Temperamental home of Don Quixote

Individual tours
through central Spain 2024 & 2025

Ilona Hensel
Get to know the culture and nature of central Spain

“For me, the centre of Spain is a history come to life: every time I enjoy the sight of the round, white windmills in the barren landscape, the famous Don Quixote seems to come riding around the corner on his horse with his faithful servant.

Suddenly I’m right in the middle of this story. The Extremadura also exudes a special charm for me, namely the slow pace of life. You come to rest and can savour everything much more intensely. The typical sheep’s cheese, for example, which is still made by hand in and around Cacéres, or the hike through the valleys and over the heights on Charles V’s last route.

By the way: Your round trip to Central Spain can start at home. Depending on where you are departing from, we will also plan and organise the route and your accommodation in the transit countries up to your destination.”

Ilona Hensel
Travel expert

How to start your Central Spain tour

What kind of traveller are you? Just a few steps to your individual round trip
With our vacation planner, you can easily customize your own trip.
Individual planning
We accompany you to your personalized dream holiday.

Our recommendation for you

On this 9-day round trip through central Spain, your overnight accommodation alone is an experience: you will be staying mainly in atmospheric Paradores houses. These places to stay combine warm Spanish hospitality with magnificent, often historic houses. Stay in the midst of the country's history in old aristocratic palaces, once mighty monasteries or modern works of art.
  • 9 days - 5 places
  • Real Sitio de San Ildefonso (1 night)
  • Salamanca (2 nights)
  • Plasencia (2 nights)
  • Cáceres (1 night)
  • Toledo (2 nights)
  • Further highlights
  • Segovia
  • Àvila
  • Zamora
  • Hervás
  • Valle del Jerte
  • Cuacos de Yuste
  • Trujillo
No price tag? As always with Geotoura, all options are open to you. Design your own personal trip, on your own terms.

Further ideas for your round trip through central Spain

Discover the heart of Spain
Central Spain: 8 days Discover the heart of Spain
Madrid – Salamanca – Toledo — El Escorial — Chinchón — Segovia — Ávila — Aranjuez
The Spanish capital is an attraction in its own right. That's why we've packed this 8-day city break to Madrid with all the highlights you shouldn't miss.
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The magic of Paradores
Extremadura: 9 days round trip - Paradores
Madrid – Salamanca – Toledo — El Escorial — Chinchón — Segovia — Ávila — Aranjuez
Do you love this lively country and appreciate something special? Then this 9-day round trip will take you to wonderful paradises in some of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the heart of Spain.
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Discover Spain’s Heart
Central Spain: 8 days Extremadura
Segovia – Salamanca – Hervás – Cáceres – Toledo
Take an exciting trip to the heart of Spain and get to know - and love - historic cities, magnificent architecture and a vast, often rather barren landscape in between on this 8-day round trip to central Spain.
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Cultures in a Vast Landscap
Extremadura: 10 days round trip culture and nature
Hervás – Cáceres – Llerena – Guadalupe – Toledo
From Madrid, you will travel to Toledo, the city of 3 cultures, and on to picturesque old towns such as Cáceres or the picturesque provincial town of Zafra. Beyond the city limits, the tranquil expanse of Extremadura awaits you.
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The soul of wine
Northern Spain: 9 days Basque Country and La Rioja
Bilbao – San Sebastián - Pamplona - Laguardia
Do you love Spanish wines and the unspoilt beauty of northern Spain? Then set off through the Basque Country and the La Rioja wine region. Here you can savour the fine wines and enjoy a long history and exciting culture.
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Discover Central Spain

Central Spain – Cultural treasures await

There is no shortage of culture in the centre of Spain. Whether Castile-León or Castile-La Mancha – the historical importance of central Spain becomes clear on our round trips through the numerous cathedrals, monasteries, castles and fortified towns. Visit Salamanca, the cradle of the Castilian language and home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Marvel at the colossal aqueduct of Segovia or the historic city centre of Ávila, which is still protected by an impressively well-preserved city wall.

