Madrid, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Barcelona
Gourmet & Wine, History & Culture
Spain’s distinctive culture, scenery, artistic treasures and architectural gems, their palaces, castles, museums and holds much fascination among travellers. The cities are meant to be touched and listened to, to be truly enjoyed.
This journey takes you to the Basque Country known for its fantastic culinary scene – revel in hearty pintxos and appreciate exquisite Michelin-starred meals in San Sabastian and sample wonderful charactered wines in La Rioja with a master sommelier. See how the arts have changed the city of Bilbao and delve into the life of Pablo Picasso in Barcelona. This is Spain’s finest!
Arrive in Madrid and transfer to your hotel.
Madrid City Walk (4 hrs)
Afternoon, have an introduction to the capital of Spain with a 4 hour Madrid City Walk. Our walk begins at Cibeles Square, leading to the medieval heart of the city. Stop at Puerta del Sol, the site of the popular uprising against the French in 1808 and to the age old marketplace of Plaza Mayor where street artists form a living art gallery. Venture along the narrow medieval streets and enter the cavernous mesones on Cava Baja. Visit Madrid’s impressive Royal Palace which was built over the Hapsbug fortress combining Baroque style with the tradition of Spanish royal residences.
Prado Museum Walking Tour (3 hrs)
After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel to visit the Prado Museum on a 3hr walking tour. We will go beyond a mere description and the chronological leaps, to delve on the gazes that pierce through the canvas, the mirrors that involve the spectator, the air that can be seen or the spinning wheels. Dive into the works of Velázquez, Tiziano o Goya in a way you have never imagined before.
Optional: Half Day El Escorial (5 hrs)
Meet your guide and driver and head 50km northwest of Madrid to El Escorial. Declared a World Heritage Site, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was the political centre of the empire of King Philip II, where he built a great basilica-church and monastery, one of the most impressive complexes in Spain. It was built by Felipe II to celebrate his victory over the French in 1557.
Transfer to airport for your morning flight (1 hr 5 min) to Bilbao.
Be met and transfer to your hotel in Bilbao.
Full Day Tour of Guggenheim & Bilbao (8 hrs)
The Guggenheim, designed by Frank O. Gehry, is a masterpiece of design and a wonder of construction. Learn about how it has sparked a renaissance in Bilbao, with creative urban projects transforming the landscape. Visit the museum with its intriguing collection of vanguard works from the 19-20th centuries. Discover the Bilbao city and see how the Arts changed what was once a dull industrial city.
La Rioja Full Day Insider’s Access Wine Experience (7 hrs)
Drive 1.5hours to La Rioja, synonymous with great Spanish wines, for a Full Day Insiders’ Access Wine Experience (7 hours). Enjoy a specially designed wine tour, crafted to your tastes and includes a tasting with a Master Sommelier in the medieval town of Laguardia. Our tour focuses on wonderful characters who maintain the traditions and excellence of La Rioja through our personal network with well-known and innovative wine makers.
Optional Alternative: La Rioja Vineyard Hike and Haro Old Town
For a less wine-focused alternative, go on a hike through stunning vineyards and discover the villages such as Salinillas de Buradon and immerse in the slow pace of life in the countryside. Visit Haro, home to many legendary bodegas, and visit the Museo del Vino de Rioja which chronicles the history, evolution and creation of Spanish wines. Walk through the old town, which is Historic-Artistic Site.
Continue another 2h 15m to San Sebastian, provincial capital of the Basque Country, one of the world’s top gastronomic destinations.
San Sebastian Walking Tour (4 hrs)
In this 4 hours Walking Tour of San Sebastian, discover why aristocrats and royal families chose Donostia – San Sebastian as summer resort. Visit the Old Town of Parte Vieja where you see the Renaissance-Baroque church of Santa Maria and the Gothic Church of San Vicente. Head towards the Plaza de la Constitución where, among its many balconies – numbered and painted white, revealing its origin as a bullring – stands the old neoclassical city hall. La Alameda del Boulevard leads into the so-called romantic city, and at the end of the Bay of La Concha, you will enjoy the unique view of Santa Clara Island from Monte Igueldo.
San Sebastian At Leisure
This afternoon, have some free time at leisure. We recommend dining at one of the Michelin-3-star restaurants in San Sebastian – Akelarre with stunning views above the Bay of Biscay.
Evening Insider’s Pinxtos Walk (3.5 hr)
Go on a 3.5 hours Insider’s Pinxtos Walk this evening for a taste of Basque Tapas, from simple eats to highly elaborate haute cuisine creations, at some of the local favourite spots.
French Basque Country Full Day Visit (8 hrs)
Today cross border and have a full day visit of the French Basque Country (8 hours). Start in Biarritz, the “king of beaches and the beach of kings”, ever since Eugenie de Montijo and her husband Napoleon III made it the favourite resort of the European aristocracy. Continue to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, an Atlantic Fishing Village with Basque charm. On your way back to the Spanish border, you will stop in Hondarribia. Wander through Hondarribia’s old town, visiting the restored sixteenth century gothic church of Santa María de la Asunción and the 10th century castle, now a parador.
