Independent Barcelona & Madrid City Stay
Day 1 ARRIVE IN BARCELONA, SPAIN Welcome to Barcelona! A Globus local Host will be waiting to welcome you at the hotel between 5pm and 7pm. Free time this afternoon.
Today's I-Time Tips
Your first encounter with this captivating city will reveal to you why the motto, “Barcelona Inspires,” is true. Stunning architecture, dazzling beaches, vibrant markets and delicious dishes, this city has so much to offer. For your first taste of the city, take a seat in a sidewalk cafè and soak up the lively atmosphere. Your GlobusGO mobile app has all the dining tips you need.
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Day 2 BARCELONA Follow your Local Guide on a walking tour to discover the main attractions of the Gothic Quarter. Admire Güell Palace, the Gothic Cathedral, Boqueria Market, La Rambla, and Placa del la Catalunya.
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Today's I-Time Tips
This evening, join an optional excursion to experience one of Spain’s cultural treasures – the Flamenco! Enjoy a traditional Spanish buffet dinner with drinks and lose yourself in the powerful expressions of love, joy, and pain as professional performers tell their tales through rhythm, lyrics, guitar, and dance. Olé! More free time and entertainment tips can be found on your GlobusGO app.
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Day 3 BARCELONA The day is yours to explore as you please.
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Today's I-Time Tips
One of Barcelona’s “must-sees” is the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, a testament to the masterwork of Antoni Gaudi. Built on the reliance of donations since the first stone was laid more than 130 years ago, the iconic church remains an unfinished masterpiece and the world’s longest-running construction project. Other examples of Gaudi’s work can be found around the city, one of the most famous being the Casa Batlló on the elegant boulevard Passeig de Grcia.
Take a ride to the top of Arena de Barcelona, a converted bull ring that now houses shops and restaurants for a panoramic view of the surrounding area. More must-see sights are all at your fingertips with your GlobusGO mobile app.
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Day 4 BARCELONA–MADRID Travel by high-speed train to Madrid. A Globus Local Host will be waiting to welcome you. Free time this afternoon and evening.
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Today's I-Time Tips
The city of Madrid has so much to offer filled with intriguing stories and hidden secrets. Stroll around the streets and take pictures of “El Osoy y el Madrono” (The bear and the strawberry tree), the biggest symbol of the city. This evening why not join an optional dinner excursion to try typical Spanish dishes at a local restaurant. Find more gastronomic suggestions on the GlobusGO app.
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Day 5 MADRID This morning’s guided walking tour features some of Madrid’s most iconic sights including San Miguel market, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Cibeles fountain.
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Today's I-Time Tips
Join an optional excursion to Toledo the former Spanish capital, one of Europe’s best preserved walled medieval cities, known as the “City of Three Cultures”. Stroll along the cobblestone alleyways to experience this cultural melting pot of Jewish, Islamic, and Christian influence, evident in the city’s well-preserved synagogues, mosques, and cathedrals. Join the locals for a stroll through the Parque de el Buen Retiro, a green oasis in the city centre which was formerly only accessible to royals. More free time ideas can be found on your GlobusGO mobile app.
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Day 6 MADRID The day is yours to explore as you please.
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Today's I-Time Tips
Madrid is home to some wonderful art galleries, including the Prado Museum which houses one of the world’s largest art collections, including amazing masterpieces by historic artists like Velasquez, Goya, and El Greco. If contemporary Spanish art is more to your taste, the Reina Sofia Museum has a wonderful collection including works by Dalí, Miró and Picasso. For more hints on Madrid’s museums, check out your GlobusGO app.
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Day 7 MADRID Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
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Barcelona
Barcelona, the self-confident and progressive capital of Spain, is a tremendous place to be. Though it boasts outstanding Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings, and some great museums – most notably those dedicated to Picasso and Catalan art – it is above all a place where there's enjoyment simply in walking the streets, stopping in at bars and cafés, drinking in the atmosphere. A thriving port and the most prosperous commercial centre in Spain, it has a sophistication and cultural dynamism way ahead of the rest of the country. In part this reflects the city's proximity to France, whose influence is apparent in the elegant boulevards and imaginative cooking. But Barcelona has also evolved an individual and eclectic cultural identity, most perfectly and eccentrically expressed in the architecture of Antoni Gaudí. Scattered as Barcelona's main sights may be, the greatest concentration of interest is around the old town (La Ciutat Vella). These cramped streets above the harbor are easily manageable, and far more enjoyable, on foot. Start, as everyone else does, with the Ramblas.
Excursions
Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)
Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)
Highlights:
An architectural delight awaits you today in Barcelona, one of the most exciting cities in Europe. Receive a warm greeting at the port by your private guide and driver and commence your full-day tour with a visit to Gaudi's masterpiece, the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be complete until 2028!
