Classic Sites of Spain
From small-group & private tours to cooking classes, private transfers, the best hotels, and accommodations – we curate the most incredible authentic experiences through Europe for the entire family.
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Day 1
Welcome to Barcelona
Arrive in Barcelona and collect your bags. As you exit customs you will be met by a representative that will help you with your luggage and escort you to your hotel where you will stay for three nights. Take the afternoon to become accustomed with the city and then make it back to our hotel lobby in time for your evening sightseeing tour.
Barcelona - The City
Like many other cities on the Mediterranean, Barcelona was founded by the Romans. The original settlement, called Barcino, was a small port located on the same spot as today’s cathedral. The town was overshadowed by Tarragona, the capital of the province. Both the Visigoths and the Moors invaded Barcelona; however, their influence was not as important to the future of the city as the arrival of the Franks in the late 9th century. It was at that point that Barcelona and Catalonia started shaping their own identity, different from the rest of Spain.
This is most apparent in the language - Spanish, or Castilian, has many Arabic words, while Catalan has many French words instead. So Catalan is not a Spanish dialect, but a language in its own right, related to other Romance languages.
Barcelona’s history is seen everywhere in the city. The oldest areas are located by the sea, including the shopping enclave Barri Gotic. On the other side of the main boulevard, La Rambla, lies the legendary Raval district. Until the 1980’s this was the slum area, home to the city’s own Chinatown (Barrio Chino) and the red light district. Today, designer shops and cafés have moved in. Further north is fashionable Eixample, the area created as a result of the 19th century expansion of the city.
Secret Tour of La Pedrera
Discover the secret La Pedrera, a unique building designed by the Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi. Architecturally it is considered an innovative work for its steel structure and curtain walls. Its design was controversial at the time it was constructed and would still be considered Avant-garde today. Enjoy this intimate tour, where you can discover the nooks and crannies of this landmark in the tranquility and magic of the evening. Discover the hidden secrets of La Pedrera and become the lucky witness to the lives, customs and stories of the residents of this 100-year-old building.
Day 2
Explore Barcelona
After breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel for your exciting full-day private sightseeing tour. On this tour you will see the highlights of the city and get a terrific understanding of Barcelona's famous history, which pre-dates the Romans. After this full-day tour, you will be free to spend the evening dining and relaxing. Make sure to wander down the Las Ramblas and check out the street performers before indulging in some gazpacho and sangria.
Private, Full-Day Sightseeing
On this full-day, private sightseeing trip you will see the highlights of Barcelona's cultural heart. You will visit famous sites related to the artist and architect Antoni Gaudi, such as the Sagrada Familia ad Park Guell. You will also get to visit Barcelona's famous waterfront, including the Old and Olympic ports. You'll marvel at the beauty of the facades of the Passeig de Fracia and take stunning photographs on Montjuic Hill. Lastly you can't visit Barcelona without visiting the Gothic Quarter with its beautiful ornate cathedral. All this and more on this exceptional sightseeing tour.
Day 3
See More of Barcelona
This morning you will want to eat breakfast early then make your way to your designated meeting point fo ryour tour to Montserrat. After the tour you will be returned to downtown You will have a few hours of free time before meeting your guide for a private market tour and cooking class. After the class, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure - but make sure not to miss Barcelona's famous night life!
Morning Montserrat Tour
Enjoy the picturesque drive to the foot of the Montserrat Mountain. Perched at 2,380 feet above sea level in this stunning natural park is the sanctuary of Santa Maria de Montserrat. You will enjoy a guided orientation tour of Abby of Montserrat, during which the guide will show you all the treasures of Catalonia's most important religious retreat including the monastery, basilica and museum, which has a marvelous collection of paintings. You will also get some free time to explore the bars, restaurants, shops, and market.
