8-Day Private Package Journey

South of Spain

Madrid, Seville, Granada & Córdoba

Available as Private Semi-Private Self-Guided

From €2,720 per person 8 days / 7 nights

Tour Overview

8 days across Spain.

From the grand boulevards of Madrid to the jasmine-scented courtyards of Seville, the Moorish palaces of Granada, and the ancient prayer halls of Córdoba, this eight-day private journey traces a line through Andalusia's most intoxicating corners. Every day is shaped around you — your pace, your curiosities, your appetite — with hand-picked hotels, expert local guides, and the kind of insider moments that don't appear in guidebooks.

Detailed Itinerary

Your journey, day by day.

Every day is designed with breathing room. Sleep in, take a detour, linger at lunch — the itinerary flexes around you, not the other way around.

Day 1

Arrival in Madrid

The Spanish capital opens its arms.

Your private driver meets you at Madrid-Barajas Airport and whisks you through the tree-lined boulevards to your hotel in the heart of the city — the kind of arrival that sets the tone for everything to come. After check-in, the afternoon is yours: stroll through the Retiro Park where Madrileños row boats beneath the Monument to Alfonso XII, browse the boutiques along Gran Vía, or simply sit at a sidewalk café on Plaza de Santa Ana and watch the city move at its own unhurried rhythm. We'll share our curated list of favourite restaurants nearby — the kind of tucked-away tabernas where the jamón ibérico is carved to order and the Rioja flows freely.

Private airport transfer through central Madrid
Curated restaurant recommendations for your first evening

4–5★ centrally located hotel, Madrid

Day 2

Madrid to Seville & Flamenco

A high-speed plunge into the Andalusian soul.

A leisurely Madrid morning — perhaps a coffee on the plaza, or a quick wander through the San Miguel Market where vendors have been selling manchego and olives since 1916. Late morning, you board the high-speed AVE train and watch the landscape transform in under three hours: the central meseta gives way to olive groves, then sunflower fields, then the flat golden plains of the Guadalquivir basin. Arrive in Seville by early afternoon and check into your hotel in the Santa Cruz quarter, where the streets are barely wide enough for two people and the balconies drip with bougainvillea. In the evening, we recommend a flamenco performance in one of Seville's intimate tablaos — we'll point you to the venues where the dancers are close enough to feel the stamp of their heels through the floor and the raw emotion of the cante jondo fills the room.

High-speed AVE train through the Spanish heartland
Optional flamenco evening in an intimate tablao

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Seville

Day 3

Seville: Cathedral, Alcázar & Hidden Courtyards

Moorish grandeur meets Andalusian charm.

This is one of the great days of the trip. Your morning begins with a private guided visit to Seville Cathedral — the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, where the sheer vertical scale of the nave stops you mid-sentence. Your guide, a Sevillano art historian, walks you through the gilded altarpiece, Columbus's ornate tomb, and the quiet side chapels that most visitors walk past entirely. From there, climb the Giralda Tower — the old Moorish minaret converted to a bell tower — where the ramps were built wide enough for horseback and the panoramic views from the top stretch across terracotta rooftops to the Sierra. After lunch at a courtyard restaurant shaded by orange trees, the afternoon is dedicated to the Real Alcázar: a palace of such intricate Mudéjar tilework, carved stucco, and fragrant garden terraces that it feels less like a building and more like a waking dream. The day ends with a wander through the Santa Cruz district's narrow lanes and hidden plazas.

Private guided tour of Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower
Skip-the-line Real Alcázar with art historian guide
Santa Cruz district walking exploration

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Seville

Day 4

Seville at Leisure

The day you make the city your own.

Today belongs entirely to you — and Seville rewards those who wander without a plan. Start at the Plaza de España, the grand semicircular masterpiece built for the 1929 Exposition, where painted ceramic alcoves represent every province of Spain and rowboats glide beneath tiled bridges. Walk along the Guadalquivir River, where the Torre del Oro catches the morning light and the rowing crews leave silver wakes across the water. Browse the ceramics shops of Triana across the bridge, or duck into the Metropol Parasol — the vast wooden lattice the locals call Las Setas — for a rooftop walk above the old city. For those who want to venture further, we can arrange a private excursion to the white hill villages of Ronda or Arcos de la Frontera, or a half-day along the Costa del Sol. The evening is yours — we'll have a list of our favourite tapas bars ready, the kind where the bartender knows what to pour before you ask.

Plaza de España's painted ceramic alcoves
Guadalquivir riverside promenade
Optional excursion to Ronda or the white villages

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Seville

Day 5

Seville to Granada

Through olive groves to the foot of the Sierra Nevada.

