• Enroll
  • Help center
    • Collections
      • Most Popular
      • New Tours
      • Starter Tours
      • Career Readiness Tours
      • STEM Tours
      • Middle School Tours
      • Global Leadership Summit
      • Community Engagement Tours
      • Language & Culture Tours
      • Tours for Girls
      • View all
    • All Destinations
      • Asia
      • Latin America
      • Europe
      • South Pacific
      • Africa
      • US & Canada
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • England
      • Italy
      • France
      • Portugal
    • Latin America
      • Panama
      • Peru
      • Dominican Republic
      • Ecuador
      • Costa Rica
    • Asia
      • South Korea
      • Japan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Cambodia
    • How it works
      • Plan your first tour
      • Pricing & inclusions
      • Request a free brochure
    • Why choose EF
      • Educational impact
      • Best-in-class safety
      • Personalized support
    • Teacher benefits
      • Teacher training
      • Global Rewards program
      • Credit & professional development
    • EF & Educational Travel
      • About EF
      • Educational travel 101
      • Find your teacher’s tour
      • Booking Conditions
    • Safety & Support
      • Our approach to safety
      • Peace of Mind Program
      • Travel protection
      • Meet your people
    • Pricing & Inclusions
      • Payments made easy
      • Everything that’s included
      • Fundraising & scholarships
    • Getting Ready to Go
      • Passports & visas
      • Flights & transportation
      • Trip packing list
      • Rooming & meals
      • Adult travelers
Contact usLog in

Footer

We're here to help

Contact us
Help Center

Learn more

How it works
About EF
Customer Reviews
Visit our blog
Careers at EF

Other EF brands

EF Explore America
EF Language Abroad
EF Tours for Girls
EF Educational Tours Canada
EF Adventures
EF Ultimate Break
EF Go Ahead Tours
EF Gap Year

Stay connected

Contact us
Help Center
How it works
About EF
Customer Reviews
Visit our blog
Careers at EF
EF Explore America
EF Language Abroad
EF Tours for Girls
EF Educational Tours Canada
EF Adventures
EF Ultimate Break
EF Go Ahead Tours
EF Gap Year

Stay connected

Privacy Policy and Legal Notices

© Signum International AG 2026. All rights reserved.


First-time travelers

Barcelona and Madrid

8 days in Spain

OverviewWhere you'll goWhat you'll doWhat's includedPriceReviewsFAQs

OVERVIEW

What makes this tour special?

Experience the vibrant pulse of Spain through two distinctly different cities. Journey from the Mediterranean charm of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter to the regal elegance of Madrid's Baroque plazas, learning how history and art have shaped each city’s personality—while also building confidence in your Spanish-speaking skills.

Hear from a local expert

Alejandro shares why he loves leading this tour.

Practice your Spanish. Explore different dialects as you talk to locals.
Practice your Spanish

Explore different dialects in real-world situations.

Spain offices
We’re local

An EF office is always close by.

flamenco dancer
Activity spotlight

Feel the energy during a live flamenco show.

spacer
spacer

where you’ll go

Explore the nuances of Catalonian and Castilian ways of life

Uncover a dynamic seaside city that balances Gothic architecture and history with modern cuisine and culture. 

On your way to Madrid, explore this hidden gem that’s home to a unique blend of Roman ruins, Moorish palaces, and modern art. 

Legendary artistic energy meets contemporary trends along the sprawling boulevards of Spain's capital city.

