Itinerary Vuelta 2026 / Week 2 Murcia and Mountains of Andalusia

Click here for our Google Maps list of recommendations in Madrid.

Visit one of the galleries that make up Madrid’s “Golden Triangle of Art”: the classical Prado (open Mon – Sat 10am – 8pm, and Sun 10am – 7pm), the modernist Reina Sofia (open Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sat 10am – 9pm and Sun 10am – 2:30pm), or the Thyssen-Bornemisza, a former former private collection (open Tue – Sun 10am – 7pm and Mon 12pm – 4pm).

Make a selfie stop at some of Madrid’s most legendary landmarks: Plaza Mayor, the elegant arcaded square that has been at the centre of madrileño life for centuries; Plaza del Sol, where you can visit the iconic bear and strawberry tree statue and the Km 0 plaque, the origin of all Spain’s roads and the exact geographic centre of Spain; Gran Vía, Madrid’s buzzing central street, full of shops and theatres; and the imposing Puerta de Alcalá, which once marked the entrance to the city.

Explore the Royal Palace, the biggest in Europe (open Mon – Sat 10am – 6pm and Sun 10am – 4pm).

Next door, visit Madrid’s unique cathedral (open daily 10am – 8:30pm), whose construction spanned more than a century and was only completed in 1993!

Take a stroll in the elegant Parque del Retiro, Madrid’s answer to Central Park. Catch at art exhibition at the striking Crystal Palace, rent a rowboat for a romantic cruise on the lake, or visit the peacocks in the “secret garden” named after architect Cecilio Rodriguez.

Watch the sunset from the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop bar and restaurant (open Tue – Sun, 11am – 2pm/5pm – 9pm).

Discover Madrid’s very own Egyptian temple! Dating back to the 2nd century BC, the Temple of Debod was transferred to Madrid, brick by brick in the 1970s.

If you happen to be in Madrid on a Sunday morning, we recommend a trip to El Rastro market (open Sun 9am – 3pm) to hunt for treasures and soak up the lively atmosphere!

Enjoy a Spanish-style tapas crawl at one of the local hotspots: laid-back Calle Cava Baja in La Latina, Calle de las Huertas in the historic Barrio de las Letras, or trendy Calle Ponzano in Chamberí.

For a fun local experience, grab lunch or dinner at one of Madrid’s renovated gastromarkets. The elegant Mercado San Miguel, which is located right by Plaza Mayor, is the most famous, and we also recommend Mercado Ildefonso, Mercado San Antón or Mercado Anton Martín.

Try traditional Castilian fare at the oldest restaurant in the world! Sobrino de Botín has been in continuous operation since 1725 (open daily 1pm – 4pm/8pm – 11:30pm).

Sample excellent fusion cooking in a laid-back, traditional setting at La Castela (open Mon – Sat 12:30pm – 5pm/8pm – 12:30am).

Enjoy excellent seafood at Pescadería & Club Fisherman’s, located in the trendy Ibiza district.

Treat yourself to an unforgettable meal at one of Madrid’s 27 Michelin star restaurants.

Visit one of Madrid’s “tabernas centenarias”: the title awarded to restaurants and taverns that have been in continuous operation for at least a century, and often two! Some of our favourites are Bodega La Ardosa, Casa Alberto and Casa del Abuelo. For a sweet treat, visit La Mallorquina, a bakery that dates back to 1894!

For an immersive historical experience, visit La Venencia, a unique bar that only serves sherry, where the waiters will likely write your order on the bar in chalk and where cameras are banned: a tradition dating back to the bar’s popularity with spies during the Spanish Civil War!

Ranked multiple times among the best bars in the world, modern cocktail spot Salmon Guru is a great place to celebrate your bike trip with an amazingly creative concoction!

As a land-locked city, Madrid has for centuries prided itself on its ability to obtain top-quality seafood through sheer purchasing power! To this day, fresh seafood is auctioned in coastal cities in the very early hours of the morning and rushed to Madrid to be sold in markets and served in bars and restaurants. For this reason, one of Madrid’s signature dishes is the bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich). Try this madrileño staple at one of the famous bars near Plaza Mayor (we like Bar Postas and La Campana), or at Bar El Brillante near the Reina Sofia Museum.

One of Spain’s most cherished traditions (and particularly in Madrid) is la hora del vermut: vermouth o’clock! Traditionally, Spaniards enjoy their vermouth pre-lunch, between 12pm and 2pm, although in recent years la hora del vermut has extended to most of the day. Our favourite spot to indulge in this tradition is at Casa Labra near Sol, where vermouth is paired with delicious cod, served in croquetas and as deep-fried bites. Don’t be afraid of the frequently long queues, they move quickly!

