THE BEST OF SPAIN in 13 days
My Best of Spain Tour connects the varied cultures and rich history of the largest nation on the Iberian Peninsula. You’ll experience the “drippy” architecture of Gáudi in Barcelona, the Royal Palace and Prado Museum in Madrid, the massive Alhambra in Granada, and the jaw-dropping Cathedrals in Toledo and Sevilla. Along the way, we’ll visit sleepy little towns, far off the beaten tourist path, to experience the diverse cultures of the country. This, coupled with authentic dining experiences and laid-back sightseeing strategies, makes this my best way to experience Spain in 13 days.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
| PRICE FROM | DATES | |
|---|---|---|
| $5289 + air | Sep 25-Oct 07, 2026 |  |
Barcelona – 2 nights
Madrid – 2 nights
Segovia – 1 night
Toledo – 1 night
Granada – 2 nights
Nerja – 1 night
Arcos – 1 night
Sevilla – 2 nights
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Single Room Additional Cost ~$960
ITINERARY
DAY 1: BARCELONA – Let’s plan to gather at our Barcelona hotel at 5:00 p.m. for introductions and a welcome drink. Then we will set off on an orientation paseo, including the modernista architectural style of Antonio Gaudí’s “Block of Discord.” We will finish up with a typical tapas dinner at a favorite restaurant. Sleep for 2 nights in Barcelona. Dinner.
DAY 2: BARCELONA – We will begin the day with a stroll through Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, pedestrian-friendly streets and markets, and the grand harbor promenade. Later, visit Gaudí’s architectural masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. You’ll have the remainder of the day to explore more of the city on your own.
DAY 3: FAST TRAIN TO MADRID – Enjoy a ride on the high-speed AVE train to Madrid. After checking into our hotel, we will join a local guide for a tour of the massive Palacio Real, the royal palace of Spain. Then, let’s top off the day with dinner at a favorite restaurant. Sleep for 2 nights in Madrid. Dinner.
DAY 4: MADRID – Today, we will meet our local guide at the Museo del Prado for a personal tour of the museum’s most important works of art. Then, enjoy a stroll through the massive El Retiro Park and a break for lunch. The remainder of the day and evening is free for you to discover more of Madrid on your own.
DAY 5: EL ESCORIAL AND SEGOVIA – After breakfast, we will head to the hills, making a stop in El Escorial, home of the impressive 16th-century palace of King Phillip II. Later, in Segovia, enjoy a walking tour of the compact town center and a tasty dinner together. Sleep for 1 night in Segovia. Dinner.
DAY 6: TOLEDO – You’ll have a good deal of free time in Segovia this morning. Later, travel to the medieval fortress city of Toledo. Once the capital of Spain, it is now a tourist’s delight. During the day, enjoy the impressive cathedral, shopping streets, and of course, some of El Greco’s most famous works. Sleep 1 night in Toledo.
Day 7: LA MANCHA TO GRANDA – Driving through La Mancha, we’ll get a glimpse of whitewashed windmills, saffron-selling vendors, and stories of Don Quixote. In Granada, we will visit the lavish tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, who took Spain into the age of exploration of the Americas. Sleep for 2 nights in Granada. Dinner.
DAY 8: THE ALHAMBRA – Enjoy an informative visit to the massive Alhambra palace and gardens. Perhaps the greatest of all “Moorish” palaces, the Alhambra will wow you with its style and artistic flair. You’ll have the remainder of the day and evening to explore more of the Alhambra and back lanes of the old historic town.
DAY 9: THE MEDETERRAIN COAST – Today, we will head south to the sun-soaked Costa del Sol and set up in the pleasant town of Nerja. Perched on a cliff, it has a quiet old town, and pleasant sandy beaches and English is spoken everywhere. With no sightseeing plans, we’ll take an orientation walk around the small little town and have the whole day and evening to rest, relax, and enjoy. Sleep 1 night in Nerja.
DAY 10: THE WHITEWASHED VILLAGES OF ANDALUCÍA – The mountains between Granada and Sevilla are loaded with whitewashed villages perched high in the hills. We’ll set up for the afternoon and evening in my favorite, Arcos de la Frontera. Enjoy a sky-high vista of the surrounding countryside and wander its well-worn cobbled lanes. Later, we will meet for dinner at the top of the hill in the old town. Sleep 1 night in Arcos. Dinner.
DAY 11: SEVILLA – We will head directly to Sevilla to make the most of the day ahead. Join a walk through the whitewashed lanes of the Barrio Santa Cruz, with a glimpse at the “weeping Madonna” and the largest gothic-era church in the Christian world. We will meet later tonight for a flamenco music and dance performance. Sleep in Sevilla for 2 nights.
DAY 12: THE ROYAL ALCÁRZAR – Today, enjoy a tour of the Moorish-influenced Alcárzar Palace, home of Spain’s royalty, for more than half a century. You’ll have the remainder of the day to poke around Sevilla on your own. We will meet tonight for a grand farewell dinner toasting our adventure in Spain. Dinner.
DAY 13: TOUR OVER AFTER BREAKFAST – Your tour guide will be happy to assist in making transportation connections to the airport or train station. Enjoy your journey!
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
INCLUSIONS
Transportation is provided by coach, minivan, and train from your Barcelona hotel to your hotel in Sevilla.
