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Classic Barcelona to Madrid

Classic Barcelona to Madrid

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Description

Make your way southbound along the beautiful eastern coastline of Spain on your way from Barcelona to Madrid. This seven-day adventure will be a food and culture lover’s dream, with stops in the birthplace of paella, a trip to a cava winery in the heart of the Catalonian wine region, visits to ancient oceanside amphitheatres, behind-the-scenes looks at the construction of festival statues, and more tapas than you can stomach! Explore Spanish beaches on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea and indulge in locally made churros. There’s a little something for everyone in this Spanish crusade.

Trip Name
Classic Barcelona to Madrid
Last Updated
2024-08-19
Days
7
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Travel from Barcelona to Madrid along the eastern coast of Spain, taking in Tarragona’s Roman amphitheatre and perhaps an agua de Valencia in Valencia along the way.
  • Learn about the history and artistry of the unique Fallas festival of Valencia by meeting a professional artist in their workshop to find out how they construct these intricately detailed statues, often of enormous sizes.
  • Enjoy glasses of locally produced cava – a Spanish sparkling wine produced in the Catalonian wine region. Sip on samples while strolling through a vineyard and enjoy a tapas-style lunch of cured meats, cheeses, and other delectable dishes.
  • Look out over the Mediterranean Sea and the sprawling ‘City in the Sea’ from the walls of Peniscola Castle. Built on the highest point in the city, it juts out into the ocean on its clifftop position, giving you an uninterrupted view of the city below.
  • Savour a Spanish favourite at a Madrid insititution – cinnamon and sugar-dusted churros with velvety chocolate sauce from a churreria that has over a century of expertise.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Casa Caridad. Donations help them provide basic needs such as food and shelter for people in need in Valencia. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. MUSEUM VISITS & OPENING TIMES Many sites, attractions and museums are closed on Mondays (and sometimes Tuesdays). We recommend checking the opening times of anywhere you're interested to visit and making reservations where required/possible.

Day 1 - Barcelona
Hola! Welcome to Spain. Whether you’re here for the architecture, the food, or the football team, there’s something for everyone in Barcelona. This evening, you’ll be meeting up with your leader and group for a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to do – check out the incredible architecture by Antoni Gaudí (making an essential stop at Sagrada Familia), wander La Rambla, Barcelona’s most famous street, or get up close to Pablo Picasso’s early works at the Picasso Museum. After your welcome meeting, take a trip to a local bar for an aperitivo – the perfect opportunity to get to know your group. Why not keep the good times rolling and grab an optional dinner together, cheersing to what promises to be an excellent week ahead.
Day 2 - Tarragona
Head south to the charming Catalan town of Vilafranca del Penedes. Today you’ll be stopping for lunch at a vineyard, where you’ll feast on cured meats, cheeses, and other local favourites. Wander through the vines and enjoy a tasting of cava (a Spanish sparkling wine). After lunch, continue into town where your leader will take you on a walk around the streets. As the wine capital of Catalonia, there’s plenty of delicious wines to sample – just check in with your leader for the best streetside bars to sample another glass or two of Spanish vino. Take a walk through the Gothic district and visit the Santa Maria Basilica. Hitting the road again, you’ll reach your home for the night – Tarragona. Why not gather your group and head out for dinner, finding the best cassola de romesco (a signature dish traditionally made of fresh seafood cooked in romesco sauce).
Day 3 - Tarragona
Waking up in Tarragona, step out with your leader for an orientation walk through this beautiful coastal town. Stopping by Tarragona’s Roman Amphitheatre, you’ll have as much time as you’d like to explore the 2nd century BC structure. Overlooking the ocean, the amphitheatre was built to hold up to 14,000 spectators and was host to rowdy gladiator fights. The rest of the day is your own. Why not explore more of this beautiful beachside town’s Roman history or wander down to El Serrallo – Tarragona’s port district, where you’ll find some of Spain’s best seafood. Stroll through the medieval city centre and up to the crowning glory of the Catedral de Tarragona, where you can find both Romanesque and Gothic features, the remains of an ancient Roman temple, or book yourself in for a rooftop tour to get the best view of Tarragona in town. Looking to stretch out and relax? This is the perfect place to lay on a patch of golden sand and enjoy the sounds of the Mediterranean.
Day 4 - Valencia
Your first stop today is at the Les Ferreres Aqueduct – an ancient Roman bridge and part of an aqueduct that supplied water to the region. Built in the 1st century BC, and at over 200 m long and 24 m high, you’ll take a stroll across this still-standing piece of history. Travel onwards to Peniscola where your leader will take you on an orientation walk of this ‘City in the Sea.’ Head up to the stunning coastal cliffs where you’ll find the Peniscola Castle. Built on the highest point of the city by the Knights Templar, the castle and its grounds jut out into the ocean and overlook the city below. Why not grab some lunch by the beach before jumping back in your vehicle and continuing on to Valencia.
Day 5 - Valencia
Birthplace of paella, home to Gothic architecture, quirky galleries and museums, and more festivals than you can keep track of – there is no shortage of fun to get up to in the coastal city of Valencia. This morning, you and your group will make your way to the Fallas Museum, where you’ll learn all about the traditional Fallas Festival. Each year between the 15th and 19th of March intricate sculptures (many of them enormous) are erected around the town. On the last day, these sculptures are set on fire to mark the end of the festival and welcome spring, with only two chosen to be saved and placed in the museum. After checking out the museum, you’ll have a private tour of a workshop where you can watch a fallero artist designing and building their sculptures for the next festival. After the museum, you’ll be treated to a traditional paella lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the city.
Day 6 - Madrid
Today, you’ll be hopping on the train and heading off to your final destination on this Spanish adventure – Madrid. On arrival your leader will take you on an orientation walk, finishing up at a churreria where you’ll indulge in the local favourite – churros! The rest of the day is yours so be sure to ask your leader how to tailor your afternoon to your interests. You might like to visit the Golden Triangle of Art – three world-renowned museums that are home to some of the world’s most valuable collections of art, jump on the Teleferico and see the city from the world's most horizontal cable car, or wander through an ancient Egyptian temple at Templo de Debod. Tonight, you can rejoin your group for an optional farewell dinner where you can send off your new friends in style!
Day 7 - Madrid
Your journey through Spain comes to an end today. Say adios to your leader and group before parting ways. In Spain, all roads lead to Puerta del Sol (Madrid’s busy central square), so it’s the perfect place to continue exploring. If you’d like to extend your time in Madrid, chat with your booking agent.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights)

Transport

Private vehicle,Train,Metro

Map

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