Spain Highlights Tour

This morning, your private guide will pick you up from the hotel and lead you to explore Gaudí’s famous works. A series of 7 works of Antoni Gaudí were designated as UNESCO sites and today we will visit the most representative 4. The first stop is Park Güell on the top of Carmel Hill, featuring the colorful broken-tile mosaic art and the great position overlooking the city. Then we will head to Sagrada Família, the symbol of Barcelona, which was built in 1882 but is still unfinished. You will be amazed at its unique structure combining Gothic, Modernism, and New Art construction styles, as well as its attractive ornamentation. The guide will then accompany you to Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló, where you can hardly find any right angle from their stunning outer appearances.

► Tips: Best Photo Spots for Sagrada Familia
1. Plaza de Gaudí: The square is just opposite the church. What makes it so photogenic is that it has a beautiful green lake. You will get a perfect selfie with Sagrada Familia and its reflection here. 
2. Avinguda de Gaudí: Believe it or not, the historical pedestrian street offers the best angle to capture the Sagrada Familia. Walking along the avenue, you can take good photos without too many crowds.

Taste Yummy Tapas in the Mercat de la Boqueria
Around noon, let’s walk through the Catalonia Square and stroll along the famous La Rambla Avenue to reach the Mercat de la Boqueria, one of the oldest and most popular food markets in Barcelona, luring numerous foodies and tourists worldwide for its rich food varieties, fresh local produce, and its artistic architectural design. Whether you want to have a meal or taste snacks, there is a very wide variety for you to choose from: ham, sausage, fruit, bread, seafood, and local tapas like Pulpo a la gallega (Galician Octopus), Fried Calamari, and Boquerones en vinagre (Anchovies Marinated in Vinegar) … Feel a little confused about the dazzling tapas? Don’t worry, your guide will definitely offer some insider’s recommendations.
► Note: If you are not interested in the overcrowded Mercat de la Boqueria, we can arrange the Mercat de San Antoni which is more popular with locals.

The afternoon itinerary will go to two centuries-old Gothic-style churches in the old town area: Barcelona Cathedral and Santa Maria del Mar. From the soaring vaults to the stained glass windows, everything here reveals a sense of profound history and artistic delicacy. 

★ Special Arrangement: 2-Hour Sunset Cruise
Later, your guide will escort you to Marina Port Vell for a cruise. Enjoying the sunset on the water is an incredible experience. We especially arrange for you to enjoy a 2-hour tour cruising the Mediterranean on a sailboat with light snacks and soft drinks.
► Finish the cruise, and you need to go back to the hotel by yourself. Take Bus V15 from Pg Joan de Borbó Station to Pg de Gràcia – Diagonal and then walk southwest about 600 meters to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel Evenia Rossello, Barcelona (4 stars) or similar

In the early morning, you will go to Barcelona-El Prat Airport by yourself for a morning flight to Seville. Of course, the flight ticket is ready for you and included in the price. After arrival, get to the hotel on your own and the rest of the day is free for you.

► Transportation Advice:
1. Barcelona Hotel Evenia Rossello - El Prat Airport: Take the R2N Train from Passeig de Gràcia Station to the airport in 30 minutes or hail a car directly to the airport at the price of €20-25. 
2. Seville Airport - Melia Sevilla Hotel: Take the airport bus EA Line from the airport to Prado San Sebastián (Carlos V) and then walk southeast about 500 meters to the hotel. The single journey takes about 40 minutes and costs €5. If using Uber, the fare would be around €20. Pay attention that taxis would be much more expensive. 

Free Time Suggestions: 
1. Wander around Plaza de España & Enjoy Flamenco Show
Boasting the most beautiful square in Spain, Plaza de España is an unmissable landmark for you to take in the charm of Seville. The hotel we booked for you is just next to the square and easy to access in several minutes’ walking distance. In addition to strolling around to appreciate the extravagant large-scale buildings, gorgeous fountains, and mural paintings depicting various Spanish cities, you can also catch a horse carriage to go sightseeing or hire a row boat along the canal of the square to enjoy leisure time.