Next, visit Parc Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's most colourful creations. Continue along Passeig de Gracia, to view Gaudi's Casa Batlló and Casa Mila from the outside, with its brilliant wave-like façade.
After lunch, lose yourself in the narrow streets of the true heart of the city - the medieval Gothic Quarter. Here you will visit the magnificent 13th-century Cathedral, and the Picasso Museum, where some of the painter's earliest works are housed. At the end of your tour you are transferred back to the port.
- Walk the labyrinthine alleys of the medieval Gothic Quarter to find architectural gems like the Church of Santa Maria del Mar
- Admire the Sagrada Familia and the Picasso Museum, where some of the artist's earliest works are housed.
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 8 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Not Included:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Gaudi’s Barcelona (4 hours)
Gaudi’s Barcelona (4 hours)
Highlights:
Receive a warm greeting at the port from your private guide and driver and commence your half-day tour with a visit to Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece; the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be completed until 2028!
Continue on to Parc Guell, a beautiful municipal garden with a superb panoramic view over the city; the focal point is a colourful sea-serpent-shaped central terrace. Visit the gatehouse where Gaudi lived during his later years which is now a museum dedicated to him. Transfer back to the port at the end of your tour.
- Visit the impressive, but still unfinished Sagrada Familia, masterpiece of the Catalan architect
- Wander through Parc Guell, the UNESCO World Heritage Site considered Gaudi's most colourful creation
Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local guide for 8 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
Not Included:
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Authentic Barcelona by Bike
Authentic Barcelona by Bike
Overview: Uncover the most authentic side of Barcelona riding the world's best folding bike, a Brompton. Be led by an expert bike guide and venture into a unique and exclusive experience. Connect with your local guide by sharing and listening to trivia stories about Barcelona. Embark on a ride to explore the least touristy Eixample and Gracia districts. Glimpse the Plaça d'Espanya, the Hospital de la Santa Creu, Sant Pau, and modernist estates.
Duration: 3 Hours
Barcelona Sailing Journey
Barcelona Sailing Journey
Overview: Experience the thrill of sailing the Barcelona Coastline. Glimpse the Barcelona skyline from a different perspective and spot some landmarks, including Frank Gehry Golf Fish Sculpture and the Twin Towers", Torres Venecianas. Immerse yourself in the serene deep blue while seeping your glass of wine. Weather permitting, anchor and venture in a short swim.
Duration: 4 Hours
Exploring Cavas' Origin
Exploring Cavas' Origin
Overview: Uncover the dedication of a biodynamic winegrowers family committed to excellence in long-aged wines. Venture on a stroll around the winery's iconic vineyards to discover the distinctive features of a unique spot in the Penedès region. Sheltered by the woods, taste a base wine paired with a light snack. Elevate your experience by savoring three long-aged sparkling wines, a limited-edition white wine, and an extra-virgin olive oil.
Duration: 4 Hours
From Market to Home with a Top Chef
From Market to Home with a Top Chef
Overview: Led by a top Chef who graduated from the prestigious Cordon Bleu School in Paris, embark on an exclusive gourmet journey at her private penthouse. Head to a 19th-century local market and thoroughly select the finest ingredients for your recipe. Dare to partake in the cooking process while you uncover some secrets of high-end cuisine. Savor the combination of flavors paired with a premium selection of Spanish Wines.
Duration: 4 Hours
Hike a World of Nature (7,5 miles)
Hike a World of Nature (7,5 miles)
Overview: Step away from the bustling Barcelona and embrace Catalonia's unique landscape with La Garrotxa and Fageda d'en jordà. Venture into an exciting 7,5 miles hike through the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa. Engage in a circular route through La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Ascend to the inside of Santa Margarita volcano and discover a chapel lying on its crater. Dive into Fageda d'en Jordà, a unique beech forest that grows on the lava flow of Croscat Volcano. Finalize your trail with a stop at the Croscat Volcano grederes.
Duration: 4 Hours
Montserrat Discovery Hike (5 miles)
Montserrat Discovery Hike (5 miles)
Overview: Ancient Wonders and hidden gems await you on the famous needles of Montserrat Mountain. Venture into an exciting and intimate hike connecting you to Montserrat's outlandish and most authentic elements. Uncover the region of Agulles and the north face of Montserrat, passing between the needles, having to take some steps climbing ropes, and ending up visiting emblematic places such as Cadireta or Foradada.
Duration: 4 Hours
Montserrat from the Skies
Montserrat from the Skies
Overview: Marvel at Montserrat Mountain's impressive scenic views. With a bird' s-eye view, witness these massive conglomerates, which form unexpectedly imposing sculptures due to their geological evolution. They all have names related to their shapes, and we find caves, chasms, and torrents in their shelter.
Flying over the Montserrat mountain, the spiritual Center of Catalonia is undoubtedly one of the most surprising and impressive experiences.
Duration: 1 Hour