Travel

Spain Tour to Barcelona and Catalonia

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Spain Barcelona Sagrada Familia ceiling Unesco World Heritage site Spain
The ceiling of Barcelona’s Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, the iconic symbol of Barcelona architecture.

We’re leading another tour to one of our favorite places in all our travels – and our erstwhile second home: Spain.

This tour will focus on the autonomous region of Catalonia, Spain, and will include examples of the particular culture of this region. Catalonia touchstones will include the surrealistic art of Salvador Dalí, the spectacular architecture of Antoní Gaudí, and the medieval highlights of Girona, backdrop of some of the most iconic scenes from Game of Thrones. We’ll also be focusing on food and wine and are happy to include several distinctive meals and a tour of one Catalan winery.

Our tour will commence the first week of November, but don’t worry, the weather in Spain will still be very congenial. You can look forward to daytime temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit, and evenings in the 50s to high 40s. The November dates will also allow us to avoid the larger tourist crowds typical of Spain in the summer.

We know Spain very well. We lived in Barcelona and Madrid and have been back to Spain dozens of times, including our two previous tours to Spain in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. In all, we’ve spent more than four years of our lives in Spain, and we both speak fluent Spanish.

Now we want to share our enthusiasm for the country, its food and people. With the help of local guides and our personal contacts, we want this to be your best Spain experience, whether its your first trip or your fifth.

Here’s what makes our Travel Past 50 Tours unique:

  • Small group tours (maximum 12 guests)
  • Accompanied by Kris and Tom, with benefit of their life-long travel experience
  • Custom-created itineraries combining cultural experiences with local cuisine and active tour options
  • Sufficient unscheduled time
  • Additional local expert guides as appropriate
  • Local secrets not usually on tourist itineraries
  • Comfortable travel, luxury touches, and affordable rates
  • Kris and Tom’s helpful travel tips, shared with the group via personal communications in advance of the trip: getting ready to travel, what to pack, recommended reading, and how to enjoy to the max

We’ve built this itinerary based on our personal experience, and it reflects our own travel style. We’ve included just the right amount of free time to give everyone a chance to explore on their own – or ply us for more individual suggestions.

Table of Contents

Spain: Barcelona and Catalonia Tour Itinerary

Dates: November 9-20, 2023

  • 12 days, 11 nights

Day 1, Barcelona (Arrival Day)

  • Upon arrival at the Barcelona Airport, you’ll be picked up by our private driver and taken to our hotel in the center of bustling Barcelona. Once everyone has arrived, we’ll have an evening orientation and welcome dinner.
  • Included meals: Dinner

Day 2, Barcelona

  • Full-day guided tour of Barcelona’s highlights, with visits to the Sagrada Familia, the historic Gothic Quarter, and the lively Ramblas street
  • Join your local guide on a food tour through the Santa Caterina Market
  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3, Barcelona

  • Half-day guided trip to the Montserrat Monastery, located in the mountains outside Barcelona
  • Admire the famous Black Madonna statue and the monastery’s basilica
  • Taste artisanal food products, such as cheese, honey and liquor made by the resident monks
  • Group lunch at a local restaurant in the countryside
  • Return to Barcelona in the evening
  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4, Barcelona / Tossa de Mar / Girona

  • 1.5-hour drive to the coastal town of Tossa de Mar
  • Guided walking tour of the fishing village, including the medieval castle of Vila Vella, the beautiful lighthouse and the 18th-century Church of Sant Vicent
  • Optional lunch at a local seaside restaurant
  • 45-minute drive to Girona
  • Included meals: Breakfast

Day 5, Girona

  • Guided walking tour of the historic Jewish Quarter and the Arab Baths, where you’ll learn about the rich history of Girona
  • Optional ice cream dessert at Rocambolesc, the Can Roca ice cream shop founded by the Roca brothers, three of the world’s most renowned chefs
  • Included meals: Breakfast

Day 6, Girona / Besalú / Banyoles / Girona

  • 40-minute drive to Besalú, a picturesque medieval town
  • Join your local guide for a tour of town, including a visit to the ancient bathhouse and the 12th Century Romanesque church of Sant Pere
  • 15-minute drive to Lake Banyoles
  • Lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the lake
  • Light walk around the lake to take in the tranquil nature surrounding it
  • Return to Girona in the evening
  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7, Girona / Figueres

  • 40-minute drive to Figueres, known for being the birthplace of the world-renowned artist Salvador Dalí
  • Guided visit to the surrealist Salvador Dalí Museum, discovering the masterpieces of this important artist
  • Evening cooking class, where you’ll learn to make some of Spain’s most iconic dishes, such as the Spanish omelet, paella and Catalan Cream
  • Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8, Figueres / Cadaqués / Figueres

  • Day-trip to the beautiful coastal town of Cadaqués
  • Guided visit to the Dalí House Museum, where the artist lived with his wife, Gala, and created some of his most famous art works
  • Free time to explore Cadaqués’s old town and tranquil beaches
  • Light stroll along the rugged coastline of Cap de Creus, the eastern most point of the Iberian Peninsula
  • Return to Figueres in the evening
  • Included meals: Breakfast

Day 9, Figueres / Barcelona

  • 1.5-hour drive to Barcelona
  • Check-in at your hotel upon arrival
  • Optional group lunch
  • Guided visit to the Park Guell, where you’ll witness Gaudi’s imaginative architecture and learn about the park’s original vision as an upscale housing development
  • Included meals: Breakfast

Day 10, Barcelona / Penedés / Barcelona

  • Full-day wine tour to the Penedés region, renowned for its famous cava wine
  • Visit to one of the most important vineyards to learn about the regional wine-making traditions and taste some of the finest wines of the area
  • Group lunch in one of the picturesque towns of Penedés
  • 45-minute return drive to Barcelona
  • Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11, Barcelona

  • Free day at leisure with multiple options, such as: exploring Barcelona’s vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, visit the Picasso Museum, strolling through the Park de la Ciutadella or treating yourself to a massage. Tom and Kris will give you a long list of possible attractions to see in Barcelona.
  • Farewell dinner
  • Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12, Barcelona (Departure Day)

  • Transfers to the airport (or train station, if you like)
  • Included meals: Breakfast

NOTE: The details of this itinerary are subject to change. Once our group is booked, you’ll receive a more detailed, day-by-day itinerary. Then the fun begins!

