TASTE OF BASQUE COUNTRY

Day 1 Madrid – arrival
Transfer from airport to your hotel. Overnight in Madrid.

Day 2 Madrid City tour
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning half day sightseeing tour of Madrid, including the visit of Royal Palace.
Overnight in Madrid.

Day 3 Madrid
Breakfast at the hotel.
Day at leisure to explore Madrid on your own. Optional ($), half-day excursion to Toledo. Overnight in Madrid.

Day 4 Madrid – Bilbao
Early morning, departure by train from Madrid to Bilbao. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
Late afternoon, at 16h00, discover Bilbao through a 2-hour shared walking tour – enjoy a nice walk through our city’s most emblematic areas. Meet Bilbao’s most interesting spots by walking across its historic area! Join our local guides and do not miss any of the secrets that this emblematic city hides, learning every detail of its buildings and its people. Departing from the border of Old Town and Downtown you will be taken through the serpentine Old Town streets, going through the seven genuine streets and the churches of San Anton and Santiago, without missing the market of La Ribera. Later on you will be shown the expansion of the city during the 19th century with the influence of the industrialization and the development of banking, and finally the last modernization of the city with the building of the river bank walks, the White Bridge (Zubizuri) and the Guggenheim museum (where the tour will conclude).
Included: English -Spanish speaking guide, Walk through Bilbao’s most emblematic areas; small group tour ( max 8 people)
Not Included:  Entrance fees to monuments & attractions unless specified in program;  Meals, drinks ; Gratuities.
Overnight in Bilbao.

Day 5-6 Bilbao
Breakfast at the hotel.
Days at leisure to continue exploring Bilbao on your own. We suggest visiting the most famous building in Bilbao: the Guggenheim Museum.
Optional ($), full -day excursion to “Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and Gernika” or ” Rioja Wine Tour”.
Overnight in Bilbao.

Day 7 Bilbao – San Sebastian
After breakfast, departure by bus to Seville. Arrival and make your own way to your hotel for check-in.
Late afternoon, at 16h00, discover San Sebastian’s most interesting spots by walking across its historic area through a 2-hour shared walking tour.  Departing from the border of Old and New Towns (where the 19th century city walls were built!) we will take you through the serpentine Old Town streets, visiting the two main churches and the pintxo streets. Later on, we will show you the expansion of the city during the early 20th century with the influence of the Spanish Queen Maria Cristina in the construction of many of San Sebastian’s most characteristic buildings such as Hotel de Londres and Maria Cristina (named after her), the cathedral of Buen Pastor (Good Shepherd), the Tabakalera museum, Victoria Eugenia auditorium and many more.
This activity includes a pintxo round in a traditional bar in La Parte Vieja, the Old Town!
Overnight in San Sebastian.

Day 8-9 San Sebastian
Breakfast at the hotel.
Days at leisure to continue exploring San Sebastian on your own. Take a walk along La Concha Beach and Promenade, or visit the old town, filled with Baroque and Gothic churches. We suggest also hiking up “Monte Urgull’ which offer panoramic views over La Concha Bay and the center of San Sebastian.
Optional ($), full-day excursion to “French Basque Coast (Biarritz – Bayonne – Saint Jean de Luz)”.
Overnight in San Sebastian.

Day 10 San Sebastian – Barcelona
After breakfast, departure by train from San Sebastian to Barcelona. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
Overnight in Barcelona.

Day 11 Barcelona City Tour
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning highlights tour of Barcelona including Paseo de Gracia, Montjuïc – enjoy a cable car ride with views of the city. After the visit of the Spanish Village, the tour concludes with a guided walking tour of the old city center and the Gothic quarter.
Overnight in Barcelona.

Day 12 Barcelona
Breakfast at the hotel.
Day at leisure. Continue exploring Barcelona or we suggest taking an optional ($) half-day excursion to Montserrat or a full-day tour to “Girona & Costa Brava”.
Overnight in Barcelona.

Day 13 Barcelona departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Barcelona airport.