< Designed Trips

The Trip

​Experience Spanish art, culture and food through must-see sights and local experiences in Spain’s biggest and best cities. Start in Barcelona, the cultural epicenter of Spain, where you’ll marvel at Gaudi architecture between wandering the ancient Gothic Quarter and snacking on pinchos. Spend a day outside of the city tasting cava at Codorniu Winery and visiting Montserrat monastery before riding the train down the Orange Blossom coast to the lively (and epically underrated) city of Valencia. Explore the city’s best barrios (where we used to live) and cycle through the Turia, a former riverbed turned park, to the spacelike City of Arts & Sciences. Visit Mercado Central and learn to make traditional Paella Valenciana in the birthplace of paella at a local cooking school. Your final stop is the capital city of Madrid, where a private guided tour of Del Prado, and an ultimate Spanish cuisine tour awaits. This cultural city-hopping Designed Trip expertly combines our personal knowledge with local experiences and not-to-miss sights.

The Details

​Price:
  • From $1,895 per person
Duration​:
  • 9 nights, 10 days
Inclusions:
  • Highly-rated boutique hotels
  • All transportation within Spain
  • Private & small-group experiences
  • Curated Spain mini-guide
  • ​Trip preparation & support

The Itinerary

Barcelona
  • Day 1: Bienvenidos a España! Collect your luggage and meet your private driver. After arriving in the historic city center, check in to your boutique luxury hotel (details below) and get settled. Grab some lunch and your private local guide for a 90-minute overview of the city's eclectic neighborhoods and iconic sights. With a new found lay of the land, sit down for an early tapas dinner before calling it a night.
  • Day 2:  Grab a cafe con leche and a tortilla. Today’s the day to explore architect Antoni Gauid’s most famous works. Start with La Sagrada Familia, the most impressive landmark in all of Spain. Construction on the basilica started in 1882 and is still continuing today. Meet your private local guide to learn how he used light, geometry and advanced architectural concepts on his designs. Grab lunch nearby before heading to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Park Guell. Admire Gaudí’s monuments, take in views of the city, and look for wild green parakeets. Walk down to the city center through our favorite Barca neighborhood, Gracia. 
  • Day 3: Grab some breakfast and meet your small group. After a short drive through the Catalan countryside, arrive at the beautiful Montserrat Monastery. Learn about the history of the monastery and listen to La Escolania - the oldest boys’ choir in Europe - who sings here each day. Then, head to the Penedès wine region, where cava (Spanish sparkling wine) is produced. At Codorníu, one of the oldest wineries in the region, learn about the local production before tasting the signature cava. *Alternatively, join a small group to explore the city of Girona and the beaches of the beautiful Costa Brava. 
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Valencia
  • Day 4: Wake up and head to the train station. Take in views of the Med and endless orange groves on your 3-hour train to Spain’s third largest city, Valencia. Check in to your boutique luxury hotel in one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. In the evening, meet our former Spanish teacher (and owner of El Carmen Spanish School) for a drink and a crash course in Castellano. Grab a late dinner (as you do in Spain!) and call it a night.
  • Day 5: After a cafe con leche, meet your small group and hop on your bike to explore the city. Pedal through ancient streets and into the incredible Turia Garden, a 6-mile long former-riverbed that has been transformed into a park with bike paths, fountains, trees and soccer fields. Pass by the space-like City of Arts and Culture, a modern complex, opposite of the ancient city center. The afternoon is free to explore the city - we’ll give you a few ideas of our favorite spots.
  • Day 6:  Rice is a big deal in Valencia - like a really big deal. At the local culinary school, learn about the importance of paella to Valencian culture before heading to the city’s central market. In the largest covered market in Europe, pick out fresh ingredients before returning to the school and learning how to prepare the famous Paella Valenciana. After your paella is finished, sit down and have a traditional paella lunch with wine - what most Valencianos do every Sunday. Follow with an obligatory siesta and a relaxed afternoon. 

Madrid
  • Day 7: Sleep in, check out and head to the train station for your high-speed train to Madrid. Arrive in the capital city and check in to your  boutique luxury hotel. In the late afternoon, meet your local guide for a short private walking tour of the capital city’s impressive plazas and famous landmarks. Madrid has an amazing restaurant scene, so venture out a delicious dinner.
  • Day 8: Mid morning, meet your private local guide to experience one of the world’s most famous art museums. Del Prado. Before the museum, visit some of the surrounding sights, like Plaza de Cibelesand Cybele Palace and Buen Retiro Park. Once inside, learn about the sculptures, paintings, and collections including The Annunciation by El Greco, Las Meninas by Velazquez, and the Family of Carlos IV by Francisco Goya. The afternoon is free, but we suggest grabbing lunch at the trendy Mercado de San Miguel, a food market that was originally built in 1916 but was re-imagined in 2009 to offer gourmet tapas and drinks from over 30 different chefs and vendors. *Alternatively, go on a guided tour of Madrid's Royal Palace.
    Day 9: Wake up and eat a small breakfast. Meet your small group to learn everything there is about Spanish cuisine and eat your way through the city. You’ll visit seven of Madrid’s most iconic bars, restaurants, specialty eateries and cafes, and taste 11 different bites with your local guide. Your final afternoon is free to explore on your own.
  • Day 10: It’s your final day, either talk to us about extending your trip (a few days swimming in the turquoise sea off the island of Mallorca would be a great addition!), or meet your private driver who will take you to the airport for your flight home.

Pricing & Inclusions

Inclusions
  • ​​3 hotel nights in Barcelona
  • 3 hotel nights in Valencia
  • 3 hotel nights in Madrid
  • Private airport arrival transfer in Barcelona 
  • Train tickets from Barcelona to Valencia 
  • Train tickets from Valencia to Madrid
  • Private airport departure transfer in Madrid 
  • Privately guided 90-minute highlights tour of Barcelona
  • La Sagrada Familia & Casa Mila Privately Guided Tour 
  • Small-group, full-day tour to Montserrat & Codorníu Winery, including cava tasting -OR- Small-group tour to Girona and the Costa Brava
  • Private crash course in Castellano over drinks
  • Small group bike tour of Valencia's city center and Jardin Del Turia
  • Market visit and traditional Valencian paella cooking experience (vegetarian options available)
  • Privately guided 90-minute overview tour of Madrid
  • Private Del Prado and surrounding sights tour -OR- Guided Tour of Madrid's Royal Palace 
  • The best of Spanish cuisine small-group tasting tour
  • Curated Spain mini-guide
  • Trip preparation & support

Exclusions
  • International flights to Spain
  • Meals & activities not listed above
  • ​Travel insurance
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​Pricing
  • With boutique hotels
    • From $1,895 per person
  • With luxury boutique hotels
    • From $2,245 per person
  • Pricing for Cohica Designed Trips is based on double occupancy and may vary depending on travel dates and total number of travelers. 
  • This Designed Trip offers the flexibility to make date changes after booking (ask us for details)
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After living in Spain for nearly four years, this Designed Trip was developed based on our personal contacts, favorite hotels and authentic activities that we've experienced first-hand.
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