When visiting Madrid in winter, you can’t miss one of the city’s most traditional comfort dishes: cocido a la madrileña. Every madrileño has fond memories of their grandmother cooking this hearty stew of vegetables, chickpeas, chorizo and pork, which is traditionally served as two or three courses: first the broth, then the vegetables and then the meat. Two of our favourite spots to try cocido are Taberna Malacatín and Taberna La Bola, both family-run establishments that have been in operation for over two centuries.

For the most daring, a very traditional side to madrileño cuisine is casquería: offal! These dishes date back to the hard times in Madrid’s history, and one of the most popular variations is callos: a stew of strips of tripe,chorizo and morcilla (blood sausage). For a really authentic experience, try callos along with caracoles (snails) at Restaurante Casa Amadeo Los Caracoles.

No trip to Spain would be complete without churros con chocolate! The most traditional spot for churros in Madrid is at Chocolatería San Ginés, which has been serving up churros (thin deep-fried dough) and porras (fat deep-fried dough) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, since 1894!

One of the most unique snack experiences in Madrid is buying cookies from an “invisible” nun! For centuries, Spain’s cloistered monasteries and convents have funded themselves by selling baked goods, a tradition that still persists today. Ring the bell at the Convento Carboneras (located right behind the Bike Spain Tours office!) between the hours of 9:30am – 1pm/4:30pm – 6:30pm, and place cash on the torno (rotating wall) to buy cookies baked by the nuns themselves!

Steeped in more than a thousand years of history, Lorca is one of the most fascinating cities in the Region of Murcia. Dominating the skyline is the magnificent Lorca Castle, a vast hilltop fortress offering panoramic views over the Guadalentín Valley and a glimpse into the city’s medieval past.

Enjoy a stroll around the historic centre exploring elegant plazas lined with Baroque palaces and churches, including the beautiful Plaza de España and the impressive Colegiata de San Patricio.

Arriving into Granada is like stepping into another country; Granada was the capital of the Spanish Caliphate for two and a half centuries, and the Moorish influence is still very noticeable in the architecture, gastronomy, and culture of the area.

The star attraction of Granada is of course the Alhambra, a spectacular Moorish palace dating back to the 9th century, highly decorated in traditional Nasrid style and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Alhambra is one of the most popular attractions in Spain, and so prior booking is essential; consult us for further details.

If the Alhambra represents the magnificence of Nasrid Granada, the city’s monumental Cathedral  symbolises the triumph of the Catholic Monarchs, who conquered it in 1492, ultimately uniting Spain under one banner, and are buried in the Royal Chapel.

Take a stroll around the enchanting Albaicín, Granada’s oldest neighbourhood, established by the Moors in the 10th century on a hill facing the Alhambra and included with the Alhambra as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t miss sunset from Mirador San Nicolás! At the foot of the Albaicín, you’ll find Carrera del Darro, one of the most beautiful walks in the city. Calle Caldrería Nueva is famous for its many Moorish teashops, while Calle Elvira is one of the most popular places to go out for tapas.

Put on some comfortable shoes and climb up to the picturesque Sacromonte neighbourhood, whose ancient whitewashed caves were the original birthplace of flamenco. Those interested in the history of this unique barrio can visit the Sacromonte Caves Museum.

If you’re in need of some R&R after all that exploring, book a spa treatment at the Al-Andalus Hammam (prior booking required; please consult us if you need assistance), a modern-day spa built inside an original Moorish baths complex!

Ten centuries ago, Cordoba was one of the greatest cities in the world and the capital of Muslim Spain, and boasts no fewer than four UNESCO World Heritage sites!

Top of your list should be the Mezquita-Cathedral de Córdoba (open Mon – Sat 10am – 7pm, Sun 8:30am – 11:30am/3pm – 7pm), a truly unique construction and a microcosm of medieval Spanish history: an elegant 8th century mosque with a 16th century Gothic cathedral built inside it by the conquering Christians! 

Córdoba’s annual Festival of the Patios, an annual competition in which the ancient Moorish courtyards are filled with flowers is also recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Even out of season, the patios of Córdoba’s Moorish old quarter are one of the city’s main attractions. You can find more information about the patios here.

The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (open Tue – Fri 8:15am – 8pm, Sat 9:30am – 6pm and Sun 8:15am – 2:45pm) is an ancient Moorish fortress that became the home of Ferdinand and Isabella, the famous Catholic Monarchs who carried out the reconquest of Spain, for almost a decade.