Luxury Spain Tour: Madrid to Barcelona

Upon arrival at the Madrid airport, you will be greeted by your driver who will provide a private transfer to your hotel. You will be staying at a luxurious and welcoming family-owned hotel in the center of Madrid. Once you've checked in and had a chance to settle in, you’ll be greeted by a local guide who will take you on an introductory tour of the city. It’s definitely not the typical tourist experience. With a real Madrileño showing you around, you’ll get an insider's point of view and learn where the locals like to go. The walking tour concludes at a lively tapas bar favored by locals for its traditional Madrileño tapas, festive ambiance and charming decor. You’ll learn about Madrid’s culinary specialties and about the history of tapas.

This morning after a leisurely breakfast, you will set off for a gourmet walking tour of central Madrid. The private guided tour begins at a fresh produce market and then you’ll continue working your way through the must-see foodie destinations. You’ll explore Madrid’s culinary highlights: pastries, cured meats, specialty cheeses and olives. You’ll have a chance to sample churros con chocolate, a favorite breakfast or snack in Spain. Churros are similar to doughnuts but have a long skinny shape—ideal for dipping in the thick, rich chocolate sauce that they’re served with. After your special tour, you’ll have free time in the afternoon for sightseeing, shopping or museum visits. This evening you'll return to the culinary theme. You’ll have a special arranged dinner to teach you about food and wine pairing. The experience includes a leisurely meal of authentic Spanish cuisine and fine wines.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel for your full-day excursion to Toledo. Located in the Castilla-La Mancha region at the center of Spain and just one hour’s drive from Madrid, this UNESCO World Heritage site feels like a world away. You'll visit the spectacular Gothic cathedral that is filled with priceless art and then tour Alcázar, the medieval castle that was previously a Moorish fortress. For lunch, you’ll dine at a lively local restaurant where you can sample the specialties of the Castilla-La Mancha region. You'll return to Madrid in the afternoon and the evening is at your leisure to discover Madrid’s wonderful gastronomy and nightlife.

After a leisurely breakfast, you will transfer by high-speed train to Seville. You’ll be staying in the center of Seville at a luxurious hotel, a lovingly restored historic building. This afternoon is at your leisure to relax or begin exploring the city. In the evening, a local guide will take you to visit authentic tapas bars hidden in Seville’s back streets. Your guide is also a culinary expert and will educate you about Spanish wine and cuisine. You will sip the finest Sherry wine, sample the best Jamón Ibérico (cured ham that is a Spanish specialty) and taste pescaíto frito (deep-fried fresh fish such as anchovies, sardines or calamari) then finish it off with a platter of gourmet cheese and full-bodied red wine. The experience is truly gastronomic heaven!

After breakfast, a local guide will meet you at your hotel to begin your tour. This special sightseeing experience gives you an insider’s perspective of the city. You'll wander through the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter and then visit the magnificent Cathedral, the world’s largest Gothic church. You’ll climb the Cathedral’s 12th century tower to take in the spectacular views of Seville’s cityscape. Then you'll have the rest of the day to continue exploring the historic quarters of central Seville. The shopping is fantastic and the food even better! In the evening, you'll be treated to a traditional Sevillano dinner at one of Seville's best restaurants. Weather permitting, you’ll enjoy the meal served al fresco in the restaurant’s lovely outdoor courtyard.

This morning, your rental car will be waiting for you at the hotel and after breakfast, you will set off for Sanlúcar de Barrameda. This delightful coastal village is located in Spain's Sherry triangle. Similar to Champagne, Sherry may only be called Sherry if it is produced in this area. You will visit a Sherry bodega (wine cellar) that produces some of the best Sherry in Spain. The visit includes a tasting of the bodega’s world-class Sherry wines. Then you will indulge in a sumptuous seafood lunch at a waterfront restaurant. After lunch, take a scenic drive along the Costa de la Luz to the picturesque Moorish hilltop town of Jerez de la Frontera. This wonderfully well-preserved whitewashed village sits proudly on the cliff tops overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Set off after breakfast to visit the local market in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Your tour is led by a local culinary expert, who will educate you about the ingredients used in Spanish cooking. You will then head back to her home in the center of the village, where you will participate in a hands-on cooking class to learn the art of traditional paella. After the class, you’ll enjoy a leisurely three-course lunch featuring the paella that you prepared. The meal is paired with excellent Spanish wine. This evening, you will also be treated to a private musical performance by local Flamenco artists. While seated at the elegant seaside performance venue, you can sip Sherry and watch the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean.

This morning your guide will take you to Barbate, a small fishing village that basks in the Andalusian sun. This coastal town is in the province of Cádiz and is known for having the best seafood in Spain. For breakfast, you will enjoy warm freshly made churros con chocolate and see if you notice a difference in preparation from the version you tried in Madrid. You will then walk over to the fish market where your guide will explain the differences between the various types of local fish, shellfish and other seafood. Your guide will help you select the best fish and then take you back to her house for a cooking class. You’ll learn to create a traditional meal of the Cádiz region and then savor it on the terrace or by the pool. Then, spend the night at the unforgettable Hotel V... in Vejer de la Frontera, only a few miles north of the fishing village. It is beautifully restored 17th-century building located in the southern-most Pueblo Blanco of Spain. Watch the sunset's reflection off the white hilltop village from Hotel V...'s private rooftop terrace. Then relax in your cozy room which is tastefully decorated with antique Portuguese furniture.

Today, you'll drive from Vejer de la Frontera to Granada. You can choose to take the coastal route and stop for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea, followed by lunch at a beachfront paella restaurant. Alternatively you could drive the inland roads to Ronda, an ancient town that straddles a dramatic gorge. Here you could visit Spain’s oldest working bullring, then enjoy lunch with a spectacular view overlooking the gorge. After lunch, you will continue your drive to Granada. You’ll be staying at a lovely bed & breakfast hotel in the Albaycín district, Granada’s old Arab town. This ancient Moorish settlement is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, enjoy a self-guided tapas tour. You’ll receive a suggested list of tapas bars in the Albaycín. It’s up to you to discover these charming places hidden in the maze of cobblestoned streets.

After breakfast, you’ll take a guided tour of Granada’s magnificent Alhambra Palace. Your knowledgable guide will show you around the breathtakingly ornate palace interior, while sharing legends that have been passed down through the generations. After seeing the inside, you’ll explore the beautiful and expansive gardens. Admire the spectacular views of Granada below and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the distance. Tonight you will enjoy a special dinner at a renowned restaurant overlooking the Alhambra Palace. The meal is served in the Moorish-style patio that is full of ambiance.

This morning, you’ll have free time to continue sightseeing on your own in Granada. Around midday, you’ll be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Barcelona. When you arrive at the Barcelona airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. You’ll be staying at a boutique hotel in the fashionable “El Born” district. This evening, you’ll take a special walking tour through the El Born, Barrio Gotico (the famous Gothic Quarter) and El Raval districts of Barcelona. The tour focuses on the cuisine of Catalonia, the region of Barcelona and its surrounding provinces. Your local guide knows the subject of Catalan cuisine so well that she's written a book about it!

This morning you'll head down to Port Vell marina to board a luxury yacht. Spend a glorious day cruising around Mediterranean Sea and basking in the sun. You’ll stop along the way at secluded beaches and you’ll have a chance to take a dip in the mild Mediterranean waters. Then you’ll stop at a small coastal village to enjoy an amazing gourmet lunch of regional specialties. After your relaxing day at sea, you’ll return to Barcelona. This evening is at your leisure to explore Barcelona’s vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene.

This morning you’ll drive about an hour from Barcelona to discover one of Spain's famous wine regions. Sant Sadurní d'Anoia is renowned for its Cava sparkling wine. You’ll be treated to a private guided tour and tasting at a prestigious Cava house, where you will learn about the elaborate production process. Then you’ll enjoy lunch at an award-winning restaurant with excellent cuisine based on local ingredients. The meal will be served with Cava sparking wines from the region. After lunch, you’ll return to Barcelona. Celebrate the conclusion of a fabulous vacation with dinner at a restaurant of your choice or take one last tapas tour while you’re still in Spain.

The tour concludes this morning after breakfast. You’ll be provided a private transfer to the airport in time for your return flight home.