Self-drive in Spain: Madrid and Andalusia

DAY 1: Madrid
Arrival in Madrid and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 3 nights, with breakfast. Rooms are available after 16:00.

Walking tour with a local guide through the historic center of the city for about 4 hours, with tasting of typical Spanish tapas and wines. The tour begins at the hotel and passes through the Plaza de España and the Morería neighborhood, enjoying the city's medieval origins. Passage through the Royal Palace of Madrid, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa. You can also see the Cibeles, the Puerta de Alcalá and the Gran Vía, then enter through the alleys of the historic center for a wine tasting and typical tapas. Return to the hotel.


DAY 2: Madrid
After breakfast at the hotel, pick up the car at a rental office in the city center.

The suggested activity for the day is to drive about 90 km to Segovia, one of the most impressive cities in the Madrid region. The visit to Segovia focuses on walking through the historic center of the city, with the Plaza Mayor, where the Cathedral of Segovia is located; the old Jewish Quarter; the Plaza del Socorro, with the San Andrés gate, one of the remains of the old medieval wall.

This city, with thousands of years of history, has the Roman aqueduct as one of the best examples of Roman architecture in the world. At the top of the city is the Alcázar de Segovia, a castle reminiscent of Disney movies.

In the afternoon, drive 64 km to the walled city of Avila. The enormous 14 km wall that surrounds the city is one of the best preserved in the world. A true jewel, not very well known outside of Spain, but one of the most impressive places in the country.

Inside the wall are the Cathedral, the Plaza del Mercado Chico, the Plaza del Mercado Grande, the Puerta del Alcázar, and the church and convent of Santa Teresa.

Drive back to Madrid at the end of the day.


DAY 3: Madrid
After breakfast at the hotel, drive about 72 km to Toledo. The city of three cultures, where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived together, is one of the most beautiful and visited in Spain. Recommended itinerary around the city:

Park your car and enter Toledo through the Puerta de Bisagra, following the walk along the road that surrounds the wall. Then continue down the alley that leads to the entrance to the city in Muslim times, the Puerta del Cristo de la Luz. To go directly to Zocodover Square, you must choose the street that passes through the Puerta del Sol to visit the old Cristo de la Luz mosque, originally built in the 10th century. The Plaza de Zocodover is the current social center of the city, but above all, it is there that the large building of the Toledo Cathedral is located. Due to its dimensions, it is the second Gothic cathedral in Spain, after the cathedral of Seville. In the church of Santo Tomé is the famous painting El Entierro by El Greco's Count of Orgaz. To conclude your visit to Toledo, drive along the road that encircles the city following the course of the Tagus. Stop at the Parador Conde de Orgaz air restaurant for coffee or lunch. From its terrace you have a panoramic view of Toledo.

From Toledo, drive about 46 km to Aranjuez. Historic summer residence of the kings of Spain, it is possible to take a guided tour (advance booking required) of the Royal Palace and its famous gardens, which stretch along the plain of the Tagus River and declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Drive 23 km to Chinchón, a beautiful city near Madrid, known for the Plaza Mayor, with arcades.

Return to Madrid in the late afternoon.


DAY 4: Madrid - Granada
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Drive towards Andalusia, covering 420 km to Granada, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the most important Muslim city in Al-Andalus.

Check-in at the hotel for accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

In the afternoon, visit the Alhambra in Granada, palace and fortress of the Moorish monarchs of Granada, with audio guide.

Return to the hotel walking through the Arab neighborhood of Albaicín. In the middle, in the valley through which the Darro River flows, are the Paseo de los Tristes, Plaza Nueva, and Avenida de Reyes Catolicos. In this area of the city, where the Granada Cathedral and Plaza del Carmen are located, the city hall is located. Opportunity to dine in this area.


DAY 5: Granada
Breakfast at the hotel. The day can be used to stroll around the historic center, visit the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel. Then, visit the Roma neighborhood of Sacromonte, famous for its cave houses. In these caves are the small “tablaos”, where you can enjoy the flamenco dance known as zambra, whose origins go back to Moorish wedding rituals in the 16th century.