If you are a fan of sacred art, the cathedrals of Burgos, León, Zamora and Palencia should be on your itinerary. This route is peppered with monasteries and castles, which make a stopover or two well worthwhile. Toledo, the former capital of Spain and home town of El Greco, is a veritable treasure trove of different stylistic periods and a centre of Judaism in the West. Let your imagination run wild and let Don Quixote fight the windmills in the Campo de Criptana or listen to the sounds of the Concierto de Aranjuez in the baroque gardens of the Royal Palace.

A trip through the Extremadura is no less exciting for culture vultures. Experience Roman antiquity in Mérida. Visit the Yuste Monastery, the last site of Emperor Charles V. Make a pilgrimage to the royal monastery of Guadalupe or travel back in time to the Middle Ages in the castles and medieval towns of Extremadura. Whatever you decide to do, you will enjoy it.

Central Spain's diverse nature

The nature and landscapes of central Spain offer a lot of variety – there is the Meseta – a steppe-like landscape surrounded by several mountains.

However, you also hike through extensive wine-growing areas, past huge grazing areas for cattle and through grazed stone and cork oak groves. These dehesas are a paradise for black pigs, which can eat their fill of acorns and aromatic herbs here. The sparse oak groves are also popular with the shy cranes, which, with a bit of luck, can be seen striding between the trees in winter.

Wetlands such as the Tablas de Daimiel National Park are of international importance as breeding and resting grounds for water birds, while the Monfragüe National Park is home to an impressively diverse flora and fauna. Plan enough time to observe numerous birds such as black vultures, griffon vultures, imperial eagles, short-toed eagles, golden eagles, black storks and falcons at close range at the Salto del Gitano. The climb up to the Castillo de Monfragüe is worthwhile, as here you can see the impressive birds of prey circling majestically above you. Or be amazed by the sight that awaits you in the Los Barruecos Nature Park: Here, storks have discovered the Peñas del Tesoro – huge granite boulders – for themselves and their nests. This lovely landscape has another surprise in store for visitors: the Museo Vostell, founded by Wolf Vostell and his wife, which opens the doors to an understanding of the Fluxus movement.

Central Spain - hearty delicious

The cuisine of central Spain is hearty, meaty and extremely tasty. Stews such as cocido madrileño or pisto manchego and soups such as sopa de ajo are typical dishes and can be found on many menus. If you like garlic, you shouldn’t miss out on champiñones al ajillo – a classic of Castilian cuisine, as the bulb is produced here in large quantities, not only in white, but also in purple and, in the province of Cuenca itself, in black.

Not only is the world-famous Manchego cheese of high quality, but also the olive oil and the saffron grown here. The region’s wines are also better than their reputation, as a great deal has been invested in modernising the cellars and vineyards – with success. Other delicacies include the famous Serrano ham and, of course, the skilfully grilled and braised meat dishes. Meatless dishes, such as parillada de verdura or el asadillo, are also on the menu and with wild mushrooms and asparagus, the menu becomes a definitive culinary experience.

No sea in sight and you still have an appetite for fish? Then you should order bacalao al ajo arriero or tiznao manchego. For a sweet finish, you should look out for a tipsy sponge cake, bizcochos borrachos, honey cake from Cuenca, alajú, or bizcocho or torta de Alcázar.

If your round trip through central Spain takes you through Toledo, marzipan is a must, as this is where the country’s most famous producers are to be found. Is your round trip taking you to or through Extremadura? Then you have landed in a paradise of culinary specialities while passing through. Here you will not only find the Ibérico Bellota of the acorn-fed and grass-fed Pata Negra, but also a large number of dishes with river fish and flavoursome cheeses such as the Torta del Casar. Together with a good wine, they are perfect for a picnic in the countryside. The lamb, kid and game dishes, subtly flavoured with pimentón de la vera, will also make your mouth water.

