Sevilla, Córdoba, Ronda & Granada: The Heart of Andalusia Trip

This trip takes you on a grand journey through the most historic and monumental cities of Andalusia, discovering food and wine from across the region as you go. Start in Sevilla, Andalusia’s atmospheric capital, where tapas and flamenco flow around the monuments of Spain’s imperial glory. Visit stunning hilltop town of Ronda and explore the food and wine of the Málaga mountains. Córdoba’s Moorish history is palpable in the narrow streets and patios of its Judería and in the Mezquita, the city’s unique mosque-cathedral. You’ll also discover the food and wine of Córdoba, including traditional and innovative cuisine and the sherry-style wines of the local Montilla-Moriles wine region. End your trip in Granada, where the Moors made their last stand in Spain and left behind a rich heritage of architecture. The Alhambra Palace, the summer palace of the last Moorish rulers which towers above the city, is the jewel in the crown of the city and all of Spain. End your trip with a legendary wine-pairing dinner at one of Spain’s greatest wine bars.

Read the blog: Restaurants in Andalusia: Tradition and Creation

Trip At A Glance

8 Days / 7 Nights

Days 1 - 2 in Sevilla

Discover Sevilla’s cultural and gastronomic heritage. Start with a flamenco show and a tour of the city’s bustling tapas bars. The next day, an expert guide will show you the best of the city’s extensive monumental heritage on a private walking tour. Additionally you’ll discover highlights of the city’s diverse restaurant scene.

Day 3 in Ronda

Visit a top winery outside of town before exploring the hilltop old town with a local guide.

Days 4 - 5 in Córdoba

Explore the food and wine richness of the countryside outside of Córdoba, visiting an olive oil producer and a Montilla-Moriles winery. You’ll get to see the traditional and modern sides of local gastronomy, both accompanied by the best local wines. And of course, the incredible Mezquita and hidden patios of the old town.

Days 6 - 7 in Granada

See the Alhambra Palace and historic Albaicín neighborhood through the eyes of an expert in unlocking their secrets. You’ll also get a chance to discover Granada’s unique tapas culture and enjoy a wine-tasting dinner with our friend and local wine expert at Taberna La Tana, a destination for wine enthusiasts from across Spain and around the world.

Andalucía

Covering most of the southern part of Spain, Andalusia holds a charm that no other Spanish region can claim. It is, after all, the ancestral home of so many Spanish images–flamenco, Andalusian horses, bullfighting, sherry and tapas like pescaíto frito, the fresh quick-fried fish so ubiquitous in the south. Even by Spaniards, Andalusia tends to be painted as a single culture and destination, but in truth it’s perhaps the most varied part of the country. The wild coast of Huelva and Cádiz, with windswept beach bars and fresh seafood. The classic inland Andalusian cities of Sevilla, Jerez, and Córdoba, which are sisters but differ so much in their culture, food, history, and atmosphere. The mountain hideaway of Granada, the coastal metropolis of Málaga, the white villages of the mountains. To those with some experience in other parts of Spain, coming into contact with deep Andalusia is a revelation, like discovering a new world that begins south of Madrid.

Sevilla, Córdoba, Ronda & Granada: The Heart of Andalusia Trip

Day 1 - Sevilla 

  • Arrive in Sevilla

  • Evening flamenco show

  • Sevilla tapas tour dinner

  • Overnight Hotel Corral del Rey, Sevilla

 Sevilla

Andalusia’s capital breathes vitality and energy: groups of people spilling out of bars and restaurants onto the streets, loud and passionate conversations and strains of flamenco floating out of windows, narrow streets and beautiful plazas stoked with orange trees ablaze in the southern sun. It’s a city of grand monuments, the riches of the Americas converted into churches and palaces and statues, but also of tiny atmospheric holes in the wall hidden away from time. To arrive in Sevilla from another Spanish city is to be transported immediately and powerfully into Andalusia. The feeling that accompanies that immersion is so strong that many find they never want to leave.

