Holidays in Spain
Head south to the folkloric heart of Spain, where the influence of its Moorish past can not only be seen across the architectural landscape but also felt within the reverberating sound of the Spanish guitar or the stomping of a fervent flamenco dancer. Cities like Seville, Granada, and Cordoba come alive in the evenings once the midday sun has set, oftentimes with boisterous outdoor festivals. The bars in Andalucia are known for their generous tapas, and a couple of drinks can easily turn into dinner.
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.
December 25 – 28 | Madrid
- Hotel Orfila (3 nights)
December 28 – 30 | Granada
- Palacio de los Patos (2 nights)
December 30 – January 2 | Seville
- Hotel Don Ramon (3 nights)
January 2 – 3 | Jerez
- Casa Palacio Maria Luisa (1 night)
January 3 – 4 | Madrid
- Hotel Orfila (1 night)
January 4 | Departure
During the winter, Madrid in central Spain experiences cold temperatures with daytime highs around 8°C to 13°C (46°F to 55°F), and occasional frost and some snow.
Southern Spain, including regions like Andalucia, generally has milder and more temperate winters, with daytime temperatures ranging from 12°C to 20°C (54°F to 68°F), making it a more comfortable destination for winter travel.
We have put together this Destination Guide for you, full of unique insights and ways to get excited before you travel, such as:
- Spotify playlists
- Dishes to try
- Helpful phrases
- Packing guide
- Tipping guides
Plus more!
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 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.
Upon exiting baggage claim at the airport, meet your driver who will take you to your hotel in the city center.
Driver: A driver will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked by scenset
We've already requested an early check-in so you can unwind in your room before exploring the city.
Requested but subject to availability on day of check in.
Explore enchanting gardens like Retiro Park and Sabatini Gardens, immersing yourself in their beauty and history. Many of them are also specially decorated for the holidays, adding some Christmas spirit to your afternoon.
Pick-Up Time: Afternoon
Pick-Up Location: Hotel Lobby
End Time: Evening
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked by scenset
Enjoy a Christmas dinner in the celebrated restaurant of Las Brasas inside the Rosewood Hotel.
Reservation Time: Evening
Las Brasas restaurant is a 9-minute walk from your hotel or a short taxi ride.
Here are some great spots for getting a bite in Madrid, from casual tapas bars to finer diner restaurants. If you'd like a reservation at any of them, just send a message in the chat.
- Bodegas La Ardosa: This classic Madrileño tavern dates back to 1892, and it’s the ideal place for sitting, chatting, and drinking while getting a dose of Spanish history. Definitely try the tortilla de patatas and the artichokes!
- Casa Dani: One of the most famous stalls at Madrid’s Mercado de la Paz is Casa Dani, a spot that serves up generous portions of croquetas, oxtail, and their famous tortilla de patata.
- Juana la Loca: Juana La Loca is a stylish, popular restaurant with glass cases sitting on the bar filled with tapas and pintxos.
- Saddle: The dishes, like the garlic-topped Mediterranean red prawns, Caspian pearl caviar with blinis and crème fraîche, spider crab marinated in sherry, and aged beef shank always deliver, and you’ll probably be talking about every course on this tasting menu back home.
- Charrua: The speciality here is the parrilla, meaning grilled pieces of meat. Enjoy some of the best steak filets you can find in the Spanish capital at this elegant restaurant.
Why we love it for you: Enter Hotel Orfila and the framed portraits, Victorian wallpaper, and period furniture immediately transport you to a fantasy of living in the Spanish aristocracy. The restaurant from a two-Michelin-starred chef and refined outdoor garden fit right in, but what is surprising is that a hotel seemingly filled with antiques can at the same time feel so fresh. There’s nothing stuffy about it, and a bar so cool that even locals come to visit means it’s always buzzing.
Hotel Orfila
Superior Double
- Breakfast included
Hit the ground running by getting to know Madrid in the most delicious way possible: on a food tour. Explore the best markets and tapas bars with your expert guide, trying some of the most traditional dishes of Madrid along the way.
Pick-Up Time: Around midday
Pick-Up Location: Hotel Lobby
End Time: Early afternoon
Guide: A guide will be provided
Contact: A contact number will be provided
Light meal included.
Booked by scenset
Step inside El Pescador, which means "The Fisherman," and enjoy the incredible seafood dishes that they prepare.
Reservation: Evening
Reservation made and confirmed by Hotel Orfila.
El Pescador is a 10-minute taxi ride from your hotel.
Hotel Orfila
Superior Double
- Breakfast included
Take a private transfer to Toledo where Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived in great harmony for centuries. The city preserves two synagogues, a mosque and a cathedral that is often listed as one of the most impressive buildings in Europe. Your expert guide will take you through Toledo's long history in Spain.
Be sure to pick up some marzipan, a local specialty!
Pick-Up Time: Morning
Pick-Up Location: Hotel Lobby
Return Time: Afternoon
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Your day in Toledo includes time to stop and eat lunch at a local restaurant recommended by your guide. Lunch is to be paid for directly at the restaurant.
