Holidays in Spain
Start in Madrid before heading to landmarks in southern Spain, including Granada, Cordoba, and Seville.
There’s something familiar about Spain that draws visitors, who maybe remember a few phrases of high school Spanish or harbor a vague curiosity of bullfighting or siestas. But it’s the staggering diversity—of cultures, languages, cuisines, and landscapes—that keeps travelers coming back again and again. Every barrio and pueblo offers something unique, and the Spain you thought you knew is suddenly full of surprises.
Dec 18 – 21, 2023: Barcelona (3 nights)
Dec 21 – 24, 2023: Granada (3 nights)
Dec 24 – 25, 2023: Córdoba (1 night)
Dec 25 – 28, 2023: Sevilla (3 nights)
Dec 28 – 31, 2023: Madrid (3 nights)
By Mediterranean standards, winter is quite cold in Spain. Coastal cities such as Barcelona and those in the south such as Seville and Malaga will be more mild, with average high temperatures in the 50s Fahrenheit. Inland Madrid will be colder, especially at night when lows can reach freezing.
U.S. passport holders don't need any special visa in order to enter Spain for tourism.
These guidelines are for reference only. Scenset holds no responsibility for travel restrictions. Travelers are responsible for ensuring the right documentation to travel.
It’s clear from the moment you step foot in Barcelona that it’s unlike any other Spanish city. The boulevards are wider, the architecture is quirkier, and, if you have an ear for languages, you may hear that the locals are speaking Catalan, not Spanish. An architect's masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, is just one of his architectural gems scattered about the city. With something to offer art enthusiasts, adventurous foodies, and beach loungers, it’s no wonder that Barcelona is one of Europe’s top destinations.
After exiting from baggage claim, your driver will be waiting for you for a private transfer to your hotel in the city center.
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Why we love it for you: Members of a bygone cotton guild—who once occupied this very building—would be honored that the Cotton House hotel pays homage to their humble roots. In addition to the name, there’s an in-house atelier and decorative touches that blend its storied past with an avant-garde present. In fact, the long-ago textile workers would surely be just as impressed by the tropical-themed patio, chic cocktail bar, and rooftop pool overlooking the city.
Cotton House
Category: Two Egypt Rooms
Included: Breakfast
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Gaudi left his mark all over Barcelona, so visit some of his most iconic works around the city. Begin with his masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, which you'll see from inside and out. Afterward, head to Park Güell, which is like a wonderland fantasy but in real life.
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Your stay:
- Cotton House
- Breakfast
Enjoy a day exploring the neighborhoods of Barcelona at your leisure, or venture into one of the local museums, such as the Picasso Museum. As your trip gets closer, look here for more ideas on what to see and where to eat.
Your stay:
- Cotton House
- Breakfast
Granada is the folkloric heart of Andalucia, where the influence of its Moorish past still thrives over five centuries later. You can feel it in the dizzying streets of the Albaicín neighborhood, guided by the sounds of Spanish guitar and the stomping of a flamenco dancer. You can see it as well, in the omnipresent Alhambra palace guarding over the city. You can even taste it in the neverending tapas plates that Granada is known for.
You'll be picked up from your hotel in Barcelona in time for your flight out of El Prat Airport.
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Catch your flight from Barcelona to Granada (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
Direct trains are also available from Barcelona city center to Granada city center (about 6 hours 30 minutes).
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Upon arrival in Granada, your driver will meet you for a private transfer to your hotel near the Alhambra.
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Why we love it for you: The only building that has better real estate in Granada than this hotel is the Alhambra itself. It comes with excellent service, known to be among the best in Spain, and the rooms overlook Granada's most famous building. Located on top of a hill away from the center, guests get peaceful nights while only being a short taxi or bus ride away from the city center.
Parador Granada
Category: Double Superior
Included: Breakfast
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Enjoy a guided tour of the Alhambra complex with an expert guide. This one-time palace and fortress is one of the greatest living examples of Islamic architecture in the world, and its sheer beauty is enough to bring visitors to tears.
Bring your passport with you!
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Experience a tapas tour with your personal guide, tasting the various authentic dishes of the region the way that locals do: going from bar to bar, ordering a drink, and getting a different tapa with each one.
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Your stay:
- Parador Granada
- Breakfast
You'll begin with a tour of the labyrinthine Albayzín neighborhood, still flourishing with artists and tapas bars. This neighborhood itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, having maintained its same street layout since the era of the Moors.
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Get a completely different view of the Alhambra during a night visit. This is an unguided tour, so simply show up and roam around the passages as they're illuminated by candles and moonlight.
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Your stay:
- Parador Granada
- Breakfast
You'll be picked up from your hotel in Granada for a private transfer to your hotel in Cordoba (about 2 hours).
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One cannot visit Andalucia without paying tribute to the most beautiful architectural wonder of southern Spain. The style hints at a refined age when Muslims, Jews and Christians lived side by side and enriched their city with vibrant cultures. Visit this cultural and architectural treasure with your expert guide to learn about its fascinating history.