Sevilla has three World Heritage Sites: the Cathedral (the largest Gothic temple in the world), the Real Alcázar (Moorish palace which features a stunning combination of Mudéjar and Baroque architectural styles) and the Santa Cruz district (the former Jewish Quarter) with narrow streets, hidden patios and countless quaint corners.

Evening Flamenco Show

Step inside a traditional tablao flamenco for a performance of Andalusia’s most important traditional music, flamenco. Originating with the gitanos (gypsies) of southern Spain, flamenco is passionate and intense, singers and dancers being moved by the spirit of the music known as duende. There’s no better place to see flamenco than in Andalusia, where its rhythms and melodies are infused in the people and new flamenco stars make their mark. Your guide will explain to you the fundamental aspects of the music, dance, and history before you get to see Sevillano flamenco in all its glory.

Sevilla Tapas Tour Dinner

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel for an evening tapas tour in Sevilla’s historic center. Tapas "bar hopping" normally involves visiting a number of bars, trying local delicacies and sharing each dish with your companions. Your guide will take you off the tourist trail and into Sevilla's side streets and hidden plazas, introducing you to the local bars with their buzzing atmosphere and busy barmen. Taste the local delicacies and soak up the sights, sounds and smells of Sevilla!

Day 2 - Sevilla: Andalusian Grandeur 

  • Sevilla walking tour

  • Lunch at Palo Cortao restaurant

  • Dinner at Antigua Abacería de San Lorenzo

  • Overnight Hotel Corral del Rey, Sevilla

Sevilla Walking Tour

Meet your guide and embark on a guided walking tour through historic Sevilla visiting World Heritage Sites and other monuments. Explore the Santa Cruz district with its traditional architecture, narrow alleyways and countless quaint corners and the former Jewish Quarter's winding streets and hidden patios. Tour the Alcázar, a fortified palace that is one of Spain’s greatest examples of Mudéjar architecture. The Mudéjar style brings together designs and craftsmanship of Moors who remained in Spain after the reconquest, and subsequent expulsion, with Christian symbols and architecture. The courtyards and galleries of the Alcázar are enchanting, strongly evoking the city’s Moorish past. The palace was a residence of the kings of Spain, and they still travel to Sevilla from time to time to occupy their rooms on the upper floor. Then step inside one of Sevilla’s palaces, with sprawling gardens and ornately decorated rooms hidden away from the bustle of the city. Option to visit the Cathedral, the largest Gothic temple in the world and where Christopher Columbus is buried.

Lunch at Palo Cortao Restaurant

Palo Cortao is a relaxed tapas restaurant where you’ll be able to taste seasonal dishes that combine traditional Andalusian recipes with a touch of innovation. Many of the options change daily based on what fresh products are available, but expect classic tapas along with subtle preparations of vegetables, fish and meat from Andalusia. The wine list highlights Sherry and Andalusian white and red wines along with cult selections from other regions of Spain.

Dinner at Antigua Abacería de San Lorenzo

At the northern end of Sevilla’s old part lies Antigua Abacería de San Lorenzo, one of the most unique places to eat in Sevilla. It’s a difficult establishment to classify, combining elements of a store, a tapas bar, and a restaurant in one space. You might have a glass of wine standing next to a mechanical scale, taste delicious charcuterie and cheese at a bar table, or eat a multi-course meal in a quiet dining room. The decor and service are traditional and very friendly, making you feel at home right away as you navigate the labyrinth that lies through the doorway. The most important thing about this place is that everything from the tapas to the specialties to the wine is focused on the very best Andalusian products. Don’t miss the excellent wine list featuring wines by the glass and bottle from Andalusia and the rest of Spain and a wide range of sherries.

Day 3 - Ronda Wine & Historic Village 

  • Transfer to Ronda

  • Kieninger winery visit

  • Ronda walking tour

  • Dinner at Tragatá restaurant

  • Overnight Parador de Ronda, Ronda

Ronda

Ronda is the jewel in the crown of the so-called white villages, those picturesque hilltop towns that dot the mountainous areas of Andalusia. Perched on two sides of a plunging gorge where birds nest, Ronda offers stunning views over the surrounding countryside. The 17th-century Puente Nueva, an impossible looking stone bridge, crosses the gorge and leads to the old town, where narrow streets give way to enchanting plazas and hidden palaces.

