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Classical Cities of Old Castile

Journey through the heart & soul of Spain
 
Delve into Spain’s Golden Age by visiting the great cities of Segovia, Salamanca and Madrid on a journey by rail. Thanks to our detailed cultural notes and self-guided city walking tours, you’ll learn about their rich history as you explore famous sights and hidden corners.
Classical Cities of Old Castile. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Classical Cities of Old Castile. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday in Castile

Embark on a historical and artistic voyage through the heart of Spain that explores the extraordinary cultural explosion that occurred in the 16th century. Journeying by rail, and accompanied by our detailed notes, you learn about the pivotal events that paved the way for the Golden Age, discover something of its remarkable monumental legacy, encounter the centre of 16th-century Spanish thought, and enter the worlds of El Greco, Cervantes and Velázquez. Little by little, each of our chosen cities reveal their unique contribution.
Beginning amid the soaring spires of Segovia, you trace the very foundations of the Spanish state, as it was here that Ferdinand and Isabella united the dynasties of Castile and Aragon. From here you travel westwards to Salamanca, an ancient centre of learning that once rivalled Oxford and Padua – its ornate secular and religious buildings are testament to its prestige and make it one of the great jewels of Spain. Last, but certainly by no means least, is Madrid. Spain’s capital since the Golden Age, it is the heart of the country, not only geographically, but culturally, too, boasting many Spanish art treasures in its three world-class galleries.
 

Book now for 2021

Travel from/to the UK is currently restricted. If, however, you would like to plan a holiday, we are accepting bookings for departures from 1 April 2021 onwards.

What we are doing so you can book with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >

We will be in contact with customers who have a holiday booking with us over the winter months nearer the date of departure.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • Arrival in Segovia
    Night 1: at Hotel Don Felipe (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Segovia
    Segovia was once one of the most illustrious cities in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. It is a UNESCO-listed cultural gem that remains delightfully off the tourist radar and richly repays exploration on foot using our self-guided walking tour. Wander the medieval back streets, gaze upwards in awe at soaring spires and the astonishing Roman aqueduct, and pay a visit to the ornate Alcázar where the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon came together, giving birth to ‘Spain’ itself. Treat yourselves too, perhaps, to the local delicacy, suckling pig, in one of the many traditional restaurants.
    Segovia's Roman aqueduct
  • Segovia to Salamanca
    A scenic train journey via the rolling Castilian plain takes you west to Salamanca, a renowned seat of learning where you stay two nights at the Hotel Rector.
  • Explore Salamanca
    One of the great jewels of Spain, Salamanca’s ornate secular and religious buildings are testament to the city’s prestige as a centre of learning that once rivalled Oxford and Padua. Climb the great bell towers to admire the city skyline, rest in one of the many tranquil cloisters, marvel at the extraordinarily intricate masonry of the cathedral and pause for tapas in the remarkable Baroque central square, a lively gathering place for old and young alike.
    Glorious Salamanca
  • Salamanca to Madrid
    The train ride from Salamanca to Madrid takes about two-and-a-half hours, meaning that, with a morning departure, you can enjoy a full afternoon in the capital after dropping off your cases at the Hotel Catalonia las Cortes, where you spend two nights.
  • Explore Madrid
    Spain’s capital since the Golden Age, Madrid is the heart of the country, not only geographically, but culturally, too, boasting many Spanish art treasures. As well as great masterpieces, it has parks, extraordinary food and, more surprisingly, a collection of traditional working neighbourhoods. From your centrally located hotel, try one of our two walking tours, the first focusing on the world-class museums of the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza and the surrounding quarter, the other exploring the Barrio de los Austrias district, where you might be tempted to linger among the many small shops and tapas bars before taking in the grand royal palace and cathedral.
    Explore traditional neighbourhoods
 

Accommodation

You stay at three high-quality hotels hand-picked for their excellent locations.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 01 September 2020 - 21 December 2020 & 03 January 2021 - 21 December 2021

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Sep - 31 Oct 2020 £860 £515
    1 - 30 Nov 2020 £770 £445
    1 - 12 Dec 2020 £895 £545
    13 - 15 Dec 2020 £745 £425
    3 Jan - 17 Mar 2021 £745 £425
    18 - 27 Mar 2021 £795 £480
    28 Mar - 4 Apr 2021 £895 £545
    5 Apr - 10 Jun 2021 £825 £495
    11 - 24 Jun 2021 £745 £425
    25 Jun - 31 Aug 2021 £770 £445
    1 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £860 £515
    1 - 30 Nov 2021 £770 £445
    1 - 12 Dec 2021 £895 £545
    13 - 15 Dec 2021 £745 £425
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: Madrid-Segovia-Salamanca-Madrid by rail
    Pay locally for travel arrangements between city stations and hotels

