Best of Spain

Hola! Welcome to Madrid – the Spanish capital known for its elegant boulevards and parks. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at either 6 or 7 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe wander through the gardens of Real Jardin Botanico and visit one of the many art museums. After the meeting, maybe head out for dinner with your group and indulge in some tapas and Rioja, or head to the Gran Via hotspots to dance the night away with your new friends.

Take a bus to Granada today. Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Granada is packed with Moorish architecture, great tapas bars and natural beauty. Take a walk around the old Arab quarter of the Albaicin – a labyrinth of crooked alleys, fountains, plazas and whitewashed houses – or the Alcaiceria (old silk market area) to see the craftworks on sale. If you're feeling energetic, climb the steep streets up to the Mirador de San Nicolas for sunset views over the famous Alhambra. If you have time, perhaps check out the historic Renaissance Cathedral and Capilla Real.

Visit Granada's impressive Alhambra Palace and its gardens. Wander the dominating red fortress towers of this 11th-century complex set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The palace is made up of the Alcazaba – the 11th century Muslum wing, which has great views from the towers – and the Palacio Nazaries and Generalife, the summer palace of the sultans. After, maybe head deeper into Granada’s Moorish Albaicin quarter and check out some of the traditional tea houses. Tonight, maybe meet up again with the group for dinner.

Leave Granada behind and travel by train and private transport to the Andalucian hills and the whitewashed town of Ronda. A landscape of green forests and white limestone mountains, Ronda is the birthplace of bullfighting in Spain and was a favourite of Hemmingway and Orson Welles. The highlight of the town is the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) – one of the most photographed structures in the country. Built in 1751, it bridges the 100-m-deep gorge that splits the town in two. You can walk across it, stopping to peer over a drop from one of its balconies. Check out the old Moorish town on one side, home to many historic buildings including the House of the Moorish King, and the newer El Mercadillo on the other side. East of the town are well-preserved Arab Baths and, of course, the famous Plaza de Toros. Tonight, maybe watch the sunset over the city.

Walk through Los Molinos – Ronda’s surrounding valley. You can head down into El Tajo, the gorge that separates the old and new town, and get a view of the bridge and town from below. The rest of the day is free to explore town. The Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest bullfighting rings in the country, and adjoining the bullring is the Bullfighting Museum. The gardens behind offer panoramic views over the surrounding mountains, which have a long history of sheltering bandits and smugglers. Visit the Museum of Bandits for an entertaining insight into their history or check out the prize-winning wineries and beautiful national parks that surround the town.

Today you'll travel south-west to Tarifa along the coastline. This western Andalusian coast faces the Mediterranean and North Africa. Your base for the next two nights is a laid-back beach town with spectacular rocky scenery, a sea fortress and a lighthouse. The afternoon is free to relax. Maybe catch a bus to the 10-km-long sands of Playa de Los Lances – a haven for kite surfers – or hole up at a beach bar on Playa de Valde Vaqueros. You could also just wander along the promenade under the old castle, past restaurants boasting fresh seafood. The surfers lend the Old Town a laid-back, international vibe, along with hints North Africa, which lies just across the water. In the evening, why not grab some dinner in town and join in Tarifa's vibrant nightlife.

Choose from plenty of optional activities today. Perhaps head out on a whale and dolphin watching expedition on the Iberian Peninsula or take a daytrip to the town of Tangier in Morocco, just 45 minutes away by ferry! The city's medina and kasbah are well worth exploring, as are the cafes and patisseries around the Place de la France in the Ville Nouvelle. You can unwind and take in the charms of the city on the recently reconstructed beach promenade or take a day tour across the border to the British territory of Gibraltar – home to the famous Rock of Gibraltar. Here you can take a cable car up to the rock’s peak, explore the caves, visit a Moorish castle and wander the main street, discovering the interesting blend of old British life and Spanish flavours.

Travel to the vibrant city of Seville – famous for its oranges, tapas and flamenco – all three of which are ingrained in the fabric of the city and its proud people. As the rest of the day is free for you to explore. Barrio Santa Cruz, with its multicultural history, is a great place to start – this shaded warren was designed in medieval times to provide refuge from the great Andalusian heat. Maybe spend your evening San Jacinto, the bustling main street of the Triana quarter, and discover the interesting food on offer. As Seville is the tapas capital of Spain, be sure to sample some of the tasty bites in one of the city's many tapas bars.

