Operated by Viator Tours, the Cordoba, Seville and Granada tour is a four-day, three-night regional tour leaving from Madrid throughout the year. The tour features some of the most popular sites of the Andalucia region, including the Alhambra, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other tour features are the Jewish quarter of Cordoba, the famous countryside of the Don Quixote legend, and the beautiful cathedrals of Seville's Santa Cruz quarter. Depending on your choice, you will stay at three- or four-star hotels. The tour fee, which as of 2010 ranged from $600-$800, includes English-speaking guides, entrance fees, an air-conditioned bus, and most meals. Exclusions include gratuities and hotel pick-ups. For more information on fees and detailed itineraries, visit the tour website at viator.com.
Operated by Madrid Day Tours, the half- or full-day tour of Toledo is a perfect day trip for those looking for a short tour outside of Madrid. Toledo is less than 50 miles from Madrid, yet is in stark contrast to the metropolitan city. The English-speaking guides will take you throughout the medieval city, showing you the most important Jewish and Arab landmarks, in addition to the historic Mudejar architecture and Baroque Christian churches. Other tour highlights include the Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue and the Church of St. Tome, where you can see the popular painting by El Greco. The tour includes air-conditioned transportation by private car or small van, and the tour company offers hotel pick-up. As of 2010, the price of the tour varied depending on the amount of people in your party. A two-person group costs about $180 each. The more people in your party (up to seven), the less the cost per person. Madrid Day Tours' Toledo tour runs daily throughout the year. For more information about the tour, including pricing and booking information, visit its website at madriddaytours.com.
The Avila and Segovia tour, operated by Julia Tours, is a full day-trip starting in Madrid. Highlights of this tour include visiting Avila, a town that dates to the 11th century, and which is both the birthplace of mystic writer St. Maria de Jesus and a UNESCO World Heritage city. The second stop on the tour is Segovia, whose castle, the Alcazar, is said to have inspired the Disney castle. The tour package includes travel by a luxury air-conditioned bus, all entrance fees and a fine Segovinian lunch. As of 2010, the cost of the tour was about $75 per person. The company does not offer hotel pick-up but rather meets at an arranged point in Madrid's city center. For more information, including information on booking and pricing, visit its website at http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/excursions/madrid.htm.
