Family Vacation to Spain: Madrid, Seville, Barcelona

Situated in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish capital of Madrid retains plenty of the charm and grandeur that has been attracting travelers for centuries. The second largest airport in Europe, Madrid Barajas International Airport, affords all the luxuries and conveniences that your traveling family will desire and you will be greeted by a private transfer that carries you the short distance to your luxurious accommodation at the heart of Madrid’s city center. The more recent high rises and apartments of the outskirts of the city will give way to the palaces and villas of the Centro Historico, and each alley and street that winds away from the main boulevard will promise you many adventures and excitement. Madrid’s origins date back to the 9th century, and much of the city was contained in the medieval walls that protect many similar European cities. It was not until the mid-19th century with the application of gunpowder that the then useless walls were demolished to make way for Madrid’s growing population.

Once settled in your comfortable accommodation, your private guide will help you find your bearings in this new and vibrant setting. The area around your hotel is well accustomed to foot traffic, but it does not hurt to keep your head on a swivel for the occasional utility truck or bicyclist, as Madrid can get quite busy during the summer months. A short distance away lies your relief from the excitement of the streets as the Buen Retiro Park promises plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs and explore the numerous monuments, gardens, playgrounds, and cafes that make up this outdoor oasis. Your guide will ensure that no story from this previously private estate of Spanish royalty goes untold as you stroll under the shade of numerous species of oak, cypress, and elm trees.

Your day will conclude with a paseo or short walk that showcases why many consider Madrid to be not only the capital of Spain but also of the art world. Your guide will lead you on the Paseo del Prado, which is an art walk that includes three major art museums, one of which shares the name of this famous walk. The Prado, in particular, contains numerous works of Velasquez, Titian, Caravaggio, Dali, and many other European masters. With the park right across the street, you will have plenty of options for indoor and outdoor activities as your first day in Spain winds down.

A fortifying breakfast that will be provided by your hotel will strengthen any tired legs from the day before as you awake in soft comfort to the allure of Spain’s capital. This morning, your excursion affords plenty of time for a relaxing wake up with the excitement starting around midday. You will enjoy the scent of freshly ground coffee and witness the daily routine of well-dressed locals, or madrileños as they start their typical commute to the various offices and government buildings that dot this landscape. The buildings, which are already beautiful at any time of day, take on a new light as slanting rays of morning sunshine cause the pillared and carved facades of these palaces to take on a new form. If you wake early enough, you will have the opportunity to witness the daily transition from a quiet dawn over empty streets to the humming bustle of Spain’s most populous city.

Whether seizing the day or hitting the snooze button, a bold adventure awaits you on your second day in Spain. You will be met at your hotel by your guide who will organize a rare opportunity for you to have fun as a family and see the sights. Your curated scavenger hunt awaits you today, and you will work together to complete a series of tasks that include the city in which you are immersed. Fun is the main priority here, and every task and challenge is handcrafted to ensure that the educational and exciting history of Madrid comes to life, and upon departure, you can rest assured knowing that no significant sight was missed during your visit. Successful completion of the hunt will involve teamwork and coordination and is designed to strengthen your family ties that make shared travel so unique. These experiences will happen at your own pace, so feel free to take your time and really enjoy the process of exploring the Spanish neighborhoods, plazas, and other monuments of Madrid’s absorbing past.

This morning, you will be met by private transfer who will take you through the Spanish city that you have learned so much about. The busyness of Madrid will soon be replaced by the placid beauty of Seville’s tree-lined boulevards and open plazas.

There is something entrancing about the capital of Andalusia in the south of Spain. Perhaps, it is the fragrance of the orange trees that line the streets or the inviting darkness of a serene courtyard that is complete with private fountain, calling you in from the dust and dryness of the streets. Perhaps, it is the ubiquitous presence of a transcontinental influence that dates back centuries to when the Moors occupied much of the Iberian Peninsula. One thing is for certain: comfort will be the priority here.

At the airport, you will be met by a private car that will take you to your luxurious hotel in the Centro, which is the old district of the city. After you get settled, your private guide will take you on a tour of your adopted home, focusing on the Parque de Maria Luisa and the adjacent Plaza de Espana. Spring is one of the best times to visit the park as blooming bouquets and trees introduce enchanting colors and fragrances into the air. Likewise, as if by fate, the street vendors and performers can be found in abundance in Seville. In particular, at the crescent-shaped, open area that marks the Plaza de España, the musical notes of an impromptu Flamenco show will bounce off the stones, lending an ethereal note to your visit. At the end of the day, your guide will depart but not before offering suggestions for local dining and eateries, each boasting a culinary immersion in the Spanish tradition of smaller dishes or tapas.