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel Rector, Salamanca
    Deluxe: 01 Sep - 21 Dec 2020 £13
    Deluxe: 03 Jan - 21 Dec 2021 £13
    Suite: 01 Sep - 21 Dec 2020 £58
    Suite: 03 Jan - 21 Dec 2021 £58
    Hotel Catalonia Las Cortes, Madrid
    'Premium': 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2020 £25
    'Premium': 01 Nov - 31 Mar 2021 £20
    'Premium': 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £25
    Superior: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2020 £60
    Superior: 01 Nov - 31 Mar 2021 £50
    Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2021 £60

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Hotel Don Felipe, Segovia (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Sep - 17 Sep 2020 § £58 £104
    18 Sep - 19 Sep 2020 § £115 £215
    20 Sep - 08 Oct 2020 § £58 £104
    09 Oct - 12 Oct 2020 § £84 £154
    13 Oct - 29 Oct 2020 § £58 £104
    30 Oct - 01 Nov 2020 § £84 £154
    02 Nov - 03 Dec 2020 † £54 £94
    04 Dec - 12 Dec 2020 † £115 £215
    13 Dec - 21 Dec 2020 † £54 £94
    03 Jan - 11 Jan 2021 # £55 £97
    12 Jan - 27 Feb 2021 # £50 £88
    28 Feb - 28 Feb 2021 £70 £128
    01 Mar - 31 Mar 2021 § £50 £88
    01 Apr - 04 Apr 2021 § £105 £200
    05 Apr - 18 Apr 2021 † £70 £128
    19 Apr - 09 May 2021 † £50 £88
    10 May - 31 May 2021 † £55 £97
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2021 † £50 £88
    01 Jul - 01 Aug 2021 † £54 £94
    02 Aug - 13 Aug 2021 # £65 £117
    14 Aug - 16 Aug 2021 # £115 £215
    17 Aug - 31 Aug 2021 # £65 £117
    01 Sep - 17 Sep 2021 § £58 £104
    18 Sep - 19 Sep 2021 § £115 £215
    20 Sep - 08 Oct 2021 § £58 £104
    09 Oct - 12 Oct 2021 § £84 £154
    13 Oct - 29 Oct 2021 § £58 £104
    30 Oct - 01 Nov 2021 § £84 £154
    02 Nov - 03 Dec 2021 † £54 £94
    04 Dec - 12 Dec 2021 † £115 £215
    13 Dec - 21 Dec 2021 † £54 £94
    Supplements apply on Fridays & Saturdays as follows:
    § Add £16pp/n (£32pn in a single) for Fri & Sat stays 1 Sep-31 Oct 2020 and 1 Mar-7 Apr & 1 Sep-31 Oct 2021
    † Add £20pp/n (£40pn in a single) for Fri & Sat stays 1 Nov-21 Dec 2020 and 8 Apr-1 Aug & 1 Nov-21 Dec 2021
    # Add £10pp/n (£20pn in a single) for Fri & Sat stays 3 Jan-28 Feb & 2-31 Aug 2021
    Hotel Rector, Salamanca (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Sep - 06 Sep 2020 £90 £168
    07 Sep - 14 Sep 2020 £98 £186
    15 Sep - 10 Oct 2020 £90 £168
    11 Oct - 13 Oct 2020 £98 £186
    14 Oct - 03 Dec 2020 £90 £168
    04 Dec - 08 Dec 2020 £98 £186
    09 Dec - 21 Dec 2020 £90 £168
    03 Jan - 28 Mar 2021 £85 £155
    29 Mar - 04 Apr 2021 £95 £175
    05 Apr - 30 Jun 2021 £85 £155
    01 Jul - 06 Sep 2021 £90 £168
    07 Sep - 14 Sep 2021 £98 £186
    15 Sep - 10 Oct 2021 £90 £168
    11 Oct - 13 Oct 2021 £98 £186
    14 Oct - 03 Dec 2021 £90 £168
    04 Dec - 08 Dec 2021 £98 £186
    09 Dec - 21 Dec 2021 £90 £168
    Hotel Catalonia Las Cortes, Madrid (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Sep - 05 Sep 2020 £82 £130
    06 Sep - 29 Sep 2020 £108 £178
    30 Sep - 01 Nov 2020 £120 £202
    02 Nov - 29 Dec 2020 # £95 £151
    03 Jan - 18 Jan 2021 £85 £135
    19 Jan - 24 Jan 2021 £115 £195
    25 Jan - 23 Feb 2021 £85 £135
    24 Feb - 28 Feb 2021 £115 £195
    01 Mar - 19 Mar 2021 £90 £146
    20 Mar - 03 Apr 2021 £115 £195
    04 Apr - 28 Apr 2021 £98 £162
    29 Apr - 13 Jun 2021 £110 £188
    14 Jun - 30 Jun 2021 £98 £162
    01 Jul - 31 Jul 2021 £95 £151
    01 Aug - 05 Sep 2021 £82 £130
    06 Sep - 29 Sep 2021 £108 £178
    30 Sep - 01 Nov 2021 £120 £202
    02 Nov - 29 Dec 2021 # £95 £151
    # Add £32pp/n (£64pn in a single) 4-8 Dec 2020 & 4-8 Dec 2021
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Madrid
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Madrid. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Madrid British Airways,  Iberia,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Madrid easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Madrid easyJet,  Iberia 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Madrid easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Madrid British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Madrid Air Europa,  easyJet,  Iberia 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Madrid British Airways,  Iberia 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Madrid easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Madrid Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Madrid Iberia,  Ryanair 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Madrid. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Madrid

