Day 1 : BARCELONA
Arrival at Barcelona airport. You will be transferred to your First Class hotel. It is suggested that you take advantage of the free time to get to know one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities. In the evening, it is suggested to dine at the Pueblo Español, featuring architectural replicas from all of Spain’s regions. PREMIUM PACKAGE includes dinner tonight. Accommodations.
Day 2: BARCELONA
Buffet breakfast. This morning enjoy an escorted tour of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. See the ancient Gothic Quarter with its magnificent cathedral. Stop to admire the exterior of Gaudi’s masterwork, the Basilica of the Sacred Family (Sagrada Familia). Continue to Montjuich Hill (site of the Olympic Stadium), to enjoy a spectacular view of Barcelona and its port area. Free time for lunch, perhaps in the Olympic Port area. Luncheon included today in PREMIUM PACKAGE. Afternoon free. Accommodations.
Day 3 BARCELONA – ZARAGOZA – SAN SEBASTIAN – BILBAO
Buffet breakfast. Departure into old Aragon and into the proud city of Zaragoza. Pause downtown in a main plaza where you will have free time to visit the impressive Basilica of El Pilar and have lunch on your own. Continue on to the north coast and tbe beautiful vasque country, arriving to San Sebastian called “the pearl of the cantabrique see”. Free time and continuation to Bilbao. Accommodations. (Northern Spain Tour PREMIUN PACKAGE INCLUDES TONIGHT THE DINNER).
Day 4 : BILBAO-SANTI- LLANA – COVADONGA – OVIEDO
Buffet Breakfast. Short panoramic tour of the city and free time to visit the Guggen-heim Museum (on your own) PREMIUN PACKAGE INCLUDES THE ENTRANCE AT THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM. Departure to Cantabria and the nice and small town of Santillana del Mar, very well preserved with an unique medieval ambiance. Free time in Santillana, (Northern Spain Tour PREMIUN PACKAGE INCLUDES LUNCH IN SANTILLANA) before leaving to los Picos de Europa, one of the most spec-tacular landscapes of Spain, to visit the shrine of Covadonga. This evening we will be accomodated in Oviedo the capital of Asturias.
Day 5: OVIEDO – RI- BADEO – A CORUÑA – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Buffet Breakfast. Depature along the pristine green north coast from Asturias into Galicia and the town of Ribadeo where we’ll stop for a unique visit of “Playa de Catedrales”, a beach famous for its amazing rock formations visible only during low tide. Afterwards we continue our route via Vilalba and Betanzos, where we you’ll have free time to have lunch on your own. Continue and stop on to A Coruña. We end the day in the mystical pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela. Check-in to our hotel. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free to enjoy this medieval city.
Day 6: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Buffet Breakfast. Today enjoy a guided tour of the old university city of Santiago, a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring the majestic Cathedral on Obradoiro Square and the im-pressive “Mercado de abastos” (main mar-ket). Tonight there is an optional traditional dinner at your hotel. (Northern Spain Tour PREMIUM PACKAGE includes dinner). Accommodations.
Day 7: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA – SALAMANCA – MADRID
Buffet Breakfast and departure to Sala-manca, the nice university city. Free time for lunch (on your own) and stroll around the impressive Plaza Mayor, probably the nicest of Spain. (Northern Spain Tour PREMIUM PACKAGE includes lunch in Salamanca). In the afternoon con-tinuation to Madrid. Accomodations.
Day 8 : MADRID
Buffet Breakfast.It is suggested you take advantage of the free time to get to know one of Europe’s most dynamic capital cities. In the early evening, enjoy an “Illuminated Madrid” drive through the bustling streets of the old city, ending at the historical and impressive Plaza Mayor. This area is home to some of the most typical restaurants and taverns, which serve the delicious “tapas”. Northern Spain Tour PREMIUM PACKAGE includes a Tapas Din-ner tonight. Return to your hotel at your own convenience. Accommodations.
Day 9: MADRID
Buffet breakfast. This morning’s escorted sightseeing tour will allow you to get a glimpse of some of Madrid’s most out-standing attractions, like the Puerta del Sol, the magnificent fountains of Neptune and Cibeles, the stately Alcala Gate, the busy Gran Via, the Plaza de España and the Plaza de Oriente. Free afternoon to explore Madrid’s famous Art Museums or perhaps take an optional tour to the Imperial for-mer capital city of Toledo, where you will be escorted through its narrow cobble-stone streets, soaking up the medieval at-mosphere. Touring will include the interior of the magnificent Gothic cathedral and a visit to St. Tome Church, where El Greco’s masterpiece painting is displayed. There will also be some time for shopping for the unique typical local artisanry. Accommodations.
Day 10: MADRID
Buffet breakfast. Pre-arranged transfer to Madrid airport at the proper time to check-in for your trans-Atlantic flight.
*** END OF Northern Spain Tour***