Northern Spain
11 Day Spain Tour from Barcelona to Madrid | Operated by Trafalgar
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11 Days
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1 Country
Spain -
12 Cities
Barcelona, Pamplona, San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Covadonga, Oviedo, Luarca, Santiago de Compostela, Zamora, Salamanca, Madrid -
14 Meals
1 Welcome Reception, 10 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners, 1 Lunch -
Pace: Active
Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
Trip Itinerary
Trace the treasures of the north on this grand expedition from Barcelona to Madrid, easing yourself into la buena vida as only the Spaniards can. Take the day to delve into centuries of history and the cosmopolitan culture of Barcelona, rambling up Las Ramblas, people-watching in Plaça de Catalunya and admiring the whimsical architecture of Gaudí. This evening, you’ll meet with your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a Make Travel Matter® Welcome Reception at Mescladis, followed by an evening drive to see the city's iconic sights.
Join our Local Specialist today as we take in the Gaudi architecture of Passeig De Gracia before admiring the exterior of his unfinished La Sagrada Familia. Later, we pay tribute to Christopher Columbus as we pass the seaside monument that bears his name. Spend the rest of the day on your own to explore the city’s enchanting barrios. Consider joining an Optional Experience to the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat to see the shrine of the Black Madonna - affectionately known in Catalonia as La Moreneta.
The feisty former capital of Navarre takes center stage. We follow in the footsteps of thousands of exhilarated runners and hot-blooded bulls today. See Pamplona's ancient city walls and Plaza del Castillo, the heart of the city where markets, tournaments and even bullfighting have taken place.
Today, we journey to the sophisticated culinary capital of San Sebastián. See the beautiful Bahía de la Concha beach or stroll along la calle 31 de Agosto in the Old Town. Our next stop is Bilbao to view the modern Guggenheim Museum, designed by talented architect Frank Gehry. We arrive in Santander later this afternoon for a two-night stay.
Spend the day at leisure in elegant Santander. Relax on the sun-kissed shores of one of the nearby beaches, amble through the charming Old Town or perhaps join an Optional Experience to the coastal town of Comillas, with its cobbled streets. Here you will explore Gaudí's El Capricho, built in the late 19th century as a summer villa, then carry on to Santillana del Mar to visit the museum dedicated to the impressive UNESCO-listed Altamira Caves.
Spectacular scenery awaits today as you travel through the dramatic Picos de Europa which sits between two main pilgrim routes where you will encounter several quaint historic market towns. Visit the grotto of 'Our Lady of Covadonga', a famous Marian pilgrimage site, and the pink-hued basilica made from the marble of the surrounding hills. Later we'll Connect With Locals and enjoy a traditional lunch and cider tasting at our Be My Guest experience with the Castañón family at their Cider Mill. This evening is free for you to explore Oviedo at leisure.
The Asturian fishing village of Luarca is our first stop today. Soak up its seafaring atmosphere en route to the pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela, renowned as the end of the 'camino' pilgrimage route that has its origins dating as far back as the 9th century.
Join a Local Specialist who will share insights into the 'Way of Saint James' and explain why thousands of people attempt the life-changing pilgrimage annually. Visit the vast Cathedral, reputed to be the final resting place of Saint James the Great, and the Plaza do Obradoiro, a square dominated by four architectural styles. Consider an Optional Experience to the Rías Baixas for soul-stirring views of the Galician coast. The region has long waterways stretching inland that are said to be the mark left by God's hand when he cleansed himself after creating the world.
Journey through the lush Galician landscape and Castile-Leon to Zamora, a veritable open-air museum of Romanesque art. We continue to Salamanca – its golden-hued façades providing an air of mystery and majesty. We join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour including views of Spain's oldest university and the Cathedral, as well as a walk through the imposing Plaza Mayor, built in the Spanish Baroque style.
Traveling east, we arrive in the fiery Spanish capital, Madrid, for an afternoon of sightseeing with a Local Specialist. Dive Into Culture and visit the Prado Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of European art in the world. Then, see the Royal Palace, Gran Vía and the neoclassical Cibeles Fountain that has become an iconic symbol for the city of Madrid. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow companions for a memorable Farewell Dinner with wine, toasting to a magnificent journey through northern Spain.
For now, it's a fond hasta luego to your newfound friends as our Spanish adventure comes to an end.
Price Includes
What's Included- - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- - Optional Experiences and free time
- - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
- - 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- - 10 Breakfasts (B)
- - 2 Dinners (D)
- - 1 Lunch (L)
- In Barcelona, the talented team at Mescladis, an initiative promoting work opportunities to people victim from social exclusion, introduces us to local and seasonal flavors during our Welcome Dinner. This experience advances UN Global Goal 4 Quality Education and 10 Reduced Inequalities.
- With your Local Specialist, see Las Ramblas and the elegant Passeig de Gràcia to take in some of the city's finest Modernist architecture. Journey past the beautiful façades of the Eixample district to see Gaudi's extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerizing Sagrada Família.
