Culinary Tour of Spain: Madrid, Bilbao, San Sebastián & Barcelona - 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid, Explore the Spanish Capital

Welcome to Spain! Upon arrival in Madrid, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel, where you can rest or freshen up before heading out to explore. Start by getting your bearings with a cold drink at the bustling Puerto del Sol, Madrid's central square, then discover the fresh produce at the gourmet Mercado de San Miguel and pick up supplies for a picnic lunch at El Retiro, a relaxing oasis created as a retreat for the royal family and opened to the public as a park in the late 1700s. 

Refuel with a sweet treat like churros con chocolate, then ride the Teleferico cable car from Moncloa to Casa de Campo for fabulous city views. The 18th-century Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace) is an excellent choice for art lovers, with works by some of Spain's most notable artists in the revered Painting Gallery. In the evening, you'll be spoiled for choice with dining options, from local restaurants serving authentic paella to the famous Botín, described by Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises as the best restaurant on earth. 

Day 2: Madrid Gourmet Walking Tour: Jamón, Olives & Chocolate

Today you'll dive into Spanish gastronomy with a four-hour walking tour that introduces you to three of the city's most exceptional gourmet shops. Accompanied by a local foodie guide, you'll start by visiting a purveyor of artisanal cured meats and sample one of Spain's most popular specialties: jamón Ibérico. Learn how this ham is made and served, what makes it so special, and how you identify it.

Your next stop takes you to a specialty olive oil shop, where you'll learn more about the 240 types of olives grown in Spain, each with its own specific flavor profile. An expert will help you taste oils and olives from different regions of the country before teaching you about the precise definition of extra-virgin olive oil, its pressing process, and the ideal foods with which to pair it.

You'll finish the experience on a sweet note with a visit to a chocolatier that specializes in handmade chocolate creations. This tasting features truffles, bar chocolates, and chocolate drinks, and you'll learn about the different flavor notes and ingredients used to infuse these chocolates. After this whirlwind foodie experience, you can enjoy a traditional lunch or dinner before deciding how to spend your free evening.

Day 3: Day Trip to Segovia: Roman Aqueducts & Fairy-Tale Palaces

Leave the capital behind for the day when your guide picks you up this morning for the hour's drive north of Madrid to Segovia. There's no shortage of historic cities in Spain, but Segovia stands out for its famous Roman Aqueduct and medieval Old Town, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You'll visit these landmarks on a walking tour, where a guide will tell you about the 2,000-year-old aqueduct. It runs 8 miles (14 km) in length, stands an impressive 93 feet (28 m) high, and features two tiers comprised of 160 arches.

Then, your guide will take you through the Old Town, situated on a bluff overlooking the Eresma and Clamores rivers. For many years, Moors, Christians, and Jews coexisted in harmony here, and this is reflected in the area's architectural influences, which range from Mudéjar to Gothic. You'll see the 11th-century Alcázar (Palace), the 14th-century Old Main Synagogue, and the 16th-century Segovia Cathedral, which dominates the skyline. After you finish exploring, your driver will return you to your hotel in Madrid for the night.

Day 4: Train to Bilbao, Evening Pintxos Crawl

This morning, make your way to the train station for the five-hour journey north to Bilbao, a buzzy port town in the culturally independent Basque Country. Known for its intriguing mix of modern and historic architecture, the city has also developed a legendary food culture and is renowned for both its density of Michelin-starred restaurants and its pintxos (Basque tapas) gastronomy. 

Settle into your hotel and refresh, then spend the evening snacking your way around the city's most authentic pintxos bars. Accompanied by an expert local foodie, you'll visit both classic, traditional eateries and the highly creative newcomers as you hear plenty of entertaining culinary tales from your guide. Enjoy combinations such as hake and piquillo peppers, oxtail croquettes, txangurro gratinado (spider crab gratin), and foie gras with apples and Pedro Ximénez, all washed down with local wines or craft beers.

Day 5: Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Tour, Rioja Wine Tasting Experience

No visit to Bilbao is complete without a visit to the Guggenheim Museum, so today you'll discover Frank Gehry's contemporary architectural masterpiece and the city's notable sights with a tour of both the gallery and Bilbao's Casco Viejo (Old Town). After admiring the museum's gleaming exterior, venture inside and see some of the most important works from the mid-20th century to the present, from artists such as Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, Anish Kapoor, Fujiko Nakaya, and Eduardo Chillida.