Included in the tour

  • Private tour experience throughout
  • Maximum group size of twelve
  • All accommodations (11 nights at 4-star hotels)
  • Transportation in Spain (trains and private vans where needed)
  • All included activities and entrance fees mentioned
  • English speaking local guides
  • Breakfast every day and other meals as listed above (beverages not included)
  • All airport transfers

Not included in the tour

  • Flights to and from Spain
  • Passport or visa fees
  • Meals and activities not mentioned
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Gratuities for guides, drivers, hotel staff, etc.

Accommodation style

We will stay in comfortable and convenient 4-star hotels. All rooms have a private bathroom. There are a maximum of eight single rooms available.

Physical demands: moderate

The tour itself is not very strenuous, but please note that it can involve the following: somewhat long days, walking tours in the cities on uneven pavement, being outside in potentially cold temperatures, a couple of long journeys, early morning wake-ups, and other similar scenarios.

Tour cost

  • $6495 per person (double room)
  • $7495 per person (single room)
  • Tour size: 12 participants maximum

Payment terms

  • A $1500 deposit per person due now. (Refundable for 30 days, or until 90 days before the start of the tour – whichever comes first) should your plans change for any reason.) After that, the deposit becomes non-refundable.
  • The balance payment is due 65 days before the tour start date (September 3, 2023.)
  • Cancellations between 60 and 89 days prior to the tour start date will receive a 50 percent refund of the balance amount; cancellations within 59 days of the tour start date will be non-refundable.

Reserve your spot

To reserve your spot, please click this button to pay your deposit. Be sure to select 2 deposits if you’re booking a couple.

Spain Tour Catalonia, Nov 2023, Deposit

Spain Tour Catalonia, Nov 2023, Deposit

$1,500.00

Buy now

Important travel notes

  • The specifics of the tour itinerary are subject to change. It’s unlikely, though, that there will be any substantive changes. More like daily schedules might be earlier or later.
  • Activity level for this tour is light to moderate. We’ll be doing a good amount of walking in the cities we’ll be visiting, and in some cases there will be two to three hours of slow walking and standing in the attractions. To be comfortable on this tour, you should be able to walk for a mile or more – or at least half an hour – without problem. Also, be aware that often the walking will be up and down hills. Cobblestone streets and stairs are not uncommon. Don’t worry though. We’ll make frequent stops for refreshments.
  • Most North American flights to Spain depart late afternoon or evening. So plan to depart November 8 for a November 9 arrival in Barcelona. Of course, you can arrive earlier and we’ll be happy to help you make accommodation arrangements.
  • Important: do not make any travel reservations that cannot be cancelled or changed until we confirm that we have met the minimum number of travelers and that the trip is a “go.”
  • If you’d like to extend your time in Barcelona, let us know and we’d be happy to recommend hotels and attractions or day trips from the city.
  • We use Allianz Travel’s annual policy, but you can find their single trip travel insurance plans here. Note, you must have travel insurance that covers medical expenses for this tour. It doesn’t have to be Allianz.*

What our guests say about Travel Past 50 Tours

Here’s what our clients have said about us, and why we think we’re among the best small group travel companies for seniors:

“The combination of a small group and professional guides in each city made it an outstanding experience!”
-Karen M

“Very enjoyable tour of Northern Spain with Tom and Kris. The group was a perfect size. I can recommend traveling with them and would consider a second tour in the future.”
-Christiane M

“Travel Past 50 provides a balance of people, food, wine and sights with enough time to explore a bit on one’s own time.”
-Bill T

“Kris and Tom’s extensive first hand knowledge of Spain and the language made for a wonderfully interesting trip. I’d recommend any tour of Spain they put together.”
-Janice D

“Tom and Kris were great at showing their love of Spain.”

-Linda M

“We truly enjoyed the itinerary and thought the choice of activities was great. You blended the guide-enhanced experiences with self-directed exploration and discovery. Kudos.”

-Roger and Deb B

Ask Us

Once the tour is confirmed, we’ll be sending out more itinerary details along with some helpful hints for packing and enjoying the tour to the max. In the meantime, ask us any questions and let us know about any individual concerns. We’re here to keep it fun and easy.

Just email contact@travelpast50.com with the subject line SPAIN TOUR QUESTION and your query will be handled by Tom and Kris personally.

Travel Past 50 Tours Terms and Conditions

Here’s all the fine print. Please note these terms and conditions may vary depending on the specific tour destinations and timing.

For more general information about Travel Past 50 Tours, including up-to-date COVID policies, visit our introductory Tour Page.

A suggested reading list for Barcelona and Catalonia

Note: Continuing coverage of this Travel Past 50 Spain Tour is supported in part by Allianz Travel Insurance. Our content is independent of their sponsorship. We are delighted, however, that they recognize the importance of getting back to travel safely, and the particular health and travel nuances important to our readers.

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