Barcelona Market and Cooking Class
You will meet your guide for an escorted shopping tour of Barcelona's famous food market, La Boqueria. Your expert chef will show you the raw foods that you will use to create amazing Catalan cuisine. You will then continue to a cooking school where you will learn to cook delicious dishes like tapas, seafood paella, and crema catalana. You will get the chance to indulge in your many creations, and will leave full of tasty dishes and ready to experience the local nightlife.
Day 4
Travel to Madrid
Eat breakfast and then pack your bags, because today you will take the train from Barcelona to Spain's capital city, Madrid. Meet your transfer representative in the lobby for your ride to the station. You will then board the very comfortable train and on arrival meet your transfer to your hotel. You then have the afternoon to yourself. You may want to use this afternoon to visit the Prado Museum, which is the main national art museum and features one of the world's finest collections of European art. Tonight you will enjoy a city sightseeing tour and flamenco show.
Madrid - The City
Madrid is not as large as it might seem—especially the central districts. Right in the middle of the city lies the Puerta del Sol, a traffic nexus that is the point from which all distances are measured. Also, the house numbering on every street starts at the end nearest the Sol. West and south of the Sol are the oldest areas of the city, Los Austrias, which contain the royal palace (Palacio Real) and the historic and well-trodden square, Plaza Mayor.
The triangular area to the east and south of the Sol—with the Plaza de Cibeles, Atocha Station and the Sol at its corners—is one of the liveliest districts in Madrid, containing countless bars and restaurants. This is also where the three big museums stand in a row, and beyond them, the largest park in central Madrid, Parque del Buen Retiro.
Directly south of the Sol is Lavapiés: formerly a working-class area, but now the most ethnically interesting part of the city thanks to a significant influx of immigrants from Africa and Asia.
North of the Puerta del Sol and the parade avenue of Gran Vía you will find the Malasaña and Chueca districts. The former is an old residential area that has been cleaned up in the last twenty years, whilst remaining one of the city’s most relaxed bar districts. The latter has also undergone a rebirth: today it is Madrid’s hippest quarter, a centre for a culture of clubbing, restaurants and clothing shops. Originally a gay district, it is now best described as broad-minded.
Madrid Sightseeing by Night and Flamenco Show with Drink
Tonight you will enjoy a panoramic tour of Madrid's avenues and lovely squares. Its beautiful boulevards and illuminated fountains make a tour of Madrid by night a must! Afterwards you will attend a flamenco show where you will enjoy a complimentary drink. Flamenco is a genre of Spanish music, song and dance from Andalusia, a region of Southern Spain. Always dramatic and passionate, this is an evening you are sure to remember.
Day 5
Madrid: Day 2
After an early breakfast you will meet your tour guide for a full-day sightseeing tour of Madrid. After the tour you are free to relax on your own for the rest of the evening. Tonight you might consider dining in a restaurant that specializes in tapas, a popular type of Spanish appetizers. They can be combined to make a full meal giving you the opportunity to try many different tastes and flavors.
Private Madrid Sightseeing Tour
Built above the old Alcazar of the Habsburgs, Madrid was the official residence of the Spanish monarchy from 1765 until 1931. Within the Royal Palace, you will visit the Official Reception Zone, the private rooms of King Carlos III, the Museums Section, the Royal Chapel and the private rooms of Queen Isabel II. After touring the palace, your sightseeing tour will continue with a stroll through the Plaza España. You’ll see the city’s best landmarks and monuments including the Gran Vía, Plaza de Oriente, Puerta del Sol and the Prado Museum. This private tour gives you the perfect orientation to this extremely interesting and beautiful city.
Day 6
Madrid: Day 3
Make sure to eat breakfast and then make your way to your designated meeting point for your full-day Toledo Sightseeing excursion. This former capital of the Spanish Empire has been populated since the Bronze Age so you’re in for a true historical treat. After returning from the tour, take the evening to relax on your own and marvel at the differences between Spain's former capital and its current one.