Evening, we recommend taking the free time to have a dinner at another Michelin 3-star restaurant, Arzak or Martin Berasategui.
Transfer to airport for your flight to Barcelona (1 hr 15 min).
Upon arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel.
Barcelona City Walk (4 hrs)
This afternoon, take a 4 hour city walk of Gothic Quarter, the ancient heart of the city dating back to 2000 years of Roman colony of Barcino. Visit the Augustus Temple, the cathedral and the palatine chapel of Santa Agata as you discover the streets and squares.
Recommendation: A themed walking tour can be organized if you have any special interest, be it in Food, Chocolates, Wine, Fashion, Modernisme and the Arts and others!
Gaudi Architecture Tour (4 hrs)
This morning, take the 4-hours Gaudi Architecture Tour to learn about one of the greatest innovators of his times. Admire the Paseo de Gracia, famous Gaudi apartment buildings, Casa Batilo and La Pedrera. The highlight of this trip is the visit to Sagrada Familia – the astonishing unfinished church by Antoni Gaudi.
In the afternoon, have a choice of optional tours.
Optional A: Montserrat Excursion (5 hrs)
Visit Montserrat by private car just an hour’s drive away. Visit the sanctuary where the ‘Moreneta’ or the Black Madonna is housed. A highlight of visiting Montserrat is listening to one of Europe’s oldest children’s choirs, La Escolania de Montserrat (1pm weekdays and 12pm weekends). Have a taste of the one-way cog railway on a panoramic journey around.
Optional B: Picasso Museum Walking Tour with Expert (4 hrs)
Visit the Picasso Museum to see some of the most extensive collection of artworks by Pablo Picasso, housed in five adjoining medieval palaces. Your expert guide will give you an insight into the artist’s work chronologically from his adolescence to final years, including two of his major works, The First Communion (1896) and Science and Charity (1897).
Optional Extension: Northern Catalona Day Visit (12 hrs)
Or extend another day in Barcelona to explore Northern Catalonia.
Depart Barcelona and explore Northern Catalonia, home of Salvador Dali and the old Roman settlement of Girona. Your expert guide takes you first to Figueres to explore the Dali Theatre-Museum, dedicated to the genius of surrealist painting. Then, explore Girona’s historic walled city, and stroll through the narrow streets of one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. We recommend dinner at Can Roca in Girona – one of the best restaurants in the world.
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your departure flight.
Be transferred to the airport for your flight to Santiago de Compostela (1 hr 45 min).
On arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel. This is the capital of Galicia and its cultural center. This UNESCO-listed medieval city is a unique area with its own cuisine and language, a wild coastline and emerald green interior – quite simply one of the greatest cities in the World!
Santiago de Compostela At Leisure
We recommend spending the afternoon at leisure in Rue da Raina and Rua do Franco, which are host to numerous traditional taverns and restaurants serving the best of Galician cuisine.
Today, have a choice of two options.
Option A: Santiago de Compostela Full Day Historical Tour
Explore the city which is a monumental work of art, soak in the lively atmosphere of its historic quarter, try the local cuisine and stroll through beautiful gardens in the cities. You will visit the ultimate destination of the Way of Saint James, the Cathedral.
Option B: Taste of the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Route Full Day Hike –
Be transferred to Melide. You will hike on a stunning and easier section of the Pilgrimage Route – 15 km from Melide to Arzua. Go through small roads between villages with gentle climbs and descents, alternating with flat stretches. Return to your hotel by car.
On arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel. This is the capital of Galicia and its cultural center. This UNESCO-listed medieval city is a unique area with its own cuisine and language, a wild coastline and emerald green interior – quite simply one of the greatest cities in the World!
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your departure flight.
