"Easy: Frederico (sp?) All of the guides were so informative, professional and fun! Barcelona was great with all things Gaudi. Upon arrival at Barcelona's El Prat Airport, a private driver will take you and your family into the city, where you can check into your hotel and unwind. There was nobody else that could have given the best well. The tables for 4-6 for dinner gave us opportunities to do that. Both Barcelona and Madrid have their charms, but which city is better to visit? The tour of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona with our sensational guide Sonia. "The museums, the Bascilica designed by Gaudi, and the Spanish palace were my favorites. See all the sights was wonderful, but they are only a smidgen of the charm of this lovely city. The AVE train can get you to many Spanish cities incredibly quickly, while normal trains and buses will get you everywhere else. Everything was great from the hotels, the food, the daily guided tours and our very small group of 9 people. Which is a better place to live andto visit? "There were so many highlights an every day felt like a highlight and probably the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona was the most mind blowing and we aren't even Catholic.". "The Sagrada Familia was amazing to visit". I love the personal touch of him taking pictures of the group and then sharing with all of us. Our local guides were also fantastic, really enhancing the trip even further. Yes - snacks and drinks may be purchased from the driver. But take a little more time and Madrid's charms become apparent. "Sagrada Famlia was a definite wow moment! The tour guide had an entertaining, yet thorough manner of communicating historical facts. "I particularly enjoyed La Sagrada Familia and the Picasso museum.". However, while Barcelona has some great individual bars and clubs, Madrid has whole streets of cool nightspots. I would strongly suggest adding a day to the tour so this could be seen. were first rate; the tour dinners were at small family run restaurants that used Buses were there on time, tickets purchased, reservations made. "When we arrived in Madrid I was surprised by how beautiful it is. Federico made sure that we had reservations, and our group sat right next to the stage.". "La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, truly awe-inspiring!". Oh my goodness it took my breath away. He's good! Enjoyed walking on Le Ramblis Madrid with wonderful Prado museum and Royal palace were great tours Both hotels very nice with great location Really enjoyed the first evening with a cooking class as a way to meet fellow travelers Our guide Amanda was superb. Especially the day I opted out of the Toledo trip due to not feeling well, Fredrico took time out to call and make sure I was ok and let me know to contact him if I need something. The tour overall was well organized; the hotel accommodations Everything was well organized from start to end. Madrid is Spain's capital and largest city. "Wow! Matadero Madrid is a former slaughterhouse in the Arganzuela district of Madrid, which has been converted to an arts centre. The journey takes approximately 2h 45m. "Maybe 2: all of the spectacular buildings in Madrid, and seeing Picasso's "Guernica".". Proper balance of group and individual time. I was thunderstruck.". It's best known for its grand palaces, parks, and excellent museums, such as the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum. From the Pyrenees to the glinting golden beaches of the south, here are the best things to do in Spain. In retrospect, when describing Barcelona and Madrid, I would say we were constantly surrounded by incredible art! The food at every restaurant we tried was very good. So, Madrid or Barcelona, which should be your next city break destination? Barceloneta is the most central beach, but there are plenty more including Nova Icaria, Bogatell, and Mar Bella. I'm not sure if it was that we just walked that far for a really average churo or wow imagine that the people who arranged the tour are surprised the Royal Palace is not available to tour on one of the biggest national holidays of the year.". Traveling around Spain is convenient, efficient and manageable thanks to its advanced and accessible public transport infrastructure. ALSA services are accessible to people with disabilities, and guide dogs are welcome on all journeys. This is our third RS tour so we have some means of comparison to other trips. Tour guides very well educated and insightful. Had I realized that when planning the trip, I may have picked another week. Tour guide, Helen Inman, was excellent. The group of people we travelled with were great. In Barcelona it was Sagrada Familia. "Walking through the gothic quarter of Barcelona. Madrid or Barcelona: Which City is Best for You? We were members of the inaugural tour, following two years of pandemic, and we were greeted by our local guides, wait staff, housekeepers, musicians on the streets of Madrid, and fellow humans beings as if we were royalty. Your local guides were uniformly marvelous though the woman who took us through the Picasso museum in Barcelona was spectacular. There was a lot of sharing personal stories as well as responding to the tour itself. Kids are well looked after in both Madrid and Barcelona. Everyone