Best of Barcelona Itinerary for All Ages

Feel the special breath of the city, Barcelona, Spain

What to expect on this itinerary

Barcelona is a city that is known for its intrigue and beauty. The scent of fresh paella emanates from massive cast-iron skillets, and rainbow-colored hues pour out from produce markets in the city center. Downtown, energy bursts as pedestrians hurry along cobbled streets past ancient fortresses, ornate cathedrals, and stoic palaces. During this exciting, 7-day excursion through Barcelona, you will experience the invigorating fervor of city life and bask in the charming villages that are tucked into the Spanish countryside.

Countries Visited

Spain

Places Visited

Barcelona, Valencia, Girona

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Barcelona – Touchdown and Dinner Along La Barceloneta

As your plane coasts along the tarmac at Barcelona's El Prat International Airport, the sun will reflect off of the Mediterranean Sea, and seagulls will circle overhead. The sweet scent of fruity sangria will waft through the air as a light ocean breeze washes over you. Over the next seven days, you will fall in love with this captivating city and the surrounding region of Catalonia as you immerse yourself in Spain's unique culture and heritage. As you settle into your charming hotel room in the Gothic Quarter, sounds of energetic street life and soothing acoustic melodies will waft toward your private balcony. You will be able to notice street vendors as they sell local produce and children as they play in public squares. In the afternoon, you can indulge in some self-guided exploration as you traverse the bustling city streets. You can begin by strolling along the charming streets of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Then, you can veer back toward Las Ramblas to see the kaleidoscopic hues of fresh produce at the Mercado de La Boqueria.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Barcelona – Tour of Gothic Quarter and La Sagrada Familia

Day 3

Barcelona – Eixample District and Park Guell

Day 4

Valencia – Visit to Central Market and Authentic Paella Cooking Class

Day 5

Valencia - City of Arts and Sciences

Day 6

Girona - Tour of Downtown and Dinner in Port City

Day 7

Barcelona – International Flight Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Discover Valencia's fascinating festival of Las Fallas and marvel at the futuristic architecture of Santiago Calatrava
  • Wander along the cobbled streets of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter and immerse yourself in the neighborhood's cultural past
  • Step inside La Sagrada Familia, which is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, and dine along the shoreline at La Barceloneta
  • Partake in a traditional paella cooking class and barter with friendly vendors at Valencia's Central Market
  • Behold the whimsical designs of Antoni Gaudi, and stroll through the scenic Park Guell
  • Shop for handicrafts along Las Ramblas' vivacious pedestrian boulevard and catch stunning views of the city from atop Casa Mila
  • Tour Girona's fascinating cathedrals, synagogues, and Arab baths before traversing the city's ancient Roman wall

Starting Price

$2,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1223 reviews

Spain Vacation Review: Toledo, Granada, Seville, Culture, 10 Nights

Zicasso’s travel specialist designed a wonderful trip for my husband and me. He listened to our desires and picked specific activities and tours that really fit us perfectly. Everything was fantastic. Our tour guides were amazing, hotels were in fantastic locations, and the attention to detail in planning our trip was so evident. This is a trip we will remember forever. A member of the travel company was quick to help when needed, gave us great reminders, and made sure everything ran smoothly.

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Spain Travel Review: Cooking Class, 6 Nights

A flawless Spanish escape–Zicasso’s travel specialist is a mastermind!

Our recent vacation, organized by Zicasso’s tour operator, was nothing short of perfection. We worked closely with the travel specialist and I cannot recommend her and her team highly enough. If you are looking for a travel planner who combines a deep personal touch with the efficiency of a world-class executive assistant, look no further.

The Logistics: Seamless and Stress-Free

From the moment we arrived, we felt completely taken care of. One of the best decisions the travel specialist suggested was booking an extra night at our first hotel. This allowed us to check in immediately upon arrival rather than waiting until the afternoon. Those extra hours of rest gave us the energy to actually enjoy our first evening in Spain rather than losing a day to jet lag.

We also loved the small, thoughtful details, like having all of our tickets fully printed and ready for us at check-in. It removed every bit of "digital friction" and let us focus entirely on the experience.

