To Spain by train and return by plane

Day 1 - London to Barcelona

Depart London St Pancras station on Eurostar

Train times vary from day to day, so here we suggest the best possible connection times in order to get you to Barcelona on the same day, thus avoiding an overnight in Paris. Depart London St Pancras at 05.59 on Eurostar (186 miles per hour) - Arrive Paris Gare du Nord at 09.27 - Depart TGV 6275 Paris Gare de Lyon at 11.11 - Arrive Perpignan (France) at 16.12 - Depart Perpignan TGV 9743 at 18.10 - Arrive Barcelona Sants at 19.32. There are a variety of fares available in first and second class. If a later time of departure is required from St Pancras then an overnight in Paris would be required which of course could well be a more attractive option. A stay in Paris would not be limited to one night should you require a few days in the capital as part of the holiday. The onward train journey if an overnight stay in Paris is required would be on a direct service to Barcelona TGV 9713 which departs Paris Gare de Lyon at 10.10 to arrive in Barcelona at 16.54 The cheapest way (around 2 to 3 euros) of getting from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon is by the metro or RER (suburban trains). This takes around 35 minutes. However, if you are carrying luggage and do not fancy carrying it through the metro system or are nervous about getting lost within the system, then a taxi will cost in the region of 18 to 20 euros and will take in the region of 45 minutes including queuing for the cab. A pre-booked taxi can also be arranged. The overnight in Barcelona would be in the Eurostars Monumental Hotel or similar on bed and breakfast. Of course more nights could be spent in Barcelona if you would like to explore the city. All the arrangements are totally flexible to suit your requirements.

Overnight at the Eurostars Monumental Hotel

Barcelona

Day 2,3 & 4 - Granada

From Barcelona to Granada the service is on AVE high speed trains, traveling at 193 miles per hour: Depart Barcelona Sants on AVE-S112 at 08.30 Arrive Granada at 14.52 On arrival take a local taxi from the station to the Villa Oniria Hotel for a 3 night stay.

The Villa Oniria is a 4-star Hotel, originally a 19th century nobleman’s palace with 31 designer rooms, set at the edge of the old town, a 12 minute walk from the cathedral and 20 minus from the Alhambra. Granada is one of the most famous cities in Spain. With a population approaching half a million, Granada lies in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is set at 738 metres above sea level, one hour by car to the Mediterranean coast and just under an hour to the Sierra Nevada Ski Station at 2,100 to 3,300 metres above sea level. It is, of course, for the Alhambra that Granada is known. The Moorish citadel, garden and palace complex are the most renowned Andalusian, Islamic buildings in the world. The Alhambra represented the zenith in Nasrid art of the 13th and 14th centuries. Founded in Roman times, it was the Umayyad conquest of Spain dating from 711 AD which was to create Granada and set the scene to make it one of the most important cities in the south of Spain (Al-Andalus). From 711 AD until the final surrender of the Muslim rulers in 1492, Granada flourished and grew. Like many forward looking liberal cities, Granada had Arab, Berber, Christian and Jewish quarters and all lived in relative harmony. The Alhambra was a fortress, citadel, palace and fabulous gardens (Generalife) where the Muslim rulers could get away from the stresses of life. Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor added a palace in 1527. There are Christian monuments too in the city. The Renaissance Cathedral was built on the site of the Nasrid Mosque of Granada. Then there is the Royal Chapel, the Albayzin neighbourhood with narrow, labyrinthine streets, the picturesque Sacromonte neighbourhood and the charterhouse monastery. Winters in Granada are generally cool and wet and the summers hot and dry, with temperatures sometimes reaching 34°C. Granada is rarely quiet and uncrowded but there is much to do and see and it is never boring. We have allowed three nights in Granada but, again, your stay can be extended should you wish to spend more time in the city.

3 nights at the Villa Oniria Hotel

Alhambra Palace, Granada

Day 5,6 & 7 - Granada and Subbetica

It would be a shame if a trip to Andalucia did not include on of the most beautiful and unknown regions of Andalucia - The Subbetica, On day five, collect a car from the downtown office in Granada and drive to Zuheros,one of the very beautiful white villages in Andalucia to stay at the delightful 2 star Hotel Rural Zuhayra. The drive, through a delightful olive grove landscape takes in the region 1.5 hours (104 km) and you should make a point of stopping at the spectacularly located village of Montefrio on the way. The Hotel Zuhayra is perfectly located just a 4 minute walk from Zuheros Castle. It is charming hotel with 18 rooms and considerable atmosphere, very friendly staff, an excellent restaurant and is passionately managed by the owner Juan Carlos. His wife is the chef! Set within the Natural Park and Geopark Sierras Subbeticas, this is an ideal spot in which to relax and enjoy the countryside as well as discovering the local traditions and customs of a typical small Andalucian village. Priego de Cordoba, the rural capital of Subbetica with its baroque architecture is a 35 minute drive and Cordoba itself only 75 km away.

3 nights at the Hotel Rural Zuhayra

Zuheros, Subbetica

Day 8 - Day of departure

You can, of course reverse the whole process and return by train or, as we suggest here, you can drive to Malaga (1 hr 30 min) leave the car at the airport and return to the UK to an airport of our choice.