Spain’s Vibrant Cities

Welcome to Madrid. Your driver will meet you upon arrival at the airport for a private transfer to your hotel in the city. Once you’ve had time to settle in, a half-day private guided tour will bring you on a discovery of Spain’s capital. You’ll learn all about Madrid’s history as you explore its impressive architecture, including Renaissance and Baroque-style buildings. Visit iconic landmarks like City Hall, Puerto del Sol, and the Royal Theatre. Conclude at the Royal Palace, the majestic official residence of the Spanish royal family. The exterior and interior with its 3,418 rooms are impressive, including a remarkable collection of art.

Round-trip tickets for the high-speed AVE train will bring you from Madrid to the UNESCO-listed city of Toledo, the former capital of Spain. It sits dramatically atop a gorge overlooking the Tagus River and was known as the “city of three cultures” during the Middle Ages with Jewish, Muslim, and Jewish communities all peacefully coexisting. You’ll see influences from all three in the magnificent architecture, squares, and monuments on your half-day guided tour, including the gothic-style Cathedral of Toledo and the Church of Santo Tome. After returning to Madrid, you’ll take in an authentic flamenco experience that includes dinner and a show.

Enjoy a full day to take in what interests you most in Madrid. Art enthusiasts might visit Reina Sofia, the country’s national museum of 20th-century art, and the Prado Museum. The latter hosts hundreds of sculptures and thousands of paintings celebrating Spanish, Flemish, and Italian art. The historic El Rastro market draws locals and visitors alike with everything from clothing and jewelry to souvenirs, as well as hosting live music. When in need of a break, people-watch in Plaza Mayor. This evening, you’ll sample some of the best tapas in Madrid on a tapas tour in Barrio de las Letras and Chueca.

Say farewell to Madrid, taking a private transfer to the Madrid Athoca Station. You’ll have one-way tickets for the high-speed AVE Madrid-Barcelona train, disembarking at the Barcelona Sants Station. You’ll be welcomed by your driver for a private transfer to your hotel in Barcelona where you can rest and refresh before taking a walking tour in the Gothic Quarter. Located in the most historic part of the city, you’ll stroll back alleys and narrow streets discovering Roman ruins, gothic cathedrals, and medieval buildings. That includes the city’s gothic cathedral, City Hall, King’s and Royal squares, famous La Rambla street, and Boqueria Market.

One of the biggest draws to Barcelona is its architecture, with some of its most unique character thanks to architect Gaudi. A private tour will reveal the highlights of his magnificent works, including La Sagrada Familia which fuses art nouveau and gothic styles in unprecedented ways. Think vivid colors, hyperboloids, and unconventional animal representations like turtles, chameleons, and pelicans. Visit Casa Mila and Parc Guell, where Gaudi created a fantasy-like world with remarkable stone structures, unique buildings, and a dragon adorned with colorful tiling. The terraced area at the top of the park offers fabulous views over the city.

This morning, meet up with your guide who will set you up with electric bikes for a full-day tour of Costa Brava’s medieval hilltop villages. Travel alongside fruit orchards and pass through the old part of Gualta village before reaching the village of Peratallda with its many fine examples of medieval architecture. It has a fortified castle, centuries-old walls, a palace, and more, along its winding streets. Visit Pals with its 12th-century La Torre de les Hores and Gothic quarter featuring stone balconies, facades with lancet windows, and arcades. From a picturesque viewpoint, look out at the Medes Islands before returning to the starting point.

Enjoy the day to explore on your own. There’s plenty of art to discover, including Fundacio Joan Miro, one of the world’s largest museums, displaying a collection of sculptures and paintings by the Spanish surrealist artist. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya focuses on Catalan art from the Romanesque period to the mid-20th-century. Be sure to stroll the city’s most animated artery, La Ramblas, a wide, shady boulevard that runs from Placa de Catalunya to Port Vell in the heart of Barcelona. Later, you’ll join a private sunset sailing excursion, watching the sun go down over the city from a luxurious yacht.

After a week in beautiful Barcelona and Madrid, it’s time for your journey to end. You’ll be met by our driver at your hotel for the private transfer to Barcelona’s airport. Catch a return flight home, or, if you’d like to extend your time in Spain or elsewhere in Europe, contact our travel experts who can create a bespoke addition to your itinerary. Otherwise, we wish you safe travels and hope to see you on another unforgettable trip in the future.