In addition to its beauty and history, Ronda is one of Andalusia's most exciting and surprising wine-producing areas. Though there is a long history of wine production around Ronda, it was only in the 1980s that the current generation of wineries set up in the area. Since there were almost no vineyards left in the area the new wineries planted Spanish, French and Austrian grapes. Four decades on, the most successful grapes in Ronda have turned out to be Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Blaufrankisch and Zweigelt.

The vineyards of Ronda lie primarily in the hills surrounding the town. The high elevation brings cool nights that allow the northern grapes to thrive in the Mediterranean climate, while the plentiful sunshine ensures that the grapes ripen fully. The variety of elevations, slopes and soils enable Ronda wineries to make diverse styles. Bordeaux blends and wines made from Spanish grapes like Garnacha and Tempranillo can be full-bodied and rich, while the Pinot Noirs from the highest vineyards are stunningly fresh. The quality of the diverse styles have led Ronda to be regarded as Andalusia's premier red wine region.

There are numerous wineries to visit just outside the town of Ronda, offering idyllic countryside locations with views over the hills and valleys around the town. In addition, thanks to the efforts of local sommeliers and wine enthusiasts, there are many great places to drink Ronda wine in town. Bars and restaurants have embraced their local wine, with many offering dozens of Ronda wines to try.

Kieninger Winery Visit

Kieninger was among the first wineries of the new generation in the area. Austrian founder Martin Kieninger trained as an architect and first came to the area near Ronda in that capacity. He fell in love with the landscape and the potential of the mountains around Ronda for wine production. Kieninger brought his Austrian heritage with him, planting Blaufrankisch and Zweigelt alongside French grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and Spanish varieties like Tintilla de Rota and Garnacha. Today, his winemaking dream is fully realized. The winery building and house are surrounded by vineyards grown without any pesticides or other artificial chemicals. Bees and other insects fly through the air, and aromatic plants and trees dot the property. The winemaking is traditional, seeking to express the vineyards rather than obscure them. The result is a line of delicious and surprising wines. The Austrian grape varieties work surprisingly well in Ronda’s high elevation Mediterranean climate, bringing vibrant acidity and fruit to reds and a rosé. You’ll find more concentration in the reds made from French and Spanish grapes, but with plenty of finesse and drinkability. Kieninger is one of the great success stories of Ronda wine and continues to set the standard of the region.

Ronda Walking Tour

Visit the old town, where you’ll be able to see sights like the bull ring and the famous bridge spanning the dramatic gorge that splits Ronda in two.

Dinner at Tragatá Restaurant

Benito Gómez helped put Ronda on the culinary map with the two Michelin stars he won for his Bardal restaurant, but it was at Tragatá where he got his start in town. Tragatá offers the chance to try the innovative creations of Gómez in a casual environment through tapas and shared plates. You’ll find local essentials and novel combinations here, all reflecting the seasonal ingredients that are so important in Ronda. Located right near Ronda’s main sights, the restaurant has informal indoor and outdoor dining options and is a perfect choice on a day of visiting the town. You’ll find a wine list which covers every imaginable wine from the area, including rare and limited edition bottles that are impossible to find. Whether you let the staff guide you, or look for a bottle from a familiar or foreign producer yourself, you’re sure to have a great pairing at Tragatá.

Day 4 - Olive Oil & Wine in Córdoba

  • Transfer to Córdoba

  • Olive Oil Mill & Andalusian brunch

  • Montilla-Moriles winery visit

  • Wine-tasting taberna dinner

  • Overnight Hotel Palacio del Bailío, Córdoba

Córdoba

In the center of Andalucia, the one-time Moorish capital of Córdoba is a real hidden gem. Best known for La Mezquita–its mosque turned cathedral–and the surrounding former Jewish quarter, the city offers more than meets the eye. The traditional tabernas are temples to classic Andalusian food, highlighting dishes like gazpacho’s cousin salmorejo, stewed oxtail, vegetable pisto with a fried egg, and a galaxy of delicious tapas. Córdoba is home to Noor, a one of a kind two Michelin star restaurant where chef Paco Morales unearths and reinterprets the cuisine of Al Andalus, the Moorish empire that once reigned in Andalusia.

