Spain’s Culinary Delights: Autumn Food Tour

Vineyards at sunrise in Basque, Spain

What to expect on this itinerary

During this 7-day culinary expedition through Spain, visit internationally acclaimed tapas bars, Michelin-starred restaurants, and picturesque wine-tasting venues. Along the way, fall in love with frenzied city life in Madrid and Barcelona but also the quiet serenity of Girona and Consuegra. This tour immerses you in the vibrant culture and riveting lore of Spain's most delectable delights.

Countries Visited

Spain

Places Visited

Barcelona, Girona, Madrid, Consuegra, Malaga

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Barcelona – Dinner along Las Ramblas

You will coast along the illustrious shoreline of the Mediterranean as you begin your epic culinary adventure in Spain. Upon your arrival, a private driver will greet and transfer you to your accommodation in the heart of Barcelona. After having some time to settle in to your new surroundings, you can enjoy some time for self-exploration. Later, as the sun begins to set, you can dine along the iconic Las Ramblas boulevard. Here, you can enjoy your first taste of delectable Spanish cuisine.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Breakfast
Day 2

Barcelona – Cooking Class and Wine Tasting

Day 3

Girona – City Tour and Sunset Dinner

Day 4

Madrid – Autumn and Architecture Festival

Day 5

Madrid – Churro Tasting and the Royal Palace

Day 6

Consuegra – Saffron Festival

Day 7

Malaga – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Touch down along the sparkling Mediterranean coastline and indulge in an authentic Catalan meal along Las Ramblas boulevard
  • Partake in a traditional paella cooking class and sip internationally acclaimed wines in the Spanish countryside
  • Amble along the charming cobbled streets of Girona and sample fresh seafood at sunset along the ocean
  • Tour the Royal Palace and immerse yourself in Madrid's eclectic neighborhoods
  • Delight in authentic churros and stroll through the city's Parque El Retiro
  • Wind through the captivating countryside of Castilla-La Mancha and arrive in Consuegra for the village's annual Saffron Festival
  • Relax beneath the shady palm trees of Malaga's pristine beaches and shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs in the city's downtown area

Detailed Description

There is no better way to experience the whimsy, passion, and warmth of Spanish culture than through its culinary excellence. Each region has its specialty, from fresh seafood along the coast to an eclectic blend of savory tapas in central and southern Spain. In between, you will learn about the ingredients and undeniably rich flavors that set Spanish gastronomy apart from any other cuisine. Of course, during the month of October, you will also attend some of the most lively festivals of the year.

You will begin your 7-day tour in the bustling city of Barcelona. Here, locals sit out on sunkissed patios, and children gather to play soccer. In the afternoon, you will roll up your sleeves for an authentic paella cooking class with a private Michelin-starred chef. The following day, you will explore the city's Gothic Quarter, which is home to opulent palaces and grand cathedrals. You will also catch a glimpse of famed architect Antoni Gaudi's whimsical designs at La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. Later, you will venture to the Catalan countryside for a wine tasting event alongside an expert sommelier.

Your tour through Catalonia will continue in the charming town of Girona. Bright facades of yellow, orange, and red will welcome you. You will then tour the exquisite Arab baths and walk along the ancient Roman wall that surrounds the city. That evening, you can partake in a fresh seafood dinner as the moonlight shines on the crashing waves.

Then, you will transfer to the nation's capital of Madrid. Here, you will stroll through the Plaza Mayor and catch wafts of savory tapas in the Plaza del Sol. The next morning, you can bite into sugary sweets known as churros in one of the oldest churrerias in the country. Later in the day, you will walk through the opulent halls of the Royal Palace and visit the Reina Sofia Museum as part of the city's annual Architecture Week. Next, you can continue to the picturesque city of Consuegra, where you will attend the town's annual saffron festival. Here, you will learn about the cultivation of the spice and the integral role it plays in Spain's culinary scene. On your final day in Spain, you will arrive in Malaga, where you can enjoy a morning of leisurely shopping and sightseeing before indulging in a light lunch along the coastline.

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

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 2653 reviews

Mark J.
Spain Travel Review: Seville, Granada, Madrid, Barcelona, Alpujarra, 2 Weeks

Zicasso’s travel specialist and her team were fantastic. They were very responsive and quick to make changes when our arrival flight was delayed a day. The experiences were tremendous and the meeting times and contact points with various guides and drivers in several cities were well organized and seamless.

