Day 1: Welcome to Barcelona
Airport transfers depart from Barcelona airport for your hotel. Join your Travel Director for dinner at local restaurant La Pau. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports teenagers and young people to transition to their adult life. Learn about local life through the eyes of the youth.
Day 2: Barcelona, the City of Gaudí Relaxed Start
The lively port of Barcelona boasts an impressive Old Town, although it 's the daring architecture of the Catalan Art Nouveau that really sets it apart. Sightseeing with your Local Expert begins with a drive down the Passeig de Gràcia to Gaudí's Sagrada Família*. Venture inside the leviathan of the Eixample where a tree canopy carved from stone, holds up the roof as sun pours through stained glass. Then you are free to explore this amazing city at your own pace. *Please note that with the construction of the Sagrada Família nearing completion, access to the basilica may be restricted for special masses, pilgrim visits or official ceremonies, and we are unable to secure tickets to visit. Should this occur during your tour, you will visit the Hospital de Sant Pau instead, a striking example of Catalan Art Nouveau designed by Gaudí 's contemporary, Domènech i Montaner. Afterwards, join your Local Expert in the gardens surrounding the Sagrada Família and take in the extraordinary exterior of Gaudí 's iconic masterpiece.
Day 3: Barcelona at Leisure Relaxed Start
Enjoy a relaxed start and a full day at leisure to explore Spain 's most vibrant city. From its geographical location, boasting coastal vistas, to the city's extravagant architectural landscape, Barcelona is a delight to explore. Consider a stroll along the famous Las Ramblas or explore Gaudí's fascinating Park Güell. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to ascend the sacred mountain of Montserrat, Catalonia's most important pilgrimage site for a thousand years, for sweeping views?
Day 4: Pamplona and San Sebastián
Journey past Zaragoza on the way to Pamplona in the region of Navarre, famous for the Running of the Bulls. With free time to explore as you wish, perhaps stroll to the famous Estafeta Street. Travel to the aristocratic seaside resort of San Sebastián. Northern Spain 's Basque Country has evolved into the best place to eat in the Western world, so in the evening, discover the city 's rich gastronomic tradition in the heart of Lo Viejo, the Old Town.
Day 5: Bilbao and Guggenheim Relaxed Start
Few places have been able to reinvent themselves quite like Bilbao. The former industrial city has changed its ways and is now a pin-up for urban redevelopment. Explore Bilbao with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the spectacular Guggenheim Museum to marvel at its modern architecture and contemporary works of art. Alternatively, join your Local Expert and take the funicular to Mount Artxanda. On return, join a Local Expert to admire San Sebastián and the crescent-shaped La Concha Bay from the heights of Monte Igueldo. After taking in the amazing views, enjoy a guided tour of the Old Quarter. See the numbered balconies of the Plaza de la Constitución, a reminder of the days when bullfights were held in the square. Explore the Old Town during your progressive dinner with the locals, as you enjoy the gastronomic Basque tradition of pintxos. Similar to tapas, enjoy a variety of snack-sized treats and be sure to try some of the local Txakoli wine. Buen provecho!
Day 6: San Sebastián, Pearl of the Cantabrian Coast Relaxed Start
Enjoy a day at leisure to stroll along San Sebastián's boardwalk. The harbor is filled with fishing boats and pleasure crafts, so you can enjoy several sporting activities on its large sandy beach. Perhaps explore the nearby French village of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, known as the Jewel of the Basque Country. During this Optional Experience you will explore this town with a Local Expert and visit the church where The Sun King, Louis XIV, married the Spanish princess Maria Theresa.
Day 7: Burgos and Madrid
Journey south through the Pyrenees foothills and the land of El Cid for a stop in Burgos, where you can see the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue along the Guadarrama Mountains to the plateau of New Castile and Spain's elegant capital of Madrid. In the evening, why not see the city lit up in all its glory, with a drive along the grand avenues and past the spectacular fountains?
Day 8: Madrid of the Bourbons
Enjoy sightseeing with your Local Expert as they take you along the main historical areas in the capital of Spain, known as Madrid of the Bourbons. Your drive continues through the Old Quarter, discovering the origins of the city. Learn about the growth of this city, from humble beginnings to a thriving European metropolis. A highlight of your escorted journey will be to visit the Prado Museum. Discover countless works by Velázquez, Goya, Titian, Rubens and others as you are guided by a local art historian. Gain new perspective on classic artworks as your art historian shares historic anecdotes and provides new insights into the Prado's collection. The afternoon is free for you to relax at a cafe or shop in the boutiques.
Day 9: The Medieval Streets of Segovia Relaxed Start
Venture northwest to visit the fascinating city of Segovia. Walk the medieval streets of this fortified city with your Local Expert and see the 14th-century Alcazar Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After returning to Madrid, you are at leisure. Make the most of your final night as you join your fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy delightful regional produce paired with the finest local wines, as you toast to a vacation done well.
Day 10: Depart Madrid
After breakfast, bid farewell to Spain as your transfers arrive at Madrid airport.
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