Train Tour of Barcelona & Madrid

This holiday can start on any date you request and start from either Madrid or Barcelona

Day One - Arrive Barcelona and transfer to your hotel for 4 nights

Barcelona is a city unique in Spain known for its strong sense of identity, culture and fascinating buildings. Just stepping outside the front door of your hotel and you are in one of the most fashionable areas of the city; just a few metres away from Gaudi’s La Pedrera and the word famous Passeig de Gracia – a large, tree lined avenue lined with designer shops from all over the world including Chanel and Cartier to name a few. Running parallel is La Rambla; probably Spain’s most famous street which cuts through the city in a straight line to the beach and is always buzzing with locals and tourists, street vendors & artists. Just off La Rambla is the Gothic Quarter; a maze of narrow streets lined with cafe bars and restaurants.

Day Two – Guided city walk of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter

For this morning you will have a guided walking tour of the Gothic quarter of Barcelona discovering the medieval buildings and plazas and also enjoying the bohemian atmosphere of 19th century Barcelona for which the city is world famous.

Afternoon guided tour of La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is no doubt the most iconic structure in Barcelona. The church, located in L'Eixample district has been a focal point of Barcelona since construction commenced in 1882 and as building continues today the structure's fame only grows. Antoni Gaudí spent 43 years on this project and since his death in 1926, the duty to finish it has been passed on to several architects. Your tour will include a detailed walk around the outside and then you will be whisked past the queues as you have time to explore the impressive interior of this once seen never forgotten building.

Day Three - A day trip to the Montserrat Monastery and a visit to the famous Cava bodegas of Cataluña

Outside Barcelona in the heart of the Catalan countryside you find the iconic Montserrat monastery, a breath-taking Benedictine monk retreat set amidst stunning mountain scenery. The Holy Grotto is a world pilgrimage site and in the basilica you can also hear the Gregorian chanting choir. On the way back to Barcelona you will pass through the vineyards and stop to visit the vast underground cellars of Codorniu, where you will be given an introduction to how cava is made, including the 2nd fermentation which produces the sparkle. At the end of the visit there will be a tasting session and the opportunity to buy some cava direct from the bodega.

Day Four - A free day to relax and further explore Barcelona

There is so much more to see in the city including a trip to the Parque Güell, a perfect example of the Modernismo period of Barcelona where architects were called to expand upon the trending “Art Nouveau” and build a bourgeois living area for the cities rich and famous. In the afternoon head to the port and beach side of the city where you can enjoy a lunch in one of the many “chiringuito” style beach bars and soak up some Mediterranean sun for the afternoon.

Day Five - Transfer by high speed train to Madrid for 3 nights

Madrid is the Capital city of Spain where all roads leading out across the country start from zero. The main highlights of the city are of course the “Golden Triangle of Art” – three world class museums headlined by “El Prado” where you can see the masterpieces of El Greco, Valazquez, Goya, Picasso and Dali. Your time in Madrid will also include a welcoming tapas tour of the city plus a day trip on the train to the unique city of Toledo, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage and historical co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures.

Guided walking tapas tour

For your first evening in Madrid you will get a first-hand experience of the gastronomy, culture and history of the city on a tapas walking tour that takes you off the tourist track, discovering what Madrid is really all about whilst feasting on the local specialities.

Day Six - Immerse yourself in the Golden Triangle of Madrid

In central Madrid, three of the best museums in Europe are located within a ten-minute walk of each other: Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. The most important of the three is the Museo del Prado, where you can see the definitive collection of Spanish art over the past 500 years. The Reina Sofia is a less heavy experience with excellent modern art examples from Dali and Goya and many other examples of weird and wonderful art from the past 100 years. The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza is a more varied collection as it covers art from medieval times up to the present day and was once the largest private art collection in the world.

Day Seven - A day trip on the train to Toledo

Toledo is a half hour train ride from Madrid and for your time here we will give you guidance notes for a self-guided walk around the medieval part of the city so you can discover for yourself all the hidden gems of the capital of Medieval Spain. Toledo is a living museum of synagogues, mosques and churches which provide outstanding architectural diversity throughout the city and the most famous Gothic cathedral which took over 250 years to complete is not to be missed. After lunch, be sure to visit the imposing Alcazár (fortress) which has played an active part in the city’s history plus The famous artist El Greco settled there in 1577 and his works are scattered around the city. His masterpiece El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz (The Burial of Count Orgaz) can be seen in the Iglesia de Santo Tomé.

Day Eight - Depart Madrid and say farewell to España!