MADRID

Leave tonight on an overnight jet flight for Madrid (flight not included).

MADRID (Welcome Reception)

Welcome to Spain! Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Meet your fellow travelers for orientation meeting with the tour director, followed by a welcome reception.

MADRID (Breakfast)

We with a guided half-day city tour of Madrid. Our drive takes us through the Gran Vía and the Passeo de Castellana, past the Plaza de España, Plaza de Oriente, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Atocha Station, the fountain of Neptune, Cibeles fountain, the Bullring, the Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium, and many more. The afternoon is at leisure.

Optional tour: Prado Museum

MADRID (Breakfast)

We visit Toledo, a city with a wealth of monuments. It is known as the “city of the three cultures” because Christians, Arabs, and Jews lived there together for centuries. During our guided tour we visit the Santo Tome Church and the Synagogue of Santa María. From Toledo, we return to Madrid.

Optional tour: Flamenco show with dinner.

MADRID - SANTIAGO DE COMPOSELA (Breakfast)

We  depart for Santiago de Composela. On the way, we stop in Salamanca, an ancient city famous for its university founded by Alfonso IX in the early 1200s. There is time for lunch on your own and later, we continue to Santiago de Compostela along the Camino. Many pilgrims follow this ancient route also known as the Way of St. James.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (Breakfast, Dinner)

Santiago de Compostela's center is called "Casco Historico" (Old Town), an area once surrounded by walls in the 11th-century. We visit the Cathedral, the Cathedral Museum, and view the tomb of St James the Great. In the afternoon we visit Cap Finisterre where pilgrims ceremoniously burn their boots. The day finishes with an early seafood dinner accompanied by Albariño wine.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA - OVIEDO (Breakfast)

After breakfast,we head to North Galicia. Our scenic drive takes us past the Cabo Ortegal and the Asturian coast to Oviedo.

OVIEDO (Breakfast)

A half-day guided city tour of Oviedo takes us to the Cathedral, the Palacio de Valdecarzana, the ruins of the San Tirso Church, and the Porlier Plaza which is flanked by the El Conde de Toreno and Camposagrado Palaces. The afternoon is at leisure. 

Optional tour: Visit to the cider house with dinner.

OVIEDO - BILBAO (Breakfast)

After breakfast, we continue our journey towards Bilbao. On the way, we stop in Santillana del Mar, one of the North Coast’s most picturesque villages. Its architecture dates to the Middle Ages. In its vicinity, we visit the famous Altamira Caves where prehistoric art is well preserved. After our visit, we proceed to Santander where we have free time for lunch on your own. From there, we continue to Bilbao where we have a tasting of local tapas called pintxos.

BILBAO (Breakfast)

On our visit to Bilbao, we see the vibrant old town with many shops, squares, and typical Basque tavernas. We enter the Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Gehry. The collection includes large-scale and site-specific art by such contemporary artists as Jeff Koons and Willem de Kooning. The remainder of the day is free.

Optional tour: Visit to the Basque coast.

BILBAO - PAMPLONA (Breakfast, Dinner)

After breakfast, we depart for San Sebastian. En route, we visit Getaria, a charming Basque coastal village. Upon arrival in San Sebastian, we see the Maria Cristina Hotel. It is here, at the Kursaal that the film festival takes place. We also see La Concha beach, a crescent-shaped urban seaboard. In the afternoon we arrive in Pamplona. Dinner is served later that night. 

PAMPLONA - BARCELONA (Breakfast)

After breakfast, we have a half-day guided sightseeing tour of Pamplona featuring the Ciudadela, the City Walls, parks, and gardens. We will hear about the ‘Running of the Bulls’ race, part of the San Fermin festival. From Pamplona, we continue to Zaragoza for lunch on your own. Later that afternoon, we arrive in Barcelona and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Optional tour: Visit to Montserrat.

BARCELONA (Breakfast, Dinner)

Our guided half-day sightseeing tour includes Barcelona’s most important artistic sights: Gaudi’s Batlló, Casa Milá, the Cathedral Sagrada Familia, and Guell Park, declared an artistic monument and mankind’s heritage by the UNESCO. In the afternoon, you are free to explore more on your own. Join your fellow travelers and your tour director for the farewell dinner. 

BARCELONA - USA (Breakfast)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Barcelona for your departure flight.