Best of Spain

Experience Spain’s capital with a licensed guide. Visit the Royal Palace, Europe’s largest, to see lavish halls and frescoes. Stroll lively Gran Vía with its theaters, shops, and cafés. Admire the Cibeles Fountain depicting the earth goddess Cybele. See the Neoclassical Puerta de Alcalá in Plaza de la Independencia, a ceremonial gateway to the city. Conclude at Columbus Square, a hub of monuments and museums.

Tour Toledo, long considered the spiritual capital of Spain and once home to El Greco. Visit Toledo Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece filled with treasures such as alabaster sculpture, El Greco’s paintings, and a gilded monstrance carried in Corpus Christi processions. Step into St. Mary’s Synagogue, a symbol of coexistence among three faiths, and explore Toledo’s famous sword-making tradition at a local factory.

Stop at Córdoba to visit one of Spain’s most impressive monuments, the Moorish Mezquita, which dates from the 8th to the 10th centuries. Walk through narrow white-washed alleys, passing tile covered patios, dotted with vibrant colored flowers. Don’t miss the beautiful back quarters.

The Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba is a breathtaking monument that blends Moorish and Christian architecture. Its forest of columns and horseshoe arches creates a striking visual rhythm, while intricate mosaics and the gold-adorned mihrab add to its beauty. Dating from the 8th to 10th centuries, the Mezquita reflects the rich and complex history of Córdoba.

Explore Seville with a local guide as students discover the city’s rich history and architecture. Walk through the Old Jewish Quarter of Santa Cruz and San Bartolomé, visit the impressive Seville Cathedral and ascend the Giralda Tower, and explore Casa de Pilatos, a model of Andalusian palace design. The tour also includes a stop at the iconic Plaza de España.

Work with skilled instructors to learn about the history, rhythms, and moves of this famous gypsy dance and then admire the professionals as they put on a special show for you.

Take a guided sightseeing tour of Malaga, Picasso’s birthplace and a city known for its beaches and citadels. Stop at the town’s Renaissance-style cathedral and visit Museo Picasso, which contains an incredible 285 of Picasso’s original works. See one of the busiest ports of the Mediterranean before heading to the colorful market and Gibralfaro castle, the hilltop fortification with a beautiful view of the city from above.

Explore Gibraltar, a unique British territory where cultures meet. Visit the iconic Rock of Gibraltar, home to Barbary macaques, and take in views across the Strait to Africa. Explore the Moorish Castle and its Tower of Homage, a symbol of Gibraltar’s past, and step inside St. Michael’s Cave to see its dramatic rock formations and natural chambers.

Explore Granada’s Alhambra with a guided visit. Students examine Moorish architecture and Islamic art while touring the gardens, Summer Palace, Medina, Royal Arab Baths, and Alcazaba fortress, gaining insight into life in medieval Al-Andalus and the cultural legacy of Muslim Spain. Please note: Entry to the main palace building is subject to availability.

The city of Valencia sits on the Mediterranean south coast of Barcelona. Over the centuries it has been occupied by the Greeks, the Romans, and the Moors, and each group has contributed to the city's rich and distinctive culture. Valencia is surrounded by fragrant citrus groves and possesses its own local dialect of Valenciano.

Discover Tarragona’s Roman past as you explore a city shaped by ancient engineering and design. Visit the Roman Amphitheatre overlooking the sea, walk beneath the impressive Les Ferreres Aqueduct (Pont del Diable), and take in sweeping coastal views from the Balcón del Mediterráneo. Experience how history and modern life blend along this vibrant Mediterranean coast.

Immerse yourself in the art that captures the passion of Spain. Compare the techniques and meanings in the works of artists from El Greco to Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Deepen your understanding of art history as you debate how these and other masters defined and shaped Spanish culture.

Discover Barcelona with a licensed guide as you explore its mix of Gothic charm and modernist brilliance. Visit Plaza de España, then marvel at Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, the soaring church that defines the city’s skyline. Wander through Park Güell with its colorful mosaics and sweeping views, and journey to Montjuïc Hill, home to historic fortresses and the 1992 Olympic grounds.

Take interactive learning to another level with a Tour Director-led treasure hunt of Las Ramblas, the most famous pedestrian street of Barcelona! Complete exciting activities and solve fun clues. Each clue and every activity is built to maximize on-tour experiential learning.

Explore Pamplona with your Tour Director, a city rich in history and tradition. Begin in Plaza del Castillo, the lively square known as the “living room” of Pamplona, where locals gather and festivals come to life. Learn about the city’s famous Running of the Bulls and its deep connection to the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Visit the magnificent Pamplona Cathedral (Santa María la Real), a Gothic masterpiece featuring one of Europe’s finest cloisters and a museum filled with medieval art.

This commercial center of the Basque country has been transformed in the past few years into a showplace of modern city-planning and world-class art. Architect Frank Gehry’s stunning Guggenheim Museum leads the way, along with Norman Foster’s futuristic subway and the Santiago Calatrava glass footbridge, which allows visitors to practically walk across water.

Located on a ridge on a dramatically barren plain, Segovia has dramatic Roman and medieval monuments. As you approach town, a giant cathedral greets you first. Only after passing does the town come into view through a steep and narrow valley. Stop to examine the Segovia basilica and the Santo Domingo de Silos Benedictine Monastery

A castle fit for a king! This stone fortification rises up imposingly from a rocky crag in the old city of Segovia. See its towering round turrets, spindly spires, luxurious throne room and fully stocked armory.