Spain

Live an unforgettable experience! Travel through Spain, visit the highlights and soak up the rich and fascinating history by choosing the Paradores tour!
What does ‘Paradors’ mean? It means that you will enjoy a luxury accommodation in historic buildings like castles, convents, monasteries and palaces during the entire journey. Usually these hotels are part of the heritage of Spain and offer a great location in the heart of medieval towns or surrounded by amazing natural landscapes.
We have selected for you one of the best paradores in northern and central Spain and made this intriguing tour, full of great places!



Day 1 Madrid - Alcalá de Henares Parador 4* (40 km/1h)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-alcala-de-henares)

Arrival at Madrid Airport and transfer to your first parador - Convent of Santo Tomás and Hostería del Estudiante. Parador de Alcalá de Henares is housed in a magnificent 17th century building, the former Santo Tomás Dominican Convent and School. It is one of the city’s landmarks and along with Hostería del Estudiante form a complex that was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

Day 2 Alcalá de Henares-Madrid (40 km/1h)-Lerma Parador 4* (200 km/ 3,30h)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-lerma)

Leave Alcalá de Henares and enjoy a sightseeing tour of Madrid. See Plaza Major, the luxury boulevard Gran Vía, Puerta del Sol square and Plaza España with the monument of Cervantes. Next to Plaza España is the outstanding building of The Royal Palace, the official residence for the Royal family, used today only for state ceremonies. Afterwards, we proceed travelling through north in the region of Castilla y León until we reach the small historical town of Lerma. You will be accommodated in the most significant building here - the Ducal Palace of Lerma, located in the highest part. It was erected between 1601 and 1617 on top of the ruins of an ancient castle and was commissioned by the order of the first Duke of Lerma for the accommodation, rest and general enjoyment of his master, King Philip III.

Day 3 Lerma-Burgos (40 km/1h)-León Parador 5* (180 km/3h)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-leon)

In the morning we leave Lerma and continue to Burgos. Here we will have a lunch and free time to see the highlights of the city. Positioned in the Pilgrim’s Road to Santiago, Burgos has a medieval splendour. The architectural masterpiece here is the Cathedral, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage. Later, proceed to León, another important and historic city among the Road to Santiago. The monuments reminding of the city’s significance are the Romanesque royal pantheon of San Isidoro, the Gothic cathedral, and the 16th century San Marcos Monastery. Once a pilgrimage hospital, today the impressive Renaissance building is a five star parador, where you will enjoy one night stay.

Day 4 León-Oviedo (130 km/2,30h)-Cangas de Onís Parador 4* (90 km/1,30h)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-cangas-de-onis)

Our trip continue through the green region of Asturias for a visit of charming Oviedo. Explore the historic quarter, from the University to the Cathedral, and see the many squares filled with cider bars. You can also visit the most magnificent Pre-Romanesque churches of the region: Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. After that, proceed to the small village Cangas de Onís where is located the parador Monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva. Built in 746 by Rey Alfonso I, ‘The Catholic’, the Monastery is declared a National Monument. The historic building is set on the green banks of the River Sella and is a perfect place to discover the wondrous Asturian landscape in combination with the amazing mountain area Picos de Europa.

Day 5 Cangas de Onís-Llanes (50 km/1h)-Comillas (50 km/1h)-Santander (60 km/1h)-Santillana Gil Blas Parador 4* (30 km/30 min)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-santillana-gil-blas)

Today travel next to the beautiful Cantabrian coastline of Asturias. A short stop in Llanes can reveal one of the most marvellous beaches and views. Continue to Comillas, a town which deserves a visit for its amazing building “El capricho”, a summer chalet design by Antonio Gaudí, a treasure of modernist art. In the afternoon reach Santander and enjoy a walk through the Old Town and a visit of the Royal Palace of La Magdalena, situated in the peninsula with the same name. This magnificent palace was built to provide accommodation for King Alfonso XIII and his family, and from 1932 is headquarters of an International University. Proceed to Santillana Gil Blas for accommodation in the 17th century Stately Home Parador, situated overlooking the main square.