NH Paseo del Prado Madrid • Hotel Miro Bilbao • Villa Soro San Sebastian • Avenida Palace Barcelona
A member of Minor Hotel Group, is ideally located in the historical district of the city. Offering a 19th century feel enhanced by many modern details, the NH Paseo del Prado hotel overlooks the Fountain of Neptune, one of the city's most emblematic highlights. (Refurbished: 2011; Rooms: 113)
Decorated by Barcelona fashion designer Antonio Miró, it is ideally positioned opposite the Guggenheim Museum. Chic, contemporary decor, a cosmopolitan ambiance that is evident in its 50 rooms. (Opened: 2002; Rooms: 50)
occupies 2 classical buildings, one of which was built in 1898 and is a Historical Heritage Building of San Sebastian. Rooms have luxury individual design, some including artwork from Jorge Oteiza. The Zurriola Beach, the Kursaal Concert and Convention Centre and the old town are within a short walk. (Rooms: 25)
set on Barcelona’s Gran Via, 5 minutes’ walk from Plaza Catalunya, La Rambla and Paseo de Gracia. Its grand interior features an impressive staircase and marble columns. (Refurbished: 2014; Rooms: 151)
Villa Real Madrid • Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao • Zinema7 Hotel San Sebastian • Hotel Casa Fuster Barcelona
Villa Real is an exquisite 5-star hotel located in the heart of Madrid, in the Plaza de las Cortes, in front of the Congress of Deputies and only a few minutes from the Puerta del Sol. Its 115 elegantly decorated rooms and modern suites, have balconies or terraces with amazing privileged views of the Parque del Retiro, the Botanical Gardens or the Paseo de la Castellana. (Renovated: 2006; Rooms: 115)
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This Virtuoso Hotel is also a member of LVX Preferred Hotel & Resorts. Designed by Javier Mariscal, this stylish hotel is located opposite Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum. It features a roof terrace with a restaurant and spectacular views. The Hotel expresses a contemporary concept and was influenced by the activity of the museum and offers a space containing a selection of furniture that represents the most emblematic examples of 20th century design. (Opened: 2002, Refurbished: 2017; Rooms: 145)
is set in a former Astoria Cinema, by the River Urumea. It is themed around cinema and the San Sebastian Film Festival. Each room offers free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV’s and is dedicated to an actor or director who has visited the city. The stylish, sound-proofed rooms at the Zinema7 feature contemporary décor. (Rooms: 107) https://www.zinema7hotel.com/en
A member of LHW, the hotel enjoys a privileged location in the heart of Barcelona on the majestic Paseo de Gràcia, a virtual gallery of modernist architecture. As a gift to his adored wife, Mariano Fuster commissioned modernist architect Lluís Domènch i Montaner to design Casa Fuster. The magnificent home was the most expensive in the city when it was completed in 1911. In 2004, the building, including Café Vienés, was painstakingly restored and transformed into a contemporary boutique hotel.(Rooms: 105)
View MoreMandarin Oriental Ritz or The Westin Palace, Madrid • Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao • Hotel Maria Cristina San Sebastian • Hotel Neri or Grand Hotel Central Barcelona
a luxury Belle Époque palace located in the famous Golden Triangle of Art of Madrid. For over 110 years, this spectacular property is the epitome of luxury and excellence. With a stunning and meticulous restoration that celebrates César Ritz’s pioneering spirit, a prestigious central location, five restaurants and bars overseen by one of Spain’s most celebrated chefs and exceptional fitness and wellness facilities. (Reopened: 2021; Rooms: 167)
Located in the heart of the Spanish capital, and within walking distance of prestigious museums and the main business and shopping district, The Westin Palace Madrid has been the choice for discerning guests seeking a base in which to relax, celebrate or do business in Madrid for over a century. (Opened:1912; Refurbished: 2021; Rooms: 470)
This Virtuoso Hotel is also a member of LVX Preferred Hotel & Resorts. Designed by Javier Mariscal, this stylish hotel is located opposite Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum. It features a roof terrace with a restaurant and spectacular views. The Hotel expresses a contemporary concept and was influenced by the activity of the museum and offers a space containing a selection of furniture that represents the most emblematic examples of 20th century design. (Opened: 2002, Refurbished: 2017; Rooms: 145)
is located opposite San Sebastian’s Victoria Eugenia Theatre, with views over the Cantabrian Sea and Urumea River. Dating from 1912, it is decorated in classic Belle Époque style with original columns, brocades and chandeliers. It is a Luxury Collection hotel under the Marriott group. （Opened: 1912; Rooms: 136）
A member of Small Luxury Hotels, situated on the edge of the Gothic Quarter, right at the centre of the Vía Laietana, you’ll find a place where you can experience the city most intensely without compromising on comfort, elegance and sophistication. (Rooms: 147)
View MoreBased on A Quinta da Auga (Double Classic Room). Includes return air tickets from/to Barcelona, 2 nights hotel, airport transfers, full day tour with car or minivan, private local guide, entrance fee.
⦁ Accommodation on twin sharing basis in hotels as stated on bed & breakfast basis
⦁ Domestic airfares
⦁ Transfers for all destinations as described in the itinerary.
⦁ Private tours and admission fees as per itinerary
⦁ Pinxtos walking tour with including 4 bar-stops (2 Pinxtos and 1 drink per person per stop)
⦁ Local taxes and service charges.
⦁ International airfares
⦁ Visa
⦁ Meals unless otherwise specified
⦁ Travel insurance
⦁ Tourist tax in Barcelona paid directly to hotel
⦁ Personal expenses e.g. laundry, bar, spa services
⦁ Phone and internet charges
Kindly call us at (65) 6219 1359 if you require any immediate assistance.
Call us at +65 6219 1359 or email us at enquiry@intriqjourney.com to start planning for a holiday that is completely tailored to your preferences.
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