- Spend time exploring this city, known for its annual Running with the Bulls festival.
- Stroll through San Sebastián's golden-hued Old Town and see the iconic Bahía de la Concha beach.
- See the architectural landmark Guggenheim Museum.
- Admire the stunning lush scenery and distant rocky peaks of the Picos de Europa.
- Visit the holy cave of Covadonga and see the tomb of Pelayo, the first King of Asturias, who is celebrated for winning the Battle of Covadonga.
- Stop along the Way of Saint James at Luarca to appreciate the natural setting and historic charm of this quaint fishing village.
- Join a Local Specialist on a visit to Praza do Obradoiro and admire the cathedral façade festooned with architectural frills.
- See the cathedral of Zamora and the 12th-century Church of Mary Magdalene during an orientation with your Travel Director.
- See the handsome arcaded Plaza Mayor, the honey-colored cathedral and the 16th-century university buildings as you explore the city with a Local Specialist.
- See the highlights of the city with your Local Specialist. Visit the Old Town, traveling along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, past the Cibeles fountain, Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace.
- Say salut to traditional Asturian cider and enjoy a local Be My Guest lunch and cider tasting with the Castanon family at their Cider Mill near Oviedo.
- Visit the Prado Museum in Madrid, where you'll have time to admire its extraordinary collection of European art dating from the 12th to early 20th centuries.
Optional Experiences
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Mystical Montserrat (Available on Day 2)Today, with our Local Specialist, take a drive to the enchanting and mystical mountain of Montserrat, with its breathtaking views and spectacular scenery. While there, visit the Benedictine monastery to view the famed Black Madonna. At the daily farmer's market, perhaps sample and purchase their homemade cheeses, honeys, and other local specialties.
Adult Price: €56 Olympic Barcelona with Calatalan Dinner (Available on Day 2)Take a scenic drive up to Montjuic for sweeping views over buzzing Barcelona and a glimpse of the buildings used during the 1992 Olympics. Afterwards, indulge in a delicious Catalonian style dinner complemented by drinks and good company.
Adult Price: €72 Gaudí's Parc Güell and Port Olympic (Available on Day 2)Enter a strange fantasy world at Parc Güell, Spain's most impressive public park which we'll visit with our Local Expert. Here Gaudí designed mushroom-like houses, "bird nest" pillars and a stunning mosaic dragon. The huge central terrace is enveloped by a ceramic-encrusted serpentine bench (reputedly the world's longest seat) and offers panoramic views of Barcelona and the bay. We then head to the coast and Port Olympic, built for the athletes of the 1992 Olympics, where we'll have free time to try one of the numerous waterfront restaurants.
Adult Price: €47 Pamplona Discovery With Tapas And Sangria (Available on Day 3)Enjoy a walking tour of charming Pamplona with our Local Specialist. See the ancient walls with views over the city, explore the beautiful old town and the Cathedral before retracing the steps of the famous ‘Running of the Bulls’. Later, savor traditional Spanish tapas and sangria at Hemingway’s favorite watering hole, the most beautiful and historic café in town!
Adult Price: €37 Culinary Treasures of Cantabria (Available on Day 4)Crossing the bay of Santander by ferry, you’ll enjoy marvelous views of the city and the surrounding beaches. We'll also pass the birthplace of famous golfer Seve Ballesteros. Our dinner tonight will be held in a hidden corner of Cantabria in a local restaurant specialized in the finest seafood from the Cantabrian Sea surrounded by a wild coast and cozy beaches.
Adult Price: €86 The Neo Caves of Altamira, Santillana del Mar and Comillas (Available on Day 5)With our Local Specialist, we'll discover the Neo Caves of Altamira, often called the Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art. We'll also enjoy the architectural wonders of Medieval Santillana del Mar. In Comillas, we’ll tour the Modernist art treasure, El Capricho, a beautiful villa designed by Antoni Gaudi. All while taking in the breathtaking scenery of Cantabria!
Adult Price: €53 Historic Oviedo and the Route of the Sculptures (Available on Day 6)The elegant city of Oviedo has many hidden treasures which we'll uncover today with our Local Specialist. Our stroll through Spain’s oldest Christian capital city will reveal the city's main monuments, statues of famous and iconic locals, and a treat!
Adult Price: €31 Santiago de Compostela by Night with Galician Dinner (Available on Day 7)This evening, you’ll travel back in time to the city where medieval pilgrims flocked. You’ll get to marvel at the illuminated historical buildings of Santiago de Compostela, before relaxing at a local restaurant we know and love - where you’ll sample the delicious local Galician cuisine.
Adult Price: €74 Explore Rías Baixas and the Mussel Beds (Available on Day 8)Join us on a visit to Ría de Arosa, one of the deep fjord-like estuaries of Galicia, with our Local Specialist. We'll stop at O Grove Port and the village of Cambados, before enjoying a boat trip to the mussel and oyster farms, where we’ll sample locally farmed food and wine.
Adult Price: €54