A Taste of Spanish Urban Life

Name: The best of Barcelona and Madrid in one week.
Brand: JayWay Travel
Rating: 4.79 (8 reviews)

8 Days / 7 Nights

Barcelona, Madrid

from$1,975 per person

Average Guest Rating 4.8 / 5

For a true taste of Spain in just a week, look no further. This Barcelona and Madrid itinerary is your ticket to the urban wonders of the two most exciting cities in Spain. From the architectural masterpieces of Gaudi and the authentic ambiance around La Rambla in Barcelona to world-class art, Europe's largest palace complex, and more mouthwatering churros than you can count in Madrid, this one-week itinerary shows you around the best of Barcelona and Madrid, leaving enough time to take a couple of day trips in-between for a chance to see more of Spain in less time.
One of our team members in Spain will be available to you leading up to and during your trip to answer any questions and arrange local services. You will receive access to your Guest Page, with its information on the best this country has to offer, including things to see and do, and other inside tips from restaurant recommendations to tipping advice. Upon request, we will provide you with an eSIM with data that you can use to reach your local JayWay contact (whom you will meet in person) throughout your trip. In all of our destinations, we offer a variety of memorable 3- to 5-star accommodation options, including boutique hotels and charming B&Bs. With our firsthand experience, we can ensure they are all clean, comfortable, and centrally located, with local ambiance.

4 Nights in Barcelona

4 Nights in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city with a big historic legacy. Its origins can be traced back to the 1st-century BC when it became the Roman colony of Barciro. Today Antoni Gaudí’s Modernist architecture has become the main attraction for visitors from all over the world. Barcelona has two UNESCO listings covering nine buildings. Seven of them are by Gaudi! Despite its age, a youthful, energetic city vibe can be felt in all Barcelona’s quarters. Embrace your hidden love of Gothic aesthetics followed by Catalan cuisine with a private chef and finish your evening with a ramble on La Rambla, the heart of social Barcelona. So whether you feel like a picnic overlooking the beach-fronted La Estrella Herida, a private tapas tour throughout the city, or a stroll through the Gaudi-inspired Park Güell, there is something for everyone!

Day 1

Day 1 - Arrival in Barcelona

We'll arrange for a driver to meet you at Barcelona's airport and take you to your centrally located accommodation. The duration of the transfer is about 30 minutes.

Our representative will then meet with you to answer any questions you have and to get you settled for the rest of your trip.

Ramble on La Rambla

Suggestion to explore on your own

Embrace the authentic Catalan spirit with an evening stroll along La Rambla on your first night in Barcelona. Spanning nearly a mile, this historic street is the sole avenue in the old part of the city, running parallel to the historical city wall. Unlike the bustling downtown, La Rambla offers a broad and spacious expanse, serving as an ideal meeting place for both locals and visitors alike. Flanked by bars, bistros, boutiques, and galleries on either side, La Rambla stands as a distinctive microcosm of Barcelona's charm.

Day 2

Day 2 - Your First Full Day in Barcelona

Barcelona and Gaudi Group Walking Tour

Included in your vacation package price.

Do you have a deep passion for architecture, strolling the streets, yearning for insights into the history of architectural masterpieces? If so, this tour is tailored especially for you! Embark on the Modernist Route and explore Barcelona's significant buildings from the perspective of a devoted architect. Guided by a passionate expert, you will follow Antoni Gaudí's intricate journey from social concerns to a profound connection with the divine, ultimately becoming the "last great cathedral builder." This tour aims to delve into the Master's architectural essence and explore his profound visual impact, which not only inspired Surrealists but also earned him the title of the most renowned Spanish architect.

Activity Level : Moderate

Duration : 3 hours

Paella Small Group Cooking Class

Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

Barcelona's vibrant La Boqueria Market is where you'll be starting this unique paella cooking class. One of the world's most famous markets, La Boqueria is also Catalonia's oldest. Right after your stroll through this colorful market, you're ready to start cooking with the help and guidance of an expert chef. But not before you sample some traditional Spanish sangria and delicious tapas first. Then, the chef will show you how to prepare the iconic paella. Once you're done cooking, you're ready to savor the authentic paella you helped create in the company of your small group. The best part? At the end of the class, you'll get a copy of the recipe so that you can recreate this emblematic Spanish dish once you're back home.

Activity Level : Moderate

Duration : 3 hours

Day 3

Day 3 - Your Second Full Day in Barcelona

Sagrada Familia Highlights Group Tour with Skip the Line Tickets

Included in your vacation package price.

