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Best of Spain in 14 Days Tour
From Gaudí and El Greco to tapas and flamenco, this tour captures the energetic diversity of Spain. Beginning in beautiful Barcelona and ending in sensual Sevilla, your Rick Steves guide will treat you to a sumptuous, two-week cultural buffet — with rich helpings of Catalunya's Gaudí, Toledo's El Greco, masterpieces of Madrid's Prado, and the Moorish and royal treasures of Granada and Sevilla. You'll also experience the delights of whitewashed Andalusian hill towns, prancing horses, tasty tapas, and fine sherry. Join us for the Best of Spain in 14 Days!
Dates & Prices
2025
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- Mar 22–Apr 4 (Sa–Fr)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Mar 24–Apr 6 (Mo–Su)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Mar 29–Apr 11 (Sa–Fr)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Apr 12–Apr 25 (Sa–Fr)
- $4,995 + Air
Opportunity to spend Easter in Spain!
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- Apr 19–May 2 (Sa–Fr)
- $4,995 + Air
Opportunity to spend Easter in Spain!
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- Apr 21–May 4 (Mo–Su)
- $4,995 + Air
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- Apr 26–May 9 (Sa–Fr)
- $4,995 + Air
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- Apr 28–May 11 (Mo–Su)
- $4,995 + Air
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- May 5–May 18 (Mo–Su)
- $5,195 + Air
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- May 17–May 30 (Sa–Fr)
- $5,195 + Air
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- May 24–Jun 6 (Sa–Fr)
- $5,195 + Air
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- Jun 2–Jun 15 (Mo–Su)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Jun 9–Jun 22 (Mo–Su)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Sep 1–Sep 14 (Mo–Su)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Sep 6–Sep 19 (Sa–Fr)
- $5,195 + Air
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- Sep 8–Sep 21 (Mo–Su)
- $5,195 + Air
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- Sep 15–Sep 28 (Mo–Su)
- $5,195 + Air
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- Sep 27–Oct 10 (Sa–Fr)
- $5,195 + Air
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- Sep 29–Oct 12 (Mo–Su)
- $5,195 + Air
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- Oct 11–Oct 24 (Sa–Fr)
- $4,995 + Air
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- Oct 20–Nov 2 (Mo–Su)
- $4,995 + Air
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- Oct 27–Nov 9 (Mo–Su)
- $4,995 + Air
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- Mar 31–Apr 13 (Mo–Su)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Apr 5–Apr 18 (Sa–Fr)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Apr 7–Apr 20 (Mo–Su)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Apr 14–Apr 27 (Mo–Su)
- $4,995 + Air
Opportunity to spend Easter in Spain!
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- May 10–May 23 (Sa–Fr)
- $5,195 + Air
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- May 12–May 25 (Mo–Su)
- $5,195 + Air
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- May 19–Jun 1 (Mo–Su)
- $5,195 + Air
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- May 26–Jun 8 (Mo–Su)
- $4,795 + Air
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- Sep 22–Oct 5 (Mo–Su)
- $5,195 + Air
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- Oct 6–Oct 19 (Mo–Su)
- $4,995 + Air
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- Oct 13–Oct 26 (Mo–Su)
- $4,995 + Air
What's Included
You'll get at least 23 group sightseeing events — at no extra cost!
Here's what you'll see and do on our 2025 Best of Spain tour:
- Barcelona walking tour
- Sagrada Família
- Prado Museum
- Royal Palace
- Madrid walking tour
- Segovia day trip
- Segovia walking tour
- Toledo walking tour
- Santo Tomé Chapel (El Greco's Burial of the Count of Orgaz)
- Toledo Cathedral
- Tránsito Synagogue
- Consuegra windmills
- Alhambra palace (when available)
- Ronda bullring
- Bull and horse farm
- Olive oil tasting
- Cádiz walking tour
- Sherry tasting
- Sevilla walking tour
- Sevilla Cathedral
- Sevilla Alcázar (when available)
- Sevilla carriage ride (weather permitting)
- Flamenco performance
Plus you'll get all this, too.
- A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
- Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Spain come alive for you
- All group transportation from Barcelona to Sevilla
- 13 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels
- All breakfasts and 7 other meals
- All tips for guides and driver
- A tour kit including a guidebook and a moneybelt
- Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
- Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken with us
- Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour
Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.
Group sightseeing events subject to change.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Spain
We'll gather at our Barcelona hotel at 5 p.m. for a "Welcome to Spain" get-together. Then we'll join the locals in their nightly ritual and head out for an orientation paseo (stroll) through our neighborhood. We'll finish by getting acquainted over a tapas-style dinner together.
Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. No bus. Sleep in Barcelona.
Day 2: Lively, Artistic Barcelona
Today we'll explore Barcelona's stylish and modern Eixample neighborhood, home to many of Gaudí and his contemporaries' elegant homes. Then we'll make our way to his towering, dizzying Sagrada Família. Afterward you'll be free to experience more of this magnificent city on your own, from the Picasso Museum to Gaudí's playful Park Güell.
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Barcelona.
Day 3: Masterpieces of Madrid
All aboard! After breakfast we'll take one of Europe's speediest trains (the AVE) to Madrid. We'll tour one of Europe's premier art museums — the masterpiece-packed Prado — where you'll see paintings by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, and others. Later we'll stroll the lively streets of our neighborhood and enjoy dinner together.
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Train: 3 hours. Bus: 2 hours. Sleep in Madrid.
Day 4: Madrid and the Royal Palace
This morning we'll meet our local guide for a tour through the sumptuously decorated Royal Palace. With 2,000 rooms, acres of luxurious tapestries, and a king's ransom of chandeliers, this is truly one of the great palaces of Europe. Our walking tour will continue through Madrid's bustling Puerta del Sol to its elegant Plaza Mayor. Your afternoon and evening are free to explore Madrid's wealth of museums, stroll through the majestic Retiro Gardens (Madrid's most popular park), and maybe even catch a performance of zarzuela, Spain's delightfully light opera.
Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. No bus. Sleep in Madrid.
Day 5: Day Trip to Segovia
We'll venture out of the city by bus to the history-rich town of Segovia and its beautifully preserved Roman aqueduct. After a walking tour of the aqueduct and town, you'll have free time to wander and visit Segovia's medieval Alcázar fortress. We'll regroup this afternoon for lunch to savor a Segovian specialty together — roast suckling pig. Then we'll return to Madrid in time for you to enjoy dinner on your own.
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 3 hours. Sleep in Madrid.
Day 6: Historic Toledo
It's a short bus ride to Spain's old capital city of Toledo (and back in time about 500 years). We'll take a morning walking tour that includes Toledo's magnificent cathedral, the medieval Tránsito Synagogue, and El Greco's Burial of the Count of Orgaz at the Santo Tomé Chapel. This afternoon and evening, you'll have plenty of free time to enjoy the winding streets and varied sights.
Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Bus: 1 hour. Sleep in Toledo.
Day 7: La Mancha and Granada
This morning we'll drive through windswept "Don Quixote country," stopping to sniff the saffron and admire a whitewashed windmill or two. After taking a break for lunch at a traditional Venta, one of Andalucia's humble roadside eateries, we'll make our way to Granada, where we'll begin with a neighborhood orientation before heading up the Albayzín hill for dinner together and enjoy a sunset view of the Alhambra.
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Granada.
Day 8: Moorish Treasures of Granada
Today you'll learn about Spain's Islamic legacy with a visit to the sprawling palace and garden complex of the Alhambra (when available). This last and greatest of Europe's Moorish palaces will awe you with its grace and artistry. You'll also have free time to make your own discoveries along the colorful streets and alleyways of Granada's Old Town.
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Granada.
Day 9: Ronda
Today's destination is the hill town of Ronda, home to Spain's oldest bullring and its most breathtaking gorge. This afternoon, we'll visit the 5,000-seat bullring built in 1785 before setting you free for the rest of the day. There's plenty to explore including Ronda's Moorish and Mercadillo Quarters, linked together by the famous gravity-defying stone bridge, beautiful balconies, wispy gardens, and panoramic views.
Light to strenuous walking (your choice). Bus: 3 hours. Sleep near Ronda.
Day 10: Spain's Pueblos Blancos
Today we'll wind our way between the olive groves and whitewashed villages of Spain's pueblos blancos. We'll head into the countryside to visit a bull and horse farm and learn about Spain's most controversial pastime. Then we'll tour an olive oil mill, where we'll discover the traditional methods of producing this extra-virgin export. After a rustic lunch together, we'll press on to the jewel of southwest Spain, coastal Cádiz.
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 2 hours. Sleep in Cádiz.
Day 11: Old Town Cádiz
This morning we'll explore old town Cádiz, founded by the Phoenicians in the 10th century BC and one of the oldest cities in Western Europe. We'll join our local guide for a walking tour of the barrios and their centuries of narrow winding alleys and small squares, bordered by city walls and the sea. The rest of the day is yours to explore more of Cádiz's charming corners, take a walk along the seaside promenade, or soak in the sun at one of its many beaches.
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 2 hours. Sleep in Cádiz.
Day 12: Sevilla's Barrio Santa Cruz
This morning we'll drive directly to Sevilla, Spain's most flamboyant and atmospheric city. We'll begin our visit with a guided tour that takes us from the famous La Macarena (Weeping Virgin) statue to the world's largest Gothic cathedral. You'll have time to do more exploring on your own before we regroup tonight for a performance of sultry, swirling flamenco.
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 2 hours. Sleep in Sevilla.
Day 13: Sevilla's Royal Alcázar
Today we'll start with a tour of the beautifully Moorish-style Alcázar palace (when available), the Sevilla home of the Spanish royal family for the past 500 years. Afterward, you're free to walk in the footsteps of Carmen and Don Juan, linger in Sevilla's charming squares, or stroll along the romantic Guadalquivir River. This evening we'll share travel memories and toast new friends at our final dinner together, capped off with a carriage ride through the streets of Sevilla. Salud!
Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. No bus. Sleep in Sevilla.
Day 14: Tour Over After Breakfast
Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Sevilla's airport is a bus or taxi ride away, with easy connections throughout Europe. Alternatively, you can hop on an AVE train to Madrid to continue your Iberian adventures. Hasta luego!
Itinerary specifics subject to change.
Please note: We may not be able to visit the Alhambra as a group or guarantee admission due to their new restrictive ticketing policy.
Physical Demands
Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Best of Spain in 14 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…
- Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.
- Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to four hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
- Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
- After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.
- Travel on a bus without a toilet (rest stops every two hours).
- Eat group dinners as late as 9 p.m.
Reviews
David
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
Loved our guide, Helen. She was very helpful each day with the schedule and ideas for what to do with free time and with my son when he misplaced his passport. I loved the itinerary and the choice of hotels. The location of each one was amazing.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Sagrada Familia amazed me. I had no idea something like this was going on in the world. I liked so many of the things on the itinerary, however being in Spain with my youngest son who we hadn't seen in a year and who speaks fluent Spanish was a gift beyond measure. Loved it!"
Walter
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
The overall experience was great.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Being in the space where Queen Isabella granted Christopher Columbus wishes of a financial investment to seek a new way to the riches of the Far East. "
Deborah
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
It was very exciting and active which was to expected as it was designed to cover a lot of Spain. I appreciated almost all of the cities/towns/events that we participated in. Helen was absolutely kind, entertaining, and enlightening on a number of topics. The local guides were really wonderful too.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I loved hearing the local perspectives from the local guides. The Alhambra was absolutely amazing!"
Bonnie
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
It was a wonderful Tour, our guide Helen was outstanding and the local guides were very informative.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Probably walking into the Sagrada Familia- wow!"
