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Spain Wine Tours | Tickets To Best Wineries & Vineyards

Matt Davison — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 07:10:28 +0000

Winemaking in Spain dates back several centuries. The most crucial time for wine production in Spain began with the expansion of the Roman Empire in 218 B.C. Since then, Spain has made its mark as a certified wine country.

Spain grabs one of the top spots as the world’s third-largest wine producer after France and Italy, respectively. Boasting nearly a million hectares scattered across almost 4,300 wineries. The next time you’re in a city in Spain, going on a wine tasting and vineyard tour is an absolute must.

Your Spanish wine tasting journey typically begins with a guided walking tour of the vineyard, winery, and cellar. You’ll stroll through rows of rare grape vines, chilly underground cellars, and beautiful Spanish architecture boasting ornate stucco walls, terracotta tiled roofs, and soft arches.

Wine tasting in Spain is nothing short of a gastronomical adventure. Indulge in a multi-course meal featuring tapas and other distinctive Spanish dishes. All while tasting delightful wines brimming with intense flavors.

Most of the best wineries in Spain work hand-in-hand with local wine producers and family-owned boutique wineries. Each of these establishments grows and ferments its grapes in different styles, which means no two wines are the same.

Spain Wine Tours — Prices 2024

Spain’s booming wine tourism industry has led to a spike in the number of wine tours and tasting providers. From local budget-friendly vineyards to luxury winery tours, Spain has something for everyone.

You can book a half-day wine tour from about €65 ($68,39 USD) to €82 ($86,28 USD), while a full-day trip will cost you anything from €97 ($102,07 USD) to €170 ($178,88 USD).

From Madrid: Toledo Tour with Wine Tasting and 7 Monuments

$58.01

Available

Getyourguide.com

Madrid: Old Madrid Walking Food and Wine Tour

$72.51

Available

Getyourguide.com

Valencia: Old Town Tour, Wine & Tapas in an 11th c. Monument

$79.98

Available

Getyourguide.com

Madrid: Wine and Tapas Walking Tour

$85.31

Available

Getyourguide.com

Montserrat Half-Day Tour with Tapas and Gourmet Wines

$89.54

Available

Viator.com

Barcelona Tapas and Wine Experience Small-Group Walking Tour

$106.39

Available

Viator.com

Montserrat Tour with Lunch and Gourmet Wine Tasting

$117.54

Available

Viator.com

Madrid Countryside Wineries Guided Tour with Wine Tasting

$138.03

Available

Viator.com

From Madrid: Ribera del Duero Tour of 3 Different Wineries

$197.27

Available

Getyourguide.com

La Rioja: Winery Tour with Tastings and Traditional Lunch

$266.59

Available

Getyourguide.com

Spain Wine Tours — Full-day & Half-day Travel Times

While full-day wine tours in Spain usually start bright and early, half-day excursions are more flexible, giving you the option of either a morning or evening trip. A full-day trip itinerary is typically loaded with activities and must-see monuments in Spain.

Full-day tours usually begin between 8:45 and 9 am. Half-day excursions may begin in the morning from 11 am or 6 pm in the evening.

Monday – Sunday: 8:45am – 8:00pm

Best Time to Go On A Spain Wine Tour

Spain’s Mediterranean climate is illustrated by its warm, arid summers and cool, wet winters. This means that this prominent wine country is ideal for year-round visits. You can visit in autumn when the vines are lush green and the ripened grapes are ready for harvest.

But the ideal time to go is late spring or early summer when holiday-makers typically flock to the coastlines to visit the best beaches in Spain.

Wine Tours in Spain: Package Options & Tickets

All Spain wine tour packages commonly share the wine tasting experience. But many others choose to stand out by offering optional additions like a tapa tasting, multi-course meal, or walking tour around a prominent Spanish neighborhood.

These packages vary in costs, from budget to luxury. But the popularity of these tours often leads to fully booked trips, so it would be wise to make a reservation ahead of time or purchase a skip-the-line ticket.

