Discover Madrid, Basque Country, Rioja, Barcelona

Arrive in Madrid, the Capital of Spain, home to elegant boulevards, manicured parks, cultural museums and fantastic markets. It is one of those places that draws people back time and time again, either for its rich culture, great food and architecture ranging from contemporary to Medieval or simply to sit outside on a busy terraza watching the locals enjoying themselves.



For those arriving on time our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and we will go out for an included drink before dinner. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Madrid at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you will need to arrive at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD), which is around 20 minutes from the hotel by taxi. Should you miss the meeting, your leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.



If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to explore the city. The museums are home to some of the best art collections on the planet or the vast El Retiro Park is good place for a leisurely walk, past rose gardens and statues to the boating lake.

This morning we head out on foot for an orientation walk of Spain's busy capital city and the third largest city in the European Union after London and Berlin. Located on the Meseta Central, Madrid sits at a lofty 600 metres and enjoys a dry climate with less humidity than on the coasts. We begin our walk in the centre taking in some of the iconic landmarks from Cibeles through La Puerta del Sol to Opera. We walk through Madrid's most historic neighbourhood, Barrio de los Austrias, making a stop for coffee near the impressive Palacio Real. The Plaza Mayor is one of Spain's finest squares, framed by slate roofed red-brick buildings. Our final stop in time for lunch is at the Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid's gourmet market bursting with stalls, a great place to sample some regional specialities at your leisure.



The afternoon is left free to enjoy this lively city.

After an early breakfast we bid farewell to Madrid and catch the train north to the Basque Country. The train ride takes around five hours to Bilbao, arriving in the early afternoon. A port city with an industrial past, tucked into a lush corner of northeast Spain and surrounded by rolling green countryside, Bilbao is the largest and most culturally dynamic city in the Basque region.



After lunch we plan a walk to discover the cobbled streets of the old quarter where we start to learn about the vibrant Basque culture and Euskadi. At the heart of this atmospheric part of the city are Bilbao's Siete Calles, the original seven streets that were constructed in the 1400s, and La Ribera Market is the largest covered market in Europe. Food plays a central role here, as you will discover over the next couple of days, with Bilbao playing host to many Michelin-starred eateries, buzzing Pintxo (Basque tapas) bars and family-run restaurants.



The late afternoon is free to wander and marvel at the spectacular architecture of Frank Gehry's titanium-clad Guggenheim museum from the outside (closed on Mondays). Built on the banks of the River Nervion, the building is a stylized representation of a boat and pays homage to the importance of the river, sea and boats to Bilbao.

After breakfast, we catch the local bus for 1.5 hours to San Sebastian where we spend the day exploring this marvellous city. San Sebastian, known locally as Donostia, has long been one of the most famous tourist destinations in Spain, characterized by its superb cuisine. After arriving, we head first to Monte Urgull to get our bearings and stretch our legs. This hill on the headland looms above the old town and we discover the stone remains of a castle and some fine viewpoints. Back in the old town we explore a maze of grand architecture and pedestrianised alleys littered with quality bars, restaurants and smart shops.



It does not take long for the famous Pintxos bars to fill with locals and you may see some of them drinking Txakoli - a popular white wine, naturally effervescent with moderate alcohol and natural acidity - in tall, flat-bottomed glasses. The tour leader will make some suggestions for lunch and you may choose a Txacoli tasting with some selected Pintxos.



This afternoon, you can explore the old town some more, chill by the beach or in a cafe or we recommend joining the tour leader on a exploration on foot. Walk the promenade of the Playa de la Concha around the picturesque sweep of golden sand beach, passing surfers until you reach three of Eduardo Chillida's wonderful abstract sculptures being battered by the elements with fine views back across the bay. A nearby funicular ride up and down Monte Igueldo offers superb views of San Sebastian from a classic viewpoint. At the end of a rewarding day, we catch the local bus back to Bilbao for the evening.

This morning we travel south by charter bus to La Rioja Alavesa, a Basque corner of the Ebro Valley that has a long tradition of producing quality Rioja wines. Our first stop this morning is at a local bodega to learn more about modern life as a wine producer in Rioja and a chance to try some of the famous wines. Some vineyards have chosen modern, striking architecture and we plan to make photo stops outside two of the most emblematic bodegas in the whole region - Ysios (designed by Calatrava) and Marques de Riscal (Gehry).



We stay in a hotel just outside Laguardia - a picture-perfect walled town surrounded by vineyards. The afternoon is free for you to relax and take in the natural surroundings. The Tour Leader may suggest a walk in the local vicinity for those interested.

Today we drive through the proudly independent region of Navarra stopping at places of interest and finally into Aragon. The Camino de Santiago, or St. James Way, is an ancient Christian pilgrimage route that leads to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia and the final resting place of Saint James. We plan to join the pilgrim route this morning from Obanos village and walk a short 2 to 3km section of the camino to Puente La Reina, a town heavily influenced by the Pilgrim's route and devotees have been crossing its medieval five-arched bridge since the 14th century. Around lunchtime, we will stop at Pamplona to see something of its medieval old quarter and grand cathedral. The capital of Navarra is most famous for the running of the bulls in its San Fermin festival in July.



Our final stop this afternoon is to visit the historic town of Olite. We will visit the luxurious royal residence and castle that King Carlos III of Navarre built in the 14th and 15th century. Part of the old palace is now a Parador hotel and the whole complex was restored in the 1900s after fire damage. Olite is the wine capital of Navarra and the surrounding countryside is largely dedicated to producing wine.



Travelling onwards, we cross into Aragon and finally reach Zaragoza, a city that was heavily influenced by the Moors, a factor wonderfully illustrated by its numerous examples of Mudéjar architecture. We have a short walking orientation tour of the town before dinner, including the impressive El Pilar cathedral.

After a relaxed start in Zaragoza we catch the AVE fast train to Barcelona by mid-morning. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and this afternoon we take an orientation tour (2-3hrs) around the old city. Home to no fewer than nine World Heritage sites, the city can boast a rich cultural heritage, the spectacular architectural creations of Antoni Gaudi and one of the best food markets anywhere in Spain - 'La Boqueria' with over 200 stalls.



This afternoon we will take you on a walking tour through the narrow and winding back streets of the Gothic Quarter, the offbeat and fashionable El Born neighbourhood and the seaside neighbourhood of La Barceloneta. We will try to take in some of the historical covered food markets so you have the chance to try some local specialties to whet your appetite before dinner.

We start the day with an included guided visit to one of Gaudi's most famous works - La Sagrada Familia. Construction on this unique and enormous Basilica started in 1882 and continues to this day. Our walking tour continues through the Eixample neighbourhood, home to the majority of Barcelona's Modernisme art nouveau masterpieces, until we reach the grand Placa d'Espanya. From here we take the metro up to Montjuic hill for fine views over the city. Finally we end our walk back in the old quarter near the Rambla where you are free for lunch.



The afternoon has been left free with so many places to visit in this charming city. We recommend an optional bike tour to see more of the city from a different perspective or a visit to Gaudi's Park Guell.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Barcelona.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Barcelona-El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN), which is about 30-45 minutes drive away.