Self Drive - Madrid to Andalusia

Plaza de Los Cibeles Golden Triangle of Art Gran Via El Escorial Seville

Description

Program

Day 1:
ARRIVAL MADRID
Arrive at Madrid airport, meet with a rent-a-car representative to assist you in picking up the rental car, and drive to your hotel. The Spanish capital is one of Europe’s liveliest and most elegant cities, boasting beautiful boulevards, vast parks, bustling plazas, as well as numerous historic churches and palaces. Madrid is also home to the legendary ‘golden triangle’ of art galleries, which houses some of the world’s most treasured masterpieces.
Overnight in Madrid.

Day 2:
MADRID
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Discover all the main sights and attractions driving through famous locations like the Paseo de la Castellana, the Plaza de Los Cibeles, and the Gran Via. Visit the Royal Palace - Europe’s largest - and the Reina Sofia Museum of modern and contemporary art. The Royal Palace has more than 3,000 rooms and the appearance of those seen during the guided tour is an eclectic mix, ranging from cluttered Victorian to exotic oriental décors. Works of art by great masters such as Caravaggio, Velazquez and Goya adorn the walls while period furniture graces every room. The lavishness and opulence of the interiors stand in contrast to the sober baroque and neo-classical exterior, which faces the Almudena Cathedral and overlooks the Campo del Moro gardens. The Reina Sofia Museum boasts one of the greatest collections of modern art in the world. Admire works by Spanish masters such as Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, Juan Gris, and Pablo Picasso, whose vast and haunting Guernica is complemented by an exhibition of other works and resources, which help put the iconic painting in context.
Overnight in Madrid.

Day 3:
MADRID – SAN LORENZO DE EL ESCORIAL – TOLEDO (190 Km – 2.5 hrs)
Depart the capital after a tasty breakfast at the hotel, heading north towards San Lorenzo de El Escorial, located about 60 kilometres away. This pretty and prosperous town is the location of one of Spain’s most important Renaissance monuments, the magnificent monastery of El Escorial, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex also served as the royal palace of Philip II, one of the two dozen monarchs whose final resting place is the Pantheon of Kings. Continue to beautiful Toledo and check-in at the hotel with the rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight in Toledo.

Day 4:
TOLEDO – CORDOBA (350 Km – 4 hrs)
Begin your day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Then, discover Toledo, one of Spain’s most historic cities, where the past comes alive at every corner. Modern Toledo is a living museum that evokes the mix of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian cultures of medieval Castile. Wander through immaculately preserved ancient streets dominated by the stunning cathedral and the legendary Alcazar overlooking the River Tagus. The old town boasts buildings from almost all periods of Spanish history: Moorish, Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance, Habsburg, and baroque. Visit the cathedral and admire the Gothic vaulting and the elaborate altarpiece. Appreciate the numerous works of art such as frescoes, stained glass, altarpieces, and paintings signed by artists like El Greco, Caravaggio, Van Dyck, Rubens, and Goya. Continue to Santo Tome Church – where El Greco’s epic canvas The Burial of the Count of Orgaz is displayed – the former synagogue now known as Santa María la Blanca, admiring its interior, one of the best-preserved examples of Mudejar architecture in Castile. Head towards Cordoba in Andalusia, and check in at the hotel on arrival.
Overnight in Cordoba.

Day 5:
CORDOBA – GRANADA (200 Km – 2 hrs)
Discover Cordoba after breakfast at the hotel. Cordoba was the capital of the Moorish Caliphate of Al-Andalus during the height of its powers and glory, and nowhere is this wealth more evident than in the magnificent Great Mosque, which is now the Catholic cathedral. Wander through the collonaded prayer halls, which are decorated with hundreds of marble columns joined by two-tone arches. Admire the mihrab and the side chapels, with their eclectic mix of arabesque and baroque styles. Stroll through the Patio of the Orange Trees, an oasis of peace cooled by the shade of 100 trees, and admire the arabesque decorations of the exterior doorways. Explore the old town’s whitewashed patios and narrow alleys bedecked with plants and flowers while strolling towards the former Jewish Quarter and visiting the former synagogue. Continue to Granada for check-in at the hotel.
Overnight in Granada.

