Madrid to Barcelona

9 Days /8 Nights
1 night Transatlantic Flight,

4 nights Madrid, 3 nights Barcelona
8 Breakfasts, 8 Dinners

Day 1: DEPARTURE CITY - MADRID

Overnight flight to Madrid.
 

Day 2: MADRID

Welcome to Madrid, Spain’s capital city. Upon arrival at the airport we transfer to our centrally located Hotel. After checking into your hotel, time to relax. Later with your Tour Director enjoy a walking tour of the historic centre  and the famous old Plaza Mayor. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel

Day 3: MADRID

Breakfast. This morning on our sightseeing tour with a local guide we will see the main highlights of this buzzing city, including the Cibeles fountain, the Gran Via, Paseo de la Castellana, Puerta del Sol and Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes. Later we will visit the famous Prado Museum famous for its Velazquez paintings. Afternoon free time. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 4: MADRID - TOLEDO - MADRID

After breakfast we embark on a journey to the former Spanish capital of Toledo. You’ll see the influence of Muslims, Jews and Christians as you tour the 12th-century St. Mary’s Synagogue.  Designed to be a mosque, but then used as a synagogue, it was finally converted into a church. You’ll also visit the Cathedral before continuing to the Church of Santo Tomé. Here, you'll view The Burial of Count Orgaz, one of El Greco’s master works. Then, make a stop at a local damascene workshop; an intricate Muslim craft originating in Damascus and made famous in Toledo. Late afternoon return to Madrid. Free time. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 5: MADRID - EL ESCORIAL -  SEGOVIA - MADRID

Breakfast. Today we venture into the Castilian country-side. First stop is El Escorial royal city, see the king’s deathbed and the tombs of the majority of past kings and queens of Spain. This enormous Renaissance palace boasts 16 courtyards, 2,673 windows, 1,250 doors, 86 staircases and 88 fountains. Then we proceed to medieval city of Segovia where we visit the 14th-century Alcázar fortress, the town’s golden cathedral and Roman aqueduct. Return to Madrid late afternoon. Free time. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 6: MADRID - BARCELONA

Breakfast. This morning we board a high-speed train to Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city and the capital of Cataluña. On arrival enjoy a walking tour that takes you down Las Ramblas, the tree-lined pedestrian boulevard. Wander among the newspaper kiosks, flower and bird stalls, and performers, from human statues to street musicians to fortune tellers. Restaurants, cafés and hotels abound, as do tourists and locals alike. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 7: BARCELONA

After breakfast your guided tour takes you past the controversial and still-unfinished La Sagrada Familia (the Church of the Holy Family), where you will make a photo stop. This masterpiece of twisting spires and colourful mosaics was designed by Gaudí, who estimated it would take 200 years to complete. You will also see some of Gaudi's other works during our panoramic bus tour of Paseo de Gracia, one of Spain’s most cosmopolitan streets. Check out Plaza de Catalunya and Plaza España, a bustling six-street intersection that boasts the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, a fountain that puts on a fabulous show of water, lights and music on the weekends. Then enjoy a marvellous harbour view from atop Montjuïc Hill, where much of the 1992 Olympics took place. Here, you will see the former stadium and the Olympic Rings. Continue to the Plaza de Colon and  finish your tour in the 14th-century Barrio Gótico, the oldest surviving part of the city, and home to the stunning Barcelona Cathedral. Afternoon free time Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 8: BARCELONA -TARRAGONA - SITGES - BARCELONA

After breakfast we embark on a guided tour of Spain’s most important Roman town, Tarragona, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ancient streets inside its 2nd- and 3rd-century Roman Wall, including Las Ramblas, which offers excellent views of the lower part of the city. As you peruse Tarragona, discover the Roman architectural wonders including its circus (A.D. 81-96) and the governor’s residence. After some free time we continue to Sitges,  one of the most representative towns of Costa de Garraf, Barcelona's southern littoral. Beaches with pristine waters, some of which have been awarded the blue flag eco-label and the proximity of the mountains make of Sitges a privileged destination. The urban centre is also worth a visit. It has beautiful religious buildings such as the churches of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla. Late afternoon return to Madrid. Free time. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 9: DEPARTURE

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.