Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to Spain. After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Barcelona El Prat Airport, subsequent to Customs & Immigration, you will be met by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort, transfer to the hotel,  & discuss the program for the next few days.

Cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region Barcelona is an enchanting seaside city with boundless culture, is known for its art and architecture and a world-class drinking & dining scene.

The fantastical Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks designed by Antoni Gaudí dot the city. Museu Picasso and Fundacio Joan Miro feature modern art by their namesakes. City history museum MUHBA, includes several Roman archaeological sites.

Barcelona's architectural treasures span 2000-plus years. Towering temple columns, ancient city walls and subterranean stone corridors provide a window into Roman-era Barcino. Fast forward a thousand years to the Middle Ages by taking a stroll through the shadowy lanes of the Gothic quarter, past tranquil plazas and soaring 14th-century cathedrals. In other parts of town bloom the sculptural masterpieces of Modernisme, a mix of ingenious and whimsical creations by Gaudí & Catalan architectural contemporaries. Barcelona has also long inspired artists, including Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, whose works are in bold display in the city's myriad museums.

The night holds limitless possibilities in Barcelona. Start with sunset drinks from a panoramic terrace or dig your heels in the sand at a rustic beachside chiringuito. As darkness falls, live music transforms the city: the rapid-fire rhythms of flamenco, brassy jazz spilling out of basements, and hands-in-the-air indie-rock at vintage concert halls. Towards midnight the bars fill. Take your pick from old-school taverns adorned with 19th century murals, plush lounges in lamp-lit medieval chambers or boisterous cava bars. If you're still standing at 3am, hit the clubs and explore Barcelona's unabashed wild side.

The masters of molecular gastronomy - Albert Adria, Carles Abellan et al - are part of the long & celebrated tradition of Catalan cooking. Simple, flavourful ingredients - seafood, jamon (cured ham), market-fresh produce - are transformed into remarkable delicacies and then served in captivating settings. Feast on hearty, rich paella at an outdoor table overlooking the sea or step back to the 1920s at an elegant art nouveau dining room. Barcelona's wide-ranging palate adds further complexity: Basque-style tapas bars, Galician seafood taverns, avant-garde Japanese restaurants and sinful chocolate shops are all essential parts of the culinary landscape.

Check-in at the hotel.

Morning at 09:00 am, you will be picked up for a 4 hour sightseeing tour of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Delve into the architectural beauty & rich history of Barcelona.

Start at the majestic Spanish Square where you will have an up-close view of the Magic Fountain. See the buildings from the 1929 World Expo. Stop at the National Palace's main entrance (from outside only, Entry ticket not included), & Mirador Del Alcalde, where you will see the well-known sculpture, La Sardana. See the inside of the Olympic Stadium as well, then observe the exterior of Sant Jordi Palace that is next to the stadium.

Then, ascend to Montjuic Hill, the renowned site of the 1992 Olympic Games. Enjoy sweeping vistas of Barcelona’s metropolitan sprawl from the hill’s summit. Make stops at the best points up the hill to enjoy the best views of the Barcelona landscape.

Visit the atmospheric Gothic Quarter. Stroll amid buildings that are testament to the Catalonian capital's medieval heritage. Visit the Jewish Quarter and see a 2,000-year-old Roman temple beside the grand Cathedral. Afterwards, head downtown where you will drive though historical streets such as Via Laietana or Ramblas. Traffic permitting, you may even pay a visit to the old Roman city of Barcelona in Sant Jaume Square.

Finally, begin the Antoni Gaudi portion of your tour. Arrive at Basilica of the Sacred Family (La Sagrada Familia) so you may admire the exterior (Entrance Ticket, not included) of Gaudi’s incredible architectural master work. Stop to admire the modernist structures of Plaça Espanya and then marvel at two of Antoni Gaudi’s most impressive architectural creations as you travel down Passeig de Gracia towards La Pedrera & Casa Batllo

Return to the hotel.

Early morning at 06.00 am, depart for Madrid, enroute stopping at Zaragoza.

Zaragoza - Spain’s 5^th largest city is loaded with creatively displayed Roman remains, a turreted castle with an interior like a mini-Alhambra, and the epoch-defining art of Francisco de Goya, the genius painter who was born a short horse-ride away in 1746.

The ethereal image of the baroque multi-domed Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Pilar, a famous pilgrimage site with a shrine to the Virgin Mary,  reflected in the Río Ebro at dawn is reason alone to visit Zaragoza, one of Spain’s most underrated regional capitals. Stay after sunrise and the reasons to linger quickly stack up.

