In Spain, the architecture alone tells tales of the country’s multifaceted history on this 9-day itinerary. Catholic cathedrals reveal a surprising Moorish past, medieval quarters whisper the aura of bygone centuries and whimsical Gaudí designs inspire the modern imagination. With its resplendent Islamic, Jewish and Christian heritage, Spain has an incredible number of UNESCO World Heritage monuments, and you’ll have a chance to see as many as ten of these specially designated sites. This sample...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Madrid - Leisure Time and a Tapas Tour
Your tour begins in the beautiful city of Madrid, the capital of Spain. Upon your arrival at the airport, you’ll be greeted by your driver and provided a transfer to your hotel. You’ll be staying at a hotel in the center of Madrid near the Prado Museum and some of the best tapas restaurants. This afternoon you’ll begin your exploration of the city with a guided Art Walk. The guided tour allows you to discover the internationally renowned Museo del Prado. This exceptional collection includes the masterpieces of El Greco, Velazquez and Goya, among others. After your art tour, you’ll have time to stop for tapas at a stylish neighborhood bar. When ordering a glass of wine, you’ll be offered a snack such as tortilla de patata (potato omelette), cured ham, sausage or fried shrimp. Tapas help keep you going until the late-evening Spanish dinner. Live like the locals: eat dinner late and enjoy the amazing nightlife that usually unfolds spontaneously. The city is literally hopping with cafes, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. All that you need to do is walk outside and then see where the evening takes you!
What's Included:
Day 2
Madrid - Private Guided Visit to Madrid’s Habsburg Palace
Day 3
Madrid - Full-Day Excursion to Toledo
Day 4
Seville - Leisure Afternoon and an Evening Flamenco Show
Day 5
Seville - Guided Sightseeing Tour of Seville’s Highlights
Day 6
Barcelona - Travel to Barcelona; Afternoon Tour of Gothic Quarter and Picasso Museum
Day 7
Guided Tour of Gaudí Masterpieces throughout Barcelona
Day 8
Barcelona - Leisure Day in Barcelona or Optional Excursion to Beaches or Wine Country
Day 9
Barcelona - Tour Concludes with Departure from Barcelona
Trip Highlights
- Cosmopolitan ambience of Madrid and Barcelona
- Go on an art walk to visit world-class museums in Madrid
- Experience traditional Spanish culture and customs in Seville
- Discover the Moorish influence in Madrid, Seville and Toledo
- Visit the beautiful Alcázar, the old Moorish palace, in Seville
- See the historic city of Toledo, an UNESCO World Heritage site
- Tour fantastical and modern Gaudí monuments in Barcelona
- Savor the delicious Catalonian and Andalusian gastronomy
- Enjoy the nightlife in Seville and see a Flamenco performance
Detailed Description
See the amazing sites that tell the fascinating story of Spain’s multicultural past. The glorious Moorish kingdoms of Islamic al-Andalus flourished for 700 years until the final Christian Reconquista in the 15th century. Nearly every cathedral that you’ll see in Southern Spain’s Andalusia was once an Islamic mosque. Madrid also has an interesting legacy as the capital of a world power in the 16th century, ruled by the Habsburg dynasty—the Austrian royal family. Many of the elegant palaces, churches and government buildings in Madrid have a distinct Austrian architectural influence.
You’ll visit an incredible number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the historic city of Toledo and Antonio Gaudí’s fantastical Modernist buildings. With this customized tour, all of your travel logistics will be pre-arranged and knowledgeable guides will show you around so that you get the most out of your visit.
First you’ll visit the grand city of Madrid. When Spain was a world power, Madrid was the city where the King held court. The immense Royal Palace in Madrid was inspired by the Louvre in Paris and is one of the most impressive palaces in Europe. Madrid’s Museo del Prado has one of the finest collections of art masterpieces in Europe, most notably the exceptional works of Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. From your base in Madrid, you’ll make an all-day excursion to Toledo. This UNESCO World Heritage City has an unbelievable wealth of historic monuments: palaces, fortresses, mosques, medieval synagogues and a magnificent Gothic Cathedral.
Next visit the cities full of energetic Spanish ambience and tradition. Seville is a vibrant city of history and culture with a multicultural past. The Cathedral was converted from a mosque, and the Alcázar was the former Moorish palace. Enjoy the traditional customs, including tapas, evening strolls, leisurely dinners and Flamenco performances. Finally, visit the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona in Catalonia. Barcelona is a wonderful place to wander the grand boulevards and medieval pedestrian streets. Known for its love of life, Barcelona is famous for its fashionable people, meals outdoors and conviviality.
Starting Price
$4,800 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.92 stars based on 2554 reviews.
We have been very happy with everything Zicasso's travel agent planned for us. All of the days were good, but some were just amazing. We enjoyed all of it.
Reviewed By Lauren S.
Our family was very happy with our trip. The experiences were excellent, the local travel guides were exceptional, and all of the logistics went off without a hitch. It was great to have someone always a text away!
Reviewed By Corinna S.
From beginning to end, Zicasso's travel experts took great care in taking care of everything. We received great communication, guides, hotels, transportation, suggestions, etc, and they were reliable before and during our trip
Reviewed By Michele M.
The planning experience was wonderful overall. From the initial conversation about what my family was looking for to the final touches to the itinerary, Zicasso's travel expert was engaging, responsive, and helpful.
The accommodations he selected for us exceeded expectations; they were spacious, beautiful, and well-located. The tours/activities suggested were really fun and gave us a sense of the locale in a unique and memorable way that fit our family well. Once we were in-country, communications were easy and helpful. We felt very well cared for.
Payment to our travel company was easy and it was a real pleasure once we were in-country to have all the identified items already paid for. I would definitely book a trip with them again.
Reviewed By Olivia L.
Zicasso's travel specialists did a great job for us. They clearly listened to us and curated an experience that was made specifically for us. It checked all of the boxes and more.
Highlights were the local tour guides in each city. It was great to meet and get to know local people, learn so much history, see the architecture (Gaudí in Barcelona and the awesome palaces and cathedrals that we visited), the Montserrat hike, Caminito del Rey (which was absolutely better with a guide), and the Marbella e-bike adventure.
The hotels were wonderful; all unique and all great choices. We came home happy and tired, which is the sign of a good trip for us (since we do not ever sit on beaches or at pools and relax!).
Reviewed By William L.
My family and I loved Asturias. We considered it a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip. Zicasso's travel agent planned the perfect outings for us. Our guides were knowledgeable and helpful. Our agent also provided us with very helpful hints and suggestions for restaurants and shops. Both of the hotels he chose were located perfectly and staffed by friendly employees.
Reviewed By Junis N.
