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, Elena 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 ‘are not really 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. Olaf gave us expert tips, and I enjoyed a long fabulous lunch with friends and set off strolling. There are so many great shops in Madrid, from touristy boutiques to upscale stores. Before I knew it- 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, jamon *of course!) 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 Cordoba. (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 me 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 often have perfect blue skies for your pictures backdrop. Our group took so many great pictures here. On to Seville Cathedral where Olaf 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 Olaf and see a terrific, emotional flamenco performance. No cell phones allowed- which I loved! It was so different and the musicians and dancers so talented. We 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 is in the heart of things it was easy to enjoy the night.

Local Flavors at Bodegas Viña Elena

Day 6 we made our way 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 we were fed like royalty. Local 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- which we could do! Our group went wild, olive oil, wines, soap, candles and more to choose from. This is my top recommendation for your souvenir shopping. We traveled on to Valencia with a few comfort stops and arrived at our hotel, with time to freshen up before a group 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 – remarkable after so many days of history! We continued on to Barcelona…stopping at Peniscola , a seaside town with ancient walls and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean sea. In Barcelona, 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, and it 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 made me feel very much in nature. It was incredible. My well-traveled fellow travel companions were all in awe of this special experience. The afternoon was all about exploring the old town, with a bit of shopping, listening to music and seeing locals dance in a square and drinks on a rooftop with tapas. This was an incredible day!  

Farewell to Spain

Sadly on day nine my adventures in Spain came to an end. I had a later flight so was able to enjoy a late breakfast and sleep in a bit. I went for a long walk near my hotel, the weather was perfect, about 60* and sunny. My transfer came and Barcelona airport- while big and busy not nearly as big as Madrid airport- was just a few minutes away.  

Reflections and Travel Tips

• Spain opened my eyes to an interest in art and architecture. I so enjoyed trying different types of cuisine and the seafood was fabulous.
• I think going in the fall was great because the weather was perfect for touring and exploring, never ever too hot, lots of sunshine - and 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. Have comfortable sneakers ready to use almost every day.
• If you know any Spanish it will come in handy but almost everyone I interacted with spoke some English.
• The locals were friendly, 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 with so much to offer... I cannot wait to go back. There is no place I would rather be than on the road with CIE Tours.