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In Spain, the big holiday dinner takes place on Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena. Enjoy a delicious meal specially prepared for the holiday at your hotel.
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Why we love it for you: This evocative five-star hotel is both a luxe urban retreat and a slice of Córdoba history, set within a thoughtfully restored centuries-old mansion built on the ruins of a Roman villa, an elegant restaurant, and a candle-lit spa. On December 24, a special Christmas dinner is offered to celebrate the holidays in Spanish style.
Hospes Palacio del Bailio
Category: Deluxe Garden View Room
Included: Breakfast
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In Sevilla, it’s easy to pretend you’re an explorer preparing to set off for the New World. The labyrinthine streets, the towering Gothic cathedral, and the tranquil gardens of the Alcázar have preserved their seductive charm through the centuries, while newer neighborhoods continuously reinvent themselves with new bars, restaurants, and art.
You'll be picked up from your hotel in Cordoba for a private transfer to your hotel in Seville (about 90 minutes).
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Why we love it for you: A tiny corridor in the hip Alfama neighborhood takes you to an almost hidden doorway, which opens up like a portal to a secret garden that seems impossibly spacious. Everything at Corral del Rey is coolly laidback, from the traditional Andaluz breakfast on the patio to sherry tastings in the evening. You’ll likely be on a first-name basis with the owners by the time you leave, who enthusiastically share their love for Seville with the best insider recommendations.
Corral del Rey
Category: 2 Grande Deluxe Rooms
Included: Breakfast
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Your guide will take you to explore Seville’s immense cathedral, awe-inspiring in its scale and majesty, and enjoy access to its spectacular rooftop. The world’s largest Gothic cathedral, it was built between 1434 and 1517 over the remains of what had previously been the city’s main mosque. Highlights include the Giralda, the mighty bell tower which incorporates the mosque’s original minaret, the monumental tomb of Christopher Columbus, and the Capilla Mayor with an astonishing gold altarpiece.
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Enjoy a spectacular show at the intimate Tablao de los Gallos where you can witness some of the best flamenco musicians and dancers interpret famous alegrias.
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Your stay:
- Corral del Rey
- Breakfast
Take a short trip to the nearby town of Jerez, about an hour away from Seville to visit the sherry bodegas and enjoy a traditional lunch.
Make a pitstop in Jerez to try the local speciality: sherry. The Spanish word for sherry is jerez, so there's no better place to try it. You'll stop at a local bodega in town that's been producing sherry for generations, getting a tour and, of course, a tasting.
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Your stay:
- Corral del Rey
- Breakfast
The appeal of Spain’s capital city is how laidback it is. Visitors don’t come for the big-name attractions, but for the local lifestyle. Wander labyrinthine streets through colorful neighborhoods, stumbling in and out of tapas bars along the way. Meals are served late in the evening and last for hours since the locals would never rush good food, wine, and company. Of course, there are some sights you can’t miss, including a glitzy royal palace and cherished art museums.
You'll be picked up from your hotel in Seville in time to catch your train to Madrid.
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All aboard for your direct train from Seville to Madrid Atocha station.
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Your driver will meet you upon arrival at Atocha Station in Madrid to bring you to your hotel in the city center.
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Why we love it for you: The nondescript cement facade of the Madrid Edition offers no clues as to what’s inside, and as you’re ushered through the front door all you see is a white spiral staircase. You’re always left eagerly awaiting what’s to come, and the results never disappoint. It has mastered the niche of urban luxury, where classy decor of white tones and mahogany mesh with the tropical colors of the awarded Peruvian restaurant. The real treat is the rooftop infinity pool, which is unparalleled in Madrid’s center.
Madrid EDITION
Category: 2 Premier Rooms
Included: Breakfast
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As your trip gets closer, look here for recommendations of things to see and where to eat.
Spain's still-active royal family has several palaces around the country, but the most important is the one in Madrid. Get a behind-the-scenes tour of a working palace and learn about the many events and ceremonies that go on here.
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Your stay:
- Madrid EDITION
- Breakfast
Spend your last full day enjoying life in the Spanish capital, taking a walk through Retiro park and eating some final tapas. As your trip gets closer, look here for recommendations of things to see and where to eat.
Puerta de Sol—the "Times Square" of Madrid—hosts the big New Year's Eve countdown. However, there is a runthrough of the event the night before on December 30. It will be crowded, but get a taste of New Year's in the capital one day early at this exciting event!
FYI: Bring grapes with you for the midnight countdown! The Spanish tradition is to eat 12 grapes at midnight of the new year to bring good luck.
Recommended by scenset—nothing has been booked.
Your stay:
- Madrid EDITION
- Breakfast
Your trip, filled with amazing cultural experiences, has concluded. But don't be sad, because in Spain they say hasta luego, or until next time.
You'll be picked up from your hotel in Madrid in time for your flight home.
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