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Day 1: Exploring Barcelona
Starting point: El Prat Airport
Travel time to hotel: 20 mins by taxi or 40 mins by Aerobus
Check-in at hotel
Bunkers del Carmel
20 min (4.5 km) from hotel
Scenic views, sunset
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Day 2: Gothic Quarter & Beach Day
Catedral de Barcelona
5 min (450 m) from hotel
Historic, Gothic
Barceloneta Beach
23 min (5.6 km) from Catedral de Barcelona
Relaxation, drinks, sunbathing
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Day 3: Day trip to Montserrat
Montserrat Monastery
1 hr 5 min (44.2 km) from hotel by train
Scenic, religious
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Day 4: Travel to Madrid & Art Walk
Check out of hotel
Travel time to airport: 20 min by taxi or 40 min by Aerobus
Flight to Madrid (1 hr 15 min)
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
16 min (1.2 km) from airport
Art collections
Museo Reina Sofia
24 min (2.3 km) from Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Modern art, Picasso’s Guernica painting
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Day 5: Royal Palace and Dinner
Palacio Real de Madrid
7 min (2.1 km) from hotel
Historic, royal
Dinner at Botín Restaurant
15 min (3.4 km) from Palacio Real de Madrid
Oldest restaurant, fine dining
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Day 6: Shopping and Flamenco Show
Mercado San Miguel
5 min (1.5 km) from hotel
Food market, shopping
Corral de la Moreria
15 min (2.3 km) from Mercado San Miguel
Flamenco show, dining
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Day 7: Day trip to Toledo
Cathedral of Toledo
30 mins (70 km) from hotel by train
Historic, religious
Alcázar of Toledo
15 min (1.3 km) from Cathedral of Toledo
Fortress, panoramic views
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Day 8: Segovia and Aqueduct Tour
Aqueduct of Segovia
27 min (93 km) from hotel by train
Historic, Roman engineering
Alcazar of Segovia
13 min (1 km) from Aqueduct of Segovia
Castle, gardens
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Day 9: Exploring Madrid
Mercado de San Anton
8 min (1.3 km) from hotel
Food market, shopping
El Rastro Flea Market
11 min (2.3 km) from Mercado de San Anton
Vintage shopping, souvenirs
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Day 10: Flamenco Dance Class and Bar Crawl
Flamenco dance class
15 min (2.7 km) from hotel
Dancing, learning
Bar hop on Calle de las Huertas
10 min (1.4 km) from dance class
Bar crawl, nightlife
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Day 11: Day trip to Avila
Walls of Avila
1 hr 30 min (115 km) from hotel
Historic, city walls
The Convento de Santa Teresa
4 min (270 m) from Walls of Avila
Religious, art
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Day 12: Park and Museums
El Retiro Park
17 min (4 km) from hotel
Greenery, boat rides, relaxation
Museo del Prado
14 min (1.2 km) from El Retiro Park
Art, exhibitions
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Day 13: Farewell to Spain
Check out of hotel
Travel time to airport: 25 min by taxi or 45 min by metro and train
Flight back home
- You can swap Toledo or Avila for a visit to the medieval city of Segovia depending on your interest in history and architecture.
- If time is of the essence, visit the Royal Palace of Madrid, El Retiro Park, or Alcazar of Segovia instead of spending a beach day in Barcelona.
- Be aware of pickpockets in crowded markets and tourist destinations.
- Book tickets for popular art museums in advance to avoid long lines.
- When bar hopping in Madrid, try tapas at different bars to have a taste of the local cuisine.