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12-day Madrid, Bilbao, San Sebastian & Barcelona Experience
Itinerary
DAY 1 DEPART
Departure from the US.
DAY 2 MADRID
Hola España! Welcome to Madrid. You’ll have time to unwind in your hotel and enjoy a relaxing dinner before exploring the city tomorrow.
DAY 3 MADRID
In the morning enjoy the highlights of Madrid from a hop-on/hop-off bus, including Don Quixote’s statue in the Plaza de España, the Plaza Colon, and the Royal Palace. You’ll have free time in the afternoon for shopping, strolling along the Gran Via or visiting the Reina Sofia Art Museum, where you can learn about Picasso’s Guernica.
DAY 4 MADRID
Today visit the world-renowned art collection in the Prado, where you will see the works of Spanish masters Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco among many other masterpieces. To get a real sense of the city, take a stroll in Madrid’s most popular green space, Retiro Park, followed by a walking tour of the historic center, including the Plaza Mayor. Evening ECI Experience Extra of your choice.
DAY 5 BURGOS
Your trip to Burgos will take you to the Valley of the Fallen, which commemorates the million people who died in the Spanish Civil War. You’ll also see the magnificent palace monastery at El Escorial and Segovia’s Alcázar, situated high above the town like a fairy-tale castle. Arrive for the evening in Burgos, the old capital of Castile and birthplace of 11th-century hero El Cid.
DAY 6 BILBAO
Enjoy a morning exploring the highlights of Burgos with a local guide, including a visit to the amazing Gothic Cathedral, one of Spain’s largest, and the town’s Old Quarter, with its beautiful Renaissance buildings. In the afternoon head for the lively Basque city of Bilbao.
DAY 7 SAN SEBASTIÁN
You’ll have a chance to visit Bilbao’s amazing Guggenheim Museum, its walls made of pure titanium gleaming in the sunlight, and home to a world-beating collection of contemporary art. In the afternoon travel to San Sebastián where you will enjoy a free evening.
DAY 8 SAN SEBASTIÁN
Enjoy a free day on the beaches of San Sebastián, a fashionable resort described as Spain’s summer capital, beautifully situated on the Bay of Biscay. Evening ECI Experience Extra.
DAY 9 BARCELONA
On your way to vibrant Barcelona stop in Pamplona, the town famous for its annual “Running of the Bulls”. Enjoy a free evening in Barcelona, one of Spain’s liveliest cities and the heart of Catalan culture.
DAY 10 BARCELONA
A day’s sightseeing will introduce you to this city’s highlights, including the Castillo de Montjuïc and the atmospheric Gothic Quarter with its maze of narrow streets. In the heart of the Gothic Quarter visit the Picasso Museum, recently expanded and home to many of the artist’s early works. Don’t forget to try the favorite Spanish treat: chocolate con churros!
DAY 11 BARCELONA
More highlights of the city include a visit to Gaudí’s amazing cathedral – the Sagrada Familia, a remarkable monument to one man’s faith, soaring skywards and still unfinished after all these years. His Parque Güell is like nothing you’ve ever seen before: a fantasy of mosaics rising like mounds of ice cream from the hillside. The 1992 Olympic complex will round off the day’s sights.
DAY 12 HOME
Depart for the US.
