Spain
Madrid, Seville, Granada, & Córdoba
Welcome to Andalucía, Spain! This southeastern region of Spain is famous for its historic cobblestoned streets, delicious cuisine and unbelievable palaces. Madrid, Seville, Granada and Cordoba each provide a unique opportunity to explore the rich history and culture of Spain stretching back thousands of years. Given the assessable Spanish-speaking opportunities and easily navigable streets of these ancient cities, it’s no wonder Andalucía has been one of the top 3 study abroad locations for American college students for over the past decade.
On this expedition, students will:
Immerse themselves in Spanish culture via language, food, music, dance, economic practice and daily living within the infamous southern region of Andalucía, Spain.
Explore the cobblestoned streets of Seville, Granada and Córdoba — venture into markets, eat delicious local cuisine, and experience authentic Spanish culture.
Spend quality time with locals living with a host-stay family with peers for a few days and have endless opportunities to develop Spanish language skills.
Walk historic Spanish sites such as the famous palaces of the Alhambra in Granada, religious cornerstones such as la Mezquita in Córdoba and roam the hallways of the kings and queens of ancient and modern-day Spain.
Continue developing interpersonal and independent skill-sets by traveling abroad with teachers and peers.
9 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Madrid, Spain
Day 2 Arrival to Madrid: Orientation, City Center Adventure, el Retiro Park
Welcome to Madrid, the capital and most populous city of Spain! Madrid is known as one of the most exciting destinations in all of Europe. From its elegant boulevards and expansive parks to its rich Spanish culture full of famous artists and delicious cuisine, Madrid has something to offer everyone who wanders its cobbled streets. On arrival, you are greeted by your guide who has an intimate knowledge of Madrid's back streets, history, icons, and best-loved sites. You travel with your guide from the airport to your accommodation via private bus and receive an orientation on what to expect throughout your time in Spain. Your hotel is located right in the City Center with access to the local diverse neighborhoods, bustling shops and cultural hub of gorgeous Spain. We will relax for bit of time and unpack before heading out on a walking tour around the city center.
A walk around the city center is the perfect start to your Spain Adventure. There’s plenty to do and even more to see around every corner. A visit to the infamous San Gines Chocolateria to enjoy some delicious churros is an absolute must before venturing to the most famous park in all of Madrid: el Retiro. El Buen Retiro was originally created as a retreat for the Royal Family. El Retiro is called the green oasis of the city, featuring over 15,000 trees on its 125 hectares of space and provides home to a gorgeous lake, the infamous Velázquez Palace and the Glass Palace. After rowboat rides around Retiro Pond, we retire to a local restaurant to indulge in the local cuisine.
A much deserved night of rest follows to prepare for tomorrow’s adventures to Seville.
Accommodation: centrally located hotel in Madrid
Day 3 Madrid to Seville: Real Madrid Fútbol Stadium, Free Time, Travel to Seville, Host Family Greetings
In the morning, a delicious breakfast begins your day at the hotel before a visit to Spain’s number one fútbol stadium — home to the legendary Real Madrid, Santiago Bernabeu. The visit will include a chance to see inside the locker rooms, tunnels, trophy and press rooms and a chance to step onto the field. The opportunity is truly once in a lifetime and provides bragging rights amongst soccer fans around the world.
Lunch will be on your own in small groups today providing opportunities to indulge in your own personalized ambitions. With hundreds of cafe and restaurant options, everyone is sure to find more than a few dishes and desserts to enjoy.
Our time in Madrid concludes with a must-see visit to the best Spanish art museum in the world, el Prado, featuring works by the infamous Francisco Goya, el Greco, Titian and Diego Velázquez amongst others. The unique collection contains over 8,200 drawings, 4,800 prints and 1,000 sculptures. It’s no wonder why el Prado is one of the most visited sites in the world.
Spain’s high-speed train takes us to Seville (~2.5 hours) this afternoon, where our host families will greet us upon arrival at the train station. We move in small groups (2 - 4 students per household) to our new Spanish host homes, enjoy time to visit and relax before sitting down to our first dinner together with our new families. To learn more about the homestay experience, please visit our Homestay Headquarters FAQ.
Accommodation: Host Family
Day 4 Seville Exploration Day: Cathedral of Seville, la Plaza de España, Scavenger Hunt and Flamenco
Breakfast is enjoyed at home with your family today before heading out on an orientation walk throughout the historic city center of Seville — your home for the next several days. We will explore the Cathedral of Seville, the largest Gothic cathedral in the entire world! Serving as the political and economic power of the region for centuries, the unique architecture and art celebrates this UNESCO world heritage site’s prowess throughout history. It’s truly breathtaking. A stop at the Giralda and infamous bell tower dating back to the 12th century makes the visit to the Cathedral complete.
During the afternoon, we venture to the spectacular Plaza de España. The massive palace-like building surrounded by a canal spanned by bridges, a large fountain and a wide-open plaza is beyond words. The entire region even served as a featured filming location for the Star Wars movies! Before leaving the great Plaza, we jump aboard some boats to explore the moat up close.
Teams will then test out their competitive edge on a scavenger hunt around the Parque de María Luisa, which is full of gardens, elegant fountains, horse-drawn carriages and several peaceful ponds. The evening features an opportunity to experience Andalucía’s most emblematic form of traditional dance and music with a flamenco performance.
Accommodation: Host Family
Day 5 Seville Exploration Day: Real Alcázar and evening adventure to Las Setas with delicious Tapas Dinner
A delicious breakfast at home with your families provides a restful morning before traveling to the Real Alcázar — a royal palace displaying Mudéjar-style architecture at its finest. The royal palace, built for the Christian king Peter of Castile, is recognized as one of the most beautiful of the entire region!