Booked by scenset
Enjoy a traditional manchego lunch at La Orza, a Michelin-guide recommended restaurant located in the heart of Toledo's Jewish Quarter.
Reservation: In the afternoon.
A guide will bring you to the restaurant after the tour in time to enjoy lunch before heading back to Madrid.
Hotel Orfila
Superior Double
- Breakfast included
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 and taken to Madrid Atocha train station for your train to Granada.
Pick-Up Time: Early morning
Driver: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked by scenset
We've requested that your hotel prepare coffee and breakfast to go so you can enjoy it on your morning train ride to Granada.
Use your electronic tickets to board your train. Your reference number is included below in case you need it.
Reference Number: S9NBUV
Car: 3
Seats: 6B, 6C
Upon arrival, you'll be picked up by your private transfer for the ride to your hotel in the city center.
Booked by scenset
Enjoy free use of the Granada Card, a card that gives you free access for 48 hours to several of the city's top attractions. You can explore these on your own in your free time, and some of the attractions you can visit are:
- Granada Cathedral
- Royal Chapel
- the Sacremonte Abbey
- the Monastery of San Jeronimo
- Fine Arts Museum
- and more!
Meet with your guide to walk through some of Granada’s main highlights, including the Jewish neighborhood of Realejo. This Realejo is known as the “Juderia” or the Jewish Quarter during Muslim rule.
Granada is perhaps the capital of tapas within Spain, where you can easily eat an entire meal from the free tapas that come with a drink. In the evening, experience a tapas tour with your personal guide, tasting the various authentic dishes of the region.
Pick-Up Time: Early evening
Pick-Up Location: Hotel Lobby
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked by scenset
Here are some vetted and delicious places to eat in Granada, ranging from casual tapas bars to sit-down restaurants.
- Puerta del Carmen: An all-time favorite tapas restaurant with a cool ambiance and delicious food—try the milhojas with mango and goat cheese!
- Mirador de Morayma: Have lunch in this traditional restaurant with a huge terrace overlooking the Alhambra.
- Más Que Vinos: Another tapas bar that has become an institution in Granada. It's where you'll find a lot of locals who comes for the good food and even better sherry.
- La Puerta de Syria: The Arab influence in Granada is undeniable, and you'll see that in local restaurants too. Take a break from Spanish food and eat at this Arab restaurant with inspiration from Morocco to Syria.
Why we love it for you? The name translates to “palace of the ducks” and, while there isn’t much waterfowl around, Palacio de Los Patos is undoubtedly palatial. The fountains in the patio garden, Doric columns around the grand staircase, and soaring ceilings aren’t just decorations but historic pieces from the scenset 19th-century owner. Capturing Granada’s magic is no easy task, but this palace seemingly does it with ease.
Hospes Palacio de los Patos
Dreamer's Room
- Breakfast included
Today you'll be visiting the most important sights in Granada, including the famed Alhambra.
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.
Pick-Up Time: Late morning
Pick-Up Location: Hotel lobby
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Bring your passport with you!
Booked By scenset
Have lunch at the Mirador de Morayma, facing the Alhambra. Explore the Arab neighborhood of Albayzin, with its white-washed houses and narrow streets. Trek up through the hill to the top of the neighborhood where you will reach Mirador San Nicolás. From here, you will be able to enjoy stunning views of the Alhambra.
Reservation Time: Afternoon
Reservation booked independently.
Enjoy dinner at Puerta del Carmen: An all-time favorite tapas restaurant with a cool ambiance and delicious food—try the milhojas with mango and goat cheese!
Puerta del Carmen is just a 7-minute walk from your hotel.
Hospes Palacio de los Patos
Dreamer's Room
- Breakfast included
Today you'll head off to Seville, but stopping for lunch and a cultural visit to Córdoba, one of the gems of Andalucia.
You'll be picked up in a private transfer for a drive to Seville, making a pitstop along the way in Cordoba.
Pick-Up Time: Late morning
Booked by scenset
La Mezquita is a one-time mosque dating back to the Islamic Empire in Spain. 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.
When you arrive at the Mezquita, your guide will meet you at the fountain inside the Mezquita patio.
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked By scenset
Regadera offers a rustic-chic dining ambiance where they expertly blend the rich traditions of Andalusian cuisine with global influences. Their menu showcases iconic dishes like "Salmorejo," "Rabo de Toro," "Gambas al Ajillo," and "Jamón Ibérico," each prepared with a modern twist. With a diverse selection of flavors, this restaurant is a culinary gem that perfectly captures the essence of Andalusian gastronomy while adding a contemporary touch. It's a must-visit for anyone seeking an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of Andalusia.
Reservation: In the afternoon.
Reservation confirmed by your guide and meal to be paid directly at the restaurant.
After enjoying lunch in Cordoba, continue on to Seville.
Booked by scenset
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.
Seville is a beautiful city with a rich culinary culture. Here are some of the best restaurants in Seville:
- Lalola by Javi Abascal: A Michelin-guide recommended restaurant by a local chef that's an ode to Andaluz ingredients.
- El Pintón: This restaurant is a great option for those looking for traditional Spanish food with a bistro touch. The menu features dishes such as gazpacho, Iberian pork, and octopus, as well as a wide selection of tapas.