on our tour was courteous and pleasant to be with, "Learning the history of Spain from our guides as we traveled around Barcelona, Madrid and Toledo were all wow moments". Everything about the tour was amazing. tour. For Steve, it was the tour of La Sagrada Famlia.". The tour was well-planned, good hotel choices, reasonable expectations, and a superb guide. The people were so friendly, the food was fantastic, the wine was wonderful. The numerous works by Francisco Goya, the single most extensively represented artist, as well as by Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian, and Diego Velzquez, are some of the highlights of the collection. The tour was very well run. OUR GUIDE JORGE (??) "Our favorite "wow" moment occurred in Madrid when we were shown one of the convents with cloistered nuns who sell almond cookies; we saw where they lived and were able to sample some of their yummy cookies and heard a little about how they lived.". "Really loved the architecture. The Gaudi building we visited could be changed to his more famous work. See our FAQ | Email tour@ricksteves.com. Whatever he and the rest of the company are doing to make these tours comfortable and enjoyable experiences, please continue we'll be coming back for another tour next year! We found the tour to be exactly as described in the tour promotional materials. This was a very fast-paced tour -- our fourth with RS -- but with ample free time to explore or slow down on our own. Our hotels were very nice and located in the heart of Barcelona and Madrid. We participated in a cooking class, toured museums & churches and tried some amazing restaurants. Of course a lot of the enjoyment of the Royal Palace came from our guide, Fede. A simple guide to the different trains, routes and facilities, so you can identify which service is right for you. Outstanding and amazing. Fantastic organizational success in making all your members comfortable. The tour was excellent, one of the more enjoyable among the 14 Rick Steves tours I have taken. "Walking into La Sagrada Familia - what an amazing place!". The best way to get from Barcelona to Madrid is to train which takes 2h 45m and costs 55-120. Our tour guide, William, was great! There was way more food provided than the itinerary suggested and we enjoyed all of it. Our guide Javier was amazing and reorganized everything so we still had a wonderful time. Sleep in Madrid. A first for me, worth repeating.". Services depart hourly, and operate every day. If you're in the south of France and want a quick weekend in Spain and to experience Gaudi's architecture, Barcelona is the one for you. "Closest to a wow moment was the interior of the Toledo cathedral. We were stunned by the light, color, and beauty. It was great to be in a small manageable group. ", Fantastic tour . "Getting to go to the Toledo and driving up to the top of the hills for a view of the entire city (and then having the bus breakdown and not start)!". And the tour (and Nigel) prepared us very well for the independent travel we did at the conclusion of our 8 days with the group! We were able to travel again by train when we left the tour in Barcelona and travelled to Seville. Renfe AVE operates a train from Barcelona-Sants to Madrid-Puerta De Atocha hourly. My expectations have been well over achieved. It was a "wow" experience. We have done a lot of international travel on our own, rarely with a guide and group. The Prado & Reina Sofia But if you had to select one, which should it be: Madrid or Barcelona? Would love to travel with him again as a guide. Rick Steve's tours should also make the bus tour of Barcelona one of the first things to experience. Recently, residentshave protested against rising rents, and you can see "Tourists Go Home"on posters and graffiti around town. The trip was great. The train from Barcelona-Sants to Madrid-Puerta De Atocha takes 2h 45m including transfers and departs hourly. The tour guide was friendly and went out of his way to help. In the time it took to go from Barcelona to Madrid the world turned upside down. There's a bigger downside, which is Barcelona's overtourism problem. Despite the fact that it is a major tourist attraction and is always busy- it is amazing to see to vision that Gaudi had over 100 years ago still coming to life and to feel the power of artistic expression. At times it felt like we were getting a private tour because he paid so much personal attention to our particular interests and needs. Augustin is an excellent tour leader. We had no idea what exactly to expect. The tour did an outstanding job of covering the highlights of the two cities, plus Toledo. A nice mix of planned activities and free time. Every tour/walk/event/meal/ was a great choice! Damian Corrigan is a travel writer who has traveled extensively throughout Spain since moving there in 2003. What an interesting town! A direct flight would take you 1 hour and 15 minutes however, if you add check in times and travel to city centres, it could come up to over 3 hours in total. In spite of the demonstrations,it was very easy to get around Barcelona with the guide book. Really loved that somebody else set up all reservations, and travel arrangements. We had a wonderful group of people, who all got along well and were interesting to get to know. HE