Ratna
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
The group tour were nice people. All tour guide are good, they’ve explain the history of Spain well. The food and restaurant were excellent. I like our tour guide for this trip. She work hard, friendly and helpful.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My “wow” moment was when one of our friend lost his passport and cash when visiting museum. He reported to our guide, and she able to get the passport and cash very quickly. Excellent job to our guide."
Kathryn
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
The tour was very good, we had a great tour director, Helen and our group was wonderful. The one night stays and some long walks with luggage were not so good, but that was a trade off to be in a location of interest and also in the center of an old town with narrow streets. Providing all breakfasts was a great way to start each day and I appreciated the quality. I had a hard time adapting to the late lunches and dinners but eventually learned to make the afternoon meal big & evening lite.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Had to be the dinner in Grenada at Camilla De Los Thomas on the patio overlooking the Alhambra. Large round tables made it fun to see and chat with everyone, great food and lots of wine. Beautiful night. "
James
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
It was a good mix of urban and rural areas. Favorite locations were Barcelona, Granada, Sevilla and Ronda.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Our evening dinner in Granada overlooking the Alhambra."
Grant
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
Well balanced tour of the most interesting historic and fun cities and places in southern Spain
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The evolution of edifices dedicated to the Catholic Church into attractions serving tourists. "
Brian
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
The Best of Spain with Rick Steves Europe was our 5th RS trip and it was every bit as fantastic as the others! Our guide Helen was wonderful mixing humor, a deep knowledge of Spain, and a steady hand in keeping the group on schedule and having fun. In addition to the beautiful locations, our accommodations were wonderful from the nice hotels in Barcelona and Sevilla to the garden hotel near Ronda and the breathtaking view in Arcos. We had great travelling companions and an awesome trip!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra in Grenada has to be my "wow" moment! Both the view of the Alhambra at sunset from the terrace where the group had dinner and the ornate palace itself were breathtaking!"
Dwayne
Tour: 09/30/24
Overall rating:
Great itinerary and leadership by our guide, Helen.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. We visited 24 years ago and wondered if it would ever be a church. Today it is jaw dropping beauty, with the stained glass and lines of construction. An inspiring house of worship."
Andrew
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
The trip was fabulous, loke all of our other RS Tours.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Guernica, Paco Seco playing guitar for us in Ronda, Toledo"
Mark
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
This was our third tour, and once again it lived up to expectations. The organization, amount of breaks and provided meals was great. The hotel locations were perfect.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Having dinner with a view of the le Alhambra in Granada - Wow. Seeing the La Sagrada Familia and the Seville Cathedral. "
Karen
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
Amazing tour guide. Luis did everything he could to make the trip enjoyable for everyone!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Dinner with the sunset view of the Alhambra. Food was excellent and the view was fantastic. "
Robert
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
Went to great places and tasted wonderful food.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada familia in Barcelona "
Kathy
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
Our tour guide Luis was one of the best tour guides we have ever had and this is our 8 tour! We have had several amazing tour guides but none that worked as hard to make us feel like we are all part of a big RS family. He was extremely organized yet kept everyday fun, entertaining and educational. He is everything you want in a tour guide. We loved all of the old quaint towns; where you can stay the night and be with the locals!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"While in Ronda our tour guide organized a local Spanish Guitar musician to come and play for us a private concert. He was amazing as was the concert! We were all floored by his generosity and talent!"
Katherine
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
Great tour and great group of people! Love the contact with local people and the authentic experience.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Having dinner on the terrace in Granada - overlooking the Alhambra at sunset! It was that moment of "we're in Spain"!"
Christopher
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
Great 2 wk Spain tour w Luis, really got the spirit and connections with different regions, cultures, people, food, local guides were fantastic, really felt the passion and compassion of her faith, local religious processions. Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, Arcos de la Frontera, all wonderful. Really enjoyed the visit to the Andalusian horses, and surprisingly, enjoyed the bull ring and farm, appreciate more the mixed feelings about bullfighting in Spain and other countries.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I encountered a wonderful woman, Pilar Rodriguez, singing next to the royal chapel, great connection, conversing with her, sharing stories, in Granada. Dinner looking at, then next day, visiting the Alhambra, was amazing! "
Mark
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
Our guide, Luis, was excellent. We learned so much about the history, culture, and food of Spain. We had a fantastic group of travelers.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Seeing the Sagrada Famila in Barcelona and eating dinner while looking across the valley at the Alhambra in Granada. "
Peter
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
We had high expectations for this tour and we were not disappointed. Everything went smoothly, we met wonderful people, learned about Spanish culture, history, and cuisine. Our tour guide Luis was amazing. Fantastic tour.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Too many wow moments. The Alhambra was incredible."
Linda
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
I had a wonderful time learning about Spain's history and culture.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Viewing the Alhambra at sunset from the restaurant view "
Kathleen
Tour: 09/28/24
Overall rating:
We saw so many places in Spain and learned so much about Spains history and culture.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Dinner over looking the Alhambra "
Dave
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
Great, compatible good people in group, great guide
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Touring Sagrada Familia "
Nora
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
Exceptional! Our guide Adriana was amazing. Each day we became family and the best merry band of travelers. Our tour experience exceeded our expectations. We were disappointed not getting in to La Familia Sagrada. Local guides were excellent with our favorite being Blanca in Madrid. Blanca made our visit to the palace memorable. Our lunch in Segovia was fun and we were treated well. The time Adriana took to host all of us was appreciated . All our hotels were great as our dinners together.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Our sunset view of the Alhambra and dinner in Granada. Most memorable. Wow#1 Our amazing Adriana chased down a choo choo for our trip up the hill. wow #2 was lunch overlooking the gorge in Ronda and our private flamenco guitar show. and our private concerts. Each day had a wow! Sherry, horses our hotel on a cliff in Arcos de La Frontera. Dinner in Sevilla after our horse carriage . The Windmills our lunch at the olive mill. "
Kathryn
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
Though we were not able to tour Sagrada Familia as a group, the trip was enlightening and opened my thinking about the world.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Alhambra without a doubt"
Harry
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
We were with a great group of people and the locals that we met were very welcoming.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The windmills in La Mancha were like from out of a story."
Carol
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
The tour was absolutely fabulous! Adriana is exceptional in every possible way. She makes certain that all tour members' needs are met and she provided expert guidance on all phases of the tour. She is truly a special person who is very professional and also very caring. She treated all of us as if we were part of her family and her enthusiasm was contagious. She handled any little bump in the road superbly and made the experience life altering. The local guides were very good as well.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Having group dinner overlooking the Alhambra. Such a wonderful setting with great food, spectacular scenery, a very caring tour guide and great members of our touring party. We will remember that night forever."
Janet
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
Just about everything I want from a tour is realized by taking a Rick Steves tour. I love that we stay in smaller, locally owned hotels and eat in the locally owned restaurants. The tour of Spain took us to every place of interest I could think of. And of course we went to the less traveled spots that enhanced the trip. I felt as if the people at the hotels were genuinely happy to see us. To me that speaks to the overall attitude of a Rick Steve’s tour.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"One Two of the many wow moments for me were seeing the Roman aqueduct in Segovia and the cathedral in Toledo. I have to add the Prada in Madrid. These places have a special place in my memories. "
Kathryn
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
Our tour guide, Adriana, was excellent and made sure we all had a wonderful experience. I had not been to Spain before and now feel that I have had an excellent introduction to the country and its culture.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were two and they are somewhat similar - seeing the Alhambra lighted at night from the terrace where the group had dinner in Granada, and touring the Alcázar in Seville. Both were amazing and memorable!"
Karen
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
Awesome!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My wow moment was seeing Sagrada Familia! It was utterly an amazing to experience! "
Kathleen
Tour: 09/23/24
Overall rating:
Our guide Adriana was delightful, knowledgeable, and fun. It was active and we took in a lot. We also learned so much about the history of Spain, it's culture and people.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The view and spectacular sunset from our balcony at the El Convento Hotel in Arcos del la Frontera. "
Jenifer
Tour: 09/21/24
Overall rating:
1st tour- Very good tour guide. excellent city guides. nice pace of scheduled time and free time. Several very nice hotels- better than we expected. Several great food/meal venues. Very nice people except for one consistently late traveler and several with limited mobility which really surprised us. We carefully read the physical expectations to be sure a RS tour was right for us. Several travelers could not navigate the steeper rear bus steps and very slowly boarded in the front.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Dinner with sunset view of the Alhambra was great!"
Christine
Tour: 09/21/24
Overall rating:
From start to finish, we had a most enjoyable experience. Javier, our guide, was excellent. The varied size of cities, variety of sights, food and accommodations made it an unforgettable adventure.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Visiting the Alhambra"
Nicholas
Tour: 09/21/24
Overall rating:
Two important factors in our overall tour experience are the tour leader and the other tour participants. Both were exceptional. Our tour guide, Javier, was excellent. He had a wonderful understanding of each city on the tour and of Spanish history overall. He helped all the travelers with any questions or issues they had. He helped us arrange an early departure from the tour. The other tour participants shared our interest in where we were and what we were seeing.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were several “wow” moments, from seeing the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, to seeing Picasso’s Guernica in Madrid, to having dinner in the evening overlooking the Alhambra. Perhaps the biggest surprise was seeing the beautiful Palace of Catalan Music in Barcelona when they were “exercising” the organ, playing Phantom of the Opera. "
Bruce
Tour: 09/21/24
Overall rating:
We very much enjoyed out first Rick Steves Tour. Traditionally we used to put together our own tours of countries, but this was an excellent way to see Spain. We will do it again next year, probably the Basque Country and the south of France.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Probably touring the Alhambra and dinner the night before overlooking the Alhambra."
Susan
Tour: 09/21/24
Overall rating:
Best of Spain, like other RS tours we've taken, was a wonderful experience overall. Enjoyed the people, well-chosen sites, group gatherings for special events, and overall blend of cultural and historical places. Xavier was exceptional in his enthusiasm, knowledge and overall shepherding of this group.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Its hard to capture one moment from this tour, but the whole daytrip to Segovia stood out to me, including the amazing aqueduct and the fantastic pork feast in a local restaurant. Other highlights were the Alhambra, dinner overlooking the Alhambra, and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (which we had to cover on our own due to a local festival--still a wow)"
Steve
Tour: 09/16/24
Overall rating:
Excellent tour guide, nice places to stay and lots of great food!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The town of Ronda where there is a bullfighting ring."
Mike
Tour: 09/16/24
Overall rating:
What a wonderful way to learn about and experience Spain. It's people, culture, and history are fascinating.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Stepping out of the Metro and seeing the Sagrada Familia for the first time. It was enormous, overwhelming in it's complexity and beauty."
Jessica
Tour: 09/16/24
Overall rating:
Amazing, top quality tour in every aspect.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The beauty of the places that we stayed! Every time I wanted to stay longer, and not move, but then we would arrive at the next place, and it has something just as beautiful and wonderful to offer. "
Lina
Tour: 09/16/24
Overall rating:
The Best of Spain in 14 Days Tour was absolutely amazing! It offered a vast mix of lively urban cities, majestic sites and architecture to serene towns. Robert, our guide was outstanding, so knowledgeable and passionate in sharing Spain’s rich history, culture, food and people.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were a few favorites; La Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Segovia Aqueduct and the Alcazar de Segovia. Being of Spanish descent and having recently lost my mom- perhaps, the most personal wow and treasured moments for me was seeing her surname on street signs, buildings, a church and surprisingly, even food snacks- it was familiar and I left feeling connected to this beautiful country."
