Spain by train - from Barcelona to Madrid

Day 1: Barcelona

Welcome to Spain and more particularly to Barcelona. Transfer included to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Located on the coast and with a Mediterranean climate, Barcelona is a vibrant city all year round which brings you an exceptional experience. With a fascinating history, we invited you to find out more about it. To start, we can recommend you to explore the old harbour, the Port Vell, and seafront , until you reach the Olympic Marina, where you'll be captivated by the range of food on offer and the sea breeze.

Day 2: Barcelona

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day with possibility of optional excursions. Barcelona showcases an important religious heritage that explains the city's history and past. A cultural melting pot that has been enriched by the presence of different cultures and beliefs.. Visit and enjoy spirituality built of stone in places like the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, Spain’s most-visited monument, fruit of Gaudi’s imagination steeped in symbolism where nature is the source of inspiration; The Cathedral with its dominant presence in the city since the 13th century or the Basilica of Santa María del Mar, one of the best Catalan-Gothic style which is the result of the faith and effort of the seafaring community.

Day 3: Barcelona

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day with possibility of optional excursions. Barcelona is certainly the European city where art-nouveau architecture has the greatest presence in the physiognomy and personality of the city.Our suggestion for today could be to explore the Modernista route, visiting the houses on the Passeig de Gràcia, where three of the great modernisme architects, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Antoni Gaudí, built a house for families Lleó Morera, Amatller and Batlló respectively. The famous Casa Milà or La Pedrera are also in the neighborhood. In the old town, you can found the incomparable Palau de la Música, and in the Parc de la Ciutadella, the building which is home to the Museu de Ciències Naturals i Zoologia. The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is one of the nine modernista masterpieces in Barcelona which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Day 4: Barcelona

Breakfast at the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Today you can ride on the Funicular to explore Barcelona's hill: Montjuïc. Here you can visit the Castell de Montjuïc, the Fundació Miró, the Olympic Ring or the Poble Espanyol, a place full of charm. At lunchtime, you can make your way to Plaça Espanya and the former bullring, Las Arenas, which has now been transformed into a shopping complex. It has an observation deck with 360º panoramic views of the city and a great choice of restaurants. Another option could be a ride in the lift to the top of the Columbus Monument where you can enjoy magnificent views of Barcelona and the famous Rambla. Afterwards, you can lose yourself for a while among the mouth-watering stalls of the Boqueria Market, or how about some mouthwatering tapas?

Day 5: Barcelona & Madrid

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in a high speed train, ticket tourist class, from Barcelona to Madrid. Check in at the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Welcome to Madrid, a city where you will enjoy an inexhaustible array of culture, food and entertainment. To start the visit of the city, we suggest a stroll through Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s most famous sites. Nearby, you can find the Plaza Mayor, in the heart of Hapsburg Madrid, the oldest part of the city. Steeped in history, the bustling plaza is the perfect place to begin your stroll through one of Madrid’s most charming districts. Before Madrid became the city you see today, filled with large avenues and boulevards, it was made up of small streets and alleys, which today conjure up images of swashbucklers and swindlers.

Day 6: Madrid

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day with possibility of optional excursions. If you are an art and culture lover, we recommend visiting the Paseo del arte. This area is uniquely beautiful and home to some of the world's finest artworks. Along a stretch of just over one kilometre, you’ll find the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía museums. Paseo del Arte is also lined with a number of other institutions and buildings well worth visiting. Other suggestion on this day could be to visit the Retiro Park, recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a green oasis in the heart of the city. In it you’ll find all kinds of interesting monuments and gardens After a great day, you can explore the vibrant nightlife in Madrid. Depending on your tastes, you can explore different quartiers in the center. In La Latina, one of the city's most pleasant neighborhoods at any time of day, offers a lively night scene and it's popular with tapas enthusiasts during the day. The Literary Quarter does not rest on any day of the week. Here, you will find a plan, whatever your age, style or favourite pastime.

Day 7: Madrid

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day with possibility of optional excursions. Today we can suggest a visit to the Royal Palace, built in the 18th century. It is the largest palace in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world. With more than 3000 rooms it’s one of the few official seats of a Head of State that is open to the public. Around the palace, other interesting places to visit include Almudena’s Cathedral, Teatro Real or you can go to the Temple of Debod, the only Egyptian building in Spain which dates from the 2nd century BCE. Do you like shopping? You can find a large variety in Madrid, from the most exclusive international brands to boutiques and ateliers by local designers. Nothing beats a walk around Barrio de Salamanca if you’re looking to buy some luxury goods, or exploring the neighbourhood of Las Salesas to discover Madrid’s slow fashion offerings. Are you looking for the latest urban fashion trends? Try the bustling streets Gran Via and Fuencarral. On Sunday morning, a visit to the Rastro flea market is a must in Madrid. You can enjoy the widest selection of musicals, Madrid is the great capital of Spanish-language musicals. Check out the listings; you're spoiled for choice! Or you can discover the Flamenco in one of the “tablao”. Flamenco is one of the most important cultural manifestations in Spain. Composed mainly of song, guitar and dance, its enormous artistic value and its wide international diffusion have led it to be declared an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Day 8: Madrid

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport included. End of our service.