Self-Launched Andalusia & Mediterranean Coast with Barcelona
7 days · Spain
Remaz Tours GmbH charges £1,580
No-markup version: ~£670 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Remaz Tours' 7-day coach circuit from Madrid through Córdoba, Seville, Granada, Valencia and Barcelona — rebuilt for independent travellers using Spain's excellent high-speed AVE trains and regional buses instead of a 45-seat coach, and hostels/guesthouses instead of 4-star hotels. You'll see the same headline sights (Mezquita, Alcázar and Cathedral of Seville, the Alhambra, City of Arts and Sciences, Gaudí's Barcelona), but with the freedom to linger in the Alhambra, catch a Sacromonte flamenco show without the group timetable, and eat where locals eat. Costs are realistic backpacker-to-mid-budget estimates in GBP and will vary by season — book Alhambra tickets and AVE trains well in advance.
Day-by-day
Madrid to Córdoba to Seville
Madrid → Córdoba → Seville
Start early at Madrid's Atocha station and take the AVE high-speed train to Córdoba (~1h 45m, book on Renfe or Omio a few weeks ahead for ~£25-40). Drop bags at the station locker, then walk into the old town to visit the Mezquita-Catedral (tickets ~£12 direct via mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es, or a skip-the-line entry + guided option on GetYourGuide ~£20) and wander the whitewashed Jewish Quarter and Calleja de las Flores. Grab a lunch of salmorejo and flamenquín in a local taberna (~£10). Late afternoon, take another AVE or Alvia on to Seville (~45m, ~£12-20). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in the Arenal or Alameda area.
🚌AVE Madrid Atocha → Córdoba (~£30), AVE/Alvia Córdoba → Seville (~£15)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Seville (dorm ~£18-25/night, private double ~£45-65)
- →Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
- →Córdoba Jewish Quarter & Calleja de las Flores
- →Evening stroll along the Guadalquivir
Seville — Cathedral, Alcázar and Santa Cruz
Seville
Do your own walking circuit of the classic Seville sights: the Cathedral and Giralda (combined ticket ~£12, book online), the Royal Alcázar (book direct ~£13 — sell out fast, especially the evening visits), the Barrio de Santa Cruz maze of alleys, and the tiled Plaza de España in María Luisa Park (free). Break for tapas in Triana across the river (~£12-15). In the evening, book a flamenco show through GetYourGuide or directly at Casa de la Memoria or La Casa del Flamenco (~£20-25) — a small tablao beats a big tourist venue. Walkable day, no transport needed beyond a metro or bus top-up card.
🚌On foot; optional metro/bus day card ~£5
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Seville
- →Seville Cathedral & Giralda
- →Real Alcázar
- →Barrio de Santa Cruz
- →Plaza de España & María Luisa Park
- →Flamenco show (book via GetYourGuide or direct)
Seville to Granada — the Alhambra
Seville → Granada
Take an early regional bus (ALSA or FlixBus, ~3h, ~£12-18) or the train (~2h 45m, ~£20-28) from Seville to Granada. Head straight to your guesthouse in the Realejo or Albaicín, then spend the afternoon at the Alhambra — book your timed ticket weeks (or months) in advance on the official alhambra-patronato.es site (~£16-20 with the Nasrid Palaces; a guided small-group entry via GetYourGuide runs ~£30-40 and is worth it for context). Include the Generalife Gardens. In the evening, climb to the Mirador de San Nicolás for sunset over the Alhambra, then eat free tapas in the Albaicín. Optionally catch a raw flamenco show in a Sacromonte cave (~£15-20, book direct or via GetYourGuide).
🚌ALSA bus Seville → Granada ~£15 (or train ~£24)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Realejo/Albaicín, Granada (dorm ~£18-24, private ~£45-60)
- →Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces
- →Generalife Gardens
- →Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset
- →Sacromonte cave flamenco (optional)
Granada to Valencia
Granada → Valencia
Long transfer day — two options. Cheapest: ALSA bus Granada → Valencia (~5h 30m direct, ~£25-30). Faster and more comfortable: regional train or bus to Antequera/Madrid and AVE on to Valencia (5-6h total, ~£55-70). Whichever you pick, arrive by late afternoon and check into a hostel near the old town (El Carmen or Russafa are good budget bases). Stretch your legs with a walk through the Plaza de la Virgen and Plaza del Ayuntamiento, then have dinner in Russafa — horchata and fartons are mandatory (~£12-15).
🚌ALSA bus Granada → Valencia ~£28 (or AVE route ~£60)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in El Carmen/Russafa, Valencia (dorm ~£18-25, private ~£45-65)
- →Plaza de la Virgen
- →Ciutat Vella evening wander
- →Russafa dinner & horchata
Valencia — City of Arts and Sciences
Valencia
Spend the morning cycling or walking the Turia Gardens, the green park built in the old riverbed, all the way to the City of Arts and Sciences. Book entry tickets online in advance (Oceanogràfic ~£28, Science Museum ~£8, or a combined ticket ~£35; cheaper via Klook/GetYourGuide or the official site). The exterior architecture itself is free to admire. Afternoon in the Mercado Central for lunch and the Cathedral (Holy Grail chapel ~£8) if you have energy left. Optional: hire a bike for the day (~£8-10).
🚌On foot/bike; bike hire ~£9
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Valencia
- →Turia Gardens
- →City of Arts and Sciences (Oceanogràfic or Science Museum)
- →Mercado Central
- →Valencia Cathedral (optional)
Valencia to Barcelona
Valencia → Barcelona
Take an early Euromed/AVE train from Valencia to Barcelona (~3h, ~£25-40 booked ahead) — far faster than the coach the tour uses. Arrive and check into a hostel in Gràcia, El Born or Eixample. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided Gaudí walk: Passeig de Gràcia for La Pedrera (Casa Milà) and Casa Batlló exteriors (interior tickets ~£25-30 each if you want inside — book direct), then Montjuïc for the Olympic Ring, the Olympic Port and the Columbus Monument at the bottom of La Rambla. Evening: vermouth and pintxos in El Born (~£15-18).
🚌Euromed/AVE Valencia → Barcelona ~£30; Barcelona T-casual 10-ride metro card ~£10
🛏Hostel in Gràcia/El Born/Eixample, Barcelona (dorm ~£22-30, private ~£55-75)
- →Passeig de Gràcia & La Pedrera/Casa Batlló exteriors
- →Montjuïc Park & Olympic Ring
- →Olympic Port
- →Columbus Monument
- →El Born tapas evening
Barcelona to Madrid via Zaragoza
Barcelona → Zaragoza → Madrid
Break the return journey the way the coach tour does — but faster. Take the AVE Barcelona → Zaragoza (~1h 30m, ~£25-35) and spend a few hours in Zaragoza: the Basílica del Pilar (free entry to the main basilica) and a walk along the Ebro river, with a cheap menu del día lunch (~£12). Then continue AVE Zaragoza → Madrid (~1h 20m, ~£25-35), arriving early evening at Atocha. Alternatively, save money with a direct ALSA/FlixBus Barcelona → Madrid (~7h 30m, ~£20-25) if you don't mind the long ride.
🚌AVE Barcelona → Zaragoza ~£30; AVE Zaragoza → Madrid ~£30 (or direct bus ~£22)
🛏Not included — final day. Optional hostel night near Atocha ~£25-35 if you're flying out next morning.
- →Basílica del Pilar, Zaragoza
- →Ebro river walk
- →Menu del día lunch in Zaragoza
Self-launched vs. Remaz Tours GmbH
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Remaz Tours GmbH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£670 | £1,580 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £910 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Remaz Tours GmbH-style trips? Check them out here.~£670
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Andalusia & Mediterranean Coast with Barcelona cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £670 per person for 7 days in Spain. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Remaz Tours GmbH?+
Yes — Remaz Tours GmbH charges around £1,580 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £670 — a saving of roughly £910 (58%) per person.
How long is the Spain trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Spain.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, foodie trip through Spain, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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