12 nights accommodation in centrally located hotels, guesthouses, and B&B’s. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurant, and hotel staff.
Guaranteed Small Group consisting of 6-18 travelers.
All breakfasts and six of your dinners.
Traditional and gourmet dining experiences at some of David’s personal favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all group meals. Sodas, wine, beer, and other drinks are your responsibility.
Tours and admissions to the following attractions, experiences, and sights: Guided orientation walking tours in Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia, Toledo, Granada, Nerja, Arcos and Sevilla ▪ Entrance and/or local guided tour of the following sites: La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Palacio Real and Prado Museum in Madrid, the Cathedral of Toledo, the Alhambra in Granada, and the Alcázar and Cathedral in Sevilla, and much more.
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
EXCLUSIONS
Comprehensive Trip insurance. We strongly recommend comprehensive insurance for tour.
Fee for passports.
Beer, wine, spirits, and soda during the tour.
Laundry, phone, internet, and personal items
Extras and optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in the itinerary.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
CANCELLATION POLICY
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
Deposits- Deposits for tours are fully refundable for 30 days from your initial application and deposit date, unless otherwise noted. If you book a tour less than 90 days before its departure date, full payment is due immediately, and the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after seven days. After these dates, deposits are not refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation.
Payments- Tour payments are due in full 90 days before your tour departure date. If you find you must cancel between 90-0 days before your tour departure, please contact us immediately. We will work with you to transfer your payments to another tour departing within 18 months. We strongly recommend that everyone purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers tour cancellations, emergency medical, and other unexpected events.
Cancellations will be effective when the written notification is received at David McGuffin›s Exploring Europe by mail, e-mail, or fax.
SIGN UP BY EMAIL OR POST
If you do not want to sign up online:
You may download a tour application and send it to us with payment.
-OR-
You may return it by:
- FAX 1-800-570-1351
- Email – info@davidmcguffin.com
- email – take a photo of the form with your smartphone and attach it to an email
- TXT – take a photo with your smartphone and TXT to 904-612-8149
KEY TO WALKING & ACTIVITY
Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
PRE-TOUR RESOURCES
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
DAVID’S 60 SECONDS DESTINATION VIDEOS
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in the United Kingdom. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David Explores Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
David’s TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY almost-weekly broadcast and Video Series Blog.
Every week, when David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
Each Travel Talk Tuesday session is recorded. Watch them here.
DAVID’S BLOG ARTICLES
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Just type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (it’s the gray rectangle with a small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL OR GIVE US A CALL.
We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.
Testimonials & Reviews of our Tours
The Sicily tour was incredible! After touring with David, I felt that I had truly seen all that this special island has to offer: terrific historical sights, vibrant cities, incredible museums, majestic land and seascapes, as well as a delectable cuisine. Throughout the tour David was informative, hospitable and open to suggestions and adjustments. He has a very pleasant and accommodating persona and we were fortunate to have him as our escort. The guides he hires are excellent and really enhanced our experience. The only recommendation I have is to have a guide for EVERY excursion! Our driver, Paolo, was exceptional.
I have longed to go on safari since I was a teenager! When I learned about David's explorations BEYOND Europe, I couldn't wait to secure my spot! The Serengeti Safari was the first trip on my retirement agenda! I had high expectations, and this trip EXCEEDED every one of them. David has a network of skilled professionals at every bend in the road. I highly recommend this trip for anyone hoping to experience the beauty of Tanzania, its abundant wildlife, its rich cultural heritage, and its beautiful people!
This trip truly was a trip of a lifetime. The ability to see all of the animals in their natural habitat was really something so hard to describe in words. In so many ways it seemed surreal. I have visited over 50 of our US National Parks, so being able to visit and stay inside the Serengeti National Park made the trip even more special to me. Our guides were simply outstanding. They were knowledgeable and always made sure we had the best experience possible. Our accommodations were top of the line- even our safari tents were exceptional. If going on an African Safari is on your bucket list I highly recommend traveling with David!
This was our first of what I hope are many tours with David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe. We chose The Best of Scotland and Wales in 11 Days tour from 9/24/25 - 10/4/25. Our tour guide, David Gray, made this tour very special. He is very knowledgeable about the destinations on the tour but was also very personable……which made for a very relaxing tour experience. He’s just a nice man! Our driver, Ian, has a beautiful coach and really made us comfortable. He and David make a good team. We were able to go to places that I never thought I’d see because of them. The drive through The Highlands was breathtaking and something we will never forget. All of our hotels were very comfortable and close to the town centers they were in. We really liked our travel mates which also made for a very positive experience. This tour is very well thought out and planned. There was ample free time as well. My husband and I had a very memorable trip and we highly recommend David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe.
I have traveled with David for over a quarter of a century on 22 trips soon to be 23. I’ve traveled with as few as 3 total people and as many as an entire high school marching band. No matter where the destination or the adventure David has researched it and will have all the details taken care of before you ever get there. I often joke that on his trips all I ever worry about is getting to the airport on time- he takes care of all of the rest! I highly recommend David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe— I trust him explicitly and would never consider traveling abroad with anyone else. Knowing David and his wife Charlotte is a blessing in my life and traveling with them is always a pleasure.
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