With skip-the-line tickets, you’ll have priority access to skip the long queues and waiting lists. These tickets often come with add-ons like separate entrances, air-conditioned roundtrip transportation, and visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites like historic Toledo.

La Rioja: Winery Tour with Tastings and Traditional Lunch

As one of the most well-renowned wine regions in Spain, La Rioja boasts over 400 wineries. Discover enticing flavorful wines from the La Rioja Alavesa wine area on this half-day tour, while surrounded by lush peaks of the Cantabria mountain range.

This tour begins with an engaging vineyard exploration and then a tour of the stunning traditional Spanish bodega (wine cellar). While an expert guide takes you through their unique winemaking process.

Once you’ve taken in enough sites of the gorgeous scenery, you’ll be treated to a wine tasting session followed by lunch made from locally produced ingredients.

What we liked: Great for tasting a range of Spain’s finest wines.

INCLUDES:

Wine Tasting Sessions
Lunch
Hotel pick-up
English & Spanish-speaking guide

EXCLUDES:

Extra food and wine

It’s worth noting that you must bring your passport or ID on this tour, as alcohol is only served to people over the age of 18. The drive to the winery takes approximately two hours from one of Spain’s seaside towns — San Sebastián.

Check Price & Book

Ribera del Duero Wineries | Half-Day Tour & Tickets

The Ribera del Duero wine land is one of Spain’s top red wine-producing regions. Take a half-day trip from Madrid to Ribera del Duero and escape into the rich culture of winemaking and taste the purest expression of Tempranillo — Spain’s most well-known grape.

The tour begins with a two-hour minivan ride from Madrid; as you drive further north, your expert bilingual local wine guide narrates the region’s story. You’ll learn about the unique fruity character of the Ribera del Duero grape, the harvesting, and different fermentation techniques.

What we liked: Skip the line through a separate entrance.

INCLUDES:

Wine Tasting (Minimum of Two Wines per Winery)
English and Spanish-speaking Local Guide
Visit to a Historical Landmark

EXCLUDES:

Lunch (You can get this at your own expense)
Hotel Pick-up & Drop off
Gratuities (This is optional)

Once you arrive in Ribera del Duero, you’ll visit three distinct wineries in these famous winelands. You’ll sample wines made from old and new winemaking methods and hear inspiring stories about how small family wineries turned the area into a global red wine producer.

After visiting the first two wineries, you’ll have some downtime to grab some lunch. You can enjoy classic Castilian regional food, like tapas, a light lunch, or a 3-course meal at your own expense.

Check Price & Book

Montserrat Gourmet Wine Tasting & Lunch | Full-Day Tour & Tickets

Journey into the Catalan countryside from Barcelona to Montserrat for a full-day wine tour in one of Spain’s most vibrant autonomous regions. This trip begins with a guided walking tour through the Basilica and Monastery on Montserrat — a one-of-a-kind multi-peak mountain with spectacular rock formations.

You’ll also get free time to explore the museum and local farmer’s market, after which you can enjoy breathtaking views from the ridge of Cavall Bernat. Afterward, you’ll visit the winery of Oller de Mas for a fascinating cellar tour, a wine tasting, and a multi-course Catalan meal to wrap up.

What we liked: The tour caters for any dietary allergies or restrictions.

INCLUDES:

Guided Visit to a Boutique Winery (3 Wine Tastings)
Multi-course Catalan Meal with Wine
Local English-speaking Tour Guide

EXCLUDES:

Hotel Pickup & Drop-off
Gratuities

The Catalan countryside is known for its passionately independent people, their unique language, innovative flair, and creativity. Their impressive capacity to absorb different influences has led to the region boasting Romanesque art, medieval mountain monasteries, Art Nouveau masterpieces, and Roman ruins.

Catalan wines are rare and more sought-after. The wines also tend to be more pungent, higher in alcohol, and bear darker fruit flavors.

Keep In Mind: The Montserrat winery works closely with low-wine producers and family-owned boutique wineries. Should logistical issues arise, you may visit another cellar instead of Oller del Mas.