The Accommodations and Experts

The hotel selections were fantastic; not only were the properties beautiful, but they were perfectly central to all the action. This was complemented by the guides the travel specialist arranged for us. Each one was exceptional, truly knowledgeable, and brought the history and culture of Spain to life in a way we never could have discovered on our own.

The Personal Touch and Proactive Care

The standout highlight for us was the cooking class—it was an absolute blast and something we will definitely be doing again on future trips.

However, what truly sets this team apart is their proactive "watchful eye." We had a train delay during our trip and before we even realized there might be a conflict, her team was already on it. They had contacted our vendors and adjusted our pick-up and tour times before we even knew there was an issue. It felt like having a personal executive assistant watching over us 24/7.

Final Verdict

We wouldn't have changed a single item. This was a perfect vacation. Huge thanks to the travel specialist and the entire tour operator for making our dream trip a reality!

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Spain Tour Review: Madrid, Caceres, Merida, Salamanca, Zamora, Hervas, Bejar, Burgos, Zaragoza, Valencia, Sagunto, Alicante, Belchite, Private Guides, Local Cuisine, 18 Days

I cannot say enough about this trip, from the first contact with our travel specialist to the incredible follow-up and arrangements. Although she was my primary contact throughout, I know her partner did a lot of behind-the-scenes work with the guides and transport. I have so much to say, but it would take a lot of time to do so.

I appreciated the ongoing status updates as to contact information for the guides and drivers. I also really appreciated the extra effort for accommodations when taking the train. The Madrid train station was a mess and I experienced all three of them. There is no way I could have maneuvered on my own, especially considering my phobia of escalators, and I am very directionally challenged. Our travel specialist arranged for assistance at every stop and followed up with the different offices to ensure I was attended to.

When I was not feeling well in Alicante and needed to cancel a dinner reservation, the travel specialist called for me. I made the reservation in person, so I was not able to access it through an online portal and they did not have a cell phone contact where I could use the WhatsApp. It was the quick responses to everything that was so appreciated.

The guides were wonderful, as were the drivers. I do intend to write reviews for those that I have information for. The itinerary, after a lot of back and forth, was great and I deferred to our travel specialist on her recommendations. I tend to get carried away and, as it is, I changed my departing flight to give me extra days.

I paid a lot for this trip and it was even more so because of the value of the U.S. dollar to the euro, but it is the price you pay. I think pricing was fair overall and that I was traveling in “low season” really helped.

I like boutique tour companies and the fact that the travel company is actually based in Spain made a difference. I had used another tour company before and, after the last two trips, decided to give Zicasso a try again and was not disappointed I did.

I know that I am just another tourist paying for the expertise and that essentially the owners need to accommodate me. That being said, I felt there was a connection and do hope to keep this relationship going. It was a pleasure to have dinner with our travel specialist and her husband. I like getting to know the people I am dealing with and do so with the guides and drivers. There are guides from previous trips that I am still in touch with.

I really appreciated this connection with the travel company. Although there was another company recommended, this one was more responsive and it is hard for me to make decisions.

Yes to this travel company and yes to future trips! In fact, with my travels to Spain, I have been told I have seen more of Spain than most Spaniards and hope to explore more.

Thank you to the travel company and thank you to Zicasso for the follow-up!

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Spain Vacation Review: Madrid, Barcelona, Toledo, Gaudi Tour, 1 Week

Zicasso’s travel specialist was outstanding. He organized a wonderful and thoughtful trip to Spain for us, hitting all the main sites, tailored to our wishes. He was very helpful during our trip as well, helping with additional restaurant reservations and monitoring our guided tours and train trips. He was truly excellent. We highly recommend his services.

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Spain Tour Review: Architecture, Local Cuisine, 10 Nights

It was very well planned and organized. Zicasso’s travel agent personalized the trip to our specific interests and desires, and did an outstanding job selecting quality hotels and excursions.

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Spain Travel Review: Seville, Historic District, 16-Day Trip

Zicasso's travel company worked with our group to curate an itinerary that was perfect for us. We never felt rushed or pressured to make a decision. Rather, they were focused on meeting all of our needs, which was difficult with a diverse group of six people.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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