The CIE Tours sales team convened in Madrid this November for a mix of meetings, strategizing and discovery. Once their business was complete, they embarked on an adventure to experience the Best of Spain - guided by the expertise of CIE Tours guide, Olaf, who shared his country's culture and history each day. 

We asked Geri Urbanowski, Inside Sales Coordinator at CIE Tours, to share her insight and tell us what it was like to see Spain on our Best of Spain vacation. 

Experiencing Madrid's Rich Culture

We began in Madrid - with so many historic and beautiful sights like the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, and Plaza de Espana. The group all agreed that our local guide in Madrid, Monica, who helped us enjoy the Prado Museum, was a treasure! She brought the past several hundred years of Spain’s history to life by showcasing the works of Goya, Velazquez, and El Greco. Even if you don’t think of yourself as ‘into art’, this visit is interesting -  and helps set up for a week of art, history, stories…all things Spain.

Tastes, Sights, and Local Flavors

After a panoramic tour, we were free to explore. The old town is very walkable with lively shops, cafes, tapas bars and restaurants. Olav gave us expert tips, and after a long fabulous lunch, we set off strolling. There are so many great shops in Madrid, from small boutiques to upscale stores. And then it was time to eat again - with many markets to choose from, it's easy to sample Spanish cuisine like a local! I enjoyed a potato dish, jamón, (delicious cured ham) and cheese. This ‘let me try a little’ mentality really is fun, with enormous variety of foods in the markets all over Spain. My friends and I walked back to our hotel, passing locals shopping and enjoying the busy atmosphere as we got our steps in.

Historic Córdoba and Seville's Warm Welcome

The next morning we took a high-speed train from Madrid to Córdoba. (Our luggage was loaded into in our motorcoach to meet us at our next hotel. How great is that?) There, our local guide showed us the Jewish Quarter and the magnificent Mezquita Cathedral - rich in the history of three religions. The Old Town surrounds this structure with small shops, cafes, and lovely restaurants lining the narrow cobblestone streets, which we had ample free time to explore.  We ended the day with a group dinner at our beautiful hotel in Seville - a perfect way to unwind and reconnect after a busy day.

Enchanted by Seville

Morning brought a delicious breakfast that left us happy and fueled to explore Seville, which would turn out to be my favorite place. Our first stop was the beautiful Plaza De Espana, a relatively new plaza built in 1928…. It is so beautiful! Locals come here for engagement and wedding photos and it’s easy to see why.

Renaissance and Moorish architecture styles take you out of a city and into a dream - and with 300 days of sunshine a year, you’ll often have perfect blue skies for your photos. Our group took so many great pictures here. Then, on to Seville Cathedral where Olav showed us around ending with the tomb of Christopher Columbus. WOW! The building is so big, with stunning art works it is easy to feel tiny. Free time allowed some of our group to climb the tower with the rest of us shopped and had lunch in the Jewish Quarter. The locals were friendly and the small streets led to bustling little squares with cafes and music and people enjoying the mild weather. 

That night we visited Museo del Baile Flamenco to explore the museum with Olav and see a terrific, emotional flamenco performance. No cell phones allowed- which meant we all focused on the talented musicians and dancers. The group could then go back to the hotel or enjoy a night out - we wandered the winding streets to eat and shop a bit more! Getting a taxi back to the hotel was simple and stress-free.  

Granada’s Alhambra and Autumn Magic

Day five we drove to Granada, with the view of Alhambra Palace growing from a distance. Then we arrived... Stepping back to 13th century in its walls was incredible - as were its breathtaking views of the mountains and city. Our local guide, Elena, told tales stories of the sultans and rulers who called this palace home. After seeing the gardens – beautiful even in late fall- we got to our hotel and had a free night to enjoy bustling Granada! Some shops were decorated for the holidays, many locals were out and about shopping, restaurants were busy, and the outdoor markets were buzzing. The hotel’s location in the heart of things made it easy to enjoy the night.

Local Flavors at Bodegas Viña Elena

Day 6 brought us to Bodegas Viña Elena, a family-owned vineyard. We learned about the types of grapes they use, how they grew their business and what they offer today. Of course, FOOD was next - and they treat guests like royalty, offering cheese, jamon, breads, and olive oil along with white and red wine. We enjoyed a roasted pork dish with potatoes and desert. The only thing that could make this afternoon better was shopping- and options were plentiful! Our group went wild, with olive oil, wines, soap, candles and more to choose from. Leave a little space in your suitcase - the olive oil and wines are hard to resist!

We traveled on to Valencia with a few comfort stops and arrived at our hotel, with time to freshen up before venturing out to explore the city’s culinary specialties and enjoying a dinner of paella.  

Contrasts of Valencia and Barcelona

The next morning, we were on the road early to take in the sights of Valencia. It felt like we stepped into the future as we strolled through the modern district – remarkable after so many days of history! We continued on to Barcelona, where we checked into our hotel and had the night to ourselves. There were shops, restaurants, and even a big shopping mall within a few minutes’ walk of the hotel. Not only was it easy to get a taxi to the Old Town a few minutes away, but a tram stops only a few steps from the hotel lobby.  

Marvels of Barcelona

On Day 8 - my second-favorite day after Seville - a local guide showed us through the Gothic Quarter, ending with a guided tour of Sagrada Familia. Gaudi's amazing church towers over the nearby city streets like a giant - and was even more impressive up close. Our guide showed us details we would not have noticed on our own. He told the story of how it was made, why it is taking so long to finish and how much care and detail went into every piece. And then we went inside. I felt transported to some strange Catholic future - while at the same time the architecture feels so in tune with nature. It was incredible. My well-traveled fellow travel companions were all in awe of this special experience. The free afternoon left us plenty of time to explore the old town, with a bit of shopping, listening to music and seeing locals dance in a square and tapas with drinks on a rooftop. This was an incredible day!  

Farewell to Spain

All too soon, day nine arrived and it was time to say farewell to Spain. After breakfast, I got my bags together and took in a final glimpse of Barcelona before meeting my transfer. Barcelona Airport is busy but manageable, and only a short drive from the hotel.  All in all, a smooth ending to a wonderful trip.

Reflections and Travel Tips

• Spain opened my eyes to an interest in art and architecture – there is so much beauty and it ties in with the history of this extraordinary country. Spain opened my eyes to an interest in art and architecture.
• Spain offers amazing culinary delights, whether you’re a foodie or fussy. The markets offer so many options and tapas menus are great for small bites. I so enjoyed trying different types of cuisine and the seafood was fabulous.
• Going in the fall was great because the weather was perfect for touring and exploring: never ever too hot, and lots of sunshine. While there were some crowds, busy places never felt overwhelming.   
• I recommend dressing and packing in layers but lighter layers compared to travel in Ireland this time of year. Bring comfortable sneakers or walking shoes – there’s so much to see and you’ll want to use your free time to explore the old towns.
• If you know any Spanish, it will come in handy - but almost everyone I interacted with spoke some English.
• The locals were friendly, and the cities were all clean and felt safe.
• All of the guides had a passion for their home cities and it showed with their knowledge and skill.

Spain is a magnificent country and I can’t wait to go back.