Check Price & Book

The post Spain Wine Tours | Tickets To Best Wineries & Vineyards appeared first on Traveling in Spain.

Best Alcázar de Segovia Tours 2024

Matt Davison — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 22:52:45 +0000

Although it is currently used as a museum, the history of the Alcázar of Segovia is profound.
The castle was originally created as an Arab fortress, made with mostly wood that outlined the foundations left from the Roman era. It has since been transformed into a royal palace, a state prison, and used as an Artillery college.

This beautiful piece of architecture was noted to be the inspiration behind Cinderella’s castle in the Walt Disney film and has noteworthy architecture and some stunning views. It was built on a hilltop and situated where two rivers meet. These rivers flow out of the Guadarrama mountains, which are about 20km away.

Just an hour from Spain’s capital city, there’s a little bit more adventure to be had in Segovia’s Castle after your bike tour through Madrid. Read further to learn more about prices and tours.

Prices 2024

Entrance into Segovia, Spain’s Alcázar will only cost you €9 ($11 USD) for full entry and €6 ($8 USD) for those who prefer not to climb up the Tower of Juan II. While the cheaper option only grants you access to the museum itself, various tour options are available if you’re looking to explore more than just Segovia’s Alcázar.

Some full-day tours from Madrid will cost you between €18 to €51 ($21 to $60 USD). Have a look at some of the walking tours and full-day town tours below.

Segovia Tour with Guided Walking Tour Included

$41.44

Available

Viator.com

Avila and Segovia Tour from Madrid including Alcazar admission

$52.36

Available

Viator.com

Segovia and Avila Guided Day Tour From Madrid including visit to the Alcazar

$55.44

Available

Viator.com

Segovia and Toledo Day Trip with Alcazar Ticket and Optional Cathedral & Lunch

$57.12

Available

Viator.com

Segovia Half Day Afternoon Tour from Madrid with Alcazar Admission

$60.48

Available

Viator.com

Combo:Toledo and Segovia Plus Royal Palace of Madrid

Available

Viator.com

Times

*Note: Ticket sales and admission are allowed up to 30 minutes before closing time

Summer Schedule: 10am – 8pm
Winter Schedule: 10am – 6pm

Best Time to Go

The Alcázar of Segovia, Spain is always available to the public and there is no bad time to visit this wondrous castle. The best time to go is determined by when you’re in the city and what kind of weather you prefer.

Warmer seasons in Segovia are from spring in March through to early autumn in September. The lowest temperatures have been recorded in January in the heart of winter.
Facts about Segovia, Spain.

Touring the Castillo de Segovia will take you less than an hour. However, walking about the actual city of Segovia is a spectacular way to truly appreciate Spanish locals and spend the rest of your day.

The city is well known for various delectable lamb or pork dishes, such as cochinillo asado, sopa Castellana, and judiones de La Granja. A must-try is the El Alcázar bakery which is close to the cathedral. Here, you’ll have to try a sweet pastry called ponche.

Alcázar de Segovia Tours

Since Segovia is about an hour away from Madrid, many day tours will start from there. You’re spoiled with options to city-hop from Madrid to Segovia to Toledo and back. Or to simply stroll through the majestic old-world city of Segovia until nightfall.

These tours offer you the very best of every option.

Guided Walking Tour with Alcázar Entry

If you’re a history buff and love to learn everything there is to know about unique cities, this tour is worth your time. Even if you’re not that big on history and architecture, this tour is perfect for any traveler looking to learn as much as they possibly can.

Walk through the castle and fall in love with Alcazar de Segovia’s interior, memorialized with Renaissance and Gothic influences. Or simply allow yourself to be humbled by the city’s grand architecture.

What we liked: Great tour that leaves enough time in the day for more adventure.

INCLUDES:

Guided Tour
Entrance Ticket to El Alcázar
Headsets to hear the tour guide clearly

EXCLUDES:

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and Drinks

This tour takes 2 hours, it includes everything you’ll ever want to know about the city of Segovia. Make sure to brush up on your Spanish because the guides aren’t bilingual.