George
Tour: 09/14/24
Overall rating:
Great time. Good mix of group time and personal time.
Favorite "WOW" moment
" Coming out of subway and seeing Segrada Familia "
Jeff
Tour: 09/14/24
Overall rating:
The sights were magnificent, our guides knowledgeable and sincere, the food was outstanding, our rooms were clean and comfy, and the bus was roomy and reliable. All the travel details were handled smoothly and professionally, as we've come to expect from a Rick Steves Adventure.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My first glimpse of the Sagrada Familia, with its monstrous facade lavishly adorned with detailed highlights of Christianty's most celebrated events and surprise touches of interspersed whimsy. A lifetime could be spent just studying the external features. The Sagrada Familia did not disappoint inside. Gaudi was certainly wombat whacky, but his engineering genius and penchant for the grandiose shines through in this colossal structure that so many hands have shaped. "
Todd
Tour: 09/14/24
Overall rating:
Loved Spain- the sights, food & drink, culture, the people, etc. the tour captured that and had enough free time further explore and experience. Some places you travel to just click with you and Spain is one of them.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra in Granada. Not that all the Catholic Churches we saw weren’t lovely but the moorish architecture was different and beautiful. Sagrada Família was incredible as well. "
Lynn
Tour: 09/14/24
Overall rating:
Very good tour guide - very helpful when I got robbed of my credit cards and cell phone. Very thorough interesting sites and activities.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sunset dinner at a restaurant that faced a palace that was lit up. Delicious dinner and view. Palaces and churches were very magnificent. "
Karen
Tour: 09/14/24
Overall rating:
Our tour was exactly as we expected. We enjoyed all the "extras" Rick's team surprised us with. Our tour guides were exceptional and very knowledgeable of the area. We had a great tour group. We've already booked out next Rick Steve's tour.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Touring all the family-owned businesses and farms (bull farm, olive farm, saffron family business). The heart and soul of these families were inspirational. You can tell they love what they do and we learned so much. The Sagrada Familia was magical and the carriage ride through Seville was the icing on the top! "
Marilyn
Tour: 09/14/24
Overall rating:
It was a lot for a person in late 70’s. I would have liked a day or two off in the your. The other tour mates were great. And the guide was good. Personally I wasn’t crazy about the food in Spain.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The town of Ronda was awesome"
Debra
Tour: 09/14/24
Overall rating:
Great guides and a good variety of experiences.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Eating a group dinner looking out at the Alhambra as the sun went down"
Chris
Tour: 09/09/24
Overall rating:
Tour logistics were very well organized and provided participants with a great overview of various regions of Spain
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Touring the La Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona."
Julie
Tour: 09/09/24
Overall rating:
Helen was an excellent tour guide who was very passionate about her country and our experience, which helped create a merry group of travelers. As in all RS tours, there was a good mix of daily activities and free time. The hotels were centrally located and the local tour guides were professional and well-versed in their content. Group restaurants were well chosen with great food and often a fantastic view. Transportation was very easy to use and tour bus times were short with interesting stops.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I had two ‘WOW’ moments: La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and visiting the Alhambra in Granada. The sun shining through the stained glass at La Sagrada was amazing and unlike any other stained glass windows I’ve seen. The detail and beauty of the Alhambra is truly magnificent!"
Lenore
Tour: 09/09/24
Overall rating:
Our guide, Helen, took great care of us and made sure we had a quality experience. The lodging was good, especially the farm outside Ronda and the lovely one in Sevilla with roof top views of the cathedral. The amount of free time gave us a chance to explore on our own..
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Enjoying how much has been added to La Sagrada Familia since I saw it 27 years ago Especially the amazing stained glass windows! "
Ed
Tour: 09/09/24
Overall rating:
Great from beginning to end. Our overall tour guide (Helen) was excellent
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The natural light pouring through the stained glass windows of the Sagrada Familia."
Debbie
Tour: 09/09/24
Overall rating:
Tour was nice. Helen was an interesting guide and on top of everything. Accommodations were adequate.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Dinner overlooking Alhambra and Seville. "
Rick
Tour: 09/09/24
Overall rating:
Spain was great to visit. Fantastic sites and our tour guide, Helen was fantastic.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Hard to pick that wow moment. Every city we visited was a new experience that we enjoyed."
Bonnie
Tour: 09/07/24
Overall rating:
Our tour guide Amanda was exceptional! The tours were timely, the guides were expertly informed and entertaining, with few exceptions. The group meals were fabulous, the restaurants were lovely. All but one hotel exceeded my expectations. I appreciated that the hotels were locally owned and historical in nature. The included breakfasts were a huge plus.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I am torn between the ancient Hotel Casa Cuatro Torres in Cadiz (simply amazing with its rooftop deck and towers) and our final night in Seville with a horse and buggy tour of the city, then a fun and classy farewell cocktail party. Honestly, there were more WOW moments, including dinner overlooking the Alhambra and touring it the next morning. Also, Ronda was an exceptional destination, including the hotel with its sunset view of the bullring, and the restaurants and hikes around the Gorge."
Renae
Tour: 09/07/24
Overall rating:
I loved our tour guide Amanda. This was the first Rick Steves tour we have been on and she just made everything so easy. She is awesome and truly a gem to be around.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Alhambra tour, dinner and sunset."
Janet
Tour: 09/07/24
Overall rating:
Amanda was our guide and was so organized and catered to all of us. She made us feel comfortable from the very first minute we met her.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The familia cathedral in Barcelona "
Daniel
Tour: 09/07/24
Overall rating:
Wonderful, varied experiences with excellent guides, a fun group, and Amanda being a knowledgeable, professional, and warm guide who took excellent care of us.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Visiting the bull farm."
Gang
Tour: 09/07/24
Overall rating:
Excelente tour guides
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Alhambra "
Michael
Tour: 09/02/24
Overall rating:
A beautiful country, great tapas, less expensive than many European countries, good English speaking tour guides, especially Rosanna Perez in Madrid.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Highlights of the tour: Sagrada Familia Barcelona, Royal Palace & modern new downtown Madrid, Roman Aqueduct Segovia, Alhambra Granada, horse farm in Andalusia, Hotel Molino del Arco and Flamenco dance Sevilla "
Angelo
Tour: 09/02/24
Overall rating:
Great information provided during the tour; historical, cultural, food, areas of interest, and art. Tour guide was very qualified, had excellent communication skills and provided a great perspective on various issues.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Visiting and learning bout the Sagrada Familia cathedral. "
Janet
Tour: 09/02/24
Overall rating:
Great tour guides, efficient method of “buddy ship” walk-in talkie headphones excellent
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Roman aqueduct at Segovia"
Fern
Tour: 08/31/24
Overall rating:
Composition of group members melded well into a fun and caring group that respected being punctual and had a great sense of humor, led by our guide Luis, who put so much care into making it a trip that surpassed our expectations, from his getting to know you games, trivia, and punny jokes. In addition we got to meet his father in Madrid and had a lovely conversation
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The group dinner at the amazing restaurant that looked out at the Alhambra. Magical. Special. Enchanting. Our city guide, Mariona, provided so much insight into our walking tour of all things Gaudi in Barcelona. Inside the Sagrada Familia, her commentary on the sun's rays lighting the windows was an aha moment for me. Every city guide excelled and showed love and pride of their city while offering their own unique personality to the tour. Our guide Luis, has an amazing rapport with them all."
Roy
Tour: 08/31/24
Overall rating:
Great guide. Great group. Great itinerary. Quaint hotels at central locations. Local tour guides. Tour was worth every penny.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Local Guide Rosanna and Velasquez appreciation at El Prada Museum. There really was a wow moment each and every day ie. Ga Local guides such as Rosanna and her appreciation for Velasquez at El Prado Museum. There was really a wow moment each day. Thanks to Luis our guide for these experiences. "
Denise
Tour: 08/31/24
Overall rating:
Enjoyed being able to see very many cities and have it all planned for us, as before we had only used Rick Steves books as reference and planned our own trips
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Alhambra tour was just great, as was the view as we ate dinner the evening prior. Scenery was awesome in so many places across gorges, sheer cliffs, gardens, too numerous to recount."
Stephen
Tour: 08/31/24
Overall rating:
enjoyed the group activities and being able to explore alone as well.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Familia Segrada"
Gordon
Tour: 08/31/24
Overall rating:
The tour went smoothly and the tour leader and members were outstanding. We enjoyed the mix of sites and experiences (cities, churches, countryside and farms)
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra in Granada"
Mike
Tour: 08/26/24
Overall rating:
We had a Great trip with the things to see and people we met and led by our guide to learn about and see Spain.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Seeing the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Everything was fun and neat to see and experience. It was all pretty similar day to day with a neat highlight each day and similarities from town to town."
Megan
Tour: 08/26/24
Overall rating:
Was such a great tour. The cities we went to were all so charming in their own way. Our tour guide Robert was fantastic. He was passionate and you could sense every day he was excited to show us new things and the best of each city.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Família was a jaw dropping experience. As well, Alhambra was quite special and very magical. "
Peter
Tour: 08/26/24
Overall rating:
Enjoyable, informative and a lot of fun.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Granada overall. The Alhambra tour which was further enhanced by the group dinner before overlooking the Alhambra under the beautiful Granada moonlight. "
Katalin
Tour: 08/26/24
Overall rating:
We absolutely loved our experience in our first organized tour. We had a wonderful groupe and outstanding tour guide Robert. We were very impressed by the professinal way everything was handed. Robert has a deep knowledge, a great sense of humor, and well organised. He and other guides added so much to our understanding of Spain's history and culture. Best of Spain exceded our expectation. Thank you very much. Steve and Katalin
Favorite "WOW" moment
"So many wow moments: The brilliant yellow, green, orange and blue stained glass inside the Sagranda Familia, the fantastic Moorish architecture in Alhambra in Granada, Alcazar in Sevilla, the gorge in Ronda...."
Brenda
Tour: 08/26/24
Overall rating:
We loved our tour guide, Robert, as he was so passionate & knowledgeable, funny and excellent at telling stories. Every stop he had such useful information to make our trip great.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I loved the very nice dinner up at the top of the hill in Granada at night, looking down at the lit up Alhambra. Beautiful sight and fantastic food and wine. "
Hope
Tour: 08/26/24
Overall rating:
Enthusiastic, thoughtful, friendly guide, pretty fun group overall, cool sights, delicious new foods.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Walking out of the metro and turning around to see the Sagrada familia, it was huge and ornate and breathtaking. "
Anthony
Tour: 08/26/24
Overall rating:
Our guide Robert was exceptional. The local guides were generally very good. Our accommodations were about what we've come to expect but the Amadeus hotel in Seville was exceptional.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Numerous but included the Sagrada Familia and the Alhambra!!"
Wendy
Tour: 08/26/24
Overall rating:
This was my sixth RS tour, all are unique and a lot of fun. This tour had a great mix of cities and towns and the group was fantastic, we all clicked. Not too much bus time compared to other tours.There were lots of surprises along the way because our guide Robert was just that awesome!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia, Alhambra and Flamenco"
Erin
Tour: 06/24/24
Overall rating:
Great locations, hotels, transportation, tours and food. Our guide Amanda was absolutely outstanding. This may have been our first Rick Steves tour, but it will certainly not be our last.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Visiting the Alhambra and the olive oil mill were incredible."
Ana Maria
Tour: 06/24/24
Overall rating:
Absolutely great itinerary, hotels, food.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Going to see a zarzuela!"
