A Magical Winter Holiday in Spain

After landing in Madrid, we immediately immersed ourselves in Spanish culture at Mercado San Miguel, sampling tapas and coffee near the historic Plaza Mayor. Our first night in Madrid included a Christmas light show that was nothing short of incredible—Madrid knows how to celebrate the season! We capped our first night with local wines at Vinoteca Vides in the trendy Chueco neighborhood.

Our Madrid adventures continued with a memorable lunch at Botin—the world's oldest restaurant according to Guinness World Records. We spent a day exploring Toledo's medieval charm and came back to Madrid and enjoyed dinner in the upscale Salamanca neighborhood.

A countryside wine tour was SO FUN and absolutely worth every euro! We tasted exceptional Spanish wines while learning about local production techniques from passionate vintners.

Once our younger son arrived, and the gang was back together again, we toured the Royal Palace (great!), while the Christmas Market in Plaza Mayor was underwhelming. However, “The Original Tapas Crawl” more than made up for it that night. If you're in Madrid, this tour is a must-do—incredible food and wonderful local insights.

Our final day in Madrid was overcast and drizzly, but our bike tour proved brilliant, seeing the city's highlights on two wheels offered new perspectives we would have missed otherwise. That afternoon we left out of the Atocha train station on our way to Seville.

The high-speed AVE train whisked us from Madrid to Seville in just 2.5 hours. Our Airbnb was fabulous, perfectly positioned for exploring this enchanting city.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent wandering Seville's charming streets. The Cathedral and La Giralda tower were open despite the holiday, and Plaza d'España absolutely took our breath away with its architectural grandeur.

Don't miss the ‘Alcázar Real de Sevilla’—its Moorish architecture and gardens are spectacular. The tapas and flamenco show was a highlight—passionate performers bringing centuries of tradition to life right before our eyes.

Our day trip to Cadiz offered coastal views and ancient Roman ruins at Teatro Roma. The real treasure, however, was Bodegas Tradicion, where we enjoyed a sherry tasting combined with an unexpected art gallery that “shocked and awed.” The collection rivals many museums, and the sherry was phenomenal!

After checking out of Seville, we drove to Granada and settled into the comfortable Occidental Granada with garage parking for the rental car we had secured. The next morning's private Alhambra tour was worth every penny—an absolute highlight of our trip. The intricate Islamic architecture, tranquil gardens, and stunning views across Granada are unforgettable. Our guide's knowledge transformed what would have been merely beautiful into something profound and meaningful.

We finished our Granada stay with dinner at Restaurant Cala, savoring Andalusian cuisine with a modern twist.

The drive from Granada to Malaga included a fascinating stop at the Nerja caves, followed by a delicious lunch in this charming coastal town. We dropped our rental car at the train station in Malaga, and were back on foot and public transport once again.

Malaga was an unexpected gem—we LOVED this vibrant city with its perfect blend of history, culture, and beachside relaxation. The Mariposa Hotel provided comfortable accommodations for our New Year's celebration, which culminated in a spectacular dinner at Goblin Gastrobar.

We flew to Barcelona on New Year's Day, settling into a fabulous Airbnb in the atmospheric Gothic Quarter. The location couldn't have been better for exploring this captivating city.

Our tour of Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia offered intimate encounters with Gaudí's genius. The still-under-construction basilica is mind-blowing—photos simply don't do it justice.

The day trip to the Dalí Museum was a MUST-DO experience—so cool and utterly surreal, just like his art. Girona's medieval walls and Jewish Quarter were equally impressive, and lunch at Cipresaia in Girona's old town proved to be the best meal of our entire trip.

We concluded our Spanish holiday adventure by celebrating Three Kings Day in Barcelona, witnessing the elaborate parades and festivities that mark this important Spanish holiday before reluctantly heading home.