What’s more, there will be a high chance of seeing flamenco dancers and musicians performing, which is one of the best places to experience the art! Seville is the birthplace of flamenco and you cannot miss a flamenco show here. Apart from Plaza de España, Teatro Flamenco is also great to watch a fantastic Flamenco show. Book a ticket ahead of time, and €25 can bring the most touching performance, which is much cheaper than 30-50 euros in Madrid.

2. Taste Spanish Churros at Bar El Comercio
Made from deep-fried fritters, the Spanish churros are specialties local people always eat. Bar El Comercio is the most famous local restaurant offering freshly made crispy churros. Want to eat like a local? Just enjoy them paired with a cup of not-too-sweet hot chocolate. Apart from churros, some other tapas are also worthy of trying, such as croquettes, tuna and cheese sandwiches, and jamón. It opens from 7:30 to 21:00 and costs 5€ for 6 churros.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Melia Sevilla (4 stars) or similar

This morning your private guide will lead you to soak in the exquisite cathedral art of Seville. First we will visit Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador, the second-largest church in the city, featuring breathtakingly detailed fresco with magnificent gilded woodcraft. Next, you will be accompanied to Seville’s largest church, Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Sevilla), also the largest Gothic cathedral around the globe. Constructed over mosque remains about 600 years ago, the church blended Gothic, Moorish, and Baroque architectural styles perfectly, bringing you an incredible experience along with its intricate engravings, delicate handmade woodwork, beautiful altars and chambers. You will also be guided to see the remains of Christopher Columbus and climb the magnificent bell tower, La Giralda. Getting out of the vast cathedral, you can stroll around the cobbled streets in the nearby Santa Cruz Area to have a coffee or simple lunch at your own expense.

After lunch, visit the Real Alcázar Palace of Seville, said to be Europe’s oldest palace still in use. You will be amazed at its architectural grandeur, tranquil pools and superb gardens. Then move to Torre de Oro, a military watchtower that had witnessed the past glory of Seville's maritime. Plaza de Toros de Sevilla would be the next stop. Following the guide, you can learn deeply about the history of Seville’s bullfighting in the legendary bullring. 

★ Hands-on Cooking Class & Traditional Spanish Dinner
Next, you will cross the Puente de Isabel to Triana Market, where you will take a 3-hour cooking class from 18:00. The fresh ingredients are ready! Put on an apron, and you will follow the chef to learn 3 traditional dishes: the Spanish cold soup gazpacho or salmorejo, the typical tapas Spinach with Chickpeas and the Valencia paella. The chef will be very patient to guide you every step. Finish the cooking, paired with a cup of Sangria, and it is a real treat to savor the dishes cooked on your own. Also, you will get written recipes and some cooking tips to bring back home.
► Please Note: All the menus can be adjusted according to your dietary restrictions. Feel free to contact your travel consultant in advance.
► After dinner, you need to go back to the hotel on your own. Walk about 10 minutes to take the Light Rail T1 from Plaza Nueva to Prado De San Sebastian and then walk southeast about 7 minutes to the hotel. 

Titbit: Why is Dinner so Late in Spain?
You may find that dinner time in Spain is mostly around 21:00-23:00, much later than that in most other countries. Partly thanks to the laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle, but the real reason is Spaniards have been stuck in the wrong time zone for more than 70 years. In fact, Spain has the similar longitude as that of the UK and Morocco and thus they should be in the same time zone. However, fascist dictator Franco adjusted Spain's time to keep pace with Nazi Germany in World War II. Since then, though people eat at the same time as before, the clocks in fact become late.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Melia Sevilla (4 stars) or similar

Today you will go to the capital city of Spain, Madrid. After breakfast, walk about 500 meters east to take the C1 train from Estación de tren Sevilla-San Bernardo to Seville Santa Justa Train Station in 5 minutes. Here you will board the train to Madrid by yourself. The ticket will be offered in advance and you will spend about 3 hours on the train. Upon arrival, your hotel is only around 1.2 km away from the Atocha Train Station, easy to reach by Metro Line 1, to get off at Antón Martín and then walk northeast about 500 meters. After check-in, the rest time is free on your own.

You can decompress at the comfortable hotel or take a leisurely stroll at Puerta del Sol, the central city square of Madrid, meaning the Gate of Sun. Filled with tourists and locals, the square features spectacular statues like the statue of King Charles III and the bear statue Oso y Madrono. It is said touching the bear’s feet can bring good luck! You can also see the kilometer zero marker of Spain’s road network. Strolling here, you will definitely feel the passion of the Spanish.

