The Soul of Spain. Madrid to Seville.

Meet the group at the airport and board our flight to Spain. 

Upon our arrival in Madrid we will transfer to the hotel the Hotel Corteza  where we will be staying for 3 nights and breakfast is included each morning

Throughout the tour we will be staying in twin rooms but there is an option to have a room to yourself for the trip. If you wish to have a room to yourself for the 7 nights the supplement will be £275 for a double room in both hotels.  The supplement will be payable at the same time as the balance.      

Situated 300 metres from Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor Square, Hotel Cortezo has a rooftop terrace overlooking the city. This chic hotel offers a 24-hour reception and free Wi-Fi.

Rooms at Hotel Cortezo have simple, elegant décor, with hardwood floors. All rooms include air conditioning and flat-screen TVs.

The Hotel Cortezo serves a varied American-style buffet breakfast including a gluten-free corner, and there is an on-site café and bar. There are also many typical tapas bars within a 5-minute walk, in the popular Plaza Santa Ana Square and La Latina district.

The museums of Madrid’s Art Triangle are all less than 15 minutes’ walk from Hotel Cortezo. 

The Travel Buddies trips work on the basis that as long as you are having a good time then that is what matters, if you don’t feel like coming on one of the excursions or joining the rest of the group for dinner one evening then that is absolutely fine. This is an adventure for everyone and there is nothing worse than having to go somewhere/do something that you don’t really fancy!

Feel free to do as much or as little research as you like, some members will know what they would like to visit as soon as they book the trip, Others will just turn up at the airport and have not researched at all. Either is absolutely fine. We all have different ideas as to what constitutes a great time away! 

After checking in, let’s start exploring La Latina, one of the most traditional districts in Madrid. 

The streets of this neighborhood reflect the traditional style of Madrid. It is very popular with Madrid residents due to its numerous bars, pubs and traditional taverns, full of charm in streets such as Cava Baja, Cava Alta or the Plaza de la Cebada and Plaza de la Paja squares. Even though it is busy any time of year, evenings and weekends are when the district is busiest. Every Sunday, the surrounding streets host the famous Rastro De Madrid, a popular outdoor street market.

This is the most popular open-air market in Madrid and one of the oldest since its origins date back to the 15th century. Located in the area around Ribera de Curtidores street, it is an unmissable event for Sundays

It’s also the best place to enjoy Tapas.

Today we immerse ourselves in the cultural element of Madrid and embark on a guided walking tour featuring skip-the-line tickets to the Royal Palace, one of Europe’s most breathtaking royal residences, and the stunning galleries of the Prado Art Museum – the cultural jewel of Spain. 

We’ll be accompanied by an insightful local guide who will decode the city’s lesser-known stories and hidden secrets every step of the way.

Free time to explore the city as we choose this afternoon 

Today is a free day to explore as we choose, 

Some options for consideration are as follows….. 

El Retiro Park: Walk to Madrid’s beautiful UNESCO-listed park. Visit the striking glass-and-iron Crystal Palace (Palacio de Cristal) Small rowboats are available to rent  for a relaxing time on the water. 

Reina Sofía Museum: If you love modern art, spend your late afternoon here. It is home to legendary 20th-century masterpieces, most notably Pablo Picasso’s anti-war masterpiece, 

Gran Vía: Walk up Madrid’s most famous grand avenue,  known for its spectacular early 20th-century architecture, towering buildings, and bustling shopping choices.

This evening we dive into Madrid’s culinary scene on a 3 hour Tapas Tour, 

See the city through the eyes of a local and sample authentic dishes at a range of popular bars, with a drink in each one. Treat your palate to Spanish wines, sherries, and more, complemented by things like Iberian ham, salted cod, and chickpea stew.

This morning after breakfast we will take the train to our next destination. It takes around 2 hours 30 minutes to reach Seville where we will be staying for 4 nights. 

Upon arrival we will check into our hotel the Nua Santiago 15, nüa santiago 15 in Seville is in a central location just a short walk from many attractions. Breakfast is included each morning. The hotel has a sun terrace and free wifi. It is built in the typical Andalusian style. 

After some time to settle in and relax we will go for dinner locally and then  enjoy a traditional Flamenco show at the Museo del Baile. The performance features the Cristina Hoyos Ballet, including three dancers, two singers, and a guitarist. Learn about local culture during this one-hour show, set in a charming 18th-century building.

After a leisurely breakfast  it’s off to explore the Alcazar…..The Alcázar of Seville is a stunning, UNESCO-listed palace complex famous for its breathtaking Mudéjar architecture, which beautifully blends Islamic and Christian design. Originally built as a Moorish fort in the 10th century, it is famously the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. 

We have as much time as we like to spend here. There is a coffee shop to relax in as we go,  where we can enjoy relaxing in the beautiful peacock filled gardens. 

This afternoon is free to wander as we please. Seville is a very walkable city and our hotel is in a wonderfully central position. 

Dinner locally

Today we hop on board one of the bright red buses to see the best of Seville – the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. With 14 bus stops around this historical masterpiece of a city, you will see so much from prestigious Islamic monuments, to gardens and Flamenco festivals. Sit back and enjoy the panoramic view from the open top bus and hop on and off at your convenience! 

Included in our tickets are 2 free walking tours to find out even more about Seville: 1) discover Plaza de España and Maria Luisa Park. 2)  The Jewish quarter, Santa Cruz.. 

Lets hop on and off as we please!

Dinner locally 

Today we have a full day to spend as we please. Some great options if we wish to head outside of Seville are as follows.

Take a day trip to Ronda: Take a bus or organized tour (roughly 2 hours each way) to the dramatic cliffside town of Ronda. Walk across the spectacular Puente Nuevo, an 18th-century stone bridge spanning a dizzying 400-foot gorge. 

Take a day trip to Córdoba. Take a 45-minute ride on the high-speed AVE train to Córdoba. Spend the day exploring the cobbled streets and explore the magnificent Mezquita-Cathedral, a mesmerizing UNESCO world heritage site featuring over 800 red-and-white stone arches and a Renaissance cathedral built directly in the center of an ancient mosque. 

This morning after a leisurely breakfast and checking out we will take our private transfer to the airport for your flight home.