Immersive Family Vacation to Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid

Touch down on the first day of your Spanish getaway in Catalonia's sunny capital city of Barcelona. You and the kids will surely grow giddy with excitement as you catch the first glimmers of sparkling ocean waters. After making your way through customs and collecting baggage, you will meet your expert guide on the other side who will show you to your private ground transportation.

Before long, you will be whisked along the busied streets of Barcelona's downtown before arriving at your luxury hotel in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. Settle in and enjoy your city view from your private balcony. Then, in the evening, venture into the city for some self-guided exploration along Las Ramblas and La Barceloneta. Once appetites have built, you and the family can circle back to Plaza Rea for an enticing meal of Barcelona's very best, including fried fish, rice dishes, and a variety of tapas. You can enjoy live music as buskers travel amongst tables and stir up conversation. The kids may even join in on a pick-up game of futbol in the center of the plaza. At night, you can stroll through the Gothic Quarter before returning to your luxury hotel.

The next day, you can let the kids run as you explore the whimsical nature of Park Guell situated in the beautiful neighborhood of Gracia. Park Guell was constructed by one of Barcelona's most beloved architects, Antoni Gaudi. Today, the park is a fantastical maze of woodland cottages, mosaic tiles walls, massive stone tunnels, and serpentine-like benches on which to take in panoramic views of the downtown and the Mediterranean Sea beyond. Spend the morning enjoying the park freely with expert guides available on-site as needed. Afterward, relax with a fresh fruit juice or cafe con leche for the parents.

In the afternoon, while the sun is still high, you and the kids can venture to one or more of Barcelona's beautifully pristine beaches. You will pass through the fervor of La Barceloneta's port restaurants and cafes to places like Playa de la Barceloneta, Playa de la Mar Bella, and Playa de San Sebastian. Spend a few hours soaking up the sun and jumping into crashing waves before settling into one of La Barceloneta's exquisite seaside restaurants for dinner.

The following day, you will catch a glimpse into Barcelona's past when you explore the Gothic Quarter alongside an expert guide. Most of the day will consist of walking, but some portions are accessible via private ground transportation for families traveling with small children. Together with your guide, you will discover the Quarter's highlights, including Placa de Sant Jaume, Basilica de Santa Maria, Placa del Rey, and the Cathedral of Barcelona. You will also take an exciting detour in the afternoon to La Boqueria Market, where you can search for fresh produce and colorful sweets.

In the afternoon, you will board a cable car ride to Montjuic, a stunning castle perched atop the city. The cable car ride itself is sure to get the kids excited. A route of 750 meters allows you to enjoy exquisite views of the city below, including the Sagrada Familia and Camp Nou, FC Barcelona's official stadium. You'll have until sunset to explore the famed castle alongside your guide, first constructed in 1640 during the Reapers' War. Later, you'll descend via the cable car once again and enjoy dinner along lively Las Ramblas boulevard.

In the morning, it's time to bid your farewells to Barcelona as you set out for the trendy, artistic city of Valencia. You can enjoy a speed arrival when you take Renfe's AVE rail, a high-speed train that shoots between Barcelona and Valencia in less than 2.5 hours. Besides its ocean views and brilliant, nearly futuristic architecture, Valencia is also beloved for its eccentric celebration known as Las Fallas, which takes place each March and boasts a lively arts and fireworks show.

After settling into your hotel in Valencia's historic downtown, you can let the kids run at Gulliver's Park, located along the city's expansive greenway. The park itself is an art installation depicting Gulliver of Gulliver's Travels. Children can climb, slide on, and explore this magical figure while adults enjoy panoramic views of the city's modern periphery. In the late afternoon, it's all hand on deck as the family attends an authentic paella cooking class led by a world-renowned chef. You will mix vegetables, seafood or chicken, and saffron-infused rice in a large iron skillet iconically associated with the dish. Then, gather around as you indulge in the dish as a whole family. You can do as the locals do and enjoy the meal fingers deep, no silverware or fine china required.

The next day, you will venture to among the city's most prized sightseeing destinations, the City of Arts and Sciences. Just a short way from Gulliver's Park, you can choose to arrive at the landmark on foot, by bike, or via ground transportation based on your family needs. Your guide will join you on this customized tour as you admire stark white buildings with glass exteriors, like something out of a futuristic action movie. You will learn about the local and internationally acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava, who has a complicated relationship with local appeal.

Following your tour, step inside the Oceanografic, a massive aquarium that's impressive inside and out. A glass exterior reflects the shimmering waters of a central basin and beckons patrons to explore inside. The children will love seeing dolphins, sharks, and over 500 other species of marine life up close. In the evening, you and the children can indulge in a bit of exploration, shopping, or relaxation before concluding the evening with a rich meal of local favorites at Valencia's historic district. At night the city comes to life with live music and dance performance

The final leg of your Spanish adventure will bring you to the bustling capital city of Madrid. Again, you will board the high-speed AVE train from Valencia to Madrid to ensure efficient transportation and the best sightseeing opportunities. Upon arrival, you will meet your local guide at the Atocha Train Station and board private transport to your hotel along Gran Via.

During your first day in the city, you and the kids can enjoy some self-guided exploration as you make your way through the excitement of Puerta del Sol as street performers put on their best acts to masses of visitors and locals alike. Then, check out hip Spanish fashion trends near your hotel along Gran Via, a sort of Spanish Times Square where lights are flashing and massive billboards promote upcoming movies and major city events. The kids will love a short respite to sample Madrid's sugary fried dough delight, known as churros, at one of the city's oldest churreria cafes. Later that afternoon, you will visit the San Miguel Food Market, a beautiful 20th-century market featuring everything from tapas to fresh produce and colorful candies to Spain's iconic Iberian ham.

The next day you'll spend alongside your expert guide as you venture east of downtown to Madrid's famous Parque El Retiro. This massive green space once belonged to the Spanish nobility and is today a verdant respite from the city's concrete and cobblestone streets. You can enjoy an overview of the park from inside a horse-drawn carriage ride around the park's perimeter. The kids can also enjoy a tandem paddleboat ride atop the Grand Retiro Pond. You can also visit park highlights like the Crystal Palace and Velazquez Palace. In the case of sunny weather, you can enjoy a fresh picnic lunch as you relax on the park lawn. Otherwise, you can choose from a plethora of dining options the whole family can enjoy nearby, from traditional Spanish cuisine to international delights of every variety.

In the evening, you will return to Madrid's downtown to attend an authentic flamenco dinner and dance show. Impassioned dancers clang castanets and stomp their feet in a rat-a-tat-tat rhythm emblematic of flamenco. You and the kids can stomp your feet and clap your hands to the staccato beat of the music. After the show, turn in for the night or venture to trendy Malasana or Lavapies for live music and continued dancing.

Spend your final day in Madrid by making the most of sightseeing and souvenir shopping opportunities. As time allows, you will be able to visit the Royal Palace during the first half of the day, where you can marvel at city views from the palace courtyard. Stroll through the verdant gardens to the palace's rear before stopping at a quaint cafe for lunch. You can circle back to the Puerta del Sol, considered the center of Spain and the convergence of all major Spanish highways, to indulge in some shopping for each other and family and friends back home.

Then, before long, you will return to your hotel and gather your luggage. Private ground transportation will meet you in front of your hotel and bring you to Madrid's Barajas International Airport. As a family, you'll have a chance to look back on photos of an incredible trip before boarding--sunsets along Barcelona's most pristine beaches, a colorful paella dinner in Valencia, and an exuberant visit to Madrid's most famous markets. Surely, this isn't a forever goodbye, simply an hasta la proxima.