The countryside outside of town is rich in superb products. Some of Spain’s best olive oil is made near the city, and its influence on the cuisine here is strong. The Montilla Moriles wine region, where the local Pedro Ximenez grape grows in chalky white Albariza soils is outside of town. The wines are both dry and sweet, sherry-style, but the wineries there are also revolutionizing the winemaking and bringing out dry, non-sherry-style white wines.

Córdoba has a rich cuisine that harkens back to its Moorish history, and the city’s tabernas, traditional tapas bars characterized by dark wood and cozy interiors, are the perfect places to discover it. Classic dishes of the city include salmorejo, a cold tomato soup thickened with bread and egg that is the local version of gazpacho, and rabo de toro, stewed oxtail. You can belly up to the bar and wash these and other delicious plates down with local Montilla Moriles wine as the locals do, or sit in one of Córdoba’s atmospheric plazas and enjoy the southern sun.

Montilla-Moriles

South of the city of Córdoba, Montilla-Moriles is Andalusia’s secret wine region. Here wines of similar style to sherry are produced from vineyards planted on the slopes of the picturesque countryside. The local Pedro Ximenez grape is best known for its ability to produce black-colored long-aged sweet wines, but it’s also used to make styles of wine more associated with Jerez like fino, amontillado, and palo cortado. Its lack of international fame has left Montilla-Moriles with an intact winemaking heritage and a deep stock of very old wines. The area is rich in other products as well, most notably producing some of the best extra virgin olive oils in the world. The perfect step off the beaten path for lovers of fortified wines or simply a sense of adventure, Montilla-Moriles is one of Andalusia’s jewels.

Olive Oil & Montilla-Moriles Wine

Travel with a private driver to Córdoba. Once in Córdoba, set off to visit an olive oil mill outside of Córdoba and taste the single varietal oils. The countryside around Córdoba produces some of the world’s finest extra virgin olive oils. Step inside an artisan olive oil mill to discover how this liquid gold is made and what makes the olive groves here so special. Tasting exceptional olive oil right from the source is a perfect way to understand one of the key ingredients of Spanish and specifically Andalusian cuisine. Enjoy an Andalusian “brunch” of bread, olive oil, charcuterie and cheese in one of the historic farm buildings.

Next, visit a premier producer of Montilla Moriles wines. Montilla-Moriles is Jerez’s sister wine region near Córdoba, and one of Spain’s hidden secrets. The hills and valleys of white chalky Albariza soil–like the soils in Jerez and Champagne–yield wines of exceptional complexity. The local Pedro Ximenez grape is used to make both dry and sweet wines. The main differences between these wines and sherry are that Montilla Moriles wines are rarely fortified, whereas in Jerez they are, and that the flor yeast that gives the finest dry wines their complexity can survive for decades here. Taste through the winery’s range of wines, including old wines that have been aging in barrels for decades.

Check into your hotel in Córdoba. Free time to rest. If you’re feeling energetic you may want to explore the old town and take a look at the Roman bridge crossing the Guadalquivir River (the same river that passes through Sevilla before emptying into the Atlantic at Sanlúcar.

Wine-tasting Taberna Dinner

Join up with our friend and local wine expert for a deep dive into the cuisine and products of Córdoba. Head to a traditional taberna where the best regional dishes are on the menu. Your guide on this journey will pair surprising local wines with the plates, showing the richness of Córdoba’s cooking and the great potential of its wines.