Afterward, stroll along Las Siete Calles (The Seven Streets), home to the city's classic landmarks, restaurants, and boutiques, while your guide shares anecdotes of the city's fascinating past. Located right on the waterfront, the area houses significant sites, including the 18th-century Church of San Nicolás with its two imposing cupolas and the 16th-century Church of San Antón. The vast Mercado de la Ribera, Europe's largest covered market, is your final stop—brimming with mouthwatering Basque specialties, it's ideal for a foodie lunch on the go.

Later in the afternoon, more gastronomy awaits as you learn about Spain's most famous winemaking region during an immersive tasting experience in an intimate local bar. Guided by an expert sommelier, you'll sample five varieties of distinctive Rioja wines—four red and one white—each paired with a local cheese.

Day 6: Scenic Coastal Transfer to San Sebastián with Lunch & Wine Tasting

Today, you'll trade Bilbao for San Sebastián. While it's only an hour's drive from one city to the other, the scenery is too spectacular to rush, so you'll slow down and spend most of the day winding your way along the Cantabrian Coast. After meeting your private driver/guide, your first stop is Gaztelugatxe, where a long stone bridge connects the rocky islet (and its 11th-century hermitage) to the mainland. 

Continue a few minutes along the coast to the colorful fishing village of Bermeo. Not only is this the Basque region's most important fishing port, but it's also located at the edge of Urdaibai, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and protected area home to some of Spain's most gorgeous coastal landscapes. From Bermeo, you'll travel a couple of miles deeper into Urdaibai to the town of Mundaka, which sits on an estuary surrounded by magnificent wetlands.

Your next stop is the Gorka Izagirre winery, home to the largest txakolí wine cellar in the Basque Country. This local white wine pairs perfectly with the region's renowned seafood, and you'll discover its delicate fruit and floral notes on a tasting tour. Then, you'll head up the hill to an adjacent Michelin-starred restaurant, where you'll sit down to an elaborate gourmet tasting menu with wine pairings. After the meal, your driver will continue east to San Sebastián, where you can check into your hotel and rest up for tomorrow's adventures.

Day 7: Explore San Sebastián by Bike: Landmarks, Architecture & Beaches

You'll wake up in San Sebastián (or Donostia in the Basque language), which sits on the Bay of Biscay near the border with France. Grab a hearty breakfast, then set off with a guide to explore this famously beautiful city on two wheels. Begin in front of the Catedral del Buen Pastor de San Sebastián (Cathedral of the Good Shepherd), a marvel of 19th-century Gothic architecture built from Monte Igueldo sandstone and slate, and pedal through the narrow streets of the Parte Vieja (Old Town), situated in the east of the city between the ocean and the Urumea River.

Head toward Mercado San Martín as your guide shares stories about the local food culture and the importance of pintxos in Basque cuisine, then continue into the Centro (New Town) area, home to the city's elegant Belle Époque buildings. You'll cycle past the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) and the Theatre Victoria Eugenia, which has been hosting cultural events, from operas to the San Sebastián Film Festival, since 1912.

The final stretch takes you to San Sebastián's famous beaches. Marvel at Zurriola's iconic Bakearen Usoa (Dove of Peace) sculpture by the Basque artist Nestor Nasterretxea, and pass Ondarreta's El Peine del Viento (The Wind Comb), a set of three steel sculptures by Eduardo Chillida anchored to rocks. After a scenic pedal along the crescent-shaped sands of La Concha, you'll cycle back to the city center, where you can part ways with your guide and refuel with some pintxos and cider on your own.

Day 8: French Basque Coast Day Trip: Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Biarritz & Bayonne

Leave Spain behind for a while when you meet your driver and guide this morning and hop over the border into France. Your first stop is the fishing town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, known for its rich nautical history and dramatic setting where the Nivelle River meets the Bay of Biscay. Follow your guide on foot through the narrow streets to Place Louis XIV in the historic center, then continue to the 14th-century Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste to admire the church's Baroque architecture. You'll also have some free time to enjoy the Grande Plage, a sandy beach lapped by calm waters thanks to three breakwaters.

