Breathtaking Barcelona

plus Madrid optional extension

Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, airline taxes and fees, hotel, transfers, meals, & more. *

Overview

Itinerary at a Glance Breathtaking Barcelona
Day	Destination
1	USA/Barcelona
2	Barcelona
3	Barcelona
4	Barcelona
5	Barcelona
6	Barcelona
7	Barcelona/USA
Madrid Optional Extension
7	Barcelona/Madrid
8	Madrid
9	Madrid
10	Madrid/USA

Departs	Los Angeles (LAX), Washington Dulles (IAD), Newark (EWR), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Atlanta (ATL), Logan (BOS), St. Louis (STL); other gateways on request
Highlights	Barcelona, Spain plus many optional full-day excursions
Included Features	Round-trip flights from Newark (EWR) to Barcelona including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees Arrival & departures transfers with meeting & assistance Accommodations in a First Class Hotel Breakfast daily Included panoramic tour of Barcelona with local guide Barcelona city hotel tax
Optional	Exciting excursions in and outside Barcelona
Travel Style	This leisurely-paced, independent tour requires minimal walking and is suitable for most levels of physical fitness.

Put Europe back on your bucket list with this amazing tour package to beautiful Barcelona, Spain, where the weather is balmy, the people are friendly, and the sightseeing is fascinating and in abundance.

Unlike many of our other tour packages, our Breathtaking Barcelona is designed for travelers who want a lot of freedom and flexibility to explore at their own pace. We’ll introduce you to the highlights of Barcelona on a comprehensive included city tour, including the 1992 Olympic installations, the Gothic Quarter, the Old Port, and the splendid Passeig de Gràcia.

After that, you can continue to explore Barcelona freely from your centrally located hotel, or choose from several exciting optional guided excursions—the choice is yours! You can tour the masterworks of Barcelona’s most famous architect, Antoni Gaudí, enjoy a paella dinner and flamenco show, or head out on day trips to fascinating sites outside Barcelona, such as the Dalí Museum in Figures, the famous mountaintop monastery of Montserrat, and the beautiful medieval fortified city of Collioure, France. But, your trip to Spain doesn’t have to end there; you can also extend your stay for three days in Madrid.

So much to see and enjoy, and so little cost...how can you possibly resist? But don‘t wait long, because this deal is too good to last.

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Dates, Prices & Options

All prices, fees and deposits are per person, subject to change at any time, and not guaranteed until we receive your final payment.

Coming from somewhere else? Before you book, ask us about availability and prices for flights from other cities. Additional charges for flights from other cities are due within 14 days of your booking.

To make a reservation, we only require a per-person deposit payment, which you can pay with your credit card. This non-refundable deposit will be applied towards the cost of your package. You can pay the balance due later by credit card, check or money order. Your final payment is due 75 days prior to departure, or within 72 hours of booking, whichever is later.

Ticketing: Airline tickets for this tour are usually issued within 14 days of your booking, and once issued, cannot be changed, refunded or transferred. To issue tickets, we must receive photocopies of the signature and picture pages of your passport(s) within 14 days of your booking, or your reservation may be subject to a higher airfare or cancellation.

We must receive photocopies of the signature and picture pages of your passport(s) in our offices within 24 hours of your reservation being completed. If we have not received this information, your reservation will be subject to a higher airfare and/or cancellation.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA. Your exciting trip to Barcelona begins today as you depart for Spain on an overnight flight.

Day 2: Barcelona. Upon arrival in Barcelona you'll be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Enjoy the balance of the day to relax and unwind and enjoy the facilities of the hotel. Or venture out for your first exploration of the city. Your hotel is conveniently located just a couple of blocks from several metro stops and the lovely Passeig de Gràcia, the city’s most elegant boulevard and one of the best shopping areas. Accommodations: Evenia Rosello Hotel.