Central Spain Authentic and up close

Of course, you can also book guided tours of the most famous cities and culturally significant sites on your round trip through central Spain – and there are plenty of them.

But would you also like to get to know and understand the country and its inhabitants better and take a look behind the scenes? Then learn all about the Torta del Casar, an extremely flavoursome soft cheese made from sheep’s milk, during a visit to a cheese dairy followed by a tasting session. A guided tour through the Monfragüe National Park, on the other hand, will bring you closer to the spectacular world of birds of prey, not only in words but also through binoculars. There will be no shortage of special experiences on your round trip through central Spain.

You are travelling individually but in the best company

There are many good reasons for travelling with Geotoura. The most important is probably that everything is customised for you. But other aspects of travelling are also important to our customers - here is a brief overview:
Safety
Safety
Our travel promise for a carefree holiday: up-to-date, accommodating, flexible and customer-oriented.
Insider tips
Insider tips
Authentic experiences thanks to geotoura's own tips, collected and selected for our guests.
Quality
Quality
A long-term and fair cooperation with partners that creates trust and ensures quality.
Experiences
Experiences
Cultural, culinary and local “delicacies” that allow a look behind the scenes.
Sustainability
Sustainability
Regular TourCert certification to preserve the cultural and natural treasures of all destinations.
Authenticity
Authenticity
Getting to know and love the country and its inhabitants through original route ideas.
 
The special moment ...
... when we were able to observe the vultures up close in the Monfrague nature reserve during a private guided tour with Geotoura.

Experiences
of our customers

February 2023
Ann-Kathrin B.
Switzerland
Central Spain, in particular Extremadura, is a beautiful region with great natural scenery and many medieval towns. The trip there was very well organised and we had a great travel experience.
November 2022
Hans K.
Switzerland
A rich journey through Central Spain, historic cities with an immense wealth of art and history, wide plains and mountainous surroundings in one, even in small towns there are places of interest, a very clean country with friendly and helpful inhabitants.
August 2021
Sandra M.
Germany
Our trip to Extremadura was wonderfully organised by Geotoura! I felt very well looked after and informed (even during the pandemic with rebooking of hotels and flights and the special conditions). The hotels were magnificent and I have warm memories of the cities.
September 2019
Heribert S.
Bavaria
A wonderful journey through the Extremadura for people who want to take it easy, manageable driving routes, very calming due to the uniformity of the landscape. Without knowledge of foreign languages it can be difficult in the countryside. Suggestions and support were excellent. I would therefore travel with Geotoura again at any time.
June 2024
Tobias L.
Germany
When we plan a trip with Geotoura, we can count on relaxed and empathetic people who listen to us and then put together a dream route. Thank you Geotoura for our wonderful trip through northern Spain along the Camino France.
July 2024
Thomas und Barbara P.
Switzerland
Our trip to northern Spain offered a real carefree package for basic needs. There is enough leeway for your own creativity and wishes. Highly recommended.
June 2024
Sonja H.
Austria
A great round trip starting from Madrid to the north coast of Spain to Santiago de Compostella and back to Madrid - the weather was just perfect during the last two weeks of June - sunny but not hot, no beach holiday just sightseeing, hiking and culinary delights - Madrid would certainly be worth an extra trip - that was our conclusion and we were already a bit tired of sightseeing! We can only recommend this trip through northern Spain!
June 2024
Natascha W.
Germany
A dream insight into the regions of Austuria and Galicia. Relaxation, nature and culture in a great holiday in northern Spain.
May 2024
Werner K.
Germany
As with our trip to Portugal with Geotoura last year, the organisation of our tour through northern Spain and the selection of accommodation were once again excellent.
May 2024
Petra M.
Germany
We particularly enjoyed the Feria in Cordoba with all the flamenco dresses and horses, and the visit to the Alhambra. After this wonderful holiday in Andalusia, we have already booked our next trip with Geotoura.
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