You will have plenty of time to digest the prior day’s introduction to Seville over a warm pastry and cafe con leche at your hotel this morning. Your leisurely wake up will offer plenty of time to either sleep in or stretch your legs along the local byways and alleys that are characteristic of the old district. You can keep watch for the unique and ornate tiles that are used to indicate house numbers on the address that you pass. These tiles are a staple of Seville and a charming feature of the artistic traditions that imbue all of Spain from the palaces of kings to the most humble dwellings.

Around midday, you will be met by your guide who will guarantee relief from the heat of the city with a tour of Seville as seen from the river flowing through it. Seville sits aside the Guadalquivir river, which is the same waterway that bore Columbus away on his fated voyage to the Indies. Your tour today will take you past famous landmarks such as the Golden Tower and Cartuja’s Monastery as you proceed along the river. Lining the banks, you will smell the fried pastries as they bake and see the many locals who treat the river as a place for outdoor recreation and exercise. Your private guide will be able to provide all the stories of this famous river with their knowledge only being surpassed by their charm in assisting you in and out of your watercraft.

With the conclusion of the tour, now is a excellent time to find a quiet plaza to take in the cool relief of a shaded cafe and possibly a beer. During your strolls around the neighborhoods of Seville, you will have noticed many of these local watering holes, which is where men and women share local gossip, indulge in a refreshing beverage or snack, and otherwise participate in conversation. You will have the remainder of the day to explore Seville and absorb the numerous sights and sounds, whether it be a stroll through the famous fortress or listening to the melodious sounds of a Flamenco show.

The next morning, the waves of the Guadalquivir river will be replaced by the rolling hills and olive orchards of the Andalusian countryside as a private transfer conveys you on a field trip. South of Seville lies the smaller community of Jerez de la Frontera which is not to be outdone by its larger neighbor to the North and boasts its own blend of notable features. The de la Frontera suffix literally means ‘of the frontier’ and heralds from the time of the Reconquista when Spanish, Catholic forces fought to reconquer the Peninsula from the influence of Islam in the 13th and 14th centuries. This name is shared by many Spanish communities and signifies when each of them was indeed perched on the frontier between the Catholic and Islamic worlds.

Jerez is primarily known for two exports: its sherry and its talented horse riders. Vineyards appear in abundance at the margins of the city and help produce the barrels of sherry that have won the city international recognition. Likewise, it is the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre or Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art that produces skilled riders trained in dressage and jumping. It is this feature that attracts you to Jerez, as you will enjoy front-row seats to a performance at this renowned riding school. The performers are dressed in pieces that match the 19th-century palace that you will be hosted in, and the memories of the Dancing Horses of Andalusia will offer greater insight into the varied traditions of Spain’s proud past.

Your final day in Seville will be marked by another, if not more infamous, of Spain’s varied traditions. Bullfighting has been around since the medieval period and has been subject to the scrutiny of locals and foreigners alike. A leisurely walk from your hotel will lead you to the bustling banks of the river, where you will meet your guide for an exclusive tour of a still-functioning bull ring. The Royal Maestranza Bull Ring was built in the 18th century, and your private tour will take you into the bull free arena, through a small museum that is dedicated to this time-honored tradition, and a chapel where the matadors would pray prior to the drama of the fight.

While in the museum, you can peer closely at the elaborate uniforms that were worn by the fighters. You will see that no detail was overlooked in the well-buttoned and extravagant jackets and pants that were worn by the contestants. You will also see dark stains on some of the outfits, which is evidence of the dangerous and sometimes deadly outcomes of this Spanish pastime. As you walk across the arena, the sand will crackle under your feet just as it does the contestants, and you can run your hands over the wooden walls of the ring that bears the impressive scars of an angry horn or hoof.

Depending on the time of year, your final night in the Spanish province of Andalusia offers a unique array of activities, sights, and festivals. Certainly, the taverns will be buzzing, offering passersby plenty of products of the fertile countryside that surrounds Seville. Whether sampling olives, stuffed peppers, fried fish, or potatoes with hot sauce, rare is the visitor who leaves Seville unsatisfied with the delicious food and drink offerings that appear on almost every table.

Rising in the plush comfort of your accommodation and to a sumptuous breakfast from your hosts, today you will arrive at your final stop in the tour of Spanish storied designations. A private transfer will whisk you to Seville’s convenient airport, where a short domestic flight is all that separates you from the unique notes and flavors of Catalonia and its capital of Barcelona.

Situated in the Northeast corner of Spain and just shy of the French border, Barcelona sits astride many different worlds. Where the water meets the land and the mountains meet the beach, Barcelonan dishes offer all the freshest seafood that landlocked Seville lacks. These fish are almost still flopping as they appear steaming on your plates, and as you will discover tomorrow, the abundant product of the sea is worked into many different types of dishes that have garnered a significant culinary following from around the globe.

