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Barcelona & Madrid

9 days in Barcelona, Zaragoza, Madrid

Optional 2 day extension

Barcelona cityscape and Mediterranean coast through palm trees on Barcelona and Madrid tours.
Price this tour
OverviewWhat you'll doReviewsWhat's includedPriceFAQs
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OVERVIEW

Discover the nuances between Catalonian creativity and Castilian tradition as you journey from the coast to the capital

Experience the vibrant pulse of Spain through two distinctly different cities. In Barcelona, students stroll the winding lanes of the Gothic Quarter and stand beneath Gaudí’s colorful creations. Then in Madrid, royal plazas and world-class museums reveal the country’s deep artistic and political heritage. Along the way, flamenco lessons, local markets, and community connections bring Spanish language and culture to life, building students’ confidence and curiosity as they uncover how creativity and tradition shape each city’s unique identity.

What makes this tour special?

Download a tour overview
Experience Gaudí's visionary architecture up close while exploring the whimsical landscapes of Park Güell

Experience Gaudí's visionary architecture up close while exploring the whimsical landscapes of Park Güell

Step into Spanish culture during a flamenco dance lesson, then feel the rhythm come alive in a professional live show

Step into Spanish culture during a flamenco dance lesson, then feel the rhythm come alive in a professional live show

Explore Madrid's Palacio Real and uncover the artistry, history, and tradition behind Spain's centuries of royal heritage

Explore Madrid's Palacio Real and uncover the artistry, history, and tradition behind Spain's centuries of royal heritage

Barcelona and Madrid route map

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly overnight to Spain

Board your international flight to Barcelona

Day 2: Barcelona

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Take a walking tour of Las Ramblas

Day 3: Barcelona

Take a guided tour of Barcelona. With your expert local guide you will:

  • Visit Park Güell with an expert local guide

  • See La Pedrera or Casa Batlló

Snap photos of the twisting spires of La Sagrada Família

Enjoy time to explore independently, making your own discoveries as you connect with local culture. Or groups can add this activity:


Barcelona by bike

Barcelona by bike

Feel the warm Mediterranean breeze as you explore Barcelona on a guided bicycle tour. This bicycle-friendly city has more than 75 miles of cycling lanes providing a safe, fun, and fast way to gain a deeper understanding of Barcelona’s richly diverse streets and neighborhoods. Stop along the way to learn historical details about the city’s famous sites before pedaling on to your next destination.

Day 4: Barcelona

Enjoy a walking tour of Barcelona. With your expert local guide, you will:

  • See Gothic Quarter

  • See Barcelona Cathedral

  • Compete in a "City Challenge" scavenger hunt 

Enjoy time to explore independently, making your own discoveries as you connect with local culture. Or groups can add this activity:


Montserrat

Journey northwest of Barcelona on a half-day excursion to Montserrat, a beautiful mountain range in Catalonia known for its distinctive rock formations. You'll see the Montserrat Monastery, founded in the 11th century, and learn about its role in Catalonia's history.

Day 5: Barcelona • Zaragoza • Madrid

Travel to Zaragoza

Visit Basílica del Pilar

Travel to Madrid

Day 6: Madrid

Take a tour of Madrid with an expert local guide

Visit the Royal Palace

Take a flamenco dance lesson

See a flamenco show

Day 7: Madrid

Visit the Prado Museum

Take a walking tour of Madrid. With your Tour Director, you will see:

  • Puerta del Sol

  • Plaza Mayor

  • Mercado de San Miguel

Enjoy time to explore independently, making your own discoveries as you connect with local culture. Or groups can add this activity:


Toledo

This guided half-day excursion takes you to Toledo, the “city of the three cultures.” Explore its diverse artistic and cultural legacy on a panoramic drive around the city, stopping at the iconic cathedral and the famed Church of Santo Tomé. Note: Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Day 8: Depart for home

Board your flight home from Madrid

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

Learn more

Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

Travelers save when you lead this tour before October 1, 2027

See 2027 pricing

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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

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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 tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you decide to lead a 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 your first destination until your final goodbye. 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 their destination

  • 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 of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.

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.

EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
 
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.

Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.

Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.

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

  • Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.

  • Most tours include daily group dinners, which 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, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.

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! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

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