Kerryn
Tour: 06/24/24
Overall rating:
Twelve of us friends took this trip and had a wonderful time. We mingled with the other travelers as experienced RS tour travelers. Good mix of big city to smaller villages. Enjoyed having a few hotels with pools for our hot days. Our guide, Amanda, made this another wonderful RS tour experience.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Everything! Alhambra dinner at sunset and touring all the palaces and Cathedrals on this tour. "
Geoffrey
Tour: 06/24/24
Overall rating:
selection of cities was excellent city selection, included both big and small, the local tour guides are still the best experience, they bring a passion that cannot be matched, the number of meals together are great, the hotels are as expected (you should understand what you are going to get), the tour guides are awesome, we (everybody) become family with the help from the guide, the bus is top notch along with the bus drivers (we love them), once again...awesome tour
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia...enough said. The guide (Mariona), the architecture, the history, the colors. Dinner at Carmen las Tomasas in Granda overlooking the Alhambra at sunset...absolutely stunning, both the food/drink and views. "
Roberta
Tour: 06/10/24
Overall rating:
This was a well planned tour which was expertly lead, including knowledgeable local guides, and shared with a great group of folks.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra was a mind blowing step into the past."
Camilla
Tour: 06/10/24
Overall rating:
Our guide James was amazing, He is knowledgable, organized and lots of fun! There was a perfect balance between group time and free time. The accommodations were comfortable and well located.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"So many wow moments...... the view from our hotel in Arcos, dinner across from the Alhambra, the Toledo Cathedral and the relaxing retreat outside of Ronda"
Beverly
Tour: 06/10/24
Overall rating:
Outstanding hotels! Great food. Tour guide was wonderful about accomodating my food restrictions. Local guides, as always, added so much to our understanding of the history of the various locales.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The light streaming through the brillant blues, greens, red, yellow and orange stained glass inside the Sagrada Familia."
Maria
Tour: 06/10/24
Overall rating:
we had a wonderful group, knowledgable tour guide, had plenty of time to explore on our own and the tour gave us experiences to see Spain different than other tourits
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Visiting Granada and going to Alhambra was my wow moment"
Paul
Tour: 06/10/24
Overall rating:
Great variety in seeing many different aspects of Spain: cities, towns, country, experiences, and food and wine galore.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Many experiences: dinner viewing the Alhambra, wandering the hill towns, Guernica at the Regina Sophia, saffron in La Mancha... and a wonderful group of new friends with James as our guide."
Janet
Tour: 06/10/24
Overall rating:
Very well organized and so informative.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The bull breeding tour."
Jim
Tour: 06/10/24
Overall rating:
The entire experience was outstanding from so many levels and perspectives. From the complete and comprehensive Tour details and logistics to the professional, interesting and very capable and knowledgeable guides the Tour certainly met our expectations. This was the first organized Tour we had taken so we were a bit unsure and apprehensive about tours in general. We had previously used Rick Steve's guidebooks for several trips and found them to the best and most appropriate guidebooks for us.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Of course as this was our first visit to Spain we wowed by the scenery, history, culture and people of Spain but we also loved the group dinners and lunches together and the spontaneous surprise performance at the Spanish flamenco guitar shop"
Steve
Tour: 06/03/24
Overall rating:
Great tour, Great guide
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Our first view of the La Sagrada Familia"
Stephanie
Tour: 06/03/24
Overall rating:
This was our first tour after having traveled to Europe many times independently. We had a wonderful time. It was the perfect combination of interesting guided experiences, free time, meals planned for us, and meals on our own. Our guide, Helen Inman, was friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, helpful, and funny. The guides who joined us for specific tours, such as at the Sagrada Familia, Prado, the Alhambra and Sevilla's Alcazar, were truly experts who made the visits meaningful.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Every time I learned something that was completely unexpected....from the reason Gaudi designed the cathedral as he did to the reason the Spanish Christian rulers kept the Moorish design that praises Allah. "
Kathy
Tour: 06/03/24
Overall rating:
The Spain tour exceeded my expectations. Our tour guide was excellent. She educated us about Spain and the culture in interesting and humorous ways. She was very thoughtful and caring in her planning for everyone's needs and wants. All the hotel accommodations were wonderful in their location and atmosphere. Our bus drivers were wonderful. The local tour guides were experts in their knowledge of the places we visited with them.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The beautiful sunset view of the Alhambra which included a wonderful meal!"
Holly
Tour: 06/03/24
Overall rating:
Overall, the tour was a very good introduction to Spain. We visited places we would have never gone to on our own. I enjoyed the mixture of “big city and small towns”.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The church in Barcelona The dinner spot overlooking the Alhambra The olive tour/lunch"
Jaime
Tour: 06/03/24
Overall rating:
I enjoyed talking a deep dive into Spain's history and culture. The hotels we're consistently good. The guides we had along the way we're well versed (and long wimded at times). Spain's food culture was not as diverse as I had hoped. Not asany surprises (good ones) toake the experienced extra memorable. Overall very good.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Segruda familia and olive farm. "
Jen
Tour: 06/03/24
Overall rating:
This was a wonderful tour packed with a great balance of big cities and small towns, incredible sights, opportunities to learn about the history of Spain from awesome local guides, good food, and lovely people. There was a nice mix of organized group activities getting us in to see the major landmarks in each location and plenty of free-time in each city to explore on your own (more free time than I expected). An excellent deep dive into Spain's history and culture.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were several...a few favorites: Our group dinner in Granada overlooking the Alhambra was fabulous and very memorable. The day trip to Segovia - our first glimpse of small-town Spain after starting our tour in the big cities. Our time in the Spanish countryside, including the stop at the olive oil mill and the wonderful lunch the family shared with us. Seeing the Sagrada Familia - I hope to someday return to see it completed. "
David
Tour: 06/01/24
Overall rating:
This was my first trip to spain, enjoyed it very much the deep history with its many cultures, the food and the people ,great experience.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Always a difficult question, but I would have to say Granada and the Alhambra palace, it’s amazing it survived intact .and the city itself the river front walk I took was great as was our dinner that night overlooking the palace ,great experience!"
William
Tour: 06/01/24
Overall rating:
Way better than expected and our guide Amanda was outstanding!!!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"To many to say"
Norma
Tour: 06/01/24
Overall rating:
We loved our tour and the trip leader! Amanda was just wonderful, and made the tour so much fun!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Definitely seeing the Sagrada Familla"
Jeff
Tour: 06/01/24
Overall rating:
Beautiful country, excellent tour guide.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Granada: lunch with a view over the Alhambra"
Tom
Tour: 06/01/24
Overall rating:
Sally
Tour: 06/01/24
Overall rating:
Group guide and specialist guides were excellent. Group was very cohesive. Fantastic hotels and restaurants/eating experiences. Saw interesting things we wouldn't have on our own.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia cathedral"
Teresa
Tour: 06/01/24
Overall rating:
This was our third Rick Steves' Tour and it was perfect. No early morning departures, spectacular food, a welcoming and fun guide (Amanda) and the best cities and sights. Plenty of time with group and on our own .We had a really fun group.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I loved the day trip to Segovia. The wow moment for me was seeing storks. Our guide told us the cutest story about the storks that I will always remember. The Roman aqueduct was spectacular too as was the Alcazar fortress and delightful lunch. A souvenir gift was given to us at the restaurant too! "
Daniel
Tour: 06/01/24
Overall rating:
Beautiful and enlightening tour of Spain!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Seeing Sagrada Familia inside for the first time! OMG, soo beautiful!!"
Timothy
Tour: 05/27/24
Overall rating:
We had lots of experiences that illustrated culture and history of Spain.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sunset dinner at terrace restaurant across from the Alhambra!"
Rhandee
Tour: 05/27/24
Overall rating:
Itinerary was fabulous and well paced.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The deep sense of history in each of the locations we visited was palpable. Hard to choose just one wow moment!"
Adela
Tour: 05/27/24
Overall rating:
The tour has a great itinerary; potentially some tweaking could be made with the 2 nights in Arcos de la Frontera and replace one with a visit to Malaga or Cordoba. The hotels were fine, the one in Ronda outside of the city was outstanding . The group meals were great with the dinner overlooking Alhambra being absolutely unforgettable. The local guides we had were absolutely great and totally made visiting various sites a complete experience. Would have liked to spent more time at Museo Prado.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Alhambra is hard to top but Sagrada Familia came close and also Segovia, Toledo and Ronda are absolutely fabulous. Cathedral of Sevilla also comes to mind, mainly because of the great guide we had through it."
Laura
Tour: 05/20/24
Overall rating:
Loved everyday of the tour. The itinerary was well thought out and I have a better understanding of Spain's history and appreciation for this beautiful country. Our guide Agustin was top notch and made our tour exceptional.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My "Wow" moment was traveling through the country. Seeing the diversity of the landscapes and enjoying the contrast between the cities that we visited and the countryside."
Sharon
Tour: 05/20/24
Overall rating:
It was a wonderful trip. Our tour guide Augustin was informative and congenial. I think it is safe to say he took excellent care of the group. The local guides were very interesting and gave great insight into the sights we visited. It was a good mix of set time together and free time.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The night before we visited the Alhambra we went to a lovely restaurant on a hill, across the ravine was the Alhambra lit up in the early evening light. It was magical. Going to the Alhambra the next day was incredible as well. There were so many incredible moments : the Sagrada Familia "s stain glass windows with the light pouring in, the Cathedral Of Seville. The tile work everywhere was so amazing. Spain is so impressive, with its history of exploration and the mix of cultures. "
Diane
Tour: 05/20/24
Overall rating:
Wonderful tour! Great lead guide, great local guides. Great food and hotels. Many magic moments.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Bull farm. The bulls have a wonderful life until they enter the ring. When you compare that with cattle in feed lots most of their life, it may not be so bad."
Kirk
Tour: 05/20/24
Overall rating:
Agustins guiding us every day with such a humble spirit. He kept the pickpockets away. The accommodations were mostly outstanding. Some better than others. The choice of sites was perfect. The food was outstanding.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The bull fight in Madrid was my wow moment."
Varonica
Tour: 05/20/24
Overall rating:
We had a great time. Sagrada familia and all of Barcelona was great. We went to the Picasso museum and it was fabulous. The cathedral in Madrid, and the palace were great. Walking up the hill in Granada to the restaurant was grueling on slippery steep cobblestones. The view of the Alhambra was worth it, Took cab to Alhambra and in Arcos. Concepcion in Sevilla was devout the first day, clearly a bit tired the second day. Cadiz was my least favorite, but OK.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Blanca in Madrid!. Sagrada familia, Alhambra, all of Toledo -loved walking there, JoseMaria's and the aqueduct, Alcazar. Cathedral in Madrid. Loved the Hotel Molina Del Arco! Mozart was also great. All of the hotels were fine. Two of us suffered food poisoning from the rooftop Japanese bar (?El Cercle?) two blocks from the hotel in Barcelona. "
Steve
Tour: 05/20/24
Overall rating:
Good itinerary, got to see many highlights of Spain.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Loved the local guide at the horse and bull breeding farm. Desiree was so enthusiastic!"
Cathleen
Tour: 05/18/24
Overall rating:
The tour was a great mix of group activities and time on our own. We learned so much from the outstanding local guides and from our tour guide Helen. She is a gem, always positive, great knowledge of Spain, and committed to making the tour special for everyone.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I loved the country hotel near Ronda. It was a peaceful and lovely respite from the busyness of the tour. The shared patio provided a nice gathering place for our tour members. The sangria was delicious and so was the dinner and breakfast. Our room was awesome!"