BAM map

what you’ll do

The highlight reel

Stroll down Las Ramblas and feel what makes this vibrant street the beating heart of the city

Stroll down Las Ramblas and feel what makes this vibrant street the beating heart of the city

Barcelona, Spain

Explore Antonio Gaudí’s colorful universe at La Sagrada Família and Park Güell

Explore Antonio Gaudí’s colorful universe at La Sagrada Família and in Park Güell

Barcelona, Spain

Wind through the medieval Gothic Quarter on a self-guided scavenger hunt

Break into teams and wind through the medieval Gothic Quarter on a self-guided scavenger hunt

Barcelona, Spain

Marvel at the vibrant Art Nouveau architecture of Sant Pau, a former hospital

Marvel at the vibrant Art Nouveau architecture of Sant Pau, a former hospital

Barcelona, Spain

Discover the art of flamenco during a workshop, then watch the pros in a live show

Discover the art of flamenco during a workshop, then watch the pros in a live performance

Madrid, Spain

Feel centuries of regal history come alive in the Royal Palace’s gilded halls and baroque rooms

Feel centuries of regal history come alive in the Royal Palace’s gilded halls and baroque rooms

Madrid, Spain

Step into the mind of an artist as you examine world-class pieces in the Prado Museum

Step into the mind of an artist as you examine world-class pieces in the Prado Museum

Madrid, Spain

Walk through iconic sites like Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and Mercado de San Miguel

Walk through iconic sites like Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and Mercado de San Miguel

Madrid, Spain

what’s included

More than a trip abroad

With EF, you and your students embark on a learning journey that begins the moment you sign up, and it continues long after you return home. We’re also experts at tour planning and handling travel logistics, so you don’t have to sweat the small (or significant) stuff.

Before you go

Students learn about how to become world travelers and prepare to be immersed in new cultures.

During your tour

Every tour is designed with the EF Method, our curriculum of hands-on learning that builds essential skills students need for their futures.

After you return

You and your students continue to reflect on your growth—and can even earn high school or graduate-level credit.

Unlock your lowest price

mm03
/
dd03
/
yyyy2027

We're sorry, this departure date is not available. Please choose another date.


Are you interested in traveling on or after Oct. 1, 2027?

Learn more
spacer
spacer
Learn the ropes on a free teacher training tour
Learn on a free international training tour
Let's go

Flexible payment options

Making travel a reality

We believe travel is for everyone and want to support your students in making travel possible. That’s why we strive to keep our tours affordable and offer families helpful tools and resources.

Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers


Real talk from real travelers

ugc video 1

A student on a moment on tour he’ll never forget

bicycle video

Just a casual Tuesday biking through Barcelona

ugc video 3

Take in the sights, sounds, and scents of Plaza Mayor

food eating

That “first bite of bocadillo” feeling

Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other EF Starter Tours or any tour in our portfolio that you’re curious about), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you choose our Barcelona and Madrid tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.

You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in Barcelona until your final goodbyes at the Madrid airport. They:

  • Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group

  • Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)

  • Support you 24/7 as your right hand

  • Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to Spain

  • Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to

  • Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine

Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s five free chaperone spots.

All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different—so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.

Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.

To enter Spain (and most EU countries), U.S. travelers will need an ETIAS, a new travel authorization that’s not quite a visa. It’s quick to apply for online, low-cost, and valid for three years.

Yes! Students will have countless opportunities to use their Spanish in real-world settings across Barcelona and Madrid. They’ll interact with local guides, order food, ask questions, and even pick up on the differences between Catalan and Castilian Spanish—all with support from your Tour Director.

Yes—Barcelona and Madrid are best explored on foot (as is the case for most of our Europe tours), so expect a good amount of walking each day. You’ll have bus time to rest your legs, but comfy sneakers are a must. If any travelers require accommodations, be sure to let your EF Travel Team know.

You’ll stay in two hotels—three nights in Barcelona and three nights in Madrid. Staying in just two places means more time to settle in and unpack a little. Each hotel is inspected by EF’s dedicated quality team to meet our high standards for comfort, safety, and cleanliness. Every room includes a private bathroom.

You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect on Barcelona and Madrid:

  • Daily breakfast is served at your hotel and typically includes cereal, bread, jam, juice, eggs, protein, coffee, and tea.

  • Daily group dinners take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.

  • Lunches are usually not included—giving students the freedom to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food (like tapas or churros!).

Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.

We’re here to help! Click here to get in touch or have a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

Where learning meets life