Day 6 Santillana Gil Blas-Bilbao (150 km/2h)-Vitoria (70 km/1,30h)-Argómaniz Parador 4* (20 km/30 min)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-argomaniz)

Today visit the most exciting cities in Basque country - Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz. Walking tour in ‘Casco viejo’ of Bilbao will unfold to you the spirit of the old heart of the city. Visit Guggenheim Modern and Contemporary Art Museum. Enjoy a fine dining in one of the area’s best pintxos restaurants. Afterwards, proceed to Vitoria - the green capital of Basque country. A must-visit is the Santa Maria Cathedral located in the old town - the Almendra Medieval. Here you can also visit the city walls and Montehermoso Palace. Continue to Argómaniz parador, which occupies a magnificent renaissance palace overlooking the natural beauty of the area. The palace, where Napoleon’s forces rested before attacking the city of Vitoria, has the Larrea family coat of arms on its façade.

Day 7 Argómaniz-Logroño (110 km/1,30h)-Soria (100 km/2h)-Siguenza Parador (100 km/1,30h)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-siguenza)

Proceed to Spain’s most famous wine region - Rioja, and make a short visit of the capital - Logroño. See the 15th century Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Redonda, the Church of San Bartolomé and the Palace of Los Chapiteles. You can also see the old stone bridge of Ebro river which is linked to the city’s history and the Pilgrim’s Road to Santiago. Proceed to Soria, a city of important Romanesque buildings. Don’t miss the shrine of San Saturio, located above a grotto on the banks of the Duero river. In the afternoon, reach the parador of Sigüenza - a 12th century medieval castle, installed in Arab fortress.

Day 8 Sigüenza-Cuenca Parador 4* (180 km/3,30h)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-cuenca)

In the morning have a walk in the Old Town of Sigüenza, declared a Historic-Artistic Site. Immerse yourself in the medieval spirit by visiting the Cathedral, the main square and Casa del Doncel. Later, proceed to Cuenca -an outstanding place where is located the 16th century Convent, today’s parador de turismo. In the afternoon explore Cuenca’s highlights -the amazing ‘’hanging houses’’, part of the UNESCO Heritage, the Cathedral and the cobbled streets leave a strong impression in every visitor here. The parador has a privileged location, surrounded by nature and facing the “hanging houses”.

Day 9 Cuenca-Toledo Parador 4* (180 km/3,30h)
(www.parador.es/en/parador-de-toledo)

Travel through Castilla-La Mancha region, the land of Don Quijote. Our last destination during the parador tour is the noble Toledo, Spain's medieval capital. Here you can see one of the greatest wealth of monuments as well as its parador. During the walk in the Old Town you will visit the Church of Santo Tomé, home to one of El Greco’s most famous paintings – The Burial of Count Orgaz, also the amazing 13th-century Cathedral, the Alcazar and the Synagogue. Enjoy your stay in Toledo parador, located on a hill with an extraordinary panorama of the medieval city’s highlights.

Day 10 Toledo-Madrid
Leave Toledo and transfer to Madrid Airport.



If you would like to explore any other part of Spain, we can make for you a Parador tour, including the highlights of the region and accommodation in hotels, part of the Parador group. The luxury parador hotels are throughout Spain, from Galicia in the North to Andalucia in the South, in the Canary islands and in Ceuta and Melilla, the two Spanish cities in North Africa.

We recommend to you to explore the highlights of Southern Spain, staying in one of the best paradors we have selected for you:

Córdoba Parador 4*
A modern building on the site of the ruins of the summer palace of Abd-ar-Rahman I, with exceptional panoramic views over the legendary city of caliphs.

Granada Parador 4*
Jewel in the crown of the Parador group, the hotel is located inside the world famous Alhambra. Once a convent, it was built on the top of the Nazrid palace.

Ronda Parador 4*
Impressive building, used as a Town Hall of Ronda, located next to the historic Puente Nuevo and the ‘Tajo’ canyon.

Carmona Parador (Sevilla) 4*
14th-century Moorish fortress with spectacular views over the countryside

Málaga Gibralfaro Parador 4*
A castle with great views of the harbour and the Old Town of Málaga

Manzanares Parador (Ciudad Real) 5*
La Mancha style country house