It's hard to find an architectural structure as striking as La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece is counting over 140 years in the making and the artist's genius is omnipresent inside and out of this iconic church. La Sagrada Familia is the ultimate highlight of Barcelona. As such, it attracts hordes of visitors every day. However, this tour grants you skip-the-line access to the architectural wonder, thus saving you precious time. Once inside, an expert guide will guide you through the history, vision, and artistic genius of Antoni Gaudí, one of Barcelona's most prominent personalities.

Activity Level : Easy

Duration : 1 hour 30 minutes

Day 4

Day 4 - Your Third Full Day in Barcelona

Montserrat Wine & Olive Private Tour

Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

You will visit two fantastic locations this day and taste some of the region's finest olive oils and wines. In the morning, you'll go to an olive oil farm where you’ll meet the owner, a renowned olive oil taster, who will take you around the farm and tell you about its 500 years of history. Then, you’ll have an olive tasting, where you will taste three of the region's most emblematic olive oil varieties. After the tasting, you will enjoy a traditional Catalan meal prepared and served by a skilled private chef. This meal will be made using ingredients from the farm. In the afternoon, you'll be taken to a small-scale organic winery producing the most fantastic aged red wines. You’ll get a special tasting visit from the winery's owner, where you’ll taste the wines as they age. You’ll start from the previous harvest before tasting the wine aging in the oak barrel (or other containers such as clay or granite used at the winery). Finally, you’ll taste all those wines at the end of their cycle, bottled and ready to be sold after years of aging.

Activity Level : Strenuous

Duration : 8 hours

Day 5

Day 5 - Traveling to Madrid by Train

You're leaving Barcelona behind today and heading to Madrid. We will arrange a transfer to the train station and economy class tickets. There are a number of daily departures to Madrid, so you can choose your preferred departure time. Then just sit back and relax on the roughly 3-hour journey. An upgrade to the first class is available for an additional fee.

You can upgrade your transfer

Madrid by Private Transfer with a Stop in Zaragoza

Upgrade for an additional cost

We also offer the following excursions in Barcelona

Barcelona Old Town Walking Group Tour with Flamenco Show & Tapas in the Born District

Moderate4 hours

Barcelona Private Cooking Class - Farm To Table Experience

Moderate6 hours

Barcelona Private Food Tour

Moderate4 hours

Barcelona Secret Forest - Nature Hike and Best Views Small Group Tour

Strenuous5 hours 30 minutes

3 Nights in Madrid

3 Nights in Madrid

The capital, as well as the geographical and cultural center of Spain, Madrid has long enthralled visitors. Since Prince Phillip II made Madrid the capital in the mid 16th century the city has become home to the largest functioning royal palace in Europe, as well as many museums, cafes, parks, universities, and cultural attractions. Although tourism in the city is growing, Spain's many other attractions mean the city is able to maintain its authenticity and you'll find local character and charm in each of its different neighborhoods. Madrid is perfectly located as a base for day trips to UNESCO-listed towns in central Spain and well connected for traveling onward to any corner of the country for further exploration.

Day 5

Day 5 - Arrival in Madrid

When you arrive at Madrid's train station, we will have a driver there to meet you and take you to your accommodation.

Get Your Madrid Bearings. And Some Tapas.

Suggestion to explore on your own

Start out by getting your central Madrid bearings by strolling two of the city's most impressive squares, Puerta del Sol, and Plaza Mayor. Then make your way into the adjoining La Latina neighborhood, known for its vibrant nightlife and tapas bars. Explore the narrow streets and hop from one tapas bar to another, savoring a variety of local flavors and specialties.

Get Your Madrid Bearings. And Some Tapas.

Day 6

Day 6 - Your First Full Day in Madrid

Madrid in a Day - Royal Palace, Churros Tasting and Prado Museum Group Tour

Madrid in a Day with Royal Palace, Churros Tasting, and Prado Museum

Included in your vacation package price.

Step into a thoughtfully crafted collection of aesthetically pleasing sightseeing and cultural walking tours. Beyond just providing exclusive access or priority entry, these tours are designed to forge connections between people and places, with captivating storytelling at the core of each distinctive encounter.

Activity Level : Light

Duration : 5 Hours

Flamenco Show 1911 with Tapas Dinner Group Experience

Included in your vacation package price.

Witness something extraordinary during this experience while you dine on traditional tapas. You will be in a room with original flamenco dancers and feel the intensity and passion of flamenco. The Tablao Flamenco 1911 is located in the famous Plaza de Santa Ana, in the neighborhood of Las Letras in Madrid. Formerly known as the name of the historic tiled façade of its premises, this unique venue has been hosting flamenco shows since 1911 and is recognized as the oldest tablao in the world.

