SPAIN

Toledo
Toledo felt like stepping into a storybook—quiet, charming, and rich with history at every turn. Although we were short on time and couldn’t explore the entire city, it left a lasting impression. The Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo is an absolute must-see. Its grandeur and detail alone are worth the visit and perfectly capture the soul of the city.

Cordoba
Cordoba was hands down my favorite city of the trip. The depth of history here is unmatched, and the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba completely stole my heart. The simplicity of the remaining mosque elements paired with the flashes of gold from the later cathedral creates an awe-inspiring contrast—powerful, beautiful, and deeply moving. Sorry Alhambra, but this took the top spot for me.

Corredera Square is bursting with restaurant options, and living my semi-carnivore lifestyle, I couldn’t resist La Despensa de la Corredera. The steak was cooked perfectly, incredibly filling, and only $20—yes, please! (Pic in email)

Granada
Granada’s history feels incredibly precious, and the city itself is a perfect blend of old-world charm and modern energy. We loved it so much that we extended our stay by an extra night. We joined two free “tip-what-you-can” walking tours—one focused on the history of Granada and another exploring the Albaicín and its famous cave homes. Both were fantastic.

We also splurged on a Skip-the-Line Alhambra and Generalife guided tour (€105), which was absolutely worth it. Instead of attending a touristy cave flamenco show, we followed the locals to La Alborea Flamenco—and wow. The performance was raw, passionate, and unforgettable. By the end of the night, I was ready to sign up for flamenco lessons myself!

Orlando Florida