Open your eyes to the beauty of Spain. The awe-inspiring art, magnificent monuments, convivial culture, and unbelievable nightlife will dazzle you. Celebrate the moment and discover the country’s grandiose past. This tour offers a wonderful insight into the fascinating contrasts of Spain. The bustling modern city of Madrid immerses you into the vibrant energy of Spanish culture, while the perfectly preserved ancient city of Toledo transports you to another era.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Madrid – Arrive in Spain
The tour begins with your arrival at the Madrid airport. To ensure that you have a stress-free start to your vacation, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your driver who will provide a private transfer to your hotel. Today after you’ve checked in to your hotel and have taken some time to relax, you can begin your discovery of Madrid.
Spain was the most powerful country in the world in the 16th and 17th centuries—during the Age of Exploration. As Spain’s capital city, Madrid became the center of the world. Although the Spanish empire declined in following centuries, Madrid has recently reemerged as a great city. Ever since Spain joined the European Union, there has been a renaissance of culture and cuisine in Madrid. The city boasts world-class art museums, from the Museo Nacional del Prado that was created as the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculptures for King Ferdinand VII, to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza that opened in 1992 to display two remarkable private art collections. There are also many new culinary landmarks where you can sample the finest, most innovative Spanish gastronomy.
Madrid is a lively place to visit and tapas is one enjoyable tradition that you can’t miss. The Spanish equivalent of the American happy hour or pub-crawl, meeting for tapas is a casual social gathering. Friends may decide to meet at a bar in the late afternoon or early evening to enjoy a glass of wine. In Spain, wine is always accompanied by “tapas,” small snacks such as fried anchovies, specialty ham, canapés and olives. Ask the locals where to go and experience the Spanish social life from an insider’s point of view. The Madrilenos are friendly and open people, and you’ll find it’s easy to strike up a conversation even though it’s a big city. Immersion into the culture becomes more interesting when you get to know the people.
What's Included:
Day 2 - 3
Madrid – Guided Tour of Madrid’s Habsburg Quarter
Day 4 - 5
Toledo – Guided Visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site Toledo
Day 6
Madrid – Day of Leisure
Day 7
Madrid – Tour Concludes with Departure from Madrid
Trip Highlights
- Visit world-class art museums in Madrid
- Enjoy innovative gastronomy at fine dining establishments
- Live like the locals and get into the fun-loving Spanish culture
- Experience the convivial Spanish tradition of tapas
- Take in the vibrant energy of Madrid’s amazing nightlife
- Madrid entertainment: Flamenco, live music and jazz lounges
- Guided visit to the medieval walled city of Toledo, a UNESCO site
- Take a tour of Toledo’s fairy-tale palace and magnificent Cathedral
- Soak up ancient ambience as you stroll Toledo’s cobblestone streets
Detailed Description
This tour gives you a taste of Spain’s cultural highlights. You’ll visit two of the country’s most important cities, each of which represents a totally different aspect of Spain. Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a dynamic modern city that buzzes with excitement. As a perfect contrast, the nearby historic city of Toledo has a magical aura. Strolling around Toledo takes you back in time to a world that existed several centuries ago.
Madrid is pure energy. Fun-loving people, amazing sites and nonstop nightlife await you. You’ll discover world-class art, tour the amazing royal palace and enjoy the finest cuisine—all in the same day! Adjust your schedule to sync up with Spanish time, so that you can enjoy the leisurely late lunches and dinners. If you’re visiting in summertime, you’ll want to do as the Spaniards do and take a siesta in the afternoon. Stroll the impressive grand boulevards, meet the locals at tapas bars and visit a fashionable casino or jazz lounge.
Toledo is often described as the “soul” of Spain or the “essence” of Spain. This ancient walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is steeped in history. High above the city looms the foreboding Alcázar, the ancient Moorish fortress that was later converted into the palace for Christian kings. From a distance, the Alcázar appears to be a fairy-tale castle. When you arrive up close, you can feel the magic of centuries gone by. Take in the inexplicable sense of mystery and history. You will feel the ambience of another era, as you stroll the ancient streets.
For more ideas and itineraries, visit the Spain tours page and the Spain travel reviews section to read what others have shared about their experience.
Starting Price
$2,800 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.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.92 stars based on 2585 reviews.
The trip was fantastic. Everything that was scheduled was well planned, with excellent tour guides, communication with the guides, as well as travel agents live during the trip. The experience was five-star and we could tell that the way it was booked through Zicasso was better for the guides themselves versus how others in our group had booked (ie, through other agencies). There were fewer obstacles, complications, and issues with the booking. We could tell this through our tour guides, as they were more comfortable and knowledgeable about our requests and needs.
Tickets were all organized and either sent to us through PDF or to our tour guides. The off days were were well placed during the week and our requests were more than satisfied.
Reviewed By Shaheed H.
Zicasso's travel specialist did an amazing job! She planned our itinerary well, based on our interests, the cities we wanted to visit, and the experiences we requested. All of the accommodations and transportation worked out well, and we enjoyed the trip a lot!
The only downside was one night with a late-night tour scheduled, followed by an early-morning hot-air balloon ride, which was hard to get up for in time, but we managed. Despite this, we would definitely recommend our travel company to anyone traveling to Spain!
Reviewed By Evan C.
Our Zicasso travel specialist was phenomenal. She understood exactly how we travel and what we wanted to do, and planned a 12-day trip to Mallorca and San Sebastián that was better than we even imagined. She was always responsive before and throughout the trip. All of the tour guides and drivers were kind, knowledgeable, and timely. Our travel company delivers exceptional first-rate service and we would highly recommend them.
Reviewed By Lisa S.
Zicasso is an excellent platform. It curates the perfect trip based on your individual needs. We have used them before and will in the future. We have recommended the company to many friends and family members.
Reviewed By Amy J.
The logistics were managed excellently by Zicasso's travel company. The guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating.
Reviewed By Mark J.
Zicasso's travel expert was exceptional in his attentiveness and responsiveness. He helped me to design a trip for my family, a group of 10 ranging in age from 13 to 80-plus. The result fit comfortably within my budget and included activities to suit everyone. I very much appreciated his responsiveness while assisting me with questions and issues that arose during the trip. I never felt alone.
Reviewed By Leslie W.