Returning to the Paseo de los Tristes area, an experience of Arab baths at Hammam Al Ándalus. It is a charming establishment that, with a welcoming Arabian atmosphere and Nasrid style decor, allows the visitor to relax thanks to the combination of hot and cold baths, plus a massage (included).

Free afternoon for independent activities.

In the evening, a very special dinner with a flamenco show in the famous Sacromonte caves.


DAY 6: Granada - CAMINITO DEL REY - RONDA - MONTECORTO Breakfast at the
hotel and check-out. Continuation of the trip to two of the most beautiful and little-known places in Andalusia: Caminito del Rey and Ronda.

Driving for about 140 km to Caminito del Rey and, in the company of a local park guide, hiking the trails mounted on the walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, in the province of Málaga, a truly impressive experience. The 7 km course is completely safe.

It is recommended to take advantage of this stop to eat something before continuing the journey of about 1 hour to Ronda.

In Ronda, you can start your visit at Alameda del Tajo, a beautiful park that leads to viewpoints of the Serra de Ronda and the Hoya del Tajo, an impressive landscape. Continue to the bullring, said to be the oldest in Spain, going to the New Bridge. From Plaza María Auxiliadora there is a path that descends to a point from where you can see the Puente Nuevo from the front, one of the most typical photos of Ronda.

In the city is one of Ronda's most emblematic tapas bars, “El Lechuguita”, where you can try Rondeña craft beer, made in the city center, or some of the region's wines.

In the afternoon, drive 23 km to Montecorto for accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

In the evening, it includes a gastronomic experience at the hotel restaurant, with tasting of typical local dishes with organic products from the farm and local producers, including wines.


DAY 7: PUEBLOS BLANCOS DE ANDALUCIA - MONTECORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. The suggestion for this day is a walk along the roads and plateaus that lead through some of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia, known as “white villages”. They are named after the characteristic shade of their lime-painted facades, a way used to protect themselves from heat.

Leaving the hotel towards Setenil de las Bodegas (the first city), the suggested route is:

Torre Alháquime - Olvera - El Gastor - Algodonais - Zahara de la Sierra - Puerto Serrano - Villamartin - Bornos - Wait - Arcos de la Frontera - Prado del Rey - El Bosque - Ubrique - Benáocaz - Villalluenga del Rosario - Grazalema - Montecorto.

The “Pueblos Blancos” route covers about 200 km, with an estimated time of about 4 hours of continuous driving. The ideal is to do this entire route on the same day to have an overview of landscapes and cities and stop at those that arouse curiosity.

On the way back to Montecorto, free time and dinner included.


DAY 8: MONTECORTO - SEVILLE
After breakfast and before check-out, an opportunity to tour the hotel property, visit the medicinal garden, the farm and see how typical Andalusian horses are trained.

Late in the morning, departure for Seville (108 km). Arriving in the capital of Andalusia, check in at the hotel in the city center, leaving the car in the hotel parking lot. Accommodation in Seville for 2 nights, with breakfast.

Free time for lunch and taking a “siesta”, like a true Andalusian.

Around 16:00, meet with the local guide to explore the city, starting with the Santa Cruz neighborhood. The Seville Cathedral and the old Giralda minaret and the Mudéjar-style palace complex Alcáceres Reais de Sevilla are monuments seen on the walk. Continue through the old medieval Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz, with its narrow, whitewashed streets decorated with flowers.

In the late afternoon, visit the Triana neighborhood on the other side of the river, where flamenco singing was born spontaneously. There are numerous bars there and it is also where you can enjoy the best cuisine in Seville. The tour ends with a tasting of regional tapas and wines at 3 different locations, considered to be the best in the city.


DAY 9: SEVILLE - CORDOBA - SEVILLE
After a typical Andalusian breakfast, the suggestion is to drive about 140 km for a visit to Córdoba.

To visit for a day, the suggestion is to visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built between the 8th and 18th centuries, the mosque-cathedral has a great mix of styles.

Another suggested place is Calleja de las Flores, leading to the Plaza de la Corredera, where there are several bars and restaurants.

In the afternoon, depending on the time of return to Seville, it is possible to take a last tour of the city or a cruise on the Guadalquivir River during sunset.


DAY 10: SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel. Car delivery at the rental office at Seville airport.