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Amy W.
Spain Trip Review: 10 Days

It was the first time we’ve used a travel company and there’s no going back to doing the planning ourselves! Zicasso’s travel specialist designed a trip around our needs and preferences. We enjoyed excellent private tours, wonderful boutique and unique hotels, and many of his recommendations for restaurants and other things to explore. He went above and beyond to check in with us on how it was going, even arranging a takeaway breakfast for our early-morning flight!

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Dina T.
Spain Tour Review: 11-Day Trip

Zicasso’s travel partner created a beautiful trip for our family. It was a last-minute international trip and they planned everything for us, and responded to all our specific requests and changes with grace and patience. They pulled everything together so quickly. Their local knowledge and connections to the people and places that we wanted to go were incredible.

All our accommodations were incredible and the tours and tour guides were interesting and custom-built for our needs. The communication with them was clear, fast, and responsive. They were a great travel company and I highly recommend them.

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Pamela S.
Spain Vacation Review: Madrid, Granada, Seville, Barcelona, Costa Brava, Toledo, Cordoba, Flamenco, Sailing, Museums, Cathedrals, 11-Day Trip

My husband, our two adult sons, and myself had the pleasure of going to Spain for 11 nights. We didn’t know much about the country, so we relied on Zicasso’s travel specialist to guide us. From the start, she explained the history, culture, food, etc.

We traveled to Madrid, Granada, Seville, Barcelona, and Costa Brava! We also took day trips to Toledo and Córdoba. We had excellent tour guides and drivers. Our trip flowed nicely, as we were on the go a lot of the time.

It was a trip of a lifetime for our family. We looked forward to the tapas, paellas, Jamón Ibérico, gazpacho, empanadas, rabo de toro, and, of course, the seafood every evening. The Spanish people were great and some we’ll never forget!

We learned so much about the ancient and early history, including the Roman conquest through the Medieval and early modern history. We were taking in this information all week, including the Prado Museum, the Picasso Museum, and the Dalí Theatre-Museum!

A simple family moment was sitting on our rooftop in Seville by the pool looking out at this beautiful city, which was difficult to leave!

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Lynne R.
Spain, France Travel Review: Madrid, Toledo, San Sebastian, Bayonne, Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hondarribia, La Rioja, Barcelona, Montserrat, Penedes, Private Guide, Wine Tasting, 10 Nights

We visited Madrid, Toledo, San Sebastián, Bayonne, Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hondarribia, La Rioja, Barcelona, Montserrat, and the Penedes (Cava) region.

We loved our private guides, private wine tastings, and day trips outside of the big cities.

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Sam K.
Spain Tour Review: Barcelona, Granada, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Madrid, Toledo, Local Cuisine, Wine, 2-Week Trip

We had been planning a two-week trip to Spain for most of 2024, researching the different regions, the available transportation options, and the logistics of trying to fit everything we wanted to do and see into two weeks. Once we felt comfortable having an informed conversation, we contacted Zicasso. We had used them for a prior trip to Italy in 2021. We were provided with two quality companies to assist us with planning our trip. Both companies provided us with proposals and itineraries based on our interests.

We chose this Zicasso travel company and could not have been happier with their attention to detail, communication, and customer service. We originally were working with one representative and, over the summer, we received an email introducing our new travel consultant. She immediately contacted us to introduce herself and to let us know that she was there should we need anything before, during, or after the trip. We had a pre-trip video meeting with her to answer some minor logistics questions. Two weeks later, we landed in Spain.

All of the companies selected for our trip, from drivers, guides, and cooking instructors to wineries were fantastic! Travel is more than the things you see and do; it's also about the people you meet while traveling. We thoroughly enjoyed everyone we met. They made us feel welcome and tailored each experience to what we were interested in.

Since our travel consultant lives in Madrid and our final stop was there, we made plans to get together for a drink to discuss our experiences. As we were discussing the trip with her, we realized we were having a hard time picking just one experience, one guide, or one place that was our favorite in each city.

We had a pretty good idea of what we wanted from this trip to Barcelona, Granada, Córdoba, Seville, Ronda, Madrid, and Toledo. The travel company listened to our interests and took to heart what we hoped to get from the trip. They designed and executed a fantastic two-week itinerary based on our budget. We are already thinking about a trip to Northern Spain in the future and our first call will be to the same travel company.

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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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