- La Azotea: This restaurant is located in the heart of Seville and offers a contemporary take on traditional Spanish cuisine. The menu features a range of tapas and dishes, including grilled Iberian pork and roasted vegetables.
- La Brunilda: This is a small and cozy restaurant that serves a variety of Spanish and international dishes, including pasta, burgers, and salads.
- El Pasaje: This restaurant is known for its seafood and traditional Spanish cuisine. The menu includes dishes such as fried fish, paella, and grilled seafood.
- Al Aljibe: This restaurant is located in the Santa Cruz neighborhood and offers a range of Spanish and Andalusian dishes. The menu includes grilled meats, seafood, and a variety of tapas.
Why we love it for you? Don Ramon is the big-city sister property of the Maria Luisa Palace in Jerez, but it exudes all of the same andaluz charm. Located in the center of the city and walking distance from all the best sites, you still feel like you're tucked away in an old Sevillian home away from the bustle outside.
Hotel Don Ramon
Deluxe Room
- Breakfast included
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.
Depart Hotel: Morning
Meeting Time: Shortly after
Meeting Place: Meet your guide at the fountain in front of La Giralda (this is a short walk from your hotel)
Guide: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Your guide will give you the rooftop tickets to visit the Cathedral, which can only be visited with the Cathedral guide. Afterward, your guide will meet you to visit the Alcazar.
Booked by scenset.
The Alcazar of Seville is a royal palace in the city of Seville, Spain. It was built in the 14th century and features a blend of Mudéjar, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles. The palace is known for its intricate tilework, beautiful gardens, and historical significance as a symbol of Spain's rich cultural heritage.
Booked by scenset
Start off 2024 in the most stylish way possible at the luxurious Alfonso XIII hotel in Seville. Begin with a sumptuous dinner with premium wines, and then take part in the Spanish New Year's tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight (make a wish for every grape you eat!).
After midnight, the party continues until 4 a.m. with your drinks included.
Booked by scenset
Hotel Don Ramon
Deluxe Room
- Breakfast included
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.
Pick-Up Time: Early evening
Pick-Up Location: Hotel Lobby
After the show, your return transportation back to your hotel is included.
Booked by scenset.
Hotel Don Ramon
Deluxe Room
- Breakfast included
Jerez is a vibrant town with a bustling mercado where the locals still go to buy their local produce and meats and a gorgeous cathedral.
This morning you'll be picked up for your private transfer to the city of Jerez, including a few stops to really dive deep into Andalucia.
Pick-Up Time: Morning
Booked by scenset
The White Towns of Andalusia, or Pueblos Blancos, are a series of towns and large villages in the northern part of the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga in southern Spain, mostly within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. They are characterized by whitewashed walls and brown tiled roofs with a dreamy sense of the remote past.
You'll stop in Arcos de la Frontera, one of the quintessential white villages. Located in a thrilling clifftop, it boasts a stunning parador and narrow streets filled with historical mystery and whitewashed arches.
Booked by scenset.
Have an aperitif at Osborne, one of the oldest producers in Spain. The word in Spanish for sherry is jerez, so there's nowhere better to try this Andalucian spirit. Stop at this authentic bodega for a tour and try specialities like manzanilla and fino.
Booked by scenset.
Enjoy lunch at the restaurant Bar Juanito in Jerez, a local restaurant that serves traditional andaluz plates.
Recommended by scenset—nothing has been booked.
Why we love it for you: This boutique luxury hotel in the city of Jerez is the perfect place to enjoy the city during Semana Santa. The processions pass directly by the hotel, so you'll have a front row seat even when your tour ends. Spending the night also allows for an easy excursion the next day to experience Jerez's most popular product: sherry!
Casa Palacio Maria Luisa
Premium Room
- Breakfast included
Today you'll head back to the capital city of Madrid for one last night to catch your flight home the following day.
Your driver will take you to the train station in time to catch your train back to Madrid.
Pick-Up Time: Afternoon
Pick-Up Location: Hotel lobby
Booked by Scenset
Use your electronic tickets to board your train. Your reference number is included below in case you need it.
Reference Number: X9SH3T
Car: 2
Seats: 8B, 8C
You'll be picked up upon arrival at Madrid Atocha station to head back to your hotel in the city center.
Driver: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked by Scenset
End your trip in Spain with dinner at Coque, an incredible two-Michelin star restaurant that promises to be an unforgettable meal.
Coque is just an 8-minute walk from your hotel.
Reservation made independently.
Hotel Orfila
Superior Double
- Breakfast included
You've had a trip packed with amazing cultural treasures! But in Spain we don't say goodbye but rather hasta luego, or until next time.
You'll be picked up from your hotel in time to catch your flight home.
Pick-Up Time: Morning
Driver: will be provided
Contact: will be provided
Booked by Scenset
scenset invests in making the world a better place. scenset will offset the fuel you will use during the trip. On top of that, we will offset an extra 10% to make your trip a carbon-positive experience.
Currently, we support Gold Standard Climate+ Projects from the Gold Standard Foundation.
Please refer to our terms & conditions here.