The group will then venture around the narrow streets of the historic Jewish Quarter of the Santa Cruz neighborhood where Ferdinand II forced the local Jewish population to settle in 1248. Nowadays, the Barrio de Santa Cruz (neighborhood of Santa Cruz) is one of the most popular tourist hotspots featuring a labyrinth of narrow walkways full of cafés, shops, handicraft stores and Spanish ceramics. This neighborhood is also the location of most of Seville’s historic churches, including the Seville Cathedral.
For a bird’s-eye view of Seville, we visit las Setas, the most modern and cosmopolitan area of the city. These mushroom-shaped artistic phenomena provide us with a “one in a million” opportunity to see Seville from above at night. Dinner consists of delicious tapas featuring the best Spanish flavors of the region.
Accommodation: Host Family
Day 6 Day Trip to Córdoba: la Mezquita, the ancient Roman Bridge and the medieval palace-city of Medina Azahara
Today begins with a relaxing breakfast at home with our families. We then board our private bus to head to the ancient Roman settlement of Córdoba — known as one of Andalusia’s most fascinating cities which served as the Islamic Center of the Middle Ages. Córdoba is famously recognized for its immense mosque - Cathedral dating back to 784 A.D. which stands as a powerful symbol of Spain’s dual-identity celebrating the two cultures which formed the Andalusian region: Islam and Christianity.
We spend our day exploring the walkways and local culture of the historic and UNESCO World Heritage Site of la Mezquita (Cathedral - Mosque) with its 1,000 colored columns. The rare architecture tells the tale of hundreds of years of conquerers and settlements throughout time. The Roman bridge of la Mezquita built in the early 1st century was the only standing bridge in the city for over twenty centuries and features 16 arches!
After a picnic lunch in the courtyard, we meander our way through the cobbled streets of Judería admiring the world-famous patios and spirit of the ancient city. Every year locals compete for the most beautiful outdoor spaces with awards earned for the best balance of aesthetics and charm. We enjoy the flamenco guitar street music before exploring the ancient ruins of the palace city of Medina Azahara en route to Seville for dinner with our families.
Accommodation: Host Family
Day 7 Seville: High School visit and cultural exchange, University Visit, Free Time
Breakfast at home with our host family begins your day before joining the group as we visit a local high school. We will have the opportunity to meet with some new Spanish friends, share a bit about American culture, learn about life as a Spanish high school student and enjoy a few group activities. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see what life is like for high school students living in Seville.
As a local expert in Seville, small groups will have another opportunity to enjoy some free time and lunch on your own. On our last day in Seville, this is the perfect opportunity to stroll the streets and enjoy some shopping at the hundreds of local shops.
This afternoon, we re-group and head to the Universidad de Sevilla for a tour of the local university. Students from all over the US study abroad in Seville and often attend classes at the university. Today’s opportunity gives you a first-look at a potential university to pursue your studies following high school.
Accommodation: Host Family
**The school visit itinerary date may be moved earlier in the week to accommodate the availability of our Spaniard sister school
Day 8 Granada: Tombs of the Catholic Kings and the infamous Alhambra Palace
This morning we say goodbye to our host families after breakfast before boarding our private bus to the picturesque city nestled below the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Granada. The city of Granada is known for its winding streets, secret plazas, and friendly population described as “so welcoming to strangers, it’s as if they’re cherished relatives.” The architecture celebrates the city’s cultural charm while visitors enjoy the vibrant, fun and indescribable atmosphere of Granada’s vistas. It’s no wonder Granada is known as one of brightest “pearls in all of Spain.” There is an unofficial challenge in Granada to find the prettiest street amongst all or to capture a bad photograph — neither one has been accomplished to date.
After enjoying a walk around the cultural center and Cathedral area, we visit Granada’s Capilla Real — the tombs of the Catholic monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand. The Royal Chapel is the last resting place for several of the royal family, including their daughter Juana the mad, her husband, Philip of Flanders, and Prince Miguel of Asturias. The sacristy houses a small museum displaying Fernando’s sword, Isabel’s sceptre, crown and art collection.
A picnic lunch and afternoon siesta provide a needed break before exploring the world famous Alhambra Palace — the last and greatest Moorish Palace and fortress complex in Europe. The UNESCO world heritage site is often hailed as a wonder of the world. We will have plenty of time to gush over the intricate Arabic carvings, bright, colorful tiles and stunning views of the Albayzín. The Alhambra Palace will truly leaves you in awe. Dinner will be enjoyed at the hotel this evening before some much needed rest.
Accommodation: Hotel near the city center
Day 9 Departure Day: Fly Home
Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel before embarking on a private bus transport directly to the Madrid International Airport. Our flight departs Madrid and returns us safely home.
Housing
In Madrid and Grenada, the group will stay at an award-winning hotel located in the city center within walking distance to all the local hotspots, gorgeous parks, endless museums and quaint streets filled with cafes and shops.
In Seville, students will have the most amazing opportunity to experience life with a Spanish Family. Small groups of students (2 - 4 students per home) will be matched up with a Spanish Family living in Seville. Our families have been hosting exchange students for years and all complete a comprehensive vetting process to be approved to work with our Global Treks team.
Program travel Costs: $2,450
What's Included: Program fee covers the following travel costs: lodging, supplies, all food (except meals/snacks purchased during free time), local transportation, educational programs, school visits, local guides and activities.
What is not included: International airfare, lunches as noted above during free-time, souvenirs, and travel insurance.
Teachers: One teacher goes free for every 10 students. Alternatively, that discount can be applied to the group total or offered as a scholarship to an underrepresented student.