IS AN OUTSTANDING GUIDE. Frederico was a lot of fun and the two city guides were very knowledgeable and added to our understanding of the cities and museums. Sleep in Barcelona. It felt like we barely scratched the surface of what was available to be seen. She communicated so well her love of the culture and for people of Spaineven though she has done this tour many times, her presentation was always fresh and full of enthusiasm for the day's events. He has written about the country full time since 2006. And once we got in front of the painting he spent 30 minutes describing the details and symbolism of the painting. Ever present, watchful, information, kind and engaged I would join another tour of his in a minute. But all in all, being in Barcelona means its a bit harder to travel around Spain, though you can also day trip to beaches and medieval towns nearby. I plan on returning when it is finished.". From the 25th of November 2022, the new high-speed iryo trains will be operating on the route from Barcelona to Madrid. Hotels, meals, tours - everything was top notch. Parc Guell, Montjuic I would have loved to spend more time in all 3 of these places". It has been 10 years since I was last on a Rick Steves Tour.and then lets add the pandemic an a delay of traveling for two yearsI could not ask for more. Ive thought about it a lot. Madrid was very stately. Our guide Federico was excellent as was all of the local guides. In 3 or 4 days you see most of what you want to see, and develop little "local favorites" and a sense of familiarity. There seemed to be more dinners together this time. Barcelona, on the other hand, is a tourist paradise. He was able to explain the culture and art of the area in a way that made it very understandable and enjoyable. Much appreciated!! Then it's "all aboard" for one of Europe's speediest trains (the AVE) to Madrid. We went to the bull fighting pub in Madrid. ", Excellent choices for the two hotels, located in walking distance of the highlights of each city and with very convenient access to public transportation, Barcelona and Madrid hotels were very good. Additional terms apply. Javier communicated clearly and honestly with the group what was happening. The Royal Palace of Madrid (Spanish: Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family at the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. Thinking about going far but still staying connected? I like the experience of mixing with local citizens. I would do it again. It was all the historical information given, everything we saw and experience inside. We took the speed train to Madrid and did similar there, as well as Toledo. I think I actually enjoyed Spain more than I even thought I would. I cannot wait to see this one finished on year 2026.". In particular, the visit to the Sinagoga de Transito was inspiring - I felt an affinity with the medieval community as they worshiped, gathered, and lived in cooperation with the Muslim residents.". One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying while on tour in the Documents section of your tour account. Madrid was lovely and easy walking town. I don't consider myself religious in any way but when I went into this cathedral, it took by breath away and had a lump in my throat, it is truly a work of art and I will always remember it!". ", Well organized - Great tour director, super attention to detail - extremely helpful in all aspects of the tour, "Barcelona and the Sagrada Famlia Tour.". A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport. Above all we were impressed with our tour directors organization and knowledge! Seeing Caravaggio's recently restored painting of Saint Catherine in the Thyssen museum in Madrid. "Sagrada Familia tour was stunning. But then surprise, walking the narrow alleyways you come upon another area that has come to life with a gorgeous old cathedral and artists working in their shops. This was our second tour and from the first night it met all our expectations. We enjoyed every moment of our Rick Steves tour: Best of Barcelona and Madrid in 8 Days. We had been to Barcelona and Madrid before so much of the tour was a repeat for us but we enjoyed seeing it again very much. It was the first time I ever felt that I understood Picasso's cubism. We really appreciated his enthusiasm and his entertaining personality, "A favorite "wow" moment was definitely Familia Sagrada.". We'll stroll through the Eixample neighborhood, visiting the Casa Mil and Block of Discord, on our way to tour the greatest work of Barcelona's master builder the towering, dizzying Sagrada Famlia. We arrived early to Barcelona and did a tour to mount seratt. Please keep the group size small; never more than 24 Extremely satisfied with tour director's knowledge and interpersonal skills. Our guide James went out of his way to make sure we enjoyed our tour and had a great time. "The ease of travel between Barcelona and Madrid. So now,Im making it official. The bus system was convenient and a great way to view the beautiful architecture and parks for jet-lagged travelers. Barcelona is a beautiful city, but Madrid surprised me at its size and how much they go all in for the Christmas holidays. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. David was a great tour guide. That and, of course, virtually every meal !!!! Madrid-Puerta De Atocha to Barcelona Take a direct high-speed OUIGO train from Madrid to Barcelona. The beauty of Sagrado Corazon and its continued construction was just amazing to look at. Muy bueno! It was wonderful and exceeded all expectations. I CAN RESEARCH THE SPANISH HISTORY AND LOCAL ATTRACTIONS BUT THE VALUE ADDED BY QUALITY KNOWLEDGABLE GUIDES IS IMMERSABLE. The people were warm and interested in our backgrounds.". Helen and all the Tour Guides were Knowledgeable and shared their passion for their city and the sites of their city. If you don't mind a fast-paced journey, you can see the highlights of this route in less timeas few as 6 or 7 days. ", "Toledo Spain, church in Toledo totally unexpected.". As always, we went several days early to get settled in and we found that the people were so friendly and helpful. Salud! ", "Attended Easter Service in The CAthedral de Barcelona.". When it comes to exploring the rest of Spain, Madrid's central location makes it far superior to the north-eastern Barcelona. Overall, we tremendously enjoyed this, our first Rick Steves' tour. But my real "wow" moment might have been Federico singing "O Sole Mio" at the group's farewell dinner!". I have a great appreciation for this painting that I would not have had without the lecture. The New Year's celebration has been broadcast live on national television since 31 December 1962. Javier was a great guide and we had a great group with us. Loved our guide. I was reminded of Gaudi's comment that God was the true architect!". THE CATHEDRAL IN SEVILLA. Barcelona and Madrid were amazing. "The Prado seeing Las medians with the tour guide explaining every detail about that painting and viewing it from different vantage points! I have sent a separate letter to your home office to give feedback on our great experience in Spain despite the emerging pandemic measures there. The tours and logistics were well planned and seamlessly organized. I wish we could have stayed longer in Toledo. They will travel between Barcelona Sants and Madrid Atocha stations and will stop in Zaragoza along the way. "Have the 1st night dinner and Rick Steves called to say hi. It was an incredible learning experience about the Spanish great artists and Spanish history. "Evening! Toledo was a delightful slice of southern medieval Europe--a little stony town suspended in time. Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply. The guides were excellent. Day 1: Arrive in Barcelona, Self-Guided Barcelona Walking Tour. I've never done a group tour before and wasn't sure I'd like it, but it's well worth it. This was our first Rick Steve's tour and I have to say that it was fantastic!! Monica, our local guide, was so knowledgeable and passionate about the Basilica that she inspired us to take in every soaring spire, stained glass window, and ornate statue inside and out. "There were MANY favorite moments. "Gaudi church, residents unbelievable in his vision and execution.". Our whole group became a team under the expert guidance of the cooking school's chef. Keeping the tour group small allowed us to get to know our fellow travelers. In an ideal world, you would visit both. La Sagrada Familia was thrilling to see.". It exceeded our expectations and was absolutely delightful, educational and filled with wonderful activities. Taking only 2.5 hours to cover the 600km between Barcelona Sants station and Madrid Puerta de Atocha station, these hourly trains are convenient, comfortable and cost effective. Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements are completely up to you. acting out his lecture about Picasso's Guernica in front it. One of Europes leading bus companies, Flixbus serves 2000+ destinations in 29 countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and Croatia and into Scandinavia and eastern Europe, as well as some US cities. This was my first Rick Steves tour and my first tour of any sort. The group dinners were some of the best we have ever had with a RS tour. Barcelona and Madrid are wonderful, if different cities, and I feel as if we experienced both with depth and flair. Visiting between November and March offers the benefit of missing out on the sweat, stress, and crowds of the tourist season, along with cooler weather. Our local tour guides were very knowledgeable and interesting. Our guide, Federico, was really good - helpful, very knowledgable, took care of all the details, and also had a great personality. I found it so amazing how our tour guides were able to talk for hours about all the things and places we saw.". panish soccer's two biggest clubs are reigniting their rivalry once again. All of the guides were personable and well informed. Our guide stayed ahead of events, managed conflicting news and a vast array of concerns and anxieties with grace, calm, and expertise. We enjoyed all the sites and the amount of free time. "Possibly all the Gaudi we encountered. For me, the best part of the tours are the local guides that tell a story to go along with the sites. And tourists bring prices up. Local guides were so knowledgeable. James Scanlon did a great job as our fearless leader. I learned more in a week than I ever expected. We had fabulous food, exceptional hotels, guides who made our trip interesting, 25 other Americans who became our friends, and William who watched over us like a mother hen! I do think that trip probably should have been cancelled prior to departure. Specifically, we really valued the following: Walking some of the streets mentioned in Carlos Ruiz Zafon's Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, which I read before, during and after the trip, made Barcelona seem even more magical.". Toledo was a pleasant surprise. So 2 big cities weren't as easy to navigate as the small towns. Amanda was clear about her expectations from day one, which was great! "The history behind the paintings, especially the Picasso paintings. Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon Tours. Wonderful trip with a great guide and terrific tour-mates! Then we'll hop a high-speed train to Madrid for its terrific tapas, masterpiece-packed Prado Museum, and a day in historic Toledo. Most enjoyable! "Touring Toledo, imagining what it must have been like when Christians, Jews and Muslims lived in harmony.". The tour was very interactive and extremely informative about the history of Spain and our tour guide, Augustine, made the tours very warm! Learning about the emergence of this trend in the art world, and the history of that moment, then seeing this important artifact right in front of our eyes was a highlight.". "We saw so many impressive cathedrals, but the Sagrada Familia was by far the most amazing. We thought the Prado and Velazquez was unbelievable and then Guernica", "There wasn't really one, it was consistently great experiences", Thoughtfully constructed; great guides and fellow tour members. "Top of the Arc de Triomphe views of Paris.". Then we'll visit the Reina Sofa, Spain's greatest modern art museum and home of Picasso's Guernica. You cant beat watching the moon rise over the ocean in Barcelona,but in the end, Madrid has my heart. After working from home for 2 years and not talking to anyone face to face it was wonderful to get away. This was our first tour and it far exceeded our expectations. Jorge was a good guide and was very helpful when someone needed extra help, like when my daughter was sick at the beginning of the tour and we had to find a pharmacy that was still open before our first group dinner. A marvel of architecture and art. The local guides offered interesting and insightful perspectives. The beach of Barcelona was fantastic - only downside is an airport inspector stole my seaglass and seashells from my luggage. Find out more about travel in and around Barcelona: Customize your trip with help from a local travel specialist. He was funny and seemed very passionate about the topics he was talking about. The second was in Madrid where Picasso's Guernica painting is featured in the Sofia Museum. Everything went smoothly. "Federico was outstanding at the Palace, Prado and Sofia Renia. All the guides were terrific. Federico blended Spain's history with the history of art. "I thoroughly enjoyed the Gaudi architecture in Barcelona. ", We loved it and Frederico was an outstanding guide. It bought me to tears. Barcelona is also a great jumping-off point for the Balearic Islands including Mallorca and Menorca. Tour the citys parks, visit a cervecera (beer hall), and take in the grandeur of the citys main square, Plaza Mayor. Great people in the tour. They're both near Madrid. But in Madrid, tapas are free with drinks, and the prices are more reasonable. There's a lot of walking but I'm not sure there had to be. It was all fascinating and fun!". They all spoke English well. I enjoy art, but have never experienced it like that before. Sitting on the rooftop of Hotel Midmost having a glass of wine, enjoying the delicious ham, and overlooking the beautiful city of Barcelona was definitely a wow moment. This is the centre (Km 0) of the radial network of Spanish roads. We had a great group of people on our tour and everyone got along really well, which made the tour extra fun. "This is really hard to answer. Tour guide Frederico was outstanding. He has an amazing ability to teach through story telling and drama. I would definitely recommend these tours to everyone I know who wants to travel abroad, 7 out of 5 stars for Rick Steves! Most days are strenuously paced with 28 miles of walking, including hilly terrain and lots of stairs. This was our first guided tour, but I hope it will not be our last. Both Barcelona and Madrid were great in such different ways. "Most definitely it was experiencing the rainbow of light streaming through the stained glass windows of the Segrada Famlia in Barcelona. The best way to get from Barcelona to Barcelona Airport is to bus which takes 20 min and costs 4-6. Great guide! We loved the tour. Light walking: 24 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. "Our visit to the Museo Reina Sofa in Madrid with Frederico to see Guernica was my favorite moment. For most of my adult life, that place hasbeen Madrid. As usual, a very well organized tour schedule with an excellent leader Frederick! The Prado Museum is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It was all so amazing especially the mosaics of the "recycled broken tiles". Adding in a trip to Toledo just topped the cake for my thirst to see the rest of Spain.
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