Book your 2026 Spain tour with confidence. Free 3 day booking hold and flexible changes. From Madrid to Barcelona, see the best of Spain with Trafalgar.
At a glance
Duration
15 days
Route
Madrid → Toledo
Countries
Spain, Gibraltar
Activity level
Not confirmed
Style
Culture & History
Group size
Ask
Flights
Not included
Solo travellers
Ask an agent
Day by day
Your journey through
Spain & Gibraltar
Showing Days 1-7
15-day itinerary
Day 1Hola MadridWelcome to the fiery Spanish capital that is Madrid. Take in the vibrant essence of Madrid before meeting up with your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a memorable welcome reception and orientation drive to see some of the city's most iconic sights.
Hola Madrid
Welcome to the fiery Spanish capital that is Madrid. Take in the vibrant essence of Madrid before meeting up with your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a memorable welcome reception and orientation drive to see some of the city's most iconic sights.
Day 2Through Castile to San SebastiánMadridLeave Madrid and travel north through the Guadarrama mountains, crossing into the wide plains of Castile. Stop in Burgos, once the capital of the region and an important point along the Camino de Santiago, where your Travel Director introduces you to the old town where you’ll see its impressive Gothic cathedral. Your journey continues through changing landscapes into the Basque Country. In Bilbao, take in the bold, modern design of the Guggenheim Museum as you view its striking exterior beside the river.
Madrid
Leave Madrid and travel north through the Guadarrama mountains, crossing into the wide plains of Castile. Stop in Burgos, once the capital of the region and an important point along the Camino de Santiago, where your Travel Director introduces you to the old town where you’ll see its impressive Gothic cathedral. Your journey continues through changing landscapes into the Basque Country. In Bilbao, take in the bold, modern design of the Guggenheim Museum as you view its striking exterior beside the river.
Day 3Onwards to PamplonaSpend the morning soaking up the laid-back charm of San Sebastián. Wander along La Concha beach, explore the old town or enjoy a coffee in one of the city’s elegant squares. Later, travel inland to Pamplona, known for its bull-running tradition and medieval streets. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own pace. Follow in Hemmingway's footsteps on an Optional Experience that uncovers Pamplona's highlights, or try the local pintxos in one of Pamplona’s bars.
Onwards to Pamplona
Spend the morning soaking up the laid-back charm of San Sebastián. Wander along La Concha beach, explore the old town or enjoy a coffee in one of the city’s elegant squares. Later, travel inland to Pamplona, known for its bull-running tradition and medieval streets. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own pace. Follow in Hemmingway's footsteps on an Optional Experience that uncovers Pamplona's highlights, or try the local pintxos in one of Pamplona’s bars.
Day 4Continue to Gaudi BarcelonaYour journey continues through the Ebro Valley to Zaragoza where we’ll view the Basilica of El Pilar and Cathedral of La Seo. Later, arrive in Barcelona to soak up the charm of a city that professes two great loves – Gaudí and football. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Perhaps amble through the aromatic La Boqueria, or join us for an evening of discovery, rounded off with a traditional Catalonian-style dinner.
Gaudi Barcelona
Your journey continues through the Ebro Valley to Zaragoza where we’ll view the Basilica of El Pilar and Cathedral of La Seo. Later, arrive in Barcelona to soak up the charm of a city that professes two great loves – Gaudí and football. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Perhaps amble through the aromatic La Boqueria, or join us for an evening of discovery, rounded off with a traditional Catalonian-style dinner.
Day 5Discover BarcelonaConsider joining a morning Optional Experience to the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat to see the shrine of the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia. Afterwards, the whimsical fantasy world of Gaudí is on display as you embark on a sightseeing tour to visit the inspiring, but as yet unfinished, La Sagrada Família* in the company of a Local Specialist. *Please note that 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'll 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 Specialist in the gardens surrounding the Sagrada Família and take in the extraordinary exterior of Gaudí’s iconic masterpiece.
Consider joining a morning Optional Experience to the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat to see the shrine of the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia. Afterwards, the whimsical fantasy world of Gaudí is on display as you embark on a sightseeing tour to visit the inspiring, but as yet unfinished, La Sagrada Família* in the company of a Local Specialist. *Please note that 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'll 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 Specialist in the gardens surrounding the Sagrada Família and take in the extraordinary exterior of Gaudí’s iconic masterpiece.
Day 6Off to Coastal Peñíscola and ValenciaTravel south along the Costa Dorada to Peñíscola, where a fortified old town and castle take center stage. Continue through the fertile huertas to Valencia, your home for the night. Your orientation reveals the city’s rich contrasts, from Mercado de Colón, the Bullring and Estación del Norte to the Towers of Serrano and Quart, before seeing the striking City of Arts and Sciences designed by Santiago Calatrava. During a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, enjoy horchata, Valencia’s signature drink. This evening, you could join an Optional Experience to cook paella with local chefs, then sit down to enjoy the dish in the city where it began.
Travel south along the Costa Dorada to Peñíscola, where a fortified old town and castle take center stage. Continue through the fertile huertas to Valencia, your home for the night. Your orientation reveals the city’s rich contrasts, from Mercado de Colón, the Bullring and Estación del Norte to the Towers of Serrano and Quart, before seeing the striking City of Arts and Sciences designed by Santiago Calatrava. During a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, enjoy horchata, Valencia’s signature drink. This evening, you could join an Optional Experience to cook paella with local chefs, then sit down to enjoy the dish in the city where it began.
Day 7Venture to GranadaJourney by the dramatic Sierra Nevada Mountain range to the city of Granada where you meet a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the spectacular UNESCO-listed Alhambra. Its golden façades and extraordinary Moorish architecture reflect centuries of multi-cultural history, which you will have a rare opportunity to explore as you wander through its palaces and exotic water gardens. Check in to your hotel later, where you will dine tonight.
Venture to Granada
Journey by the dramatic Sierra Nevada Mountain range to the city of Granada where you meet a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the spectacular UNESCO-listed Alhambra. Its golden façades and extraordinary Moorish architecture reflect centuries of multi-cultural history, which you will have a rare opportunity to explore as you wander through its palaces and exotic water gardens. Check in to your hotel later, where you will dine tonight.
TripFinder compares the available catalog facts and Brandi Leanna can handle the booking — and you pay the same as booking Trafalgar direct, never more, because the operator pays our commission. You travel under the operator's terms; final price and availability are confirmed before purchase.