A final Sevillano morning — use it well. One last coffee in the Santa Cruz quarter, a final stroll past the orange trees along the cathedral walls, or a browse through the antique shops on Calle Feria. Late morning, your private driver takes you east through the Andalusian countryside on a route that passes through a landscape of almost impossible beauty: endless olive groves arranged in perfect rows across rolling hills, whitewashed cortijos glinting in the sun, and the distant Sierra Nevada growing larger on the horizon with every mile. Arrive in Granada by mid-afternoon and check into your hotel at the foot of the old town. The rest of the day is yours to explore the Albaicín — the ancient Moorish quarter of steep cobblestone alleys, carmen gardens hidden behind high walls, and the famous Mirador de San Nicolás, where the view of the Alhambra at sunset, framed by the snow-capped Sierra, is one of the most beautiful in all of Europe.

Scenic drive through the Andalusian olive country
Free afternoon in the Albaicín's Moorish lanes
Sunset views from Mirador de San Nicolás

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Granada

Day 6

The Alhambra: Palaces, Gardens & Fortress

Islamic art at its absolute zenith.

The highlight many travellers remember most. Your morning begins with a private, timed-entry visit to the Alhambra — not just the general grounds, but the Nasrid Palaces, where every surface is carved, tiled, or inscribed with a delicacy that defies comprehension. Your guide is an expert in Islamic art and architecture who brings the palace alive: the Court of the Lions with its twelve marble beasts, the Hall of the Ambassadors where the ceiling represents the seven heavens, the play of light and water that the Nasrid sultans engineered with mathematical precision. From the palaces, walk through the Generalife Gardens — terraced water gardens where fountains arc between hedgerows and the scent of jasmine and myrtle hangs in the air. End with the Alcazaba, the oldest part of the fortress complex, where the watchtower views stretch across the city to the Sierra Nevada beyond. The afternoon is free — return to the Albaicín, explore the old Jewish quarter of the Realejo, or simply sit in a plaza with a tinto de verano and let the morning settle.

Private timed-entry Nasrid Palaces tour
Generalife Gardens with expert Islamic art guide
Alcazaba fortress panoramic views

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Granada

Day 7

Granada to Córdoba: The Mezquita & the Jewish Quarter

A forest of arches, a thousand years deep.

Your driver takes you northwest through the olive-oil country of Jaén province — the world's largest producer, where the groves stretch to the horizon in every direction. Arrive in Córdoba by late morning and step directly into the Mezquita, the Great Mosque-Cathedral that remains one of the most extraordinary buildings on earth. Nothing quite prepares you for the interior: a forest of 856 red-and-white striped arches receding into shadow, the light filtering through in ways that make the space feel infinite. Your guide traces the building's layered history — Roman temple, Visigothic church, Umayyad mosque, Christian cathedral — each civilisation building atop the last. From the Mezquita, walk through the Judería, Córdoba's medieval Jewish Quarter, where the narrow whitewashed streets are hung with flowers and the tiny Synagogue — one of only three surviving in Spain — still stands. Cross the Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir, where the views back toward the Mezquita and the old city are best in the golden light of late afternoon. The evening is yours for a final Andalusian dinner — we'll recommend a patio restaurant where the courtyard is candlelit and the salmorejo is made fresh each hour.

Private guided tour of the Mezquita's double arches
Jewish Quarter & medieval Synagogue
Roman Bridge sunset walk over the Guadalquivir

Meals: Breakfast 4–5★ centrally located hotel, Córdoba

Day 8

Departure

Hasta pronto — until we meet again.

A final Spanish breakfast in the courtyard, a last coffee in the flower-lined streets you've come to think of as yours, and a moment to take in the rooftops one more time. Your private driver will collect you from the hotel and transfer you to the airport in plenty of time for your flight — Córdoba, Seville, or Málaga, whichever suits your routing. If your departure is later in the day, we can arrange a morning visit to the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with its terraced gardens, a walk along the river, or simply a late checkout so you can savour the last few hours. Your travel specialist remains on call until you're home — and we'll follow up a few days later to hear about the highlights.

Private airport transfer
Optional morning visit to the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos

Meals: Breakfast

Where You'll Stay

Hand-picked hotels, every night.

We choose properties for character, location, and the kind of service that makes you feel looked after — not just checked in. Every hotel can be swapped for an alternative if you prefer.

Madrid

1 night

4–5★ centrally located hotel

Centro / Barrio de las Letras

Walking distance to Retiro Park, Prado, and the tapas bars of La Latina

Seville

3 nights

4–5★ centrally located hotel

Santa Cruz

Steps from the Cathedral and Alcázar, quiet courtyard setting

Granada

2 nights

4–5★ centrally located hotel

Plaza Nueva / Centro

At the foot of the Albaicín, walking distance to the Alhambra shuttle

Córdoba

1 night

4–5★ centrally located hotel

Judería

Steps from the Mezquita and the flower-lined streets of the old quarter

Hotels shown are indicative of the standard we book. Upon request, we will provide a detailed itinerary with specific hotel options tailored to your preferences and budget.