Today is a free day to discover Seville, but checking out the world's largest Gothic cathedral is a must. You can also the climb the cathedral's adjoining Moorish tower, known as La Giralda. While you may have to line up, it's worth it for the views over the city. Visit the magnificent Alcazar –, a complex of palaces used by Moorish and Christian rulers, which again gained international fame as a shooting location for Game of Thrones. Wander through the fragrant gardens and examine the Moorish and Mudejar architecture. Maybe explore Seville's Museum of Fine Arts or the Archaeological Museum. In the evening, catch a local flamenco performance with the group – charged with emotion and drama, this powerful, fiery show is a real highlight.

Continue to Cordoba by train. Discover the mesh of Muslim, Jewish and Christian cultures in the architecture and cuisine of this southern city. Visit the famous Mezquita, with its golden arches and intricate columns – once the third largest mosque in the world and one of the most beautiful. It was consecrated into a Roman Catholic cathedral in the 13th century when the Christians reconquered Cordoba. Time permitting, you might stroll through a labyrinth of cobbled laneways in the Old Quarter, discovering open squares and cafes. The evening is free to sample more delicious Spanish cuisine. Salmorejo (a cold soup made of tomatoes, bread and olive oil served with chopped up boiled egg and cured ham) is a specialty of Cordoba, as is rabo de toro (oxtail soup). There are also plenty of good-value eateries in the Juderia (Jewish Quarter).

Take a train and head east to the coastal town of Valencia. Known for being the Spanish gateway to the Mediterranean, Valencia has a large port, beautiful beaches, restaurants and a beach promenade along the waterfront. The Old Town is set back from the seafront and in the centre, you will find beautiful monuments and historical buildings. Busy markets, clean beaches, rolling hills and a fascinating mix of old town and new town makes up the best of Valencia. Over the next couple of days, you have a lot of free time to wander around the city and see the sights. This evening perhaps head out to bar-hop and eat tapas in the Ciutat Vella (old town).

Hop on a bike today and pedal along Turia Park all the way to the city of Art and Science. This activity is done at a leisurely pace and you don’t need to be an expert to participate. After cycling, why not visit the 13th-century cathedral, which houses what's claimed to be the Holy Grail, and climb the 207 steps of the Miguelete tower for the best views of the city. Maybe head over to the Museo de Bellas Artes, home to Spain's second-biggest art collection. There are also many parks and gardens, or the beach of Playa de la Malvarrosa to soak up some sun. For the paella that Valencia is famous for, head to the restaurant area of Las Arenas for a hearty and reasonably priced lunch. Tonight, maybe head south to Ruzafa, one of the city’s coolest areas, popular with locals.

Take the train up the coast to Barcelona today – full of character and delicious Catalan cuisine, this city is known for its art scene, Gothic architecture and non-stop nightlife. This afternoon, you’re free to epxlore at your own pace Wander the labyrinthine streets of the old Gothic Quarter and stroll along La Rambla, Barcelona's famous tree-lined boulevard. Maybe grab a fresh juice at the colourful La Boqueria market or visit the Picasso Museum, the National Art Museum of Catalonia or the Museum of City History. It’s also worth taking the funicular to the top of Montjuic or Tibidabo for panoramic views of the city and harbour. The heart of Catalonia prides itself as a gastronomic centre, so tonight maybe head out for a tapas crawl and try some rustic Catalan dishes in the neighbourhood of El Born.

Join your leader on an orientation walk around Barcelona today. See some of the city's main sights, including Antonio Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. The architect worked on this hugely ambitious project for decades until his death, and it remains in constant construction. Along with the Camp Nou football stadium, it is possibly the city's most iconic landmark. Gaudi was the master of the unique Catalan Modernista architecture and his work is dotted all over the city. Perhaps check out the Neo-Gothic mansion of Guell Palace or the wave-inspired structure of Casa Batlo. For more insight into the artist himself, head to the Gaudi House Museum inside Parc Guell, home to more colourful sculptures, including a long mosaic-covered bench overlooking the city. Tonight, bid your new friends farewell, maybe with a sip of red wine from a porro (a traditional glass pitcher).