John
Tour: 05/18/24
Overall rating:
Our tour was a great combination of thoughtfully guided visits to a range of interesting attractions interspersed with free time to explore further on our own. The trip was well-paced, informative and stimulating, and led by a well-organized guide who knew her stuff and related well to everyone in our group.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"First looking out my hotel window at Arcos de la Frontera and realizing we were perched at the top of a cliff overlooking the Spanish countryside."
Judith
Tour: 05/18/24
Overall rating:
Thank you for a very well organized and interesting tour. We met lovely people, fellow travellers and locals, and got a really good taste of Spain.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Probably the view from our Arcos hotel room balcony was most 'wow'. "
Aubrey
Tour: 05/18/24
Overall rating:
The tour was more than I had hoped it would be. The extra mile our hosts (Helen & John) went to make our visit to Spain was memorable. The sites we visited and the places we stayed were very nice. One in particular was this quiet villa outside the city of Ronda. It was nice to get away from the crowds for one night and walk in their gardens.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Inside the La Sagrada Familia was a wow moment for me. The afternoon light showing through the stained glass windows was worth the trip. "
Larry
Tour: 05/18/24
Overall rating:
Lots of structure while still having time to do your own thing.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Loved the cathedral in Barcelona "
Mike
Tour: 05/18/24
Overall rating:
First time on a group tour. I had some reservations on how it would go, but overall a very positive experience. The planning and execution of the agenda went smoothly, the group on our tour were great to be with, and we saw and learned things we would’ve never fit in on our own.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Honestly, how much more I enjoyed the trip freed from all the planning and logistics I typically take on when we go on our own. My stress level went way down and I could just enjoy the moment without the worry of when, how, where we needed to be next."
Linda
Tour: 05/13/24
Overall rating:
We had never been to Spain and, except for the crowds, it didn't disappoint! Robert is an outstanding tour guide! Our fellow traveller's were wonderful, the food, without exception, was delicious, and the history, art, and countryside were beautiful. I loved my first carriage ride ever!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were so many but the experience that was an absolute paradigm shift for me was one that we would never have had were we not on a Rick Steves tour. It was the visit to the bull farm where we saw how the bulls lived, met a matador who answered our curious questions, and saw the museum with his bullfighting experiences, including the chapel where he prays before a fight. Although I still don't want to watch a bullfight, I came away changed, with great cultural respect and understanding."
Roger
Tour: 05/13/24
Overall rating:
Cohesive group with many interesting people. Great overall guide (Robert)...
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Hard to narrow it down. Particularly outstanding were La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Alhambra in Granada, Alcaraz and Roman aqueduct in Segovia..."
Tanya
Tour: 05/13/24
Overall rating:
Robert did a good job showing us the best of Spain. Our group bonded well. We enjoyed the architecture, the Spanish way of doing things, trying new foods I got to use some of my very rusty Spanish.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"La Sagrada Familia tour."
Gary
Tour: 05/13/24
Overall rating:
Robert, our guide was exceptional. His in-depth knowledge and experience gave us a better insight and appreciation of the history and sites. We had one of the best fellow travelers and plan on keeping in touch. This was the first time we traveled as a group on the bullet train to get from Barcelona to Madrid. Great efficiency.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Too Many to list. Visit to the Sagrada Familia (also did Park Guell & Dali Museum on our own) in Barcelona. The opera and dinner show i Madrid (Recommended on RS Site). The sunset dinner overlooking Alhambra in Granada. Our FULL MOON overview from our patio in Arcos de la Frontera. Tour of the Alcazar Palace and our walk up the tower in Seville. Our last dinner, Tapas and wine as our group mingled together like the locals. This was a wonderful trip."
Laura
Tour: 05/13/24
Overall rating:
Robert, our guide, was a significant factor in our outstanding experience.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Visiting the Alhambra was on my bucket list so the entire day was amazing; from visiting the actual site to the very special dinner overlooking the palace."
Richard
Tour: 05/13/24
Overall rating:
I feel that we got a good overview of Spain including highlights of a Spain visit
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The time in Toledo and learning the history of Spain"
K
Tour: 05/13/24
Overall rating:
In many ways I consider it a trip of a lifetime, I felt well care for much the same way Robert cares for Spain, he shares it with a lot if insight, care and love. It opened my eyes.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The whole experience made me feel like i got a glimpse of what makes Spain tick, and I like it. Also, the unexpected insight ifrom the bull fighting talks and the art of it all - was very surprising/exciting. Art in general in Spain from the crafts surrounding religion to Gaudi’s commissions are amazing, beautiful and at times mind boggling."
Rachel
Tour: 05/11/24
Overall rating:
This was my first Rick Steves tour and I went as a solo traveler. From the very beginning, I felt taken care of, educated, included, and overwhelmed with wonder and surprise at every turn. There is simply no way I could have covered as much in 14 days without this tour and its stupendous guides. I feel that I have really experienced Spain - and have fallen in love with it.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My most used word on the tour was "wow". I had to laugh at how often I used it. Countless times each day, I heard myself say "WOW". This tour covers so many remarkable sites and experiences that there is no way I could pick just one as my favorite. "
Laura
Tour: 05/11/24
Overall rating:
The whole tour was great! The food, our tour mates, our guide, the wine, the experiences.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Motoring up the mountain town of Arcos in a little train, with Spaniards smiling and waving to us. Also, the olive oil tasting was pretty great!!"
Samuel
Tour: 05/11/24
A good mix of education and entertainment. Some things, e.g. touring the bull ranch, were unexpected and most interesting. Individuals traveling may not get to do some of the things a group does.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Dinner in Granada across the river gorge from The Alhambra. What a view! And a great meal. "
Joanne
Tour: 05/11/24
Overall rating:
Excellent arrangements, hotels, food, guide, activities with lots of free time to make sure we were able to do what we wanted to do and see.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Outdoor dinner overlooking Alhambra."
Wesley
Tour: 05/11/24
Overall rating:
Great locations and a great guide!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"All of the beautiful scenery."
Michelle
Tour: 05/11/24
Overall rating:
Amazing as always! Our guide was fantastic, knowledgeable & fun! The locations were beautiful and filled with fun experiences, history and cultural knowledge. And lots of yummy food!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"La Sagrada Familia. Unlike any church I've ever seen. When we walked in I was met with beautiful colored light. I was not prepared for this amazing visual!"
Regina
Tour: 05/11/24
Overall rating:
We had a great time! Our group of fellow travelers quickly became friends. Every day was well planned and we were guided to each destination with care. The guides at each location were incredibly knowledgeable and fun to listen to. The Spanish cuisine includes a lot of ham, so we were a bit challenged since we don't eat it, but we still managed to eat well! And the wine is superb! The hotels were excellent, especially in Ronda.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"La Sagrada Familia and Antoni Gaudi's other sites were why we chose to go to Spain. The church is the most beautiful I've ever walked into. His genius and nature inspired designs touch my soul. The Moorish architecture in the Alhambra also captured my heart and soul. The rest of the trip was icing on the cake! "
Ken
Tour: 05/11/24
Overall rating:
Jorge is an incredible guide. He set an upbeat tempo from the start.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Seville"
Kelly
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
Excellent way to visit many places in a short period of time.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Too many "wow" moments to narrow down!"
Raul
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
Our guide William was exceptional. The group dynamic was the best I’ve ever experienced. Everything was run perfectly, and the end result was well beyond my expectations.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were so many “wow” moments it is hard to pick just one. However, our visit to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and our dinner overlooking the Alhambra in Granada rank among the most memorable. "
Pamela
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
We hit the highlights of Spain, our tour guide was engaged, helpful, caring and managed the 28 of us with aplomb. Under his guidance we became a unit who cared about each other and enjoyed each others company. Our bus driver was included in the revelry of the group.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Olive oil morning was very interesting. The palace in Seville was outstanding. My wow moment was how we began as individuals and soon became a family of fellow travelers, and friends. That made the tour run smoothly, and reinforced our concern for each other."
Melinda
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
We were treated to iconic Spain moments: Sagrada Familia, Alhambra, Toledo, Segovia with the classic suckling pig meal with the daughter of Jose Maria serving us personally. Our group was remarkably close and caring. Our tour guide, William, was a great storyteller that brought the history to life and his love for all things Spanish shone in every interaction. His genuine affection for each of the people he introduced us to made us care that more for what they shared.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Even though we had visited Sagrada Familia a few days earlier, seeing it again with the guide in the afternoon, the light flooded in through the stained glass in such a way, it was on fire! That was right after William confronted two pickpockets and got pushed! "
John
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
Enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow world travelers. Most had been on RST before, this was our first and was well organized
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The palace in Seville. Stunning experience"
Deborah
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
Visited great places in Spain. Our guide, William, was OUTSTANDING!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Alhambra Palace"
Lee
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
Excellent, informative tour with awesome guide, great group and fantastic weather
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Tour of family owned olive oil mfg company and meal they served. "
Laraye
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
It was a wonderful experience. As a first timer I don't have anything to compare it to but was pleasantly surprised! A very reputable and organized company for sure!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I fell in love with the quiet little city of Ronda and loved the hotel there! AND our guide was amazing - William for the Win! "
Janice
Tour: 05/06/24
Overall rating:
This was our second RS tour and it was everything we hoped for made even better by our outstanding guide, William, and our happy band of travelers, who followed William’s lead and genuinely came together as family. William is an impressive communicator who obviously truly loves sharing everything Spanish. His knowledge of Spain combined with his personal stories added so much to our tour. The local tour guides were deeply engaged and interesting as well.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"So many! The light streaming in from the windows of La Sagrada Familia; the sunset view of Alhambra; the architectural detail of the Moors; the gorgeous countryside w/ rows of olive trees; the olive oil facility (and delicious lunch the family served); a street opera singer outside of the Barcelona cathedral; exploring the narrow streets, sampling tapas with the locals. Also in our free time, a symphony concert at the Palau de Música Catalana in Barcelona, and the Thyssen museum in Madrid. "
Sally
Tour: 05/04/24
Overall rating:
This was the 4th RS tour that we’ve been on and I must say it was the most compatible group of people on the tour with us. I could have kept going with this group for another two weeks.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I had two wow moments. First was getting to go inside the Sagrada Familia at sunset and the Flamenco dancers. Both were simply jaw dropping in my book. "
Paula
Tour: 05/04/24
Overall rating:
This was our first Rick Steve's tour and had no idea what to expect. It exceeded our expectations.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I think it was when we were having a lunch at Oleum Viride (the olive oil processing plant and winery), outside with all of the tour group. Looking out at the hills and having to pinch myself; there were roosters strutting around, everyone enjoying our lunch (the food and wine were incredible) and wine and each other. The whole lunch just felt so rustic and right."
Valerie
Tour: 05/04/24
Overall rating:
Amanda was a wonderful guide and very knowledgeable.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Gaudi church in Barcelona was a wow for me. I had read about it for years and it was wonderful to experience. "
Pete
Tour: 05/04/24
Overall rating:
After Barcelona and Madrid, it was nice to get into the smaller cities like Toledo and Granada. Smaller crowds and a slower pace.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia without a doubt. "
Yvonne
Tour: 05/04/24
Overall rating:
Absolutely my best tour, this is my third one with RST.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Too many wow moments to choose from but I would say our visits to the bull farm and to the Prado and the Reyna Sophia museums where tops for me."
Virginia
Tour: 05/04/24
Overall rating:
Amanda was a fantastic tour guide. I loved her sense of humor and generosity. She surprised us often with a little something extra and ran the trip very smoothly
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Andalusian horse farm"
Betty
Tour: 04/29/24
Overall rating:
Tour was steeped in history, culture, and fun.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra was amazing. Who knew is would be such a beautiful, finely crafted complex."
