Best of Spain

Welcome to the fiery Spanish capital that is Madrid. Take in the vibrant essence of Madrid before meeting up with your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a memorable welcome reception and orientation drive to see some of the city's most iconic sights.

Leave Madrid and travel north through the Guadarrama mountains, crossing into the wide plains of Castile. Stop in Burgos, once the capital of the region and an important point along the Camino de Santiago, where your Travel Director introduces you to the old town where you’ll see its impressive Gothic cathedral. Your journey continues through changing landscapes into the Basque Country. In Bilbao, take in the bold, modern design of the Guggenheim Museum as you view its striking exterior beside the river.

Spend the morning soaking up the laid-back charm of San Sebastián. Wander along La Concha beach, explore the old town or enjoy a coffee in one of the city’s elegant squares. Later, travel inland to Pamplona, known for its bull-running tradition and medieval streets. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own pace. Follow in Hemmingway's footsteps on an Optional Experience that uncovers Pamplona's highlights, or try the local pintxos in one of Pamplona’s bars.

Your journey continues through the Ebro Valley to Zaragoza where we’ll view the Basilica of El Pilar and Cathedral of La Seo. Later, arrive in Barcelona to soak up the charm of a city that professes two great loves – Gaudí and football. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Perhaps amble through the aromatic La Boqueria, or join us for an evening of discovery, rounded off with a traditional Catalonian-style dinner.

Consider joining a morning Optional Experience to the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat to see the shrine of the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia. Afterwards, the whimsical fantasy world of Gaudí is on display as you embark on a sightseeing tour to visit the inspiring, but as yet unfinished, La Sagrada Família* in the company of a Local Specialist. *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'll 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 Specialist in the gardens surrounding the Sagrada Família and take in the extraordinary exterior of Gaudí’s iconic masterpiece.

Travel south along the Costa Dorada to Peñíscola, where a fortified old town and castle take center stage. Continue through the fertile huertas to Valencia, your home for the night. Your orientation reveals the city’s rich contrasts, from Mercado de Colón, the Bullring and Estación del Norte to the Towers of Serrano and Quart, before seeing the striking City of Arts and Sciences designed by Santiago Calatrava. During a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, enjoy horchata, Valencia’s signature drink. This evening, you could join an Optional Experience to cook paella with local chefs, then sit down to enjoy the dish in the city where it began.

Journey by the dramatic Sierra Nevada Mountain range to the city of Granada where you meet a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the spectacular UNESCO-listed Alhambra. Its golden façades and extraordinary Moorish architecture reflect centuries of multi-cultural history, which you will have a rare opportunity to explore as you wander through its palaces and exotic water gardens. Check in to your hotel later, where you will dine tonight.