Activity Level : Easy

Duration : 1 hour

Day 7

Day 7 - Your Second Full Day in Madrid

Toledo Full Day Private Tour

Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

When in Madrid, don't miss the opportunity to explore the enchanting beauty and points of interest in Toledo. Check out this tour!

Discover Toledo, a medieval gem just under an hour's drive from Madrid, on this exclusive private tour. Accompanied by a specialized guide in the company of a private driver, explore the city's wonders tailored to your preferences. This experience, one of the finest outside Madrid, is perfect for families, couples, and groups of friends.

Activity Level : Moderate

Duration : 8 hours

Avila and Segovia Full Day Private Tour

Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

Are you interested in exploring two of Spain's most enchanting cities, brimming with history and beauty? If so, this tour is tailored for you!

Visit Avila and Segovia, two Spanish breathtaking cities! Explore the captivating medieval city of Avila, enclosed by impressive 12th-century walls that evoke the essence of a bygone era, and Segovia this well-preserved ancient marvel, where ancient architecture and Spanish culture meet to create an unforgettable experience.

Activity Level : Moderate

Duration : 9 hours

Day 8

Day 8 - Departure Day

The driver will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the airport for your departing flight. Duration of the drive is about 30 minutes.

We also offer the following excursions in Madrid

E-Bike Madrid Essential Premium Group Tour

Moderate3 hours

El Escorial Private Tour

Moderate5 hours

Express Private Tour of Madrid by Electric Tuk-Tuk

Easy1 hour

Flamenco Show 1911 Group Experience

Easy1 hour

What's Included

Here are all the services provided as part of your complete vacation package. See what every JayWay trip includes.
Please let us know if you'd like to upgrade any transfers or add any additional tours or excursions to your itinerary.

Barcelona

4 Nights Accommodation

Breakfast (hotels only)

Barcelona Airport Arrival Transfer

Barcelona and Gaudi Group Walking Tour

Sagrada Familia Highlights Group Tour with Skip the Line Tickets

Barcelona Railway Station Departure Transfer

Barcelona - Madrid High Speed Train

Madrid

3 Nights Accommodation

Breakfast (hotels only)

Madrid Railway Station Arrival Transfer

Madrid in a Day with Royal Palace, Churros Tasting, and Prado Museum

Flamenco Show 1911 with Tapas Dinner Group Experience

Madrid Airport Departure Transfer

package excludes:

Flights to and from Europe.
Tips for Tour Guides, Drivers and Local Reps.
Meals (other than breakfast if included in room rate and meals listed as included in food tours and excursions, unless explicitly stated otherwise).
Parking fees for your Rental Car (if you are booking one with us) unless otherwise indicated. Some hotels provide free parking facilities.
Travel Insurance. See the insurance link on our website

Benefits of Traveling with JayWay

A JayWay vacation is more than the sum of its parts. Our team work tirelessly to ensure your experience is memorable for all the right reasons. Your trip is personalized to maximize your enjoyment. You're taken care of every step of the way.

A Travel Advisor who speaks your language

We will make sure that all your requirements and interests are taken into account in preparing your itinerary.

A totally tailored itinerary for your vacation

Your trip is customized for you by an experienced trip planner and an expert on the region.

A choice of hand-picked hotels and excursions

We've personally inspected and tested all the hotels and local tour providers we work with to ensure quality.

Detailed pre-trip preparation to make the most of every day

Your Europe-based Tour Manager will be in touch by email and phone a month before you arrive to finalize timings.

On-trip Concierge Service to smooth out any bumps in the road

Your tour manager is at your service throughout your journey. We'll provide a local SIM so you can stay connected.

Personalized Guest Page to make sure you're not missing out

Packed with detailed information and recommendations curated by locals on the best things to do, see and eat.

Glowing Reviews from Our Guests

4.8 / 5

Average of our Guest's Ratings of vacation packages including these destinations

Michael & Barbara

Oklahoma

Having experienced both individual and small group Jayway trips, they are highly recommended for ease of planning a customized itinerary. Jayway can be relied on for high quality accommodations, tours, and transportation, including door to door transfers.

Year : 2024
Visited : Spain
Itinerary : Barcelona, Granada, Seville, Madrid
Rating :

5 / 5

Joyce, Alan, Jennifer, Mike, Henry, Norma & Kenneth

Wisconsin

It was like a private tour! They did a great job planning our trip!

Year : 2024
Visited : Spain, Portugal
Itinerary : Barcelona, Porto, Lisbon
Rating :

4.5 / 5

Sonia & Bryan

Alberta

4th time using Jayway Travel. We were so well taken care of! Highly recommend!

Year : 2024
Visited : Spain
Itinerary : Barcelona, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona
Rating :

4.75 / 5

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