Exhilarating Adventure to Barcelona & Madrid Tour

Cathedral of Madrid at sunset in Spain

What to expect on this itinerary

During this luxurious 7-day adventure through Madrid and Barcelona, you will experience some of the most exclusive experiences that these cities have to offer. Vivacious street life bursts from the central avenues and open-aired plazas of Madrid's downtown and local bands catch the attention of passersby. Meanwhile, in Barcelona, artistic whimsy emanates from every storefront and the intricate architecture amazes all its visitors.

Countries Visited

Spain

Places Visited

Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Barcelona - Dinner in Placa Reial

You will arrive at the Barcelona airport, where you will meet your private transport who will escort you to your hotel. Soon, you will arrive at your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. You can unpack your bags as the chatter below ensues. Then, later in the afternoon, you can venture into the city for some self-guided exploration. Later, as the sky begins to warm with the red-orange hues of sunset, you can indulge in dinner at the Placa Reial. Here, children play pick-up games of soccer and street vendors sell light-up toys and other souvenirs.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Barcelona - Gothic Quarter and Sagrada Familia

Day 3

Barcelona - Architecture Tour of Park Guell

Day 4

Valencia - Paella Cooking Class

Day 5

Madrid - City Tour Highlights

Day 6

Madrid - Reina Sofia Art Museum

Day 7

Madrid - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Dine in the moonlit Placa Reial and discover Barcelona's eclectic history when you stroll through the streets of the city's Gothic quarter
  • Marvel at the kaleidoscopic hues of La Sagrada Familia before visiting other masterpieces of famed architect, Antoni Gaudi, including Park Guell
  • Admire the futuristic designs of architect, Calatrava, at the City of Arts and Sciences before attending an authentic paella cooking class
  • Peruse the halls of Madrid's Royal Palace and indulge in an array of local tapas in the Plaza Mayor
  • Visit Picasso's masterpieces at the Reina Sofia Art Museum and stroll through the luscious public park that is known as Parque El Retiro

Detailed Description

Whimsical and fantastical architecture overflows from every alcove in the charming city of Barcelona. Ocean waves will lap against the sandy shore as gulls fly overhead. Moreover, families and couples will gather along the coastline in the moonlit Gothic Quarter for a relaxing dinner. Meanwhile, in Valencia, expert chefs mix perfectly seasoned rice, vegetables, and seafood in large cast-iron skillets. In the center of Spain, Madrid's locals and visitors meander through the Plaza del Sol, past the Royal Palace, and inside the Parque El Retiro.

When you arrive in Barcelona on your first day in Spain, you will be met by your private transportation for your exciting, 7-day expedition. You will settle into your hotel and indulge in an initial dinner at the Placa Reial. Then, the following morning, you will follow your expert guide along the cobbled streets of the Gothic Quarter as you learn about the city's history. Later, you will delve into the eccentric aesthetic of architect Antoni Gaudi at such famed masterpieces, such as the Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Park Guell, and La Sagrada Familia.

As you set out towards Madrid, you will make a brief stop in Valencia, which is the third-largest city in Spain. Here, you will participate in an authentic paella cooking class and visit the one-of-a-kind designs at the City of Arts and Sciences. Afterward, in Madrid, you will fall in love with the quickened pace and the leisurely attitudes of outdoor cafes, restaurants, and parks. Your expert guide will lead you to attractions, such as the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Plaza del Sol, and Parque El Retiro. Then, in the evenings, you can venture to the outlying neighborhoods of Malasana and Lavapies, where you can become lost in the vibrant arts and music scene.

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.

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Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 2678 reviews

Patricia H.
Spain Vacation Review: Seville, Barcelona, Cooking Class, Gaudi Experience, Mosaic Workshop, 9-Day Trip

We received excellent customer service from Zicasso's travel company.

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Jane M.
Spain, Portugal Vacation Review: Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville, Lisbon, Porto, 10 Nights

We loved our trip to Spain and Portugal! We enjoyed each of our private tours with our tour guides in the various cities we experienced. They went above and beyond to share their knowledge of the planned sites, plus they added in individual unique sites and information along our walking route.

Zicasso’s tour company took all of our requested activities, venues, and interests to customize a trip that fit us well. They were in communication with us during our trip when a planned site was not available due to construction. Our tour guide provided us with other possible replacement options and let us choose what was of interest to us rather than them making the decision.

We tremendously enjoyed all of the cities, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, and Seville in Spain and Lisbon and Porto in Portugal. Our trip went smoothly and the activities were scheduled at a good pace for us! An extra bonus for us was seeing King Felipe VI by being in the right place at the right time near the opera house in Madrid while we were on our walking tour. We highly recommend Zicasso and the tour company.

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Kitty (.
Spain Trip Review: Madrid, Barcelona, Tapas Tour, Sagrada Familia, Museums, 1 Week

We loved every minute of our trip and were very impressed with the attention to every detail. Each guide was wonderful, extremely well-informed, and fun!

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Charles H.
England, France, Spain Travel Review: Culture, Entertainment, Sport, Cuisine, 13 Nights

A few bumps were encountered along the way, but we were happy with the resolution and the overall experience.

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Mary+Ann R.
Spain Vacation Review: Granada, 2 Weeks

This trip was spectacular and Zicasso’s travel agent was very accommodating and helpful. He made our trip go from good to amazing!!

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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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Customizable Itinerary

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

29,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews