Compare Barcelona City Explorer by Great Value Vacations vs Easy Pace Spain - Small Group by Insight Vacations
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Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 4 days | 11 days |
Price From | $ 1,149 | $ 3,725 |
Price Per Day | $ 287 | $ 339 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Basic |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Airfare included |
Activities |
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Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
Description |
Your adventure in the capital of Catalonia awaits! Spend days experiencing Spain's culture of leisure, while also exploring the breathtaking buildings and institutions sprinkled throughout the city. You can explore iconic museums, relax at the city's famous beaches, or visit the buildings designed by psychedelic architect Antoni Gaudí, whose influence can be felt at almost every major square and landmark. Along the way you'll eat tapas, sip on sangria, and maybe even hear some Spanish guitar played on the streets! |
See the best of Spain during a leisurely 10-day guided tour. Barcelona boasts an impressive Old Town, which you will see with a Local Expert. They will wind you though the medieval maze of the Gothic Quarter, down the city’s main shopping avenue, and to the Sagrada Família — a Roman basilica with towering mosaic spires that pierce the sky. Dip your toes into the Bay of Biscay when you visit the seaside resort town of San Sebastián, and enjoy a progressive dinner featuring bite-sized treats paired with local Txakoli wine. In Madrid, see the Royal Palace alongside a Local Expert, then meet an art historian for a one-of-a-kind tour of the Prado Museum, one of the world’s greatest art galleries. |
Day 1 Welcome to Barcelona!
Upon arrival at the airport, enjoy a transfer to your hotel. After getting settled, take a stroll around the neighborhood and pop in at a local tapas bar; treat yourself to an assortment of snacks and nibbles that embody the flavors of Spain!
Day 2 Barcelona
Following breakfast, start your Barcelona adventure with a private guided tour. In the evening, head to the famous Magic Fountain and enjoy a spectacular water show, filled with music and vibrant colors which is sure to delight!
Day 3 Barcelona
You got a taste of the Sagrada Familia on your tour, now today's the day you might want to explore all the secrets and symbolism located within! Leave yourself a few hours as you may become entranced by the beauty and grandeur of this seemingly otherworldly building. Another must-see on your tour of Gaudi's famous works is the Park Güell, home to uniquely-shaped buildings covered with vibrantly-colored tiles. Time willing, you'll also want to walk through the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) today. Consider paying a visit to the 13th-century Gothic Cathedral, then continue onto the Museu Nacional d'Art Catalan, where you will find an impressive collection of medieval art. In the evening, take a stroll down the famous shopping street of Las Ramblas. Pick up a souvenir or two, or stop by the famous food market of Boqueria, where you'll find a variety of snacks and sips, from local fruits to gourmet candies to freshly caught fish!
Day 4 Depart Barcelona
After one final transfer, fly out of Barcelona Airport today.
Day 1: Welcome to Barcelona
Airport transfers depart from Barcelona airport for your hotel at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:00. Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant, as you get to know your fellow travellers over Spanish delicacies and regional wines.
NH Collection Barcelona Constanza.
Dinner with Wine
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 views of the Gothic Quarter and continues 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.
NH Collection Barcelona Constanza.
Breakfast
Day 3: Barcelona at Leisure Relaxed Start
Enjoy a relaxed start and a full day at leisure to explore Spain’s most vibrant city. Consider a stroll along the famous Las Ramblas or explore Gaudí's fascinating Güell Park. 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?
NH Collection Barcelona Constanza.
Breakfast
Day 4: Pamplona and San Sebastián
Journey west to Zaragoza where the four towers of El Pilar soar over the banks of the mighty Río Ebro. Continue to Pamplona in the region of Navarre, famous for the Running of the Bulls festival. 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.
Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián.
Breakfast
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 Highlight 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!
Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 6: San Sebastián, Pearl of the Cantabrian Coast Relaxed Start
Enjoy a day at leisure to stroll along San Sebastián's boardwalk. The harbour 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.
Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián.
Breakfast
Day 7: Burgos and Madrid Relaxed Start
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 it all its glory, with a drive along the grand avenues and past the spectacular fountains?
Meliá Madrid Princesa, Madrid.
Breakfast
Day 8: Madrid of the Bourbons
Explore Madrid with Insight Choice. Choose to join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on a neighbourhood walking tour, led by female pillars of the community and focused on the history of the women's movement in Spain. Alternatively, sightsee with your Local Expert as they guide you through the Spanish capital’s most historic neighbourhoods.Enjoy a special visit to the renowned Prado Museum with an art historian who will guide you through the collective works of Velázquez, Goya, Titian, Rubens and more. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Meliá Madrid Princesa, Madrid.
Breakfast
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 travellers for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy delightful regional produce paired with the finest local wines, as you toast to a vacation done well.
Meliá Madrid Princesa, Madrid.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 10: Depart Madrid
After breakfast, transfers arrive at Madrid airport at 07:00, 09:00 and 11:00.
Breakfast