Madrid & Andalucia Journey Self-Drive

Arrive at Madrid airport, collect your car and drive to your hotel. The Spanish capital is one of Europe’s most vibrant and elegant cities, featuring grand boulevards, expansive parks, lively plazas, and numerous historic churches and palaces. Madrid is also renowned for its ‘golden triangle’ of art galleries, home to some of the world’s most treasured masterpieces. Overnight in Madrid.

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we explore Madrid’s key sights by car, driving along iconic routes such as the Paseo de la Castellana, Plaza de Los Cibeles, and Gran Vía. We visit the Royal Palace, Europe’s largest, with over 3,000 rooms showcasing a diverse mix of interiors—from Victorian clutter to exotic oriental styles. The palace walls are adorned with masterpieces by Caravaggio, Velázquez and Goya, while period furniture adds to the grandeur. Its restrained baroque and neoclassical exterior faces Almudena Cathedral and overlooks the Campo del Moro gardens. Later, we visit the Reina Sofía Museum, home to one of the world’s finest modern art collections. Here, you can admire works by Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, Juan Gris and Pablo Picasso, including the powerful Guernica, displayed alongside contextual exhibitions. We stay overnight in Madrid.

After breakfast, we drive to Córdoba in Andalusia and check into your hotel on arrival. Once the capital of the Moorish Caliphate of Al-Andalus, Córdoba’s rich history is best seen in the stunning Great Mosque, now serving as the city’s Catholic cathedral. Overnight in Córdoba.

After breakfast, spend the morning exploring Cordoba’s remarkable Great Mosque–Cathedral. Wander through the colonnaded prayer halls, where hundreds of marble columns support distinctive two-tone arches. Admire the intricately decorated mihrab and the side chapels, which blend arabesque and baroque styles. Take a peaceful stroll through the Patio of the Orange Trees, shaded by around 100 trees and adorned with elegant arabesque doorways. Explore the old town’s charming whitewashed patios and narrow alleys filled with plants and flowers as you make your way to the former Jewish Quarter, including a visit to the historic synagogue. Later, continue your journey to Granada and check in at your hotel for the night.

After breakfast, explore Granada’s highlight—the Alhambra palace, the former seat of the last Moorish emirs in Spain. Perched atop Sabika Hill, this remarkable fortress and palace complex grew in prominence during the Nasrid dynasty, transforming from a castle into the exquisite palace you see today. Cross the lush ravine of the River Darro to visit the Albaicin quarter, a Moorish-era neighbourhood characterised by narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses. Wander its winding alleys and ascend to viewpoints offering stunning panoramas of the Alhambra set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Later, continue your journey to Seville and check in at your hotel.

After breakfast, explore Seville’s highlights, including the Royal Alcazar palace and the cathedral—both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Wander through Barrio Santa Cruz, the city’s charming old quarter and former Jewish neighbourhood, with its maze of whitewashed streets, archways, and patios, each steeped in history. The Royal Alcazar dates back to the 10th century as a Moorish caliph’s palace and has since evolved with stunning halls, pavilions, patios, and gardens showcasing Moorish, Mudejar, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. Visit the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea, notable for its Giralda belfry, Seville’s iconic landmark. You can also enjoy the peaceful Maria Luisa Park, home to Plaza de España—with its decorative tiles, redbrick towers, bridges, and canals—and Plaza de América, surrounded by impressive neo-Gothic and neo-Mudejar buildings. Overnight in Seville.

After breakfast in Seville, you will drive to Madrid airport to return your car and board your flight home. This marks the end of your journey.