► Tip: Watch out for Tourist Traps at Puerta del Sol!
However, as one of the main hubs of Madrid, Puerta del Sol is also the place where a lot of pickpockets and hustlers gather. Be careful of strangers who ask you for directions or someone in a doll costume who wants to photo with you. They may be pickpockets or scammers asking for money. You may also meet a lady giving you a rosemary twig, but once you take it, you have to pay for it.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mercure Madrid Centro (4 stars) or similar

Today’s sightseeing will start from Plaza de Espana, built in honor of Cervantes, the greatest Spanish writer. In the center of the plaza stood the statues of the writer and the famous characters from his book, Don Quixote and his sidekick Sancho Panza. Then walk to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid, one of the most complete and exquisite palaces in the world. With your guide, you will dive deep into Spain’s history, art, and royalty all in this place. After that, you will be guided to Catedral de la Almudena, just opposite the Royal Palace. The imposing cathedral was built in 1883, and thus it features a modern style compared to those old churches. Finish the visit, and we’ll move to Mercado de San Miguel. Strolling around the famous "food court" type covered market, you can choose from a large variety of tapas to savor the real taste of Madrid.

Stepping out of the market, we will pass by the Plaza Mayor, which used to be the center of Old Madrid. And the tour continues to Prado Museum, one of the leading museums in the world, featuring dazzling art collections including Velazquez and Goya’s masterpieces. Afterward, you will enjoy a leisurely stroll at El Retiro Park, for a full immersion in the green oasis, and witness the impressive Neo-classical Alcalá Gate (Puerta de Alcalá). Today’s last stop is Santiago Bernabeu Stadium which is a hallowed soccer ground for all Real Madrid fans. Here you can explore the history of the stadium and capture glorious moments of the world’s most successful club in its trophy room. After the visit, your guide will accompany you back to the hotel.

Suggested Night Activities:
► Watch a Live Match in Santiago Bernabeu
Whether you are a soccer enthusiast or not, watching a Real Madrid live game must be a top-bucket list in your Madrid trip. Sitting among tens of thousands of faithful football fans, you can’t help clapping and chanting with crazy fans, cheering on your team to victory.  Remember to check the schedule on the official website to book tickets in advance as some matches involving popular teams are really in hot demands. The match generally kicks off at 19:00 and lasts about 1.5 hours.
► Enjoy a Flamenco Show at One of the Madrid’s Old Restaurants
If you miss the opportunity to enjoy a Flamenco show in Seville, then capture it in Madrid. Tablao Flamenco Torres Bermejas is a great old-style bar for you to enjoy a brilliant performance while sipping a glass of sangria at the cost of 35-50 euros.
► Savor Hams at Museo Del Jamon
Sounds like a museum, but it’s actually a chain of restaurants specializing in hams. Stepping into the bar, you will be amazed at the interior lined with various Iberian cured ham, and some are the finest ham in the world, well worth a try. Except for delicious ham, other local cuisines like Sangria and paella are also offered. An economic meal generally only costs about €10. In addition, it opens from 9:00 till midnight.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Mercure Madrid Centro (4 stars) or similar

Your Spain exploration comes to an end today and wish you a happy journey back home! 

► Go to the Madrid Airport by Yourself
The best way to reach the Madrid–Barajas Airport from the hotel is to walk north about 700m to Cibeles, where you can take Express Line 203 directing to the airport. The ticket price is 5 euros and takes about 30 minutes to T1 and a little more to other terminals. If taking a taxi, the fare would be around 30 euros but Uber or Bolt will cost less, around 25 euros.

Activities Recommended:
If your time permits, you can also spend a half-day visiting the UNESCO site near Madrid, the historic City of Toledo. As the former capital of Spain, the old city features traditional sword-making and the blending culture of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Its ancient Toledo Cathedral is also widely considered one of the most significant examples of Gothic architecture in Spain, well worth exploring. It can be easily accessed by a 30-minute train journey. Anyway, if you want to include the excursion with a private guide in your tour, please feel free to contact us to tailor an itinerary for you!

Meals: Breakfast