Day 3: Barcelona.This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and Spain's most exciting, flamboyant and sophisticated city. A modern metropolis with a rich history, Barcelona offers something for everyone, including nine UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Start at Montjuïc Hill and Castell de Montjuïc, and take in the spectacular views of the city and Mediterranean spread below. See the Olympic Ring, where some of the 1992 Olympic Games were held. Next, walk through the the Old Port (Vell Port) area. Then wander through the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), a medieval maze of tiny houses, intriguing shops, Gothic cathedrals, and stately palaces of the Catalan & Aragon monarchs. You'll see ruins of the early Roman city of Barcino, over which Barcelona was built. Finish by driving through the expansive Plaça de Cataluyna and along the the wide Passeig de Gràcia, considered the most expensive street in Spain, lined with upscale shops, hotels, and several of the city's most celebrated pieces of architecture.

The rest of the day is yours to explore independently. We suggest a walk along the beautiful La Rambla (also knows as Las Ramblas), a wide, meandering, shaded boulevard which follows the contours of Barcelona's medieval city walls. La Rambla is filled with colorful shops, outdoor cafés, street performers, and lively activity, and Spanish poet Federico García Lorca once referred to it as "the only street in the world which I wish would never end." Just off the Rambla, discover the lovely Plaça Reial, a large palm-lined square which is the hub of Barcelona nightlife. Or explore the vibrant La Ribera neighborhood, once the home of medieval artisans and wealthy merchants, and now a haven for restaurants, wine bars and cocktail lounges, dance clubs, designer boutiques, art galleries and museums.

Or, you can take part in the afternoon optional tour. Breakfast provided.

Optional Excursion: Visit several of Barcelona's most famous monuments designed by the renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, recognized worldwide as one of the most influential architects of his time. You'll start at his lavishly extravagant Sagrada Familia basilica, with its flowing Art Nouveau lines, massive stone fascades, soaring vaults, and fruit-topped towers. Under construction for 130 years, the cathedral is not scheduled to be complete until at least 2026, but it is already a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Then explore the beautifully landscaped Park Güell, designed by Gaudí and his home from 1906–1926. Wander past fanciful pavilions and colorful tile mosaics, through colonnaded footpaths, and onto a terrace supported by massive Doric columns, where you'll enjoy spectacular views of the city below. (€30, approximately $39 per person. This excursion will only operate with a minimum of 4 passengers.)

Optional Excursion: This evening, enjoy a paella dinner and Flamenco show at Patio Andaluz, a short walk from your hotel. This optional excursion can only be purchased locally (€45, approximately $59 per person. This excursion will only operate with a minimum of 4 passengers.)

Day 4: Barcelona. Enjoy the day at leisure to explore the fascinating city of Barcelona. We suggest a visit to the beaches, considered some of the finest urban beaches in the world, where you can sunbathe or enjoy seafood and tapas. Or take part in an optional excursion outside the city. Breakfast provided.

Optional Excursion: Explore Girona and the Dalí Museum in Figueres, two of the most famous attractions in northern Catalonia. Depart Barcelona for Figueres, the home town of Salvador Dalí. Visit the Salvador Dalí Museum & Theatre, which is the largest surrealist structure in the world, and replaced the former Municipal Theatre which was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War.

After some free time, continue to the beautiful walled medieval city of Girona, for a walking tour. Walk over the Girona Bridge and meander through the labyrinth of small streets. See the Jewish Quarter, one of the best preserved in Europe. Return to Barcelona. (€75, approximately $98 per person). This excursion will only operate with a minimum of 4 passengers.

Day 5: Barcelona. Enjoy a second day at leisure to explore the fascinating city of Barcelona. Breakfast provided.

Optional Excursion: Today’s optional tour will take you to Collioure, France, and Besalú, Spain. Depart Barcelona, traveling to Collioure with its two bays on the Mediterranean Sea. See the rich archaeological heritage left behind by Phoenician, Roman and Greek sailors. Visit the Royal Castle, which was built over the Roman foundations in the 14th century. Enjoy some free time in the weekly market.