Stephen
Tour: 04/29/24
Overall rating:
Fantastic! We loved Spain and the tour did not disappoint. We saw/participated in so many places/events. We feel we experienced Spain to it's fullest
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Standing on top of the hill with the windmills"
Linda
Tour: 04/29/24
Overall rating:
Great balance between guided moments and free time
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Granada Familia"
Tony
Tour: 04/29/24
Overall rating:
My least favorite of the 5 tours I have taken. There were way too many churches and cathedrals on the tour (many could have been suggestions for visiting in your free time). The historic bull ring and visit to the bull ranch were overkill. However, the visit to the olive oil mill and the Andalusian horse farm were highlights of the trip. The sherry tour and (brandy not sherry) tasting was disappointing and rather commercial. Segovia, Granada and Sevilla were definitely worthwhile.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were several WOW moments: The Prada Museum, Segovia and the Roman aqueduct, Granada and the Alhambra, and Sevilla's Barrio Santa Cruz and Alcazar palace."
Susie
Tour: 04/29/24
Overall rating:
Loved all the different places we went to. Everyday was a new adventure . A great blend of "tour" and personal time
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The view from dinner overlooking the Alhambra. "
Jeffrey
Tour: 04/29/24
Overall rating:
This is our second Rick Steves tour, and it confirmed for us that these tours are worth every penny. Had a great experience, learned so much about the area traveled, and enjoyed the people we traveled with! There is no way we would have the same experience traveling on our own.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"We had two - Sagrada de Familia actually brought me to tears when we stepped inside. And Alhambra was magnificent as well. So thrilled to have the opportunity to witness these iconic places firsthand, with guides that help point out the significance of some of the engineering and detail. "
Jeffrey
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
Tour guide Agustin was an excellent host and really deepened my understanding of his culture. All travel coordination and recommendations were spot on. Highly recommend.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The warmth of the people in Andalusia, especially Granada and Sevilla. Families everywhere in the evenings. Caught a religious procession our last night in Sevilla with children, float and marching band. "
Katrina
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
Fabulous! Organization and layout of tour schedule, our guide, Augustin, was professional, friendly, and very well educated of all areas. Hotels were of high quality/comfort with friendly welcoming staff. We stayed at a bed and breakfast in the countryside after Ronda which was wonderful. All of the tour guides in each city for our visits to sites were knowledgeable with a friendly personality. Overall the tour met and exceeded my expectations and desires.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Many wow moments, but in Toledo the painting of El Greco's "Burial of the Count of Orgaz" in the Santo Tome Chapel came to life for me by our guides very descriptive of each aspect of the painting and overall meaning. "
Janice
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
I had a fantastic time on the tour. Agustin was an excellent tour guide. Everything went smoothly and and as planned.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"La Sagrada Familia. First, the basílica is so breathtakingly beautiful. And second, that it’s still under construction after 142 years! "
Mark
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
Hotels, tour provided meals, & transport were excellent. Enjoyed all areas selected for guided tours. Appreciated free time between planned activities. I have 2 suggestions. First, local Gods talk continuously the ENTIRE time. No time to think/admiration the topic. 2nd, one has to continuously watch the group as you move so can't enjoy/view the surroundings without getting left. Consider a location app to quickly find the leader if you get separated such as an apple i-Tag
Favorite "WOW" moment
"No wow moments but several noteworthy sights. We are will travel throughout Europe so it takes more to generate a wow moment that when we first started traveling 20 years ago"
Inda
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
Our tour guide, Augustine, was fabulous and really added to the experience
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Cadiz. We hadn’t expected to see the ocean"
Joseph
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
As usual this RS tour was very good...our guide Augustin and the local guides were all outstanding. The only negative was staying 2 nights in Arcos...my wife and I feel another location would be much nicer.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"visiting the Alhambra "
Sara
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
Overall it was one of the most well planned and organized 2 week trip I’ve ever taken! But above that was the memorable places we saw, the cultural experiences we had and the fun people we met that elevated this trip to awesomeness!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were two landmarks that were simply magical! Visiting the Sagrada Familia and the Alhambra were equally wow after wow after wow! "
Rebecca
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
Our first Rick Steves tour exceeded our expectations! Everything was flawlessly organized and we learned so much more than we would have on our own.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"We had so many “wow”moments that it’s difficult to pick but the group dinner in Granada with an incredible evening view of the Alhambra was breathtaking and unexpected. "
Maria Elena
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
Alberto
Tour: 04/27/24
Overall rating:
Wonderful! It was our second Rick Steves tour but not our last.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My encounter with the cochinillo at the Mesón de San José restaurant in Segovia. "
Lorne
Tour: 04/22/24
Overall rating:
This was our second Rick Steves vacation. The first one was so good we decided to become return customers. Everything was better than we had hoped. Our tour guide was top notch, the buses were great, the hotels were great.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I'd have to say the visit to the La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona was the best wow moment. The weather didn't cooperate, it was cold and windy, but the church more than made up for it."
Jeffrey
Tour: 04/22/24
Overall rating:
You need to invest in new Whisper devices. It was often difficult to hear. Full of static. We tried different headsets but that didn’t help. We did a Viking tour after our Rick Steve’s tour and their devices were 100% better than yours. You need an upgrade.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sangrada Familia. "
Michelle
Tour: 04/22/24
Overall rating:
This was our 5th Rick Steves tour. It was wonderful as expected!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"La Sangrada Familia!"
Susan
Tour: 04/22/24
Overall rating:
Well planned itinerary that showed us much more than we anticipated! Robert was a wonderful guide and his love for Spain was evident always.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The view from our patio at Arcos was absolutely breathtaking. I didn’t want to leave!"
Richard
Tour: 04/22/24
Overall rating:
Great group of travelers in the tour group. Very knowledgeable tour guides. Everything was well organized. A good variety of experiences during the two week tour.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I would say my wow moment was seeing the Sagrada Familia."
Kenneth
Tour: 04/20/24
Overall rating:
Spain was an amazing tour. Our group seemed especially compatible, and James made sure we all were well taken care of. The sIghts, the people, the food, the countryside, all were beyond our expectations. Local guides were great at explaining history, culture, customs, architecture, and art.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were so many, but I guess the moment we walked out onto the dining area of our restaurant in Granada, and saw the view over the valley, of the Alhambra. The meal was incredible, and watching the sunset color the Alhambra was amazing."
Cheryl
Tour: 04/20/24
Overall rating:
Our third Rick Steves tour, and our fifth tour of Europe, and this one was outstanding. We all agreed the group was one of the most compatible and agreeable. James was superb-knowledgeable, fun, eager to share his love of Spain and its people. Our local guides added depth to the visits. James mentioned Spain doesn't seem to self-promote in the states-olive oil, history, architecture, food-what a mistake for Spain! I would love to go back.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Climbing the steps Columbus climbed to report his discovery to Ferdinand and Isabella! Kim and the roast suckling pig! Hotel Molina del Arco! Miles and miles of olive trees! Matador Rafael Tejada! The Andalusian horses! Dinner with a view of the Alhambra! Dinner with new friends at restaurant AlJibe in Arcos! Don't ask me to name my favorite child!"
Tim
Tour: 04/20/24
Overall rating:
It was a wonderful tour with a great guide and pleasant, congenial tour-mates. I learned so much about a country that I had little knowledge of. It also helped that the weather was so comfortable.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"La Sagrada Familia was the one sit that I was looking forward to seeing and it did not disappoint. Gaudi's masterpiece was amazing. His take on a cathedral was so unique and uplifting that I found myself just staring and marveling at his (and the subsequent architects') designs. I'm so glad I was able to finally see it."
Mary Ellen
Tour: 04/20/24
Overall rating:
This tour exceeded all expectations. Our guide James, set up special experiences for the group. Everything was well planned and executed. It was a joy to experience Spain for the first time!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The view of the Alhambra from our group dinner, la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, enjoying a Moroccan dinner with new friends in Arcos."
Jiatong
Tour: 04/20/24
Overall rating:
Richard B
Tour: 04/20/24
Overall rating:
We thought James, our tour guide, was outstanding; the balance of organized tour and free time was about right;, and the variety of sights and experiences were exceptional.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My favorite wow moment was the tour of La Sagrada Famalia. The dinner overlooking the Alhambra in Granada was very picturesque and outstanding dinner. "
Stacy
Tour: 04/20/24
Overall rating:
We loved the tour and all of the surprises along the way.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I loved eating dinner with a view of the Alahambra."
Brenda
Tour: 04/20/24
Overall rating:
Exceptional local guides, hotels, and tour leader's knowledge of Spain history and culture.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra in Granada"
Pat
Tour: 04/15/24
Overall rating:
We were on the Best of Spain tour and it surpassed what I expected. The amazing Alhambra, the gorgeous Seville Cathedral, the Sagrada Familia - beyond description.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I had no idea the Alhambra would be so exquisitely and intricately beautiful. When I considered the amount of skill and work the craftsmen accomplished, it just was mind-boggling. "
Sue
Tour: 04/15/24
Overall rating:
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familla And Alhambra "
Tim
Tour: 04/15/24
Overall rating:
Great tour guide and group.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Toledo cathedral, but all the meals with the group were most often the best part."
Everett
Tour: 04/15/24
Overall rating:
It exceeded my expectations in every way, thanks to the amazing guide, the great weather, and the incredible places we visited.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Our dinner at the foot of the Alhambra, as we viewed it at sunset, with great food, and new friends."
Rylien
Tour: 04/15/24
Overall rating:
The group was too large. The whisperers did not work when guide went around corner. We lost our guide in Sevilla. The pace was too fast for this older group. Finally slowed down toward end of tour. It would have been nice if he ask us what we were interested in?? We heard all about what he liked.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Many places were my favorites: Toledo with its old buildings - Medieval Synagogue. Segovia and the agueducts. Alhambra- beautiful beyond words. And the Alcazar. Almost forgot the Sagrada Famila in Barcelona."
Keith
Tour: 04/15/24
Overall rating:
tHIS WAS A TRIP I COUILD HAVE NEVER CONSTRUCTED MYSELF AND BEING WITH 25 OTHER CONGENIAL TOUR MEMBERS MADE IT A GREAT EXPERIENCE
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Gaudi Church in Barecelona"
Lorie
Tour: 04/15/24
Overall rating:
This is my fourth excursion to EU, first time to Spain. Tour was well planned and provided opportunities to see diversity in the traveled destination
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The stained glass windows in Sagrada Familia. "
Phillip
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia"
Kenneth
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
We were very satisfied with our tour. Javier our tour guide was excellent and provided us with a very informative and fun tour. We were happy with the hotels we stayed in and the provided meals were very good.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra was beautiful and dining on the hillside across from it was an unforgettable experience. I also enjoyed the Olive Oil Tour and lunch. "
Joseph
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
Great experiences, from sights to local meals! Filled with Wow moments.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Picnic meal on a hill beside Don Quixote's windmills."
