Your Local Specialist Travel Advisors For Custom Tours in Spain & Portugal
Your Local Specialist Travel Advisors For Custom Tours in Spain & Portugal
Trip Overview:
Embark on a captivating 10-day journey through three of Spain's most vibrant cities: Barcelona, Bilbao, and Madrid. This meticulously planned itinerary seamlessly connects these destinations, ensuring you experience the best of Spanish culture, architecture, and history. Your adventure begins in Barcelona, where you'll delve into the vis...
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Trip Summary:
Barcelona (3nts), Bilbao (3nts), Madrid (3nts) ...
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Access:
Fly into Barcelona International Airport. Departure from Madrid. ...
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Barcelona, Spain
Arrive in Barcelona International Airport. You’ll be met at the airport by your private driver who will transfer you to your centrally located 4-star Barcelona hotel.
Barcelona is without doubt one of Europe's most exciting cities. It is a place of extraordinary architectural dazzle, achieved by what has been called both Catalán Art Nouveau and Modernisme, by architects Gaudi, Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch. Monumental sculptures by local masters like Joan Miró adorn public spaces, and museums house extraordinary treasures ranging from works of the ancient Romans to those of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. The city is further enhanced by brightly colored outdoor markets, a magnificent Mediterranean port , and a plentiful array of stylish restaurants. Needless to say, the nightlife is splendid.
This afternoon is at leisure to get settled in and adjusted to Spanish time.
Activities & Services Included today
Barcelona, Spain
Enjoy a hearthy breakfast before meeting your expert private guide and driver. Today you’ll see why Barcelona is the heart of architectural modernism and experience the work of Antoni Gaudi, the maximum exponent of this spectacular artistic movement.
You’ll visit the remarkable Sagrada Familia - one of the most famous and spectacular of Gaudi’s works. It’s a Christian temple where Gaudi worked on fulltime from 1915 until his death in 1926 – even living on-site in the year leading up to his death. His remains are buried in the crypt. Work continues to this day on the building!
You’ll also visit Parc Guell – adored for brightly coloured mosaic tiles in animal forms and its great views over the city. Gaudi lived here from 1906 until 1925 – his former residence is now the location for the Gaudi Museum. Finally you’ll see the private residences Gaudi worked on in downtown Barcelona including Casa Mila- La Pedrera on the Passeig de Gracia.
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Barcelona - Daytrip to Montserrat & Winery, Spain
Today you'll enjoy a daytrip in a small group (16 maximum) from Barcelona to the Monastery of Montserrat and afterwards, a charming winery.
The Monastery of Montserrat, nestled in the rugged mountains of Catalonia, is a masterpiece of architectural fusion, blending Gothic and Renaissance styles with modernist touches. Its location atop jagged peaks enhances the dramatic effect, creating a serene yet awe-inspiring atmosphere. The basilica's façade, adorned with intricate sculptures and ornate detailing, reflects meticulous craftsmanship, while the interior’s vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows bathe the space in ethereal light. The design cleverly integrates with the natural landscape, harmonizing human ingenuity with the majestic beauty of its surroundings, making it a true architectural marvel.
From Montserrat continue to the winery, just a few minutes away from Montserrat, one of the most important and beautiful wineries in the region. Learn how the wine is created there, enjoy a tasting with tapas and time exploring the onsite castle and seeing where the wines are aged.
Return to Barcelona in the late afternoon. Rest of the day at leisure.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Bilbao, Spain
Transfer to Barcelona airport for a short flight to Bilbao (flight not included).
Upon arrival take a moment to admire the Bilbao airport terminal building designed by Santiago Calatrava. Transfer to your centrally located Bilbao hotel, where you'll stay for the next three nights.
Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, has undergone a well-planned revitalization, breathing new life into this charming old port town. Begin your stay with refreshing stroll by the iconic Guggenheim Museum and the Fine Arts Museum. Continue along the picturesque riverside and maybe take the funicular to Mount Artxanda for scenic views over the city. In the evening, savor a meal at a traditional restaurant or pintxos bar in the enchanting Casco Viejo.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Bilbao, Spain
This morning you are joined by your expert local Bilbao guide for a private tour of Bilbao city.
Visit the Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry; a masterpiece of modern architecture from the end of the 20th century which has been acknowledged as one of the greatest buildings of the century. Walk around the space both inside and out to see the distinctive titanium curves and soaring glass atrium. In addition to visiting the temporary exhibition spaces, you’ll be able to enjoy the Puppy and Tulip sculptures by Jeff Koons and Louise Bourgeois’ Spider outside and Richard Serra’s Snake inside.
During your tour you will also see the Zubi Zuri Bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava and the `Fosteritos´ - as they are known locally - on the Gran Via (Norman Foster’s acclaimed metro entrances). Visit Bilbao’s newest internationally designed library and cultural space – the Alhondiga (meaning wine warehouse) designed by Ricardo Bastida in 1909 and re-furbished by Philippe Starck in 2010.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Bilbao, Spain
Today you'll be met at your hotel for a full day private guided tour with transport to Portugalete and surrounding areas.
