation of a hill. For your second choice, you can decide to end your morning with entry to the Picasso Museum. You’ll see more than 200 works highlighting the different styles, materials, and techniques used by the artist who called Málaga his first home. Málaga Alcazaba Activity Level 3: Requires walking 2 miles including big, steep hills and walking on cobblestone, uneven streets. Led by a local guide. Picasso Museum Activity Level 1 Travelers will have their own audio guide visit, at their own pace.

Travel to Setenil de las Bodegas, a town known for its whitewashed houses built into the cliffs. Like many of the Andalusian white villages, Setenil has deep ties to the Arab population that once ruled the region. Enjoy some time to explore on your own before heading to Ronda. Walk the Old Town and see its 18th-century Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) over the El Tajo gorge. After some free time to explore on your own, head back to Fuengirola where the sunsets beckon a relaxing ending to the day.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Marbella

Journey to romantic Marbella today and enjoy a walking tour of the city’s winding cobblestone streets before spending some free time exploring Marbella’s charming shops, cafés, and galleries on your own. Afterward, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps relaxing on the beach, just a short walk from your hotel, or perhaps you’ll join an optional tour to Mijas, one of Andalusia’s most famous villages.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Sentenil de las Bodegas

Today travel to Granada, the last capital of the Moors in Spain before it fell to the Catholic monarchs in 1492. Here, spend the morning with a local expert visiting the Alhambra,* a UNESCO World Heritage site also known as one of the Wonders of the Muslim world. After your extensive morning walk at this centuries-old palace and fortress complex, enjoy some free time in Granada for lunch on your own before returning to your hotel in Fuengirola to spend the evening as you please.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: NH Madrid Príncipe de Vergara

Visit Area: Ronda
Ronda is considered to be one of the oldest kept cities in Spain dating back to the Neolithic period. Two pieces of architecture represent the history of Ronda perfectly; the New Bridge and the bullring of the Royal Cavalry Order of Ronda. The New Bridge built in the mid 1700s allowed for the development of the city as it linked the old city with the new neighborhoods, providing the capability for Ronda to sustain itself and grow, as its location a little less than 2,500 feet above sea level made this a little more difficult in previous times. The Plaza de Toros, bullfighting ring, was inaugurated in 1785 and is considered to be one of the oldest throughout Spain. Some of the greatest matadors (bullfighters) of Spain were a product of the school of bullfighting, including Pedro Romero and Antonio Ordóñez.

This morning, say adiós to the Costa del Sol and hop on a northbound fast-speed train** to the capital city of Madrid. Relax and enjoy the scenic ride, then join a panoramic tour of the city’s historic center. See iconic sites like the Gran Via and Puerta de Alcala and get a better sense of the layout of this famous capital city. Tonight, you might choose to experience Madrid like a local with a metro ride and a walking tour followed by dinner with traditional entertainment at a local restaurant.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Home-Hosted Lunch

This morning travel to the historic town of Segovia. Join a local guide for a walking tour and learn about its iconic Roman Aqueduct, massive 16th century cathedral, and historic Main Square. Next, take a tour of the Alcázar de Segovia (Segovia Castle), an impressive medieval castle with lavish interiors, a museum, and military archives. Enjoy lunch on your own in Segovia before heading back to Madrid. Tonight, bid farewell to Spain and your fellow travelers during dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: The Alhambra
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. The first palace on the site was built in the 11th century and in the 12th and 13th century a fortress-complex palace was built. It is a vast complex, comprised of many structures. The Alhambra is part fortress, part palace, part garden and part government city. Many visitors come to Grenada specifically just to visit and see the Alhambra.

Your tour comes to a close today. Reflect on the warmth and spirit of the Costa del Sol as you journey home.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Madrid
Madrid is the capital and the largest city in Spain. Madrid sits on the Manzanares River, just northeast of the center of the Iberian Peninsula. It is estimated that the origins of Madrid can be traced back to the 2nd century B.C. Madrid is home to the head of the Spanish government, the Spanish royal family and the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization. Madrid’s influence on politics, education, entertainment, fashion and culture make it one of the world’s major global cities.