Check Price & Book

Alcázar with Cathedral and Lunch – Segovia to Toledo

Cruise safely from one city to the next in an air-conditioned bus, accompanied by a bilingual guide and only 14 other people.

See everything that both Toledo and Segovia have to offer and spend 12 hours exploring the world beyond Madrid. This tour is for the true adventurer that loves to be out and about with a chance to make some new friends.

What we liked: Skip the ticket line and avoid waiting in queues.

INCLUDES:

Professional guide & walking tour
Entrance to the Alcázar Castle and Cathedral of Toledo
Gastronomic lunch menu (on the bus)

EXCLUDES:

Hotel pickup and dropoff
Food and drinks (off the bus)

This 12-hour tour with a skip-the-line ticket gives you an opportunity to learn about two beautiful Spanish cities. The Toledo Cathedral is optional, in case you’ve already seen it before. But there is lots of time to move around the city of Toledo and take as many pictures as you’d like!

Check Price & Book

Full-Day Trip to Avila and Segovia

If Romanesque, Renaissance or Gothic influences make your toes tingle, you’ll love this tour around some of the oldest cities in Spain. This tour is best for those who admire the architecture and love learning about the 11th century.

What we liked: Mobile ticketing that saves you and the environment.

INCLUDES:

Transportation
Tour guide

EXCLUDES:

Drinks
Gratuities

While this appeals mostly to ancient history buffs and architecture lovers, the tour is suitable for anyone that loves an adventure. From one city to the next, you will learn some valuable insight into the origin story of Mankind as we know it.

Check Price & Book

Night Time Walking Tour

This tour is perfect for the romantic couple looking to end their trip to Segovia under the stars. A nighttime walking tour provides a sneak peek into the one-of-a-kind history. As well as insight into local legends and obscure facts. Walk around the city and visit a variety of monuments such as the Alcázar, the Cathedral, the Jewish quarter as well as the Palace of San Martín of Enrique IV.

What we liked: Romantic and educational.

INCLUDES:

Spanish-speaking Tour Guide

EXCLUDES:

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
Entrance to other monuments

This tour only takes an hour and a half. Finish your day in Segovia by cruising through the hidden streets of this quaint town.

Check Price & Book

Toledo, Segovia, and Alcázar Small Group Tour

Suitable for small groups, this tour encompasses two of our favorite cities along with some cathedral and alcazar action.

What we liked: Pickup anywhere within the Madrid city center is available to you, all you have to do is ask.

INCLUDES:

Local guides
Air-conditioned vehicle
Tickets to the Alcázar of Segovia and Cathedral of Toledo

EXCLUDES:

Hotel pick up and drop off (if shared option selected)
Food and drinks

This 11-hour tour takes you through the magnificent cathedrals and so much more! You’re even invited to peruse through a traditional sword and metal workshop.

Check Price & Book

The post Best Alcázar de Segovia Tours 2024 appeared first on Traveling in Spain.

The Alcázar of Toledo (Guided Tours & Day Trips) 2024

Matt Davison — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 14:38:18 +0000

Sitting atop a hill with panoramic views of the city around it, the Alcázar makes for a perfect tourist destination for anyone with an interest in Spain’s wartime history. Especially for any military history buffs. Not to be forgotten are the Toledo Cathedral, and the ever-present multicultural history of the city from the Moors, Christians, Jews and Muslims who resided there over the centuries.

Originally a Roman Palace built around the 3rd Century, the Alcázar of Toledo (or Alcázar de Toledo) is a stunning landmark with a rich history that’s been past down over the centuries. It was first restored in the 1500s by Spanish Royalty and later restored again after Francisco Franco’s troops took refuge in the Alcazar in the Spanish Civil War, 1936. In this battle, it was nearly entirely destroyed and was restored and rebuilt up until its completion in the late 1950s.

Today the Toledo Alcazar, sitting on top of Toledo, is the city’s Army Museum, as well as home to some army offices. An extensive amount of Spanish Army history is covered in the museum, all the way from the Roman times, to the discovery of the ‘new world’, up until the Spanish Civil War, and later their involvement in Afghanistan. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, solidifying its place both in modern and ancient history.

