22 Days | Embark on a European escape through France and Spain
Combine French flair with Spanish panache on a 22-day adventure through two of Europe’s biggest names. Soak up the bright lights of Paris before hopping on a train to Nimes in the south of France, home to well-preserved Roman monuments from 70 AD. Sample buttery croissants and local wines along the way, then cross into Spain and feel the buzz of Barcelona before touring all the way to Tarifa and back. Settle in with sangria and tapas, take in a flamenco performance and feast on some of the world’s best paella. This is a trip bursting with colour and culture.
Trip overview
- Start
- Paris, France
- Finish
- Barcelona, Spain
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- France, Spain
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- BMSSC
- Explore Paris' Montmartre area – a favourite for artists for generations. See where Van Gogh and Picasso used to live and take hidden walkways to secret viewpoints that only locals know.
- Discover the eccentric modernist architecture of Antonio Gaudi, who made Barcelona his artistic playground. The unfinished masterpiece of La Sagrada Familia is particularly mind-blowing.
- Swim under the Pont du Gard – an incredible example of human creative genius. Explore this aqueduct bridge from above and below and maybe even rent a kayak for another perspective.
- Indulge in buttery croissants in Paris, taste Spain’s favourite dessert (churros) in Madrid and enjoy a tapas dinner in Barcelona where you can rub shoulders with the locals and toast to a sense of community.
- It's a pretty special thing to chill out on a beach in Andalucian Spain, knowing North Africa is just across the water. Explore the scenic Costa de la Luz, and kick back with some tapas and sangria in Tarifa.
- If travelling to Paris from London we highly recommend using the fast Eurostar train from London's St Pancras station. At under 2.5 hours travel time and with no airport queues, this is by far the most convenient and carbon friendly travel option.
- This trip covers a lot of ground and the majority of travel is done by trains and public buses. It's a good time to sit back, relax and let the scenery roll past your window. Please read the Itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
- We recommend packing light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations and hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs, and across cobblestones. Train stations often don’t have lifts available.
- Summer temperatures can be extreme in this region (over 40C/104F). It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Many hotels in Europe have fans, not air conditioning. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
- Space is at a premium in Europe and your hotel is no exception. Rooms are often small, but usually the central location makes up for that. For those travelling as a duo, hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.
Itinerary
Inclusions
13 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Train, Public bus, Metro, Taxi, Bicycle
Hotel (19 nights), Hostal/Guest house ( 2 nights)
- Paris - Hidden Montmartre Urban Adventure
- Visit Pont du Gard (Museum, Bridge and Swimming Time and Free Time for Lunch)
- Sagrada Familia Admission
- Churros Stop
- Granada - Guided Visit to Alhambra Palace & Gardens
- Ronda - Los Molinos (Windmill Valley) Hike
- Seville - Evening Flamenco Performance
- Cordoba - Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral) Visit
- Valencia - City Cycling Tour
- Valencia - Picnic
- Barcelona - Leader-led orientation walk
- Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia Cathedral visit
- Paris - Palace of Versailles - EUR20
- Paris - Louvre Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR22
- Paris - Arc de Triomphe - EUR16
- Paris - Musee d'Orsay - EUR16
- Paris - Rodin Museum - EUR14
- Paris - Napoleon's Tomb & Les Invalides Army Museum - EUR15
- Paris - Eiffel Tower (from - must be prebooked in advance) - EUR23
- Paris - Da Vinci Code Walking Tour - EUR25
- La Maison Carrée (Roman Temple) - EUR6
- Roman Amphitheatre of Nîmes - EUR10
- Pont du Gard Kayaking - EUR13
- Barcelona - National Art Museum of Catalonia - EUR12
- Barcelona - Museum of Gaudi - EUR6
- Barcelona - Museum of City History - EUR7
- Barcelona - Picasso Museum - EUR15
- Barcelona - Barcelona Cathedral - EUR11
- Barcelona - Ethnological and World Cultures - EUR5
- Barcelona - Contemporary Art Museum - EUR12
- Barcelona - Casa Batllo (advance booking required) - EUR29
- Barcelona - Guell Palace - EUR12
- Madrid - Museo del Prado - EUR15
- Madrid - Museo Reina Sofia - EUR10
- Madrid - Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza - EUR13
- Madrid - Real Jardín Botánico - EUR6
- Madrid - Royal Palace - EUR14
- Madrid - Museo Taurino - EUR15
- Madrid - Tapas Urban Adventure - EUR99
- Granada - Mirador de San Nicolas - Free
- Granada - Catedral de Granada - EUR6
- Granada - Science Park Planetarium - EUR2
- Granada - Science Park - EUR7
- Granada - Capilla Real - EUR6
- Ronda - Santa Maria la Mayor Church - EUR4
- Ronda - Bandits Museum - EUR4
- Morocco - Day Trip from Tarifa - EUR66
- Tarifa - Whale Watching - EUR35
- Gibraltar - Day Trip from Tarifa - EUR48
- Tarifa - Castle - EUR4
- Seville - Andalusian Contemporary Art Centre - EUR3
- Seville - Casa de Pilatos - EUR10
- Seville - Indias Archive - Free
- Seville - Santa Paula Convent - EUR3
- Seville - Torre del Oro - EUR3
- Seville - Archaeological Museum - EUR3
- Seville - Cathedral & Giralda Tower - EUR12
- Seville - Museum of Fine Arts - EUR2
- Seville - Museum of Art & Popular Customs - EUR2
- Cordoba - Palacio Museo de Viana - EUR8
- Cordoba - Torre de la Calahorra - EUR5
- Cordoba - Museo Vivo de Al-Andalus - EUR6
- Cordoba - Casa de las Cabezas - EUR5
- Cordoba - Tablao el Cardenal - EUR23
- Cordoba - Museum of the Inquisition - EUR3
- Valencia - Fallas Museum - EUR2
- Valencia - Gonzalez Marti Museum - EUR3
- Valencia - Miguelete Tower - EUR2
- Valencia - Principe Felipe Science Museum - EUR9
- Valencia - The Silk Exchange - EUR2
- Valencia - Valencian Institute of Modern Art - EUR6
- Valencia - Museum of Fine Arts - Free
- Barcelona - Tapas Tour in El Raval Urban Adventure - EUR99
- Barcelona - Old Santa Creu Hospital - EUR16
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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