Northern Spain- 10 nights – 11 days

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: MADRID

Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner in a local restaurant and enjoy an evening of typical madrileño flavors.

DAY 2: MADRID

Enjoy sightseeing with your Local Expert as they take you along the main historical areas in the capital of Spain, known as Madrid of the Bourbons. Your drive continues through the Old Quarter, discovering the origins of the city. Learn about the growth of this city, from humble beginnings to a thriving European metropolis. A highlight of your escorted journey will be visiting the Prado Museum.

Discover countless works by Velázquez, Goya, Titian, Rubens, and others as you are guided by a local art historian. Gain a new perspective on classic artworks as your art historian shares historic anecdotes and provides new insights into the Prado’s collection. The afternoon is free for you to relax at a cafe or shop in the boutiques.

 Optional Experiences:

1. Excursion to Segovia
2. Madrid by Night
3. Madrid by Night with Dinner

DAY 3: MADRID - SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Journey through the Guadarrama Mountains to the infinite horizons of Old Castile and pass the impressive Castillo de la Mota. Continue past historic Tordesillas and on to Santiago de Compostela.

DAY 4: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Explore Santiago de Compostela, choose to join a city tour with a Local Expert and visit the cathedral, festooned with architectural frills.

Alternatively, embark on a scenic walk along the Way of St. James, through scenic parks and gardens. Relax during your free time, or explore the narrow streets and old city squares.

Optional Experiences:

1. Rías Baixas
2. Dinner in Galicia

DAY 5: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA - OVIEDO

Pass through the ancient forests of Galicia and travel along Asturias’ Green Coast, named for the lush pine and eucalyptus trees that fringe its sparkling shoreline.

Stop for an experience, where you’ll enjoy a homemade farm-to-table lunch and learn about traditional cider production, including a tasting. Continue inland past coastal views, old villages, and deep valleys en route to Oviedo. On arrival, join a Local Expert to explore the city’s 9th-century churches and visit the Cathedral of the Holy Savior in Plaza Alfonso II, home to one of Europe’s finest altarpieces.

DAY 6: OVIEDO – COVADONGA – SANTILLANA DEL MAR - SANTANDER

Visit the Holy Cave of Covadonga, a shrine to Pelayo, who achieved the first Christian victory over the Moors in 722. See the unique Roman bridge in Cangas de Onís as you head into the foothills of the Picos de Europa, a national park boasting spectacular mountain and gorge scenery.

Enjoy views of the Costa de Cantabria while travelling to Santillana del Mar, arguably the most beautiful village in Spain. Stroll through the rustic cobblestone streets, admiring stone houses decorated with carved, heraldic symbols, and reach the delightful church square.

Continue to the sophisticated beach resort of Santander, where you have free time in the evening to enjoy this luxurious hotel.

DAY 7: SANTANDER – BILBAO – DONOSTIA SAN SEBASTIAN

In nearby Bilbao, admire the striking modern architecture of the Guggenheim Museum, one of the world’s most spectacular buildings.

Enjoy the views as you are driven along part of the Costa Vasca, dotted with small coastal fishing villages, and pause in the seaside city of Getaria to see ‘El Ratón’, the mouse-shaped rock. Continue to San Sebastián and admire its beauty as you walk with your Local Expert through the Old Quarter to see the Plaza de la Constitución.

Optional Experiences:

1. Donostia by Night with Dinner

DAY 8: DONOSTIA - SAN SEBASTIAN

Enjoy a day at leisure to stroll along San Sebastián’s boardwalk, and with the city harbour filled with fishing boats and pleasure crafts, you can enjoy several sporting activities on its large sandy beach. Perhaps you’ll want to explore the nearby French villages of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, also known as Little Paris, and Biarritz. You could also stroll along the promenade of the famous La Concha Bay or enjoy the boutiques of the Old Town.

 Optional Experiences:

1. Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz

DAY 9: DONOSTIA - SAN SEBASTIAN – PAMPLONA - BARCELONA

Journey to the famed town of Pamplona, known for its Running of the Bulls festival. With time free to explore, take a stroll to the famous Estafeta Street or visit Cafe Iruña, immortalized by Ernest Hemingway in his novel ‘The Sun Also Rises.’ Your travels continue to Barcelona, the vibrant capital of Catalonia, a land that retains its own distinctive language, culture, and traditions.

 Optional Experiences:

1. Gaudí’s Parc Güell and the Maritime Front

DAY 10: BARCELONA

Wake up ready to embrace the city’s artistic heritage. Join a Local Expert and drive along the Passeig de Gràcia, adorned with elegant wrought-iron street lamps and the most flamboyant Modernist buildings. Continue through the Eixample district to behold Gaudí’s extraordinary masterpiece, the Sagrada Família.

As you venture inside, look up to see its giant, tree-like pillars and spectacular vaulting. Admire the wonderful rainbow of the incredible stained-glass windows. With the afternoon at leisure, you are free to relax or continue your exploration on your own. In the evening, join your Travel Director and newfound friends at a local restaurant. Raise your glass and toast your travels during dinner.

Note: With the construction of the Sagrada Família nearing completion, access to the basilica may be restricted for special masses, pilgrim visits, or official ceremonies, and we are unable to secure tickets to visit. Should this occur during your tour, you will visit the Hospital de Sant Pau instead, a striking example of Catalan Art Nouveau designed by Gaudí’s contemporary, Domènech i Montaner. Afterwards, join your Local Expert in the gardens surrounding the Sagrada Família and take in the extraordinary exterior of Gaudí’s iconic masterpiece.

 Optional Experiences:

1. Montserrat & The Black Madonna

DAY 11: BARCELONA - MADRID

Today, bid farewell to your journey across Spain and Portugal as you transfer from Barcelona to Madrid.