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Madrid Chamartin to Segovia AV (0h30), taxi Segovia AV to hotel (0h10, pay locally) included 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    own taxi to airport pay locally flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 breakfasts
  • city maps and notes for walking tours
  • detailed cultural information
  • rail travel Segovia-Madrid
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 4 reviews
  • Liz and Mark , Lancaster
    01 September 2019

    We enjoyed travelling between cities by train, all of which were punctual, clean and spacious. The information provided by Inntravel was excellent and very detailed, including the walking routes but we actually also enjoyed riverside walks in both Segovia and Toledo which were a welcome change from city streets, and although marked on the maps were not mentioned in the info. In Toledo in particular the walk between the Alcantara and St Martín bridges was lovely. We found the best view of Toledo was from across the river to the south and from the Parador which can be visited by non residents and is spectacular at night. We had the best Tapas of the holiday in Toledo at El Trebol, very close to the Plaza Zocodover. We had a great view of the Alcazar from our terrace in Segovia. Highlights in Salamanca were the bell tower Ieronimus and the Hotel Rector which was excellent in every way. In Madrid the hotel was ideally situated between the Plaza Mayor and the art galleries and we found a beautiful old bar (Viva Madrid) on Calle de Manuel Fernandez y Gonzalez and also a very enjoyable and authentic Flamenco show at Cardamomo on Calle de Echegaray. Both of these are within a stones throw of the hotel. This was our first holiday with Inntravel and we are looking forward to the next. 

  • Ms G Lo
    Hong Kong
    11 August 2019

    Our stay at Hotel Rector was excellent. Staff were helpful & personal, gave good recommendation on restaurants, 3 of which we did go to & enjoyed the food with very reasonable prices. Hotel setting was quite spacious but still gave a cosy feeling. The room was spacious for the 3 of us. Enjoyed the breakfast with made-to-order egg & toast, fresh orange juice & also good selection of fruits, cheese, meat & bread. 

  • Anon
    08 June 2019

    Segovia - highlights were the Aquaduct, Alcazar and Riverside walk. We quickly found eating at the major restaurants earlier than 9pm was a problem in both Segovia and Salamanca - the Spanish would seem to eat late. After a day walking this didn't suit us so we quickly decided to find a main meal in the early afternoon and a lighter snack/meal early evening (perhaps 'street food' or a sandwich/fruit etc). This worked well throughout our visit.

    Salamanca - highlights were the stunning Cathedrals, the Civil War Archive, fun Museo Lis and beautiful garden Huerto de calixto y Melibea - we returned several times to this quiet spot to picnic.

    Madrid - highlights were the Royal Palace,  Prado,  Jardin Botanico and the Parque Del Retiro. A must see is also the San Francisco del Grande. We were told that many visitors overlook this beautiful church but it is really the most overwhelmingly stunning, enormous and peaceful space. There was no tour available in English when we were there (actually very few people at all) but a very helpful Spanish Guide gave us access to the side corridors where many paintings are hung and we followed your advice to follow a guided group as they switched on the lights in each chapel. Eating out at any time is, of course, easy in Madrid.

  • Dr A Bowman
    Corwen
    08 September 2018

    Another great slow journey. As always immaculately organised and planned by Inntravel. Segovia and Salamanca are well worth a visit and we had some fabulous meals here. Lovely to be there in the evenings after all the day trippers have gone home. All the train journeys went smoothly and the trains are spacious, quiet and half empty. Madrid is a delightful city. Lots of green space. Very friendly relaxed vibe. Never saw any rowdy behaviour and as two women we didn’t experience any hassle. Food here more variable but lots of authentic stuff if you look for it. 
 

FAQs

  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
  • The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi and Lizzie to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • If you are planning to take a holiday after 1 January 2021, visit www.gov.uk/visit-europe-1-january-2021.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 1/19/2021 6:41:10 PM