Visit the Vizcaya Bridge or `Puente Colgante´ - a remarkable Hanging Transporter Bridge built in 1893 and still in use today to cross the River Nervion. Cross the water into Las Arenas one of the preferred locations for Bilbao’s industrialists to reside.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Madrid, Spain
Transfer to Bilbao airport for your short flight to Madrid.
Arrive in Madrid. You’ll be met at the airport by your private driver who will transfer you directly to your centrally-located Madrid hotel for 3 nights.
Madrid stands at the very centre of Spain –geographically, culturally and politically. This capital not only offers the culture and good times of a sophisticated, modern city but it also retains the charm and elegance of its early years. Among the splendid attractions of Madrid are the Prado Museum; home to masterworks of Goya, Velazquez and El Greco: the 19th century Villahermosa Palace now the Thyssen-Bornemizsa Museum; the Reina Sofia Art Centre showcasing more than 300 modern works by Dali, Miro & Picasso among others; the 18th century Royal Palace on the lovely Plaza de Oriente; the bustling Puerta del Sol with its many shops, restaurants and tapas bars; Rastro Market on Sundays one of the oldest outdoor markets in Europe; and Retiro Park for strolling while admiring local artists and buskers.
Take your time to settle in. Take a stroll in your neighbourhood that is bustling with atmospheric cafes, bars and restaurants.
For Madrid and for all the other places on this tour, we’ll provide you with our Totally Spain City Guides which highlight the best cafes, bars, restaurants along with museums, parks and other cultural spaces you can explore in your free time.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Madrid, Spain
After a delicious breakfast, you'll be met at your hotel by your expert local Madrid guide for a private tour designed to immerse you in the architectural splendor of Madrid's historic city center. Begin your journey through time by exploring the principal streets and squares, including the iconic Plaza del Sol, Plaza Santa, and Plaza Mayor, each offering unique architectural features and historical significance.
Next, wander through the architectural marvel that is Mercado San Miguel, a beloved Madrid food market housed in an exquisite iron-and-glass structure, showcasing the blend of functionality and elegance in urban design.
Your tour continues to Plaza de la Villa, a testament to Madrid's medieval architecture, and the breathtaking Plaza del Oriente, with its meticulously planned layout and stunning facades. The highlight of the morning is a visit to the Royal Palace, an architectural gem completed in 1764. Built on the site of an old Alcazar fortress and a former Moorish castle, the palace boasts 3,418 rooms, each reflecting the evolving styles and tastes of various monarchs over the centuries.
In the afternoon, enjoy a self-guided visit to the Prado Museum with pre-booked tickets that allow you to bypass the lines. The museum itself, an architectural wonder dating back to 1785, is home to an extensive collection of art from the 12th to the 19th century. Marvel at masterpieces by Goya, Velázquez, El Greco, Bosch, Titian, Van Dyck, and Rembrandt within this beautifully preserved space that embodies the neoclassical design principles of its era.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Madrid, Spain
Today, you'll embark on a private half-day walking tour, visiting the Reina Sofia Museum and Atocha Train Station.
Begin your day at the Reina Sofia Museum, home to one of the world’s most prized permanent collections of 20th-century art, including Picasso’s renowned Guernica. Originally an old general hospital built by Francisco Sabatini, the museum building was designated a historic-artistic monument in 1977. It reopened as an art museum in 1986 and has undergone several expansions, the most notable being an 8,000 m² extension designed by French architect Jean Nouvel in 2005.
Next, proceed to Atocha Train Station, which opened in 1851. Today, it is a modern railway hub. Spanish architect Rafael Moneo's significant redesign and expansion transformed the original building into a space housing shops and a vast botanical garden.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Departure,
After breakfast you’ll be collected at your hotel by a private driver who will transfer you to Madrid International Airport for your departure.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
ORIGINAL AND RELATED POSTS FROM TOTALLY SPAIN'S BLOG
Guide to Architectural Touring in Spain
Royal Palaces in Spain
Gaudi's Barcelona
Gaudí’s Park Guell in Barcelona
Insider guide to Bilbao
A Trip to the Basque Country
What To Do in Madrid
The best niche museums in Madrid
Tipping in Spain – What & When to Tip
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Accommodation (based on 2 people sharing)
Meals
Transport
Private Guided Tours
Pre-Booked Entrance Tickets
Group Guided Tours
Other
NOT INCLUDED
Flights, Personal Travel Insurance, Porterage (not commonly available in Spain), Tips, Meals, drinks or hotel extras other than those described above. Anything else not specified above.
Please note that in Catalonia/ Barcelona they charge visitors a tourist tax per night which is not included. It must be paid locally at your hotel. See here link for more details but note that this is for informational purposes only and may be subject to change without notice.
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