Linda
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
It was our 1st RS Tour and we thoroughly enjoyed all the organization and planning done for us. Our guide, Javier, was super informed and prepared. He set the tone for fun and cultural immersion. The whole group were an interesting mix with lots of travel histories to share.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"So many, its hard to say my favorite...Toledo or Granada or Ronda were all enchanting. I'll pick an evening of delicious dining at a cliffside restaurant after a rigorous walk viewing the Alhambra Palace as the sun set. "
Victoria
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
This was our 4th Rick Steves' tour and again we loved everything on this tour; our guide Javier, hotels, local guides and the meals that were included. The weather in Spain in April couldn't have been any better with blue skies and sunshine and perfect temperature for touring.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Spain offers so many wow moments; Barcelona with Sagrada Familia, Madrid, Prado & the Royal palace, and then Granada & the Alhambra! Another wow moment was the visit to bull farm and learning about bull fighting& having my photo taken with a real bull fighter!"
Stephen
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
This was our 4th Rick Steves Tour, and, as usual it was full of interesting sights and activities. The schedule and itinerary were well coordinated with easy to understand information from the various site tour guides. Be that as it may, probably the most memorable and cherished moments were those which we discovered on our own (with the help of the RS Spain tour book) such as Arrayanes Moroccan restaurant for dinner in Granada.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My favorite tour “wow” moment was actually a wow day: The day trip out of Madrid to Segovia included the well preserved and sizable Roman aqueduct, the Alcázar fortress (where our group photo was taken), and a group luncheon of roast suckling pig. Segovia was a welcome respite from the encountered urban crowds in Barcelona and Madrid."
Marguerite
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
I had a great time on this tour! The itinerary was a strong one, well paced, with a nice mix of different types of activities, interesting city guides, and a good tour group led by an experienced guide who kept things moving perfectly. Loved trying different types of Spanish food and wines. Honestly, my first sentence says it all - I would go again without hesitation.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia at twilight was definitely a wow for me! Other favorites were the Alhambra, dinner the night before overlooking it, and the carriage ride in Seville. "
Carol
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
Great guide, great co-travelers, and a wonderful experience.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Only one? Gaudi windows, Andalusian horses among them!"
Walter
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Virtual ride on America‘s Cup racing yacht at America‘s Cup Exhibition "
Benjamin
Tour: 04/13/24
Overall rating:
Well organized and everything went off as planned
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Gaudy"
Susan
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
Overall, I enjoyed the tour very much. It was my first and I tried to keep expectations in check as I had no idea how things would work. I loved our guide, Helen. She was knowledgeable, personable, and helpful. It was a bit overwhelming at times, but we got to see a lot and had a good amount of personal time. The group bonded quickly, which was also nice. No grumpy people there.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Visiting all the cathedrals, basilicas, and local churches. I prefer to see art in context and for much of that, a church was where we needed to be. And I'm not sure why, but Segovia was one of my favorite spots on the tour."
John
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
Beautiful country with fun guide and pleasant fellow travelers. Great weather and right amount of activity time and self time
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada familia basilica/construction"
Susan
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
This was our 5th and best RS tour yet. Our guide, Helen Inman was outstanding! Besides imparting us with her knowledge of Spain, she was always looking out for our safety and wellbeing. She gave us a whole new perspective and history of this country.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"My “wow” moment was having lunch at the top of the cliff’s overlooking the ravine in Rhonda. My other “wow “ moment was a group dinner in a restaurant and gazing at the Alhambra across the way as the sun was setting. "
Laurence
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
Tour was excellent from Helen our guide to all the towns , places , sights, experiences, food and the other travellers in group . Never would have seen or learned as much on our own.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra and the Alcazar were spectacular "
Ellen
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
Was very good with interesting itinerary and great guides
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrata Familia blew me away"
Gail
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
We had a great time on our first Rick Steves tour. Helen, our group guide, was phenomenal. The small “extras” were appreciated - preloaded metro cards to use during our free time, the local snacks Helen would purchase for the group. The local guides were very knowledgeable. The restaurants selected for group meals were generally excellent.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra in Grenada"
Dennis
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
The guide, Helen, was outstanding and the members of this tour were all so agreeable and friendly. And the diversity and beauty of Spain’s cities and geography exceeded all my expectations.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were several: seeing the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Alhambra in Granada, the gorge in Ronda and the Alcazar in Sevilla. Plus eight of us had an amazing time at the April Fair in Sevilla and actually got invited into a family’s private caseta and were treated to food and drink and wonderful conversation with members of the Spanish family."
Nancy
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
Wonderful tour. It was made special because of our tour guide, Helen Inman.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were so many but probably the overlook at the gorge at Ronda."
Edward
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
This was the first time I had been to Spain, so no better way to do it, and with a Rick Steves tour. Everything was excellent, from the included meals to the hotel locations to the transportation, and especially our tour leader, and the amazing local guides. Helen let us beautifully, with a sense of humor, and always watching out for our well-being and safety. The special things you get on Rick Steves tour, such as visits to local farms or businesses that nobody else goes to are fantastic.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Although all of the museums, Royal Palace and cathedrals were amazing, I would have to say it is a tie between the Roman aqueduct in Segovia and the bridge in Ronda. "
Cheryl
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
This was my fourth Rick Steves tour. I loved and appreciated every day. Helen was an exceptional guide---knowledgeable, well organized, attentive and has a great sense of humor. Unfortunately I broke a bone in my foot three weeks prior to the start of the trip. I was still able to participate in all activities, but was slower than the rest of the group. Helen was patient with me as I was healing dally. The itinerary was outstanding and the accommodations and meals provided very good.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"One of my favorite wow experiences was when six of us went to the April Fair in Sevilla. A lovely family invited us into their private casita where we had a fantastic visit as they generously provided us with plate after plate of tapas and drinks. That entire evening was like nothing I had previously experienced. Helen also provided us with a beautiful wine tasting party one evening."
Robert
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
Very well managed. Good balance of structured and free time. Many varied activities. Truly the Best of Spain.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Ronda gorge"
Donald
Tour: 04/08/24
Overall rating:
This tour was very special. The group bonded, Helen, our guide, was outstanding, and the sites visited were both varied and, in many cases, unique. The tour was well thought out, with great hotels and food. The local tour guides imparted in depth insights into the local history and culture of each site visited.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Being is Seville during the April Fair, attending the Fair, and being invited into a private tent to meet a local family while being treated to tapas and drinks. A true Rick Steves moment. "
Patty
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
It was the best! I learned so much about Spain, the culture, the food, and the people. I saw enough of Spain and had such a good experience that I’d like to return. Our guide was so informative and took great care to keep us updated, well entertained, and cohesive. Francisco was such a great guide, my husband and I are looking into another Rick Steves’ tour next year to another part of Europe.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I had “wow” moments in every city in Spain. However I was particularly wowed by a hotel outside of Rhonda. I loved the country feel and the rooms were comfortable and had great amenities. The tour had the place to ourselves and it was a memorable time."
Kathy
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
Our Best of Spain tour exceeded our expectations. It was a great blend of cathedrals, museums, parks and much more ~ but truly captured the diversity of Spain. Loved the community dance in Barcelona, flamenco dancing and Féria in Sevilla and the cuisine throughout!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"We had a wonderful full schedule in Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia, Toledo and Granada, visiting all the ‘must see’ sights for the first 10 days. At the end of our lovely day in Ronda, it was pure heaven to enjoy an evening at the lovely Hotel Molino del Arco located in such a quiet, picturesque setting. Exactly what I needed! ❤️"
Kathy
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
Awesome guide provided us with a comprehensive voyage across Spain, with appreciated focus on history and culture. The hotels were all selected to reflect their individual locations and the group meals provided an excellent sampling of the regions visited.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There wasn't one but many. Several stops elicited a WOW. Dinner overlooking the Alhambra is one; the Prado Museum; Gaudi in Barcelona; the list is long. Both notable stops and quiet moments (a cocktail on the roof with a nighttime view of the cathedral in Sevilla)."
Patrick
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
An excellent tour, well-organized, supported by excellent logistics. Our tour leader Fran (Francisco Glaria Baines) could not have been more helpful and kind. Fran was outstanding in all respects.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Finally seeing the Alhambra, a life-long goal."
John
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
Overall, the tour was fantastic. Spain is a beautiful country and the locals are so nice and so courteous to visitors. There is so much history to appreciate and many ancient buildings, churches, cathedrals, Roman ruins, etc.... to appreciate. There was a good mix of large city activities and small town sights. The food was fantastic and many of the meals are so memorable.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"A single 'wow' moment is difficult. The one that surprises me the most was my appreciation and awe for the Flamenco dancing we attended. Our guide did a good job explaining what to expect and fortunately, it was enough to pique my interest and cause me to pay attention to all the intricacies of the dance. From the footwork, to the snapping, clapping and slapping, to the ballet-like movements, and the singing and guitar in the background, it was all so remarkable."
Gregory
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
A great blend of major sites (Prado) and off the path gems (olive processor for tour and great lunch). Busy city life in Madrid was nicely contrasted with the quiet afternoon and evening at the hotel outside of Ronda. We learned that Spain is a tapestry of many different regions and lifestyles.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra gardens and palaces, the Prado with a knowledgeable guide, and lunch on our own at a cliff-side restaurant in Ronda."
Loren
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
Our guide Francisco was outstanding, each city had its own charm and mystique and the tour group was fun.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Too many to pick just one. Tour of Barcelona, the view from our hotel room in Arcos de la Frontera, the view of the Alhambra from the restaurant across from it. "
Gerald
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
Great tour. The highlights of Spain were much more interesting than I expected. The tour was made even better by a fantastic tour guide, Francisco.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Undoubtably seeing the exterior of the unfinished Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. It's so far out there it just blew my mind. Upon seeing it for the 1st time, for a minute I thought that I was having a flashback to the late 1960's. Groovy!"
Patsy
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
Great guide (Francisco), fun and cohesive co-travelers, interesting\ and different experiences, stunning architecture, and an altogether lovely tour!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were so many I cannot choose just one, and even these selections cut the list short: the stunning "otherworldly" feel of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the group dinner directly across from the Alhambra at night, the authentic flamenco dancing program in Seville, and the extremely serendipitous opportunity to experience the customs and carnival atmosphere of Feria (complete with an invitation into one family's caseta.)"
Jeremy
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
Great tour , Francisco was a tremendous guide
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Seeing Gaudi’s work"
Susan
Tour: 04/06/24
Overall rating:
It was wonderful. Francisco was a terrific, knowledgeable, kind, and empassioned guide. I still miss him. I feel like I've "seen" Spain and like I have a better understanding of and appreciation for the country and the people.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Wow: Seeing the Sagrada Familia, having dinner while watching the Alhambra, and the lovely, lovely countryside hotel outside Rondo which was a delightful respite from the pace of the tour Ew: Eating the roast suckling pig and Segovia"
Beth
Tour: 04/01/24
Overall rating:
I had a fantastic time on the Spain tour, from learning about Spain's history to seeing its amazing geography. I loved the places we visited and the cultural events we attended. Our guide Amanda Buttinger was absolutely great. She is very informative and gave us great tips on dining and sightseeing options along the way. She is a great guide!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"This is a difficult question because there were so many "wow" moments. I would have to say that visiting the bull and horse farm outside of Ronda, visiting the Andalusian horse facility, and learning about olive oil production were highlights for me. I also loved visiting the Alcazar in Sevilla."
Shawn
Tour: 04/01/24
Overall rating:
This was our 7th RSE tour and it did not disappoint. Our guides were excellent at being very organized, friendly and informative. Once again we found our fellow travelers to be fun, friendly and really nice people to hang out with for 2 weeks.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"For me I really enjoyed the olive oil farm/factory. Learning about how they use every bit of the olive was fascinating. But my very favorite activity was going to the Flamenco performance. I found it to be mesmerizing. I cried it was so soulful. "
Thomas
Tour: 04/01/24
Overall rating:
We are hooked. We will sign up for Rick Steves tours from now on.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, but there were many others."
Jeff
Tour: 04/01/24
Overall rating:
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Moorish archetecture."
Denise
Tour: 04/01/24
Overall rating:
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The Alhambra! spectacular We had dinner overlooking it sunset and night beautifully lite"
John
Tour: 04/01/24
Overall rating:
The tour guide and local guides were all excellent
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The horse carriage ride to the Spanish pavilion in Seville"
Kimberly
Tour: 04/01/24
Overall rating:
I loved the tour! This was my first trip to Spain and I was thrilled to learn so much about the history and culture. The architecture and beautiful views were amazing. Our group was so much fun and everyone bonded in such a lovely way. The places were interesting and the people made the tour really special. I have so many wonderful memories that I will always treasure.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The amazing vistas in southern Spain were a surprise for me. I especially appreciated the beautiful views in Ronda and Arcos de la Frontera. The visit to the bull farm was special as well. It was interesting and inspiring to learn about bullfighting and how important it is to the Spanish culture. "
Gerard
Tour: 04/01/24
Overall rating:
I love exploring new places and this tour did just that.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I would have to say our day in Segovia with the castle, the church and the meal with the sucking pig."
Kimberly
Tour: 03/25/24
Overall rating:
It was my first (and most likely last) experience in Spain. It was such a great experience. Our guide could not have been better.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"La Sagrada Familia!"
Janice
Tour: 03/25/24
Overall rating:
Great travel companions and Javier was an excellent overall guide. The local guides were all very knowledgeable and outstanding.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Horse carriage ride to final dinner."
Larry
Tour: 03/25/24
Overall rating:
The tour was very well organized, and all the arrangements were made for us for the major sites on our tour.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Too many to choose from. Maybe Sagrada Familia, hill country whitewashed villages, Roman aqueduct in Segovia and millions of olive trees"
Beth
Tour: 03/25/24
Overall rating:
Ruth
Tour: 03/25/24
Overall rating:
Spending two weeks with fellow travelers and a wonderful guide was an experience I will always cherish.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The carriage rides on a beautiful evening in Sevilla was a perfect ending to our awesome tour."
Melanie
Tour: 03/25/24
Overall rating:
As first timers with the Rick Steves tours, we were absolutely thrilled with the experience. The pace kept us on our toes, and the variety of experiences left us in awe of Spain and all she had to offer. Our tour guide, Javier, was exceptional - knowledgeable, patient (I am sure it sometimes felt like herding cats!), caring....definitely above and beyond. Even with inclement weather, he kept our spirits high. We can't wait to take another tour soon!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"For my husband, the town of Ronda took his breath away with the ravine and the bullring history. For me, it was Gaudi's work and Barcelona's appreciation of him. There were so many spectacular moments, though - the processionals, the narrow cobblestone streets, the fresh fish vendors, the olive oil plant, the lessons on sherry and wine, and the crowds - always walking with intention while we meandered enthusiastically! And the guides - all with personality and depth of knowledge."
Chris
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
Our guide James was amazing! He was knowledgeable, organized, and adaptable. He went above and beyond on a daily basis to maximize our enjoyment, insure our comfort, and exceed our expectations. Each hotel was in a perfect location and had its own beautiful, unique ambience. Shared meals were delicious and a wonderful time to bond with new friends. Each day tour was a fascinating entry into Spanish culture and history. The transportation was spacious and comfortable. Driver Pablo was wonderful.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There were so many! Park Guell, the Prado, the Royal Palace, the Roman Aqueduct, the Easter festivities, the Flamenco performers, La Macarena. The surprise find of the Don Quixote museum and the tour of the olive oil mill were especially unique experiences. The sunset view of the Alhambra was extra special."
Veronica
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
This was a great trip! The itinerary was a fabulous mix of cities, smaller towns, and cultural experiences. I enjoyed it all- the museums, cathedrals, and palaces of the cities, and the cultural experiences we had in the local areas, including the windmills, saffron farm, olive oil factory, bull and Andalusian horse farms. James was a fantastic tour guide, and a great group of travel mates made this an unforgettable trip.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Very hard to answer! Everday was filled with unique, unforgettable experiences. I have been on several RS tours, enjoyed them all, but this trip is right at the top. "
Richard
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
As always these tours are chock full. Great variety of experiences.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The beauty and extent of the Moor builders and craftsman. Simply stunning. "
Connie
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
We had a great guide, our group bonded better than I’d anticipated, the tour took us to places I’d always wanted to go, the location guides were uniformly spectacular, and I was in Spain! I can’t tell you how many times I would just marvel that I was really truly in Spain. While the weather wasn’t the warm spring I’d hope for, the experience was fantastic.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The visit to Alhambra and the Moorish art and history. "
Heidi
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
Outstanding! All 14 days were full of wonder and new adventures. Our group clicked early on as one unit. James Scanlon, our tour leader, was superb. He kept the trip running smoothly and continually shared news and information relevant to the trip. I also appreciated his extra efforts including the sherry and wine tastings, the stop at the old sugar facto see the nesting storks, and giving all of us a group print photo at the end. He even checked in via email after we returned.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Meeting a real life matador, Mr. Tejada; visiting the olive oil factory; and seeing the Andalusian horses at their farm."
Larry
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
It was a delightful introduction to Spain’s culture and to some great traveling friends! Our entire group wants to do a reunion on the Basque Country tour next year.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Absorbing the impact of Pablo Picasso’s Guernica painting in the Reina Sophia museum in Madrid"
Gregory
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
All aspects of the trip exceeded our expectations.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Many wow moments! Sagrada Familia, Alhambra, the Bull Farm and the country inn outside of Ronda come to mind first."
Marilyn
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
Excellent guide, James, awesome sights, great hotels, excellent food, overall the best!!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Seeing the Easter activities up close!!"
Kay
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
James was awesome. The groupo was awesome
Janice
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
The entire adventure was outstanding!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Experiencing and viewing the Semata Santa procession 15 feet from our hotel entry door in Madrid. Enjoying the processions in Barcelona and Granada as well. Loved Toledo, Segovia, Sevilla and Barcelona, the horse estate, the bull farm, and the incredible host and lunch at the olive oil farm. The countryside Hotel Molino del Arco was amazing! Of course, our incredible tour guide James and the comradery of our tour group and newfound friends top the list of well. I miss them all!"
Clifford
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
Excellent guide, good selection of cities, wonderful tour group, some good hotels.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Several great sites but no wow moment"
Pamela
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
I'm so very glad that I took this tour! Spain has really not been on my "bucket list" and I didn't have that many expectations, but was delighted and awed and intrigued by the country. Our guide James was charming, informative and made a difficult job look easy. He truly loves what he is doing; his enthusiasm was contagious! The tour group was thoughtful and considerate, local guides were great, hotels and meals were uniformly good...some fabulous. I highly recommend this tour!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"There are so many "wow" moments! I didn't expect to be moved by the Sagrada Familia but was filled with wonder by the structure. The view of Granada's Alhambra from the wonderful restaurant in the Albayzin. The aqueduct and castle in Segovia. The view from my room in Arcos. Getting delightfully lost in all the medieval old cities. And the Easter week processions! But the most surprising thing was the tour of the bull farm. My sentiments changed from horror to respect; it was eye opening!"
Linnet
Tour: 03/23/24
Overall rating:
This was our first tour experience and it far exceeded our expectations. James was an exceptional tour guide - engaging, knowledgeable, and handled the myriad of logistics with apparent ease. We were impressed by the outstanding and timely communication. We were happily surprised by the group camaraderie. The local tours and guides were very good. In no way could we have replicated the experience on our own and very much appreciate the value of a Rick Steves' tour.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Every day was filled with at least one "wow" moment. The Sagrada Familia was unbelievable! The most unexpected "wow" moment was the bull farm - so enlightening."
Kim
Tour: 03/16/24
Overall rating:
Great guides plus great people equals great fun
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Asking a bar tender/server their name and watching their eyes light up"
Mary
Tour: 03/16/24
Overall rating:
The tour experience was so good. Agustin was a great guide with his quiet, kind and confident style. Very professional. The group was very friendly and engaged with everyone. Except for almost everyone catching a 24hr bug, activities were on schedule.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I loved the architecture of A. Gaudi and the La Cartuja horse farm."
Andrea
Tour: 03/16/24
Overall rating:
Loved everything that was planned. Book was helpful. We are art lovers so spare time was spent on art museums. Our tour guide was wonderful and helpful when I had a medical incident. The bus schedule was broken up very well. I would have appreciated nametags because I never got people's names straight. Pacing was wonderful as were all the sites.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"That is too hard to say. Everyday had some wows. "
David
Tour: 03/16/24
Overall rating:
I really enjoyed the fellow travelers. The city guides were all very good with the one at Segovia outstanding. The walking wasn't difficult but there was a fair amount of stopped standing that tended to drain one's energy. If only benches existed. Hotel location was excellent but cramped. The hotel room plumbing at Arcos was a disaster. Material changes to the itinerary were announced at the last minute even when known days before affecting scheduled free times where I had made ticketed plans.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"2 favorites in Barcelona. i didn't know much about Antonio Gaudi before the trip. i would start with the Sagrada Familia, go the Park Guell and then go into any home of his you can. He is a wizard of a structural engineer, an unabashed lover of nature but a genius on the interplay of light and color in interior spaces... Second. Music Place. Do an English speaking tour during the day and go back at night for a performance. Simply captivating. Skylight in hall blue in day, but scarlet at night"
Rosemarie
Tour: 03/16/24
Overall rating:
It was very enjoyable -- well-paced, good group, fine guide, some outstanding sites.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"I don't know that there was one 'wow' moment, but the Alhambra came closest."
Ian
Tour: 10/28/23
Overall rating:
Our Guide, Francisco, was exceptional. Engaging, caring, knowledgeable and kind.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Sagrada Familia and everything else. The whole trip was amazing. "
Theresa
Tour: 10/28/23
Overall rating:
Our guide Francisco is so personable and enthusiastic and attentive to each guest. He set a wonderful tone for every adventure.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"El Prado and later Guernica"
Fionna
Tour: 10/28/23
Overall rating:
The tour was my husband's idea. I was a little reluctant to travel with a group. I have to say, it was probably the best trip I've been on. It was completely stress free and the group we traveled with were lovely. Our guide, Fran , kept us all together and punctual with a smiling face and sense of humour.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"It is hard to say which wow moment was my favourite because there were so many. The Sagrada Familia was amazing. "
Jeff
Tour: 10/28/23
Overall rating:
A wonderful guide - Francisco! Much to see! Loved the art!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Ronda"
Suzanne
Tour: 10/28/23
Overall rating:
As all the Rick Steve's trips we've been on, this trip was fantastic. Francisco was the best guide we've had yet, and that's saying a lot!
Favorite "WOW" moment
"The cathedral in Toledo and Ronda!"
Michael
Tour: 10/28/23
Overall rating:
Francisco was a great tour guide and showed us all so much about Spain and all the sights we saw.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Seeing and touring the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. A very beautiful church to visit."
When To Go & Weather
Any time between April and June, and from September through October are good times to visit Spain. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for offering good weather, long days, lighter crowds, and the full range of tourist fun.
Spain / Barcelona
Spain / Madrid
Spain / Sevilla
Hotels & Flights
Tour Hotels
In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. One month prior to the tour departure, in your customer account you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying in the Documents section of your tour account.
Flights
Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you.
Most tour members arrange to fly into Barcelona (BCN) and out of Sevilla (SVQ) — choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Spain.
We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Spain guidebook.