Exhilarating Adventure to Barcelona & Madrid Tour

Cathedral of Madrid at sunset in Spain

What to expect on this itinerary

During this luxurious 7-day adventure through Madrid and Barcelona, you will experience some of the most exclusive experiences that these cities have to offer. Vivacious street life bursts from the central avenues and open-aired plazas of Madrid's downtown and local bands catch the attention of passersby. Meanwhile, in Barcelona, artistic whimsy emanates from every storefront and the intricate architecture amazes all its visitors.

Countries Visited

Spain

Places Visited

Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Barcelona - Dinner in Placa Reial

You will arrive at the Barcelona airport, where you will meet your private transport who will escort you to your hotel. Soon, you will arrive at your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. You can unpack your bags as the chatter below ensues. Then, later in the afternoon, you can venture into the city for some self-guided exploration. Later, as the sky begins to warm with the red-orange hues of sunset, you can indulge in dinner at the Placa Reial. Here, children play pick-up games of soccer and street vendors sell light-up toys and other souvenirs.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Barcelona - Gothic Quarter and Sagrada Familia

Day 3

Barcelona - Architecture Tour of Park Guell

Day 4

Valencia - Paella Cooking Class

Day 5

Madrid - City Tour Highlights

Day 6

Madrid - Reina Sofia Art Museum

Day 7

Madrid - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Dine in the moonlit Placa Reial and discover Barcelona's eclectic history when you stroll through the streets of the city's Gothic quarter
  • Marvel at the kaleidoscopic hues of La Sagrada Familia before visiting other masterpieces of famed architect, Antoni Gaudi, including Park Guell
  • Admire the futuristic designs of architect, Calatrava, at the City of Arts and Sciences before attending an authentic paella cooking class
  • Peruse the halls of Madrid's Royal Palace and indulge in an array of local tapas in the Plaza Mayor
  • Visit Picasso's masterpieces at the Reina Sofia Art Museum and stroll through the luscious public park that is known as Parque El Retiro

Detailed Description

Whimsical and fantastical architecture overflows from every alcove in the charming city of Barcelona. Ocean waves will lap against the sandy shore as gulls fly overhead. Moreover, families and couples will gather along the coastline in the moonlit Gothic Quarter for a relaxing dinner. Meanwhile, in Valencia, expert chefs mix perfectly seasoned rice, vegetables, and seafood in large cast-iron skillets. In the center of Spain, Madrid's locals and visitors meander through the Plaza del Sol, past the Royal Palace, and inside the Parque El Retiro.

When you arrive in Barcelona on your first day in Spain, you will be met by your private transportation for your exciting, 7-day expedition. You will settle into your hotel and indulge in an initial dinner at the Placa Reial. Then, the following morning, you will follow your expert guide along the cobbled streets of the Gothic Quarter as you learn about the city's history. Later, you will delve into the eccentric aesthetic of architect Antoni Gaudi at such famed masterpieces, such as the Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Park Guell, and La Sagrada Familia.

As you set out towards Madrid, you will make a brief stop in Valencia, which is the third-largest city in Spain. Here, you will participate in an authentic paella cooking class and visit the one-of-a-kind designs at the City of Arts and Sciences. Afterward, in Madrid, you will fall in love with the quickened pace and the leisurely attitudes of outdoor cafes, restaurants, and parks. Your expert guide will lead you to attractions, such as the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Plaza del Sol, and Parque El Retiro. Then, in the evenings, you can venture to the outlying neighborhoods of Malasana and Lavapies, where you can become lost in the vibrant arts and music scene.

Starting Price

$2,800 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 130 reviews

Portugal, Spain Trip Review: Porto, Douro Valley, Segovia, Barcelona, Madrid, Wine Tastings, 3 Weeks

The trip itinerary and guides provided in Barcelona, Porto, the Duoro Valley, and Madrid were excellent. They were very knowledgeable, professional and personable, and spoke excellent English.

Most of the drivers were very good, but we were surprised that some of them did not provide bottled water for half-day tours (we had to ask and stop to buy it). This was a minor nuisance, but given the price of tours and previous experiences, a simple expectation, as well as having the car cooled down and AC on during hot days when being picked up.​

The tour manager did an outstanding job overall, but could have improved on some specific requests that seemed to be either forgotten or missed regarding an electric scooter/wheelchair we rented that caused some issues during pick-up and drop-off. Otherwise, working with her was a very good experience.

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Spain Tour Review: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Toledo, Granada, 10 Nights

The owners of Zicasso’s tour company were amazing from start to finish. They curated a custom trip for us to Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Málaga, Toledo, and Granada. They listened to our requests and came up with a brilliant itinerary that included personal drivers, hotels, dining recommendations, and tour guides. They were also so quick to respond to our questions and pivot our plans when needed. This was a very special 30th-anniversary trip for us and they knocked it out of the park.

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Spain Family Travel Review: Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Cordoba, Barcelona, Cathedrals, Mosques, Cooking Class, Tapas, Biking, 9 Nights

The recommended activities were amazing for our trip.

We started in Madrid, then went to Toledo, Seville, Córdoba, and Barcelona. Highlights for my kids (15, 13, and 13) were the cathedrals, mosque, cooking class, walking tapas tour and e-bike tour.

All of our drivers and tour guides were prompt, knowledgeable, and listened to our preferences.

The hotels in Madrid and Seville were perfection and located close to major areas.

The only reason I gave the trip four instead of five stars was that the travel company made a mistake booking our hotel in Barcelona. We found out the night before that our hotel was switched and the new hotel was not in the best area and far from major attractions. The company did offer to reimburse us for taxis and sent us a gift and apology letter. However, I would have preferred to book my own hotel in Barcelona but the day before it was too late for me to research and change the hotel. That particular experience marred what was an otherwise fantastic trip.

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Spain Tour Review: Barcelona, Madrid, Andalusia, Cooking Class, Sagrada Familia, Alhambra, 16 Nights

Zicasso’s travel agent was extremely helpful in planning an interesting and informative trip through Barcelona, Madrid, and Andalusia. She and her colleague checked in with us on a regular basis to ensure we were set for the daily activities. We were paired up with excellent tour guides throughout the trip.

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Spain Travel Review: Barcelona, Seville, Madrid, Walking Tours, Tapas, Flamenco, 8 Nights

Zicasso’s tour company provided a well-organized trip, with every arrival and transfer smoothly arranged and plans well outlined. The trip was arranged to meet all our requests and their local guides were excellent. Our only complaint would be that when we decreased our hotels slightly for cost control, one of the three hotels did not meet our expectations as it seemed a bit heavily worn/lower tier compared to the others, and was located on the busiest street in Madrid, which was a higher stress location.

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Spain, Portugal Tour Review: Lisbon, San Sebastian, Cooking Class, Coimbra, 19-Day Trip

The itinerary was very well laid out, covering all of our points and activities of interest. We received frequent follow-ups and check-ins from Zicasso's travel agency during the trip.

We had two unforeseen disruptions: a nationwide power outage in Spain and a canceled connecting flight in Barcelona. In both cases, there were timely follow-ups and prompt emergency hotel and transportation bookings. Very impressive customer service.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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