Your perfect first trip to the Mediterranean: Spain
Visiting a new place can be thrilling, exciting, life-changing, and, well, a bit nerve-wracking. Let’s face it, traveling is an adventure. It comes with its own special set of excitement and vacation fueled jitters. And for those who have never been to the Mediterranean before, these travel nerves can sometimes seem daunting. There are so many incredible places that we can show you, but there are a special few countries that our clients who are first-time travelers really fall in love with. Today let’s travel through Spain!
Spain is a country full of color. The people, the food, and its cities. The Spanish culture is as vibrant and fiery as a Spanish sunset. It is also one of the destinations most requested by our clients on their first trip across the ocean. Though there are so many magical places in this country worth seeing. Each region is so dramatically different from another. We know that vacation, unfortunately, doesn’t last forever. In an 8-day trip, you can still see some of the best that Spain has to offer and get a taste of what you can return for on your next trip. And so many of our clients do!
One of the biggest travel tips we can share is flying open jaw. This means flying into one airport and out of another. This saves you invaluable time during your trip. You will have more to savor Spain instead of running around back and forth to airports. With an 8 night trip, flying into the capital, Madrid, is a great way to start.
Madrid: 3 nights
After a private transfer from the airport to your centrally located, hand-picked accommodations, you’ll have the first night free to rest up for the adventure that awaits you.
Your first full day in Spain is done best with a half-day city tour. Your local guide will not just show you the main sites in Madrid. These might include Plaza Mayor, but also special spots like the world-famous Prado museum. Most important for European novices. With a local at your side, you’ll be able to ask whatever is on your mind, about how to spend your time here like a local, or any questions about where to go or what to see in your “down” time. Within a few hours, you’ll be navigating the city like a pro!
On your second day, a trip to the cultural gem (and one time capital of the Spanish Empire), Toledo, cannot be missed. Toledo is a thousand-year-old masterpiece created by various cultures including the Romans, Moors, Jews, and Christians. It’s outside of Madrid, and you’ll need to take a train ride to get there. But to make it easy for you, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and help you the whole way, so you don’t have to worry about finding your way!
Seville: 2 nights
You’ll make your way to your next stop,: the spectacular, small city of Seville. We can either arrange a high-speed train for you that would get you there in just a few hours. Or you can have a private transfer with a stop in the incredible city of Cordoba, on your way.
Your accommodations can range from a 5-star luxury hotel with a wonderful rooftop bar or a cozy bed and breakfast in the center. We have something for everyone! Shortly after check-in, you’ll meet your guide for an incredible evening like a local. Flamenco was born in Seville. It is also one of the most famous Spanish cities for tapas. So, our Flamenco and Tapas Evening Tour is the perfect way to start your exploration of the city. It will even help you learn more about how it extends to the culture of the region. A visit to Spain without a flamenco experience is not complete. Your host for the evening will provide a deeper understanding of its origins, its meaning, and its place in modern-day Spain.
The next day (perhaps a little later in the morning as you start to adjust to the more relaxed Spanish schedule), your guide will meet you for a half-day private tour of what is arguably Spain’s most enchanting city. During your tour, you might see the enormous cathedral. It is the largest Gothic building in the world, featuring the tomb of Christopher Columbus and its 12th-century bell-tower. La Giralda, originally built by the Moors as a minaret and also visit the ornately decorated Alcazar Palace and its Andalusian gardens.
Barcelona: 3 nights
Your driver will meet you at your hotel today and take you for a short trip to Seville airport. Here, you’ll take a short, 1.5-hour flight to beautiful Barcelona. You’ll check in to your charming accommodations in the historical center. Along with our expert tips and advice, you’ll have the evening free to explore the city at your leisure After all, this is vacation! For those of you here for the first time (or the tenth), you will always have our contact on hand. We are just an email, text, or call away for any questions, no matter how small.
The next morning, you’ll have a half-day private tour of the city. Barcelona, with typical Catalan pride and creativity, remains determined to project itself as Spain’s most innovative city and offers a staggering array of attractions. The tour takes in the Passeig de Gracia, La Rambla, the Gothic Quarter, and since it’s a private tour, your guide will be able to work with you and arrange a tour based on your interests and what you want to see that day. We will also show you the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s most famous work and a worldwide symbol for Barcelona. After today, you’ll be able to navigate the city like a native!
For your last day in the city, you’ll have a treat (literally and figuratively) with a half-day food tour of Barcelona. The city has become a world-renowned food capital for its uniqueness of Catalan cuisine, which combines creativity and tradition. Markets, bistrós, wine bars, and bodegas define the constant evolution of such a vibrant culinary scene. Together with your host, a local expert in gastronomy and history, you will get to know traditions, stories, and recipes, and get an insider’s view and taste of Barcelona.
The next morning, your private transfer will be waiting to take you to the Barcelona airport for your flight home. Your vacation to Spain may be over, but the travel bug will have just started!
The itinerary we outlined above is just one of the so many ideas we can tailor to your vacation dreams for your first trip to Spain. It’s a country that deserves a visit, and we bet that after your first trip, you’ll be spending your flight home to North America already dreaming about your next trip back.
Does this sound like the trip you’ve been dreaming of? Contact us for more information on how we can help you discover spectacular Spain!