Day 5 - Córdoba: The Mezquita & Noor Restaurant

  • Córdoba Mezquita & patios tour

  • Lunch at 3-Michelin Star Noor Restaurant

  • Overnight Hotel Palacio del Bailío, Córdoba

Mezquita & Patios Tour

Córdoba was once the most populous city in the world, the intellectual center of Europe, and the capital of an Islamic caliphate. Your private walking tour of Córdoba’s old city will include the 8th-century grand mosque built when Córdoba was the capital of Al-Andalus, the Moorish empire in Spain. After the reconquest of the city by the Christians, the mosque was converted into a cathedral, but the architecture of the original mosque was thankfully preserved. Walking through the ornately decorated halls, you can feel the weight of Moorish history in Córdoba. The Mezquita is one of Spain’s greatest surviving monuments from the Moorish occupation.

Visit traditional flower-filled Córdoba patios which are recognized by Unesco as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Their origins date back to the Romans and many traditional cordobés houses have conserved them in a traditional state. After the patios visit stop in at an Arabic tea house for a refreshing glass of tea.

Lunch at Noor Restaurant (3 Michelin stars)

Enjoy lunch at three-Michelin star Noor Restaurant in Córdoba Noor received their third Michelin star in 2023). Noor (noor means light in Arabic) is most of all a connection to the past. Hidden away from the center, this small restaurant works like a time machine back to the days of the Moorish occupation of Al-Andalus. Chef Paco Morales, a Córdoba native with experience at El Bulli and Mugaritz restaurants in Spain, brings the dishes that defined different historical periods of Córdoban and Andalusian cuisine into the present. Each “season” of the restaurant is dedicated to a different era. The unique flavors of these forgotten dishes, which fuse Spanish and Moorish influences and ingredients, are one of a kind. The service, atmosphere, and impeccable preparation combine with the unique concept to make Noor an essential visit for any curious food lover traveling to Spain.

Day 6 - Granada

  • High-speed train to Granada

  • Private Alhambra Palace tour

  • Tapas Lunch

  • Overnight Granada

Private Alhambra Palace Tour

Granada was the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain before they were forced to leave in 1492. The Moorish heritage in Spain today can be seen in art, architecture, cuisine and especially in the Alhambra–a palace of enchanting beauty belonging to the Moorish rulers of the Kingdom of Granada. Once left to neglect and abandon, the Alhambra and the Generalife gardens surrounding the palace are today stunning reminders of long ago glory.

The last bastion of Moorish rule in Andalusia, Granada overflows with history, charm, and atmosphere. The Alhambra Palace, where the last rulers of the Muslim Kingdom of Granada retreated above the city, watches over the hills and valleys of present-day Granada, reminding locals and visitors of that long-lost past. The old city is a maze of narrow streets that emerge into verdant plazas or hilltop perches. The grand houses and towering churches of the main squares contrast with the hillside Albaicín’s secret houses, called cármenes, with gardens and views of the Alhambra and the bustling alleys of the Realejo. Granada is a city to get lost in and let your imagination roam free of time and space.

Tapas Lunch

Head to one of Granada’s classic tapas bars for lunch. Here you’ll be introduced to the unique cuisine of Granada, where products from the mountains and the nearby coast come together differently from anywhere else in Andalusia.

Ask anyone who knows Granada, and they’ll mention the tapas sooner or later, and for good reason. While every Andalusian city has its own love of tapas, in Granada every drink at nearly every bar brings with it a free tapa. Not simply a plate of olives, but often a cooked delicacy like grilled meat, seafood rice, a selection of cheeses, or anything else you could imagine ordering. Many places even give you a menu of options to choose from. The free tapas provide the gasoline to fuel bar hopping in Granada, and going from place to place looking for the next drink and snack is the perfect motivation to explore the hidden corners of the city, by day or by night.

Day 6 - Granada Atmosphere & Wine

  • Albaicín District walking tour

  • Wine & tapas pairing dinner at Taberna La Tana

  • Overnight Granada

Albaicín District Walking Tour

Have a guided walking tour to explore the traditional Albaicín neighborhood of Granada. The tour is a  relaxed, informal exploration of the Albaicín district, the one-time Moorish quarter of Granada and now a Unesco World Heritage site. Your guide will show you how this medieval Islamic city has kept its identity into the modern age, explaining its social history and character. As you walk through its cat’s cradle of twisting alleyways you will come across stunning views of the city, the majestic Alhambra palace and, beyond, the often snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada. You will pass by churches built on the sites of mosques, stroll underneath the walls of the scented gardens of traditional villas, and stop in squares to take in the slow rhythms of daily life in this most traditional and yet singular neighborhood.