If that sounds like an incredible place to explore to you, choose a day tour from Seville or Madrid, or catch a train here and join a short guided tour of the Alcazar.

Toledo Spain alcazar Prices 2024

The cost of the tours start at €12 Euro ($14 USD) to €50 ($56 USD) depending on the kind of experience you’re looking for – a short guided tour, a skip-the-line-ticket and tour, or a full-excursion! Compare prices across the ticket providers below:

Alcazar of Córdoba Guided Tour

$13.25

~~$19.85~~

Available

Klook.com

Toledo Full-Day All Inclusive Tour from Madrid with Lunch

$22.54

Available

Getyourguide.com

Seville: Alcázar Guided Tour with Priority Entrance

$37.56

Available

Getyourguide.com

Fast-Track Seville Guided Tour into Alcazar

$40.60

Available

Viator.com

Seville: Alcazar, Cathedral & Giralda Guided Tour

$49.26

Available

Getyourguide.com

Cathedral, Alcazar, & Giralda Guided Tour Combo Tickets in Seville

$49.79

Available

Klook.com

Segovia and Toledo Tour with Alcazar & Optional Cathedral

$54.73

Available

Getyourguide.com

Cathedral & Alcazar of Seville Guided Tour (Skip the Line)

$71.18

Available

Viator.com

Times

Guided tours of the Alcazar last 1-3 hours depending on what is included. The tours of Toledo are full-day trips! It is open all year-round, but closed for maintenance on Wednesdays.

Thursday – Tuesday: 11 am – 5 pm
Wednesday: Closed

Best Time to Go

There’s never a bad time to visit the former royal palace of Spain’s Catholic Kings! The best time to visit Toledo is in spring, as the weather is perfect and summer crowds disperse. But since Toledo is off the general tourist map, and the Alcazar is always cool, we honestly can’t think of a reason not to visit any time of year.

Alcazar Toledo Tours

There are some great options for a tour of the Alcazar! Whether you love all things history or military, or you just want to take a day trip somewhere beautiful, these tours are just the thing.

Alcazar of Toledo Guided Tour

Explore Toledo’s most impressive monument! Visible from everywhere in the town, it is a must-see. On this tour, you’ll marvel at the incredible mosaics, the luxurious rooms and sculptures, the immense gardens, and the view from the watchtowers!

The castle contains centuries of army memorabilia such as weapons, uniforms, models and documents. From the courtyard on top of the Alcazar de Toledo, you can admire the picturesque views of the Tagus River, the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula; as well as walk the ramparts for a panoramic view of the city.

The city is also famous for having a long history of Islamic, Jewish and Christian residents living side-by-side, with religious artifacts found all over.

What we liked: A perfect short tour of the Alcazar, with stops at all the important places .

INCLUDES:

Professional local guide
Walking tour
Admission to the Alcazar

EXCLUDES:

Food and drinks
Hotel transfer
Gratuity (optional)

You can also choose a skip-the-line tour, so that you waste no time waiting to be inside! This is a great option in peak seasons, or for those with little time to lose.

Check Price & Book

Full Day Segovia & Toledo Alcazar Tour

If you’re staying in Madrid and want to explore beyond the city on an exciting day tour of Spain’s historic landmarks, this is an ideal day tour. In addition to a guided tour of the Alcazar, you will visit Toledo and Segovia’s most impressive attractions. This includes the Jewish Quarter, and the magnificent Toledo Cathedral!

You can also select an option with a traditional lunch – or get your own lunch with the help of your guide! It’s a really lovely option for those with a little more time to explore, and interest in this gorgeous area of Spain.

What we liked: A wonderful day of activity and beauty in these two cities.

INCLUDES:

Round-trip transport from Madrid
Professional bilingual guide
Traditional lunch (if selected)
Entrance fees

EXCLUDES:

Snacks and drinks
Gratuity (optional)

Check Price & Book

The post The Alcázar of Toledo (Guided Tours & Day Trips) 2024 appeared first on Traveling in Spain.