What's in the Price

Included

7 nights in 4–5★ centrally located hotels (double occupancy)
Daily breakfast at each hotel
Airport meet & greet on arrival
Private airport transfers at departure and arrival
High-speed AVE train Madrid–Seville
All inter-city transfers in air-conditioned private vehicles
Private expert guides in every city (art historians, cultural specialists)
Skip-the-line access at all major sites
Timed-entry Nasrid Palaces access at the Alhambra
Private flamenco performance in intimate tablao
24/7 travel specialist support throughout your trip
All entrance fees and museum tickets
Hamilton & Chase digital travel booklet with restaurant & tip recommendations
Neighbourhood dining recommendations for free evenings

Not Included

International flights to Madrid / from Córdoba, Seville, or Málaga
Travel insurance (required — we partner with World Nomads and can arrange coverage)
Lunches and dinners
Personal expenses (shopping, additional drinks, spa treatments)
Gratuities for guides and drivers (optional but appreciated)
City tax (collected directly by hotels, typically €1–4 per person per night)

Good to Know

This itinerary is a starting point — every detail can be adjusted to suit your preferences, pace, and interests.
Hotels are confirmed at booking based on your travel dates. Upgrades and alternatives are always available.
All guides and experiences are arranged exclusively for your party — never shared with other groups.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Most days involve 3–5 hours on foot, often on cobblestones and uneven medieval streets.
Flexible booking: adjust or postpone your dates up to 60 days before departure at no charge.

Make It Yours

Optional add-ons & upgrades.

Every trip is different. These extras can be woven into your itinerary — just let your travel specialist know what catches your eye.

Private tapas & wine tour in Seville

An evening crawl through four hidden tapas bars with a local food writer

From €95 pp

White villages day trip

Private excursion to Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera, or Zahara de la Sierra

From €180 pp

Olive oil estate visit

Tour a family-run olive mill in Jaén, taste fresh-pressed oils, and learn the harvest traditions

From €110 pp

Private cooking class in Granada

Learn to prepare Andalusian dishes — gazpacho, tortilla, and pestiños — in a home kitchen

From €120 pp

Hammam spa experience

Traditional Arab baths in the candlelit vaults beneath the Albaicín

From €75 pp

Professional photo session

1-hour portrait session at iconic Andalusian locations with a local photographer

From €350

"The Alhambra tour was unlike anything we'd experienced — having a private guide who truly understood the art and history made all the difference. And that flamenco evening in Seville still gives us chills. Hamilton & Chase turned southern Spain into something deeply personal."

Laura & David K.

Toronto, ON · South of Spain, October 2025

Common Questions

Questions about this trip.

Can I change the hotels?

Absolutely. The hotels listed are our default selections for this route, chosen for location, character, and consistency. If you have a specific property in mind — a converted palace in Seville, a carmen in the Albaicín — we'll adjust the itinerary and pricing accordingly.

When is the best time to visit southern Spain?

March through May and September through November offer the best balance of weather, crowds, and pricing. Summers can be very hot in Seville and Córdoba (regularly above 40°C), though Granada's altitude keeps it more comfortable. Winter travel is mild and uncrowded, especially for the Alhambra.

Is this trip suitable for children?

Yes. We regularly run this itinerary for families. For younger children, we'll adjust the pacing, swap in family-friendly guides, and add age-appropriate activities. The Alhambra gardens, the Seville river walks, and the flamenco evening are particular favourites with kids.

What if I want to extend my trip?

Easy. Common extensions include the Costa del Sol and Málaga (2–3 nights), Morocco via ferry from Tarifa (3–4 nights), or Barcelona (2–3 nights). We'll build the extension seamlessly into your existing itinerary and pricing.

How far in advance should I book?

For peak season (March–June, September–October), we recommend booking 3–6 months ahead to secure first-choice hotels and — critically — timed-entry Alhambra tickets, which sell out weeks in advance. Off-season trips can often be arranged with shorter notice.

What affects the price?

The starting price is based on double occupancy in our default 4–5★ hotels during shoulder season. Prices vary with travel dates (peak spring and autumn cost more), hotel upgrades, group size, and optional add-ons. Single supplements are available. We'll provide an exact quote once we know your dates and preferences.

What is your cancellation policy?

A 20% deposit secures your booking. The balance is due 60 days before departure. Cancellations made more than 60 days out receive a full deposit refund. Between 30–60 days, 50% of the deposit is refunded. Within 30 days, the deposit is non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to cover unexpected changes.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

Not at all. All of our guides speak fluent English, and our hotels and recommended restaurants are accustomed to international guests. That said, a few words of Spanish go a long way — the locals genuinely appreciate the effort, and we'll include a small phrasebook in your travel booklet.

What happens after I click 'Plan This Trip'?

You'll fill in a short form with your dates, group size, and any preferences. A dedicated travel specialist will reply within one business day with a personalised proposal and exact pricing. There's no obligation — it's a conversation, not a commitment.

Private Package Journey

South of Spain

8 days / 7 nights

From €2,720

per person

Ready to go?

Share a few details and a specialist will reply within one business day.

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