Toledo and Escorial Full-Day Sightseeing Tour
On this exciting fullday tour of Toledo and the Escorial you will see many of the major buildings and monuments including the City Hall Square, the Victorio Macho Museum and San Juan de los Reyes. The city of Toledo is home to many of Spain’s best cultural treasures. This beautiful city has a rich artistic, religious and historic heritage. Its buildings walk you through centuries of Spanish history. It continues to be the religious capital of Spain and is considered the city of three cultures (Christian, Jewish and Moorish). From Toledo, you will travel to The St Lawrence’s Royal Monastery of The Escorial, a magnificent construction from the 16th century. It is a pantheon of the Kings of Spain and is considered to be the Eighth Marvel of the World.
Day 7
Travel to Seville
After breakfast you will be met by your transfer representative in the lobby. He or she will take you to the station where you will catch the train for Seville. Upon your arrival meet your transfer representative, who will escort you to your hotel. This evening you can relax and settle in to Andalucía's top destination. This would be a great time to take advantage of your Sevilla Card, which grants you access to most of the museums and monuments in the city.
Seville - The City
The Phoenicians arrived in this area first, establishing a number of trade colonies by the river. They taught the locals how to work with iron and created a new way of processing gold. The Romans came next and founded the town of Hispalis a few hundred years BC. Hispalis grew into a beautiful and prosperous city, but it never managed to emerge from the shadow of nearby Córdoba, until the Visigoths transformed Hispalis into a provincial seat and a centre of learning. In the 11th century, the Moors captured the city and re-named it Ishbiliya, but they too chose to make the grander city of Córdoba their capital. They even named it the Córdoba Caliphate.
After almost 400 years of civil war battles between Christians and Arabs, the Moors withdrew from their beloved Al-Andalus. Soon after, the inhabitants of Seville finally struck gold. When Christopher Columbus discovered a new continent in 1492, the exclusive trade rights were given not to Córdoba, but to Seville. The city quickly became the wealthiest and most cosmopolitan city in Europe, and retained that position for several hundred years. This eclectic mix of influences over the centuries have shaped the city we see today, and Seville's fascinating history is visible at every turn.
Day 8
Seville: Day 2
Eat breakfast and then meet your private guide in the lobby. Seville has a long history that includes being the most important Roman port on the Guadalquiver River. Today you will be shown many of the important buildings and landmarks left in the wake of multiple cultural waves. The evening is yours to wander the charming streets or dine in a delicious restaurant or tapas bar.
Private Seville Sightseeing
Discover Seville's fascinating touristic areas. From the grand fair grounds of the IberoAmerican exhibition of 1929, to the contemplative alleyways and flowers of the Santa Cruz quarter, Seville has something for everyone. You will also have the chance to tour the Cathedral, Giralda Tower and the Royal Palace of Alcazar, the oldest residence of the Spanish kings that is still in use today. After touring the central district you will continue on to Plaza de Toros, the oldest bullring in Spain, and the vibrant and cultural Triana neighborhood. Lastly, you will view the lovely city from the water with a cruise along the shores of the Guadalquivir River.
Day 9
Seville: Day 3
Eat a good breakfast and then make your way to the designated meeting point for your full-day trip to the stunning city of Granada. This fascinating and historic city has been continuously inhabited for at least 2500 years. After the tour you have the rest of the night to enjoy at your leisure. Take in some more of the local Andalusian culture and perhaps enjoy some of Seville's famous nightlife.
Seville to Granada
Granada has a extremely varied and long cultural legacy. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, The Alhambra is the joy that crowns this beautiful city. You will visit this picturesque Nazarian city where every inch is a work of art. During the visit to the palaces, grand halls, rooms and exquisite gardens, you will begin to understand why the last Moorish king cried as he surrendered to the Catholic Kings who conquered it. You will then meander through the Generalife Gardens, some of the most impressive gardens in the world, with an official guide. At the end of the visit you will have time to relax in Granada before returning to Seville, never to forget this most spellbinding of experiences.
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