After your private car delivers you comfortably to your luxurious hotel in the city center, you will have some time to settle into your surroundings or participate in that favorite of Spanish traditions, which is a short afternoon nap. Later, your guide will meet you at your hotel and take your family to a lovely garden in the Horta district of Barcelona. Due to its location, the Labyrinth Park of Horta avoids most of the crowds that can be seen in the high season and can offer you a calm place to relax and reflect amid the abundant natural beauty. More importantly, this park comes complete with a hedge maze that lends the location its name and is a fun source of diversion for people of all ages.

If you ever find your way out of the quaint maze, your guide will then escort you to the tallest mountain that is located just outside of the city. Well developed with restaurants, cafes, and even an amusement park at the top, a camera is all that you will need to bring to successfully summit the mountain and capture the enthralling scenes of Barcelona from the viewing platform. Sunset will be the best time to reach this spot, and you will enjoy treats from the many vendors that vie for your coins at this fun and beautiful overlook.

No private transfers will be needed today, as your destinations all remain within walking distance of your comfortable and convenient hotel. A short walk North through the enchanting and pedestrian-friendly streets of the Gothic district lies the Ciutadella Parque, which provides a refreshing splash of green from the sometimes-gloomy darkness of the narrow alleys of the city center. The openness here is home to many gardens, bubbling fountains, and picturesque ponds along with the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Barcelona Zoo.

After escorting you to the park, your guide will lead you to the main lake, where you will be able to rent a small boat and row your way around islands and overhanging branches that decorate the park. The shouts of children as they play nearby will remind you how easy it is to have fun, and you will delight in your decision to come to one of the best playgrounds in Europe: Barcelona. As you paddle, you will be greeted by the winged denizens of the park who are well domesticated and will loyally follow you for the small cost of your lunch. Your day is not over yet, and as your feet find firm ground, you will stroll back toward the comfort of your hotel. Before you leave the embrace of this charming park, be sure to stop by the Cascada, which is a 19th-century fountain that can be found at the Northern edge of the common area. Built in the 19th century, the fountain towers above onlookers and offers some pristine example of Spanish architecture and design. Winding your way back into the city center, you will pass numerous inviting eateries, each offering you a unique take on Catalan and Spanish dishes. The murmur of intimate conversation, the guffaws of jovial laughter, and the general hum of the wait staff will appear like culinary choreography.

You have a date this evening at a local restaurant, where you will be given a tour of Spain’s impressive collection of seafood dishes. With different tasks for those travelers young and old, you will receive a lesson in the careful preparation of Spanish paella, which is a rice-based dish that is mixed with seafood products such as clams, crab, and crayfish. Both your skills and your appetite will develop as your charming teacher will give you both the general approach and Spanish secrets that keep this one of the most sought after plates in the region.

To ensure that no stone is left unturned, your final day in Spain will begin with a tour of a nearby village, which is situated on the slopes of Montjuic hill. In preparation for the International Exhibition of 1929, this quintessential village was constructed to showcase cultural highlights that date back centuries. Along with hosting seasonal events and performances, Poble Espanol, which translates to Spanish village, presents visitors with cultural traditions that represent all 17 autonomous communities. In preparation for the project, its creators visited 1,600 towns and villages across Spain and took countless photographs to ensure that every square, spire, and steeple reflected the architectural splendor of their native country.

Like many other major destinations in Spain, Poble Espanol possesses a history that is both fascinating and tragic. During the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939, this site was used as an internment camp for the growing number of political prisoners that dared question the application of fascist principles in Spain. But the conclusion of the 20th century saw its refurbishment, and now, the village provides a quaint and thorough presentation of those qualities of Spain that has attracted visitors for centuries.

As you stroll along the pedestrian-friendly streets, your knowledgeable guide will share those stories with you that no amount of research can provide. As you leave the curated climate of the village and head uphill, you will pass many of the buildings and structures that were used for the 1992 Summer Olympics, which were held in Barcelona. The stadiums that were built to house thousands of visitors will tower above you, and if the wind that comes off the Mediterranean blows just right, you can still hear that chants and cheers of the thousands of fans that were cheering their nation on to Olympic glory. A seaside stroll is all that separates you from the plush comfort of your hotel pillow as your take in the final memories of this magical community.

A gentle breeze that blows through your open window may provide you with the motivation for you to finally throw off the blankets and make your way to your breakfast. As you savor the Catalan delicacies, your mind will be filled with the memories and handcrafted experiences, which were delivered by this unique adventure that you and your family will carry back home. A private transfer will deliver you to Barcelona International Airport, where the distant mountain of Montserrat will silently observe your departure from this land that is steeped in history. Luckily, the best souvenirs from this trip will fit easily in most overhead storage bins as you carry the memories of Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona with you onto the plane and back home.