Spain small group: 9 days from Madrid to Barcelona

$4,669.00

9 days from Madrid to Barcelona

Globus Tours

Small groups translate to great experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour of Spain! Begin in Madrid, where Hemingway was inspired to pen great novels and explore Málaga where Picasso was born to revolutionize art history. Continue to Granada where brave bullfighters entered the ring as they had been since 1784, then marvel at the Alhambra Complex as one of the largest aristocratic treasures of Western Muslim history. In Valencia, sip Horchata or mint tea and explore the rich Moorish influences on architecture and culture. Sail on the waterways of Albufera National Park where water birds of every size flock to its sanctuary. Dig into the perfect pan of Valencia paella and tap into conversation over afternoon tapas in Barcelona. Any way you slice it, this Small Group Discovery tour of Spain is the perfect size to go big from Madrid to Barcelona!

Designed from the ground up for a maximum of 18 guests in Europe, this Small Group Discovery tour has everything you need to explore with up-close-and-exclusive experiences that go beyond traditional tours.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Ride the AVE train from Madrid to Malaga. Take a cruise in the rice farm in Albufera. Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

9 days from Madrid to Barcelona

Globus Tours

Small groups translate to great experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour of Spain! Begin in Madrid, where Hemingway was inspired to pen great novels and explore Málaga where Picasso was born to revolutionize art history. Continue to Granada where brave bullfighters entered the ring as they had been since 1784, then marvel at the Alhambra Complex as one of the largest aristocratic treasures of Western Muslim history. In Valencia, sip Horchata or mint tea and explore the rich Moorish influences on architecture and culture. Sail on the waterways of Albufera National Park where water birds of every size flock to its sanctuary. Dig into the perfect pan of Valencia paella and tap into conversation over afternoon tapas in Barcelona. Any way you slice it, this Small Group Discovery tour of Spain is the perfect size to go big from Madrid to Barcelona!

Designed from the ground up for a maximum of 18 guests in Europe, this Small Group Discovery tour has everything you need to explore with up-close-and-exclusive experiences that go beyond traditional tours.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Ride the AVE train from Madrid to Malaga. Take a cruise in the rice farm in Albufera. Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

Trip Itinerary and Additional Information

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid, Spain

Your Small Group Discovery begins! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Day 2: Madrid

  • 🥞 Breakfast

  • Dinner: The Sun Also Rises
    Join your small group for a guided tour tracing the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway, the Nobel Literature Prize-winner, who frequented Madrid for over three decades. Learn about U.S. and Spain connections through those who knew Hemingway, like John Dos Passos and Ava Gardner.

Enhanced Free Time (Small Group Exclusive):
Take advantage of an optional gastronomic experience, exploring various venues to sample local culinary specialties.

Tour Highlight (Small Group Exclusive):
Explore Madrid’s traditions and daily life, featuring the painter’s market, Plaza de Oriente, and the Carboneras Convent of Corpus Christi Jerónimas, where the sisters bake and sell sweets.

Day 3: Madrid – Málaga

Board your AVE train to Málaga. Enjoy a walking tour and visit the Picasso Museum to explore the artist's life and works. Later, join your small group for dinner at a local restaurant.

  • 🥞 Breakfast

  • 🍽️ Dinner

Tour Highlight:
Learn about the connection between Málaga and Picasso. Discover how the city influenced his early years as a renowned artist.

Day 4: Málaga – Excursion to Setenil & Ronda

Continue through the Guadalhorce Valley to Setenil de las Bodegas, one of Andalusia's unique white villages. Proceed to Ronda, known for its dramatic landscape and historical tales of bandits, bullfighters, and artists.

  • 🥞 Breakfast

Tour Highlight:
Stroll through Ronda’s Moorish architecture, and visit the famous Plaza de Toros de Ronda, the oldest bullring in Spain, dating back to 1784.

Day 5: Málaga – Granada

  • 🥞 Breakfast
    Visit the Alhambra Palace and the Water Gardens of Generalife, a symbol of Western Muslim culture.

Accommodation Spotlight (Small Group Exclusive):
Enjoy an overnight stay at the Nasrid Palace, now the Alhambra Palace hotel. This historic hotel overlooks Granada from a hilltop perch in the heart of Alhambra.

Mint Condition:
Explore Granada's Albaicín district and enjoy a traditional mint tea.

Day 6: Granada – Valencia

  • 🥞 Breakfast
    In Valencia, embark on a walking tour, visit the science complex, and enjoy traditional Horchata with a farton pastry.

Day 7: Valencia – Albufera – Barcelona

  • 🥞 Breakfast

  • 🍽️ Lunch

Tour Highlight (Small Group Exclusive):
Cruise the Albufera National Park and observe the local wildlife, including flamingos and herons. Enjoy a traditional paella lunch made with chicken, paprika, and saffron.

Day 8: Barcelona

  • 🥞 Breakfast

  • 🍽️ Lunch

Tour Highlight (Celebrating Spain):
Visit Mercat de la Concepció and El Nacional, a famous food hall in Barcelona. Share a traditional tapas lunch with your travel companions to celebrate your journey.

Day 9: Barcelona

Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. Safe travels until we meet again!

Hand-picked Hotels:
Madrid: Riu Plaza España, Gran Via 84, Madrid

  • Amenities: Rooftop bar, heated swimming pool, fitness center, free WiFi, and more.

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