Later, return to Spain via Besalú, surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the volcanic zone of Garrotxa Nature Reserves in the eastern Pyranees. Walk through the winding streets and view the Romanesque arcaded gallery of Cornella and other religious buildings and churches. Return to Barcelona in the early evening. Don't forget to bring your passport on this excursion! This optional excursion can only be purchased locally (€82, approximately $107). This excursion will only operate with a minimum of 4 passengers.

Day 6: Barcelona. Enjoy your last day at leisure in Barcelona. Breakfast provided.

Optional Excursion: Take a half day tour to nearby Montserrat. Drive through picturesque little villages, arriving at the craggy peak of Montserrat ("serrated mountain"), which rises majestically from the plain to about 4000 ft. Visit the famous Santa Maria de Montserrat, a Benedictine abbey perched high on the mountain which enjoys spectacular views over Catalonia. You'll see the 12th century carving of the Black Virgin, an important pilgrimage site for centuries, and perhaps a performance of La Escolania, one of Europe’s oldest boys' choirs. Return to Barcelona. This optional excursion can only be purchased locally (€82, approximately $107). This excursion will only operate with a minimum of 4 passengers.

Day 7: Barcelona/USA. Your memorable Barcelona sojourn comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your return flight. Arrive in the USA later today. Alternatively, take advantage of your already-included international airfare, and extend your exploration of Spain to Madrid. Breakfast provided.

Madrid Optional Extension

Take advantage of your already-included international airfare and spend three more exciting days in Madrid, Spain. You will return to the USA 3 days later than the dates listed on the Dates & Prices tab.

Day 7: Barcelona/Madrid. Transfer to the airport for your short flight to Madrid. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your centrally located hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore your surroundings. Accommodations: Hotel AC Carlton. Breakfast provided.

Day 8: Madrid. This morning, take part in a panoramic tour of Madrid, driving past the classical and modern squares and sites of the city: Plaza de España, Casa de Campo, Puerta del Sol, Atocha, Retiro Park, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the Gran Via, Plaza de Castilla, and Plaza de Cibeles. The balance of the day will be at leisure, or you can choose an afternoon optional tour to Toledo. Breakfast provided.

Optional Excursion: This afternoon, depart for nearby Toledo, the city of museums, overflowing with UNESCO World Heritage sites. A former intellectual and spiritual center of Spain, Toledo is one of Europe’s oldest cities. Your walking tour will take you to some of the most famous monuments such as the Cathedral, St Tome Church where El Greco’s “The Burial of Count Orgaz” is housed, and the Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue. Return to Madrid in the late afternoon. This optional excursion can only be purchased locally (€50, approximately $65).

Day 9: Madrid. Today is your final day of exploration, shopping or simply sitting at a café in one of Madrid’s many squares. Or take part in a morning optional tour to Escorial. Breakfast provided.

Optional Excursion: This morning, drive to Escorial, sometimes considered to be the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. The town was planned by Phillip II as a monastery and Royal Pantheon and became a symbol of the greatness of Spain. Visit the Royal Palace, Royal Pantheons, Chapter House and Basilica. Return to Madrid by lunchtime. This optional excursion can only be purchased locally (€57, approximately $74).

Day 10: Madrid/USA. Your Spanish stay comes to an end as you transfer to the airport for your return flight. Arrive in the USA later today. Breakfast provided.

Special Optional Excursions Package in Barcelona

To take full advantage of your visit to Barcelona, we offer a package of the most interesting optional excursions, which you may pre-book for a discounted price of $125. Package includes:

• Half-day tour of Barcelona (Day 3)
• Full-day tour to Girona & Dalí Museum (Day 4)

The special package price is available when booked and prepaid prior to departure, and is NOT available within 75 days from departure or after final payment has been received. If you don’t want to book the entire package, individual optional excursions will be available once you arrive in Barcelona. When booked individually, these excursions total $137.

All of our excursions are operated for Friendly Planet groups only, and a minimum of 4 passengers is required to operate.

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