In November 2025, I went on an 8-day G Adventures group tour through Southern Spain. Traveling with a group was perfect – knowledgeable guides, zero logistics stress. The tour covered Andalusia, Spain's southern region, famous for Moorish architecture, flamenco, and incredible history.

Getting There

Raleigh-Durham to Atlanta to Madrid. Standard transatlantic flight.

Booked an airport pickup through Viator. After a long flight, having a driver waiting was perfect. No stress, just straight to the hotel.

Had time before hotel check-in, so took the Madrid City Tour hop-on-hop-off bus. Did both routes – Historic Madrid and Modern Madrid. Perfect way to get oriented and see the major sights right away.

Day 1-2: Madrid

Stayed at Hotel Europa in central Madrid.

Day 1: Arrived and had a group dinner at Gustos Madrid. Great way to meet everyone on the tour and dive straight into Spanish food culture.

Day 2: Morning walking city tour of Madrid. Hit Plaza Mayor, saw the Royal Palace, and many other interesting places. Don't miss churros dipped in hot chocolate at San Ginés – a very Madrid thing and absolutely worth it. Stumbled upon a Caganer store – quirky Catalan figurines depicting everyone from celebrities to politicians, all in hilarious poses. Unique souvenir spot.

Evening: Flamenco show at Torres Bermejas. This place is legit – been around since 1960, decorated like the Alhambra with Moorish walls and ornate ceilings. The show was an hour of pure intensity. The footwork, the guitar, the emotion – incredible.

Day 3-4: Granada

Took the double-decker public bus from Madrid to Granada. Stayed at Hotel Casa Palacio Pilar del Toro.

First evening: We walked to see the Alhambra all lit up – absolutely stunning.

Day 4 morning: Another walking tour through Granada's historic center. Tried pionono – Granada's famous sweet pastry. The Cathedral of Granada is massive – Spanish Renaissance at its finest.

Afternoon: The Alhambra tour – highlight of the whole trip. This place is one of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture anywhere. Walking through the palaces, gardens, and courtyards, learning about Granada's time under Muslim rule – it's all preserved perfectly. The intricate tile work, the water features, the views. Get your tickets way in advance – they're strict about reservations.

Evening: Headed up to the Albaicín quarter for sunset. Narrow whitewashed lanes, views back to the Alhambra, the skyline turning golden. Both are UNESCO heritage sites.

Day 5: Córdoba (En Route to Seville)

Private van from Granada to Seville, stopping in Córdoba along the way. The Mezquita blew my mind. It was built as a mosque in 785, then they literally inserted a Christian cathedral into the middle of it in the 16th century. Walking through feels surreal – hundreds of striped arches, then suddenly you're in a baroque cathedral. Nothing else like it. Bought a lot of Turkish delight – Córdoba's Moorish influence shows up everywhere, even in the sweets.

Day 5-6: Seville

Stayed at Ocean Drive Seville – a modern boutique hotel right across from Las Setas (the giant mushroom structure). Perfect location.

Spent a full day exploring – the Santa Cruz quarter with its winding alleys and flowery patios, the Alcázar palace with its Moorish gardens, the world's largest Gothic cathedral with La Giralda tower.

Evening flamenco show here hits different. Seville is where flamenco was born, and you can feel it. The passion and energy were off the charts.

Pro tip: Book Alcázar tickets ahead.

Sagrada Familia - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Day 7: Barcelona

Took the high-speed train from Seville to Barcelona – complete culture shift. Swapped Andalusia's Moorish vibes for modern Catalan energy. Stayed at Hotel AA Viladomat Barcelona. Location wasn't ideal, but the hotel was ok.

Quick orientation city walk. Then the real highlight: paella cooking class at Mescladis, a migrant training kitchen. Learned to make proper paella with the chef and migrant students. Then ate what we made. Perfect way to end the tour.

Extra Day: Barcelona Deep Dive

Stayed an extra day. Booked a "Barcelona in One Day" tour covering Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Old Town, and Montjuïc with hotel pickup.

Final Thoughts

One unexpected discovery: vegetarian paella in three different cities. Madrid, Granada, and Barcelona each had their own take on it – different vegetables, different seasonings, different cooking styles. Same dish, completely different taste every time. That's Andalusia in a nutshell – familiar traditions with unique local twists.

The flamenco shows were another eye-opener. Madrid's Torres Bermejas was polished and intimate – perfect introduction. But Seville? That's where flamenco was born, and you feel it. The energy, the rawness, the passion – totally different vibe. Both incredible, just in their own ways.

Book tours ahead (especially Alhambra and Sagrada Familia), leave time to wander. Best moments were sitting in plazas with coffee, just watching people go by.

Moorish Palaces to Gaudí Masterpieces: My Andalusian Journey