Day 6:
GRANADA – SEVILLE (260 Km – 3 hrs)
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel before exploring the historic city of Granada and visiting its greatest treasure, the Alhambra Palace, the seat of the last Moorish emirs in Spain. For more than a thousand years, this ‘pearl set in emeralds’ has stood atop Sabika hill overlooking the city, gaining in importance during the Nasrid dynasty, which turned the original castle into the palace of today. Cross the verdant ravine of the River Darro to the Moorish-era Albaicin quarter. Narrow cobblestone alleys of tightly packed whitewashed houses snake their way upwards to the various vantage points offering breathtaking views of the Alhambra nestled under the Sierra Nevada. Continue to Seville for check-in at the hotel.
Overnight in Seville.

Day 7:
SEVILLE
Explore Seville after indulging in breakfast at the hotel. You can discover some of the city’s top attractions such as the Royal Alcazar palace and the cathedral – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites – as well as Barrio Santa Cruz, its most picturesque old town neighborhood and the former Jewish quarter. It is a warren of whitewashed lanes, alleys, archways, and patios, each with a historical tale to tell. The Royal Alcazar traces its origins to the 10th century when it became the palace of a Moorish caliph. Over the centuries, it has been expanded with a series of stunning halls, pavilions, patios, and gardens in a variety of styles from Moorish and Mudejar to Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque. Admire the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea, with its glorious Giralda belfry, Seville’s most iconic symbol. Head over to the magical Maria Luisa Park to discover its two impressive squares, Plaza de España, with its beautiful tiles, elaborate redbrick towers, bridges, and canals, and Plaza de America, which is flanked by a number of magnificent neo-Gothic and neo-Mudejar palaces.
Overnight in Seville.

Day 8:
DEPART SEVILLE
Begin your last day in Seville with a tasty breakfast. Then, at the appropriate time, head towards the rental company to return the vehicle. The rent-a-car shuttle service will transfer you to the terminal to catch your departure flight back home.
Breakfast included.

Price includes

ACCOMMODATION:
- 7 nights' accommodation
MEALS:
- 7 breakfasts
TRANSPORTATION:
- Transportation for the departure transfer on a shared basis, from the car rental company offices to Seville Airport
CAR HIRE:
- Applicable local taxes (VAT)
- Unlimited mileage
- Emergency Contact service
- Replacement car in case of accident
- Full-Full petrol rate
- All-inclusive insurance: Wheel and windscreen (CGT), Road assistance 24 hour telephone service, Vehicle theft (TP); Personal accident insurance (P.A.I).

Price does not include

- Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, laundry, drinks and meals not stated explicitly in the program
- Any others expenses which are not mentioned in the included section
- National or International flights
- All types of insurance (except mentioned rent-a-car insurance)
- Entry visas to Spain and Gibraltar (if applicable)
- Entrance tickets to any venue, museum or activity

NOT INCLUDED IN CAR HIRE:
- Damage to a third party or to the hire vehicle due to negligence or inappropriate driving.
- Loss or damage to aerials, jack, safety triangles and vests, windscreen wipers, petrol cap, luggage covers, or any other fixed or mobile component of the vehicle.
- Damage to the engine through negligence.
- Theft of the vehicle with keys left in the ignition.
- Damage caused to the vehicle or to persons through driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Fines due to breaking traffic laws and regulations during the hire period are the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle. In the event of a fine being received there will be an administration charge. If the car is left outside of rent a car designated area on drop off, customers will be responsible for any costs generated and for any damage to the vehicle due to it being parked outside of the Rent a Car installation.
- Each additional driver fee
- Any extra equipment (GPS, baby seat, etc)
- No insurance cover in Gibraltar.

Itinerary

Accommodations provided in each place