Other Mudejar-style landmarks, combining Islamic & Gothic architecture, include the Aljafería, an 11^th century Moorish Palace, and the 12^th century Cathedral of the Savior.And there’s more! Zaragoza’s most recent moment in the spotlight came in 2008 when it hosted the World Expo. Infrastructure from the event has added much to the city’s cultural repertoire.

A stroll around the riverside northwest of the city centre will reveal space-age bridges, a plush new bus & railway station, and the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe.

Continue on to Madrid and arrive by afternoon.

Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards & expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It is renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velazquez & other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace & Armory, displaying historic weaponry.

Few cities boast an artistic pedigree quite as pure as Madrid’s: many art lovers return here again & again. For centuries, Spanish royals showered praise & riches upon the finest artists of the day, from home-grown talents such as Goya & Velazquez to Flemish & Italian greats. Masterpieces by these & other Spanish painters such as Picasso, Dalí and Miro now adorn the walls of the city’s world-class galleries. Three in particular are giants - the Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza - but in Madrid these are merely good places to start.

Rising above the humble claims of its local cuisine, Madrid has evolved into one of the richest culinary capitals of Europe as it has wholeheartedly embraced all the creativity & innovation of Spain’s gastronomic revolution. But this acceptance of the new is wedded to a passion for the enduring traditions of Spanish cooking, for the conviviality of the eating experience and for showcasing the infinite variety of food from every Spanish region. From tapas in sleek temples to all that is new to sit-down meals beneath centuries-old vaulted ceilings, eating in Madrid is a genuine pleasure.

Not to forget, Madrid nights are the stuff of legend, and the perfect complement to the more sedate charms of fine arts & fine dining. The city may have more bars than any other city on earth - a collection of storied cocktail bars & nightclubs that combine a hint of glamour with non-stop marcha (action). But that only goes some way to explaining the appeal of after-dark Madrid. Step out into the night-time streets of many Madrid neighbourhoods and you will find yourself swept along on a tide of people, accompanied by a happy crowd intent on dancing until dawn.

Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the afternoon is at leisure to relax or to explore independently (we will be happy to offer suggestions).

Evening, you will be met by the Tour-guide & enjoy an “Illuminated Madrid” drive through the bustling streets of the old city, ending at the historical and impressive Plaza Mayor. This area is home to some of the most typical restaurants & taverns, which serve the delicious "tapas”.

Morning at 09:00 am, meet the Tour-guide & proceed for a 4 hour sightseeing tour to get a glimpse of some of Madrid's most outstanding attractions & discover all that Madrid has to offer, including art, architecture, culture & history.

Here is a place where the passions of Europe’s most passionate country are the fabric of daily life, a city with music in its soul and an unshakeable spring in its step.

Madrid may lack the cachet of Paris, the monumental history of Rome, or Barcelona’s reputation for Modernista masterpieces. And no, there is no equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, Colosseum or La Sagrada Família that you can point to and say ‘this is Madrid’. But Madrid has nothing to be envious of. Spain's broad sweep of architectural history provides a glorious backdrop to city life, from medieval mansions & royal palaces to the unimagined angles of Spanish contemporary architecture, from the sober brickwork & slate spires of Madrid baroque to the extravagant confections of the belle epoque. Put simply, this is one beautiful city.

Since its foundation, Madrid has had a succession of different rulers, with each one stamping his or her mark on the city. The different styles of architecture amassed throughout the ages are incredible to behold; you will see influences from surrounding countries, as well as the different art eras that are prevalent in so much European architecture.

Start with a look at the city’s Moorish Quarter to learn about Madrid’s Arabic (Moorish) roots, seeing sights like the Arabic fortress, and then move on to an area known as Los Austrias or Habsburg’s Madrid, in reference to the Habsburg Dynasty who once ruled. Travel along Calle Mayor, seeing Plaza Mayor & Plaza de la Villa - two of the town’s main squares - and then continue to a neighborhood lavished with Bourbon treasures to see A-list attractions such as Madrid Royal Palace. Hear tales of the eccentric kings & dignitaries of the different eras, and then visit some of the city’s more modern sites.

Travel down Gran Via to see the hustle and bustle of Plaza de Espana, and then see the streets of Salamanca - Madrid’s trendiest neighborhood where bars spill onto the streets.

Stop for a look at Las Ventas Bullring and Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and then finish your tour with a drink at Madrid’s Hard Rock Cafe (direct payment).

The Tour-guide will leave from here after giving you helpful tips. At this point you are free to continue independent exploration, or return to the hotel.

Full day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). Overnight.  B 

Finally, the experience comes to an end and it is time to say good-bye to the region’s warm hospitality & heritage.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, you are allowed to use the hotel facilities and leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? – Madrid - Adolfo Suarez Madrid - Barajas Airport, for your onward journey.  B

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