Wine & Tapas Pairing Dinner at La Tana

There isn’t much wine produced around Granada, but the city has the strongest wine culture in southern Spain. While in Sevilla and Cádiz the locals tend to pair their tapas with beer or perhaps sherry, in Granada you’ll see red and white wine flowing in every corner of the city. Even so, it’s surprising that down a small street in the historic Realejo neighborhood lies one of the finest wine bars in all of Spain, a temple and destination for enthusiasts from all over the world. Taberna La Tana is an intimate space, with a few high tables and a wooden bar with racks of wine bottles behind it. The wine selection is stunning: dozens of wines by the glass from quality wineries all over Spain, from tiny growers to storied icons. The selection rotates, so you never know exactly what you’ll find, but owner and sommelier Jesús makes sure the wines are of the highest quality. There is also a thick book containing the wines that are available by the bottle, numbering in the thousands. Let Jesús or his sister guide you, or go straight for what you want. You’re guaranteed a good time here. Of course, there are also tapas, and as is traditional in Granada you’ll get a free one with each drink. You’ll find seasonal salads, quality charcuterie and cheese, and a range of traditional Andalusian dishes paired with a selection of wines.

Your dinner will give you the chance to try a selection of special Spanish wines and pair them with the superb products and dishes available at La Tana. This wine-pairing dinner can be adapted to your interests and tastes, whether that be one specific region or style or a survey of Spanish wine.

Day 7 - Departure

Private transfer to the Granada airport or train station for departure.

Hotels

Sevilla: Hotel Corral del Rey

Ronda: Parador de Ronda

Córdoba: Palacio del Bailío

Granada: Hotel Casa Morisca


Andalusia Tour Includes

  • expert private guides & local specialists

  • 7 nights in 5-star and luxury boutique lodgings, double occupancy

  • breakfast daily

  • lunches while wine touring

  • tapas tour and wine-pairing dinners (in Sevilla, Córdoba, and Granada)

  • private expert guides

  • premium tastings at wineries

  • deluxe air-conditioned private transport

  • Epicurean Ways expertise

  • in-country support

Tour Does Not Include

  • extras in hotels such as room service, minibars, etc.

  • travel insurance

  • tips to guides and drivers (not required but appreciated)

  • flights to and from Spain

A note on winery visits, restaurant selections and hotels

All tours, experiences and hotels are subject to availability and will be confirmed upon booking the trip.

You will be accompanied by a driver-guide during your wine touring. Your visits and tastings will be private and with the winemaker, a family member or an expert who knows the winery and the wines well. We work with the wineries to make sure that you taste the best and most representative wines during each visit. It is sometimes possible to arrange extended tastings that include old vintages or rare wines. We have an extensive group of wineries whose owners we know and with whom we work regularly, so we can guarantee high-level visits even if a winery has to be substituted. If you have an interest in visiting a particular producer please let us know.

We include restaurant concierge service as part of your trip. Note that our restaurant suggestions are just that–suggestions. Places we love, places to go back to time after time. We recommend these places after years of experience eating in Spain and Portugal together with frequent research and input from our local partners. We aspire to guide your choices with information on the styles of cuisine and restaurants; the choice on where to eat is yours based on your preferences and desires.

We have extensive experience with hotels ranging from 5-star luxury properties to private boutique hotels. Let us know your preferences and we will tailor the hotel choices for you.

Trip Prices

Note that we can customize this trip for you. Add days in your arrival or departure city or in other locations or make changes to the experiences, winery visits, restaurants, or hotels included in the trip. Whatever it is, we’re here to work with you. Once you’re happy with the trip plan and have some idea of your dates we will calculate and send you the price.