Continue 30 minutes along the coast to reach Biarritz, a former fishing village that flourished as a summer vacation destination for royals in the 19th century. Wander the streets lined with Belle Époque villas (including the Hôtel du Palais, built as a summer home for Emperor Napoleon III) and learn about the town's thriving surf culture as you climb to the craggy summit of Rocher de la Vierge for far-reaching sea views. Refuel after your ascent with lunch at a local eatery, where you can sample the region's seafood, followed by a local sweet treat like gâteau Basque.

Your final stop is 20 minutes inland in Bayonne (considered France's "chocolate capital"), where you can explore the atmospheric medieval Old Town's cobbled streets lined with half-timbered buildings and spot the remains of 17th-century ramparts. Follow your guide through the buzzing Marché Carreau des Halles, with its heaving stalls of cheese, meat, fish, and produce, and don't miss a stroll down the town's famous Rue du Port-Neuf (also known as Chocolate Street), where you'll find artisan chocolate shops dating back to the 17th century.

Day 9: Train to Barcelona, Sunset Sailing Excursion

Wave farewell to the Basque Country this morning as you take a 5.5-hour train journey east to Spain's second city, Barcelona. This seaside metropolis is the capital of Catalonia and is famed for its astounding art museums and architecture, as well as a world-class food and nightlife scene, thriving markets, and lively beaches. Upon arrival, a driver will transfer you to your hotel, where you might want to settle in and grab a quick nap before this evening's excursion. 

In the late afternoon, you'll head down to Port Olímpic, step aboard a luxury sailboat, and set off on a two-hour sunset cruise along the coast. Relax amid the sight of the sun gilding Barcelona's skyline as you nibble on an assortment of olives and fine cheeses, sip on Spanish cava, and listen to live musicians serenading you with classical guitar. At the end of the tour, you'll return to your hotel and have the evening free to enjoy Barcelona's famed nightlife.

Day 10: Barcelona City Tour with Sagrada Família 

After breakfast, you'll meet your local guide and embark on a guided walking tour of Barcelona. One highlight is a stop at the city's greatest monument, Sagrada Família, a spectacular Catholic basilica and UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. During this half-day excursion, you'll see some of the city's most emblematic spots and hidden corners while learning about Gaudí and his jaw-dropping masterpiece, which is technically still under construction.

Throughout the tour, your guide will be on hand to answer all your questions, and they'll take you to a recommended tapas bar or restaurant before parting ways, leaving you to enjoy the afternoon exploring Barcelona at your own pace. Foodies should start by perusing the artisan stalls of La Boquería, the city's oldest and most famous market, or stop by the Museu de la Xocolata for a deep dive into the history of chocolate. Art fans might want to head to the Picasso Museum to view its extensive collection. Alternatively, relax on the sands of Barceloneta Beach and finish the day with streetside drinks and tapas.

Day 11: Catalonia Day Trip: Costa Brava or Montserrat

It's your penultimate day in Spain, and you'll make the most of it with one final day trip. If you're craving more coastal adventure, opt for a guided drive up the Costa Brava, a spectacular stretch of coastline that starts about 40 miles (64 km) north of Barcelona and stretches all the way to the French border. Bring your walking shoes and your swimsuit along to spend the day hiking on the famed Camí de Ronda trail, kayaking along scenic coastline, and swimming in a protected lagoon.

Or, trade coast for mountains and travel 28 miles (45 km) outside Barcelona to Catalonia's holiest site, the 16th-century Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, which sits at an altitude of 4,055 feet (1,266 m). You can reach the UNESCO-listed site on a 1.5-hour hike from Monistrol de Montserrat or take a five-minute cable car to the top for panoramic views. Afterward, you'll venture into nearby Penedès, one of Spain's most famous wine-growing areas, for a tasting at a family-run winery and a traditional tapas lunch before transferring back to Barcelona in the afternoon.

Day 12: Depart Barcelona

It's time to say farewell to Barcelona. Depending on the time of your flight or train reservation, you might be able to squeeze in one more walk through the city, perhaps picking up some last-minute souvenirs. At the designated time, you'll be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport or train station for your departure. Safe travels!

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