Tailor-made Spain trip: Barcelona to Basque Country - 18 days

Welcome to vibrant Barcelona, the perfect starting point for your Spain travel experience. Meet your private driver at the airport for a comfortable transfer to your centrally located hotel, then ease into the city’s rhythm.

Stroll along elegant boulevards, pause at a local café for tapas and wine, and begin discovering Barcelona’s creative energy at your own pace.

Explore Gaudí’s creative vision on a premium small group tour, starting with skip-the-line access to the Sagrada Família. Step inside its breathtaking interior, then view the exterior with your expert guide, learning how symbolism, light, and structure come together in his most ambitious work.

Continue to the colorful curves of Park Güell, then travel along Passeig de Gràcia to admire La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. Along the way, pass Casa Vicens, Gaudí’s first major masterpiece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your guide will connect each landmark through the stories, ideas, and details that shaped Gaudí’s unmistakable Barcelona.

Explore Montserrat’s majestic mountain sanctuary, visiting the basilica and museum before riding the rack railway to sweeping viewpoints. Hear the moving Salve and Virolai performed by the famed boys’ choir, a centuries-old tradition that adds a powerful sense of place.

Continue into the Penedès countryside for a guided visit to a small family-run winery. Learn about traditional Catalan winemaking, taste distinctive local wines, and enjoy a generous home-style Catalan lunch surrounded by vineyards.

In the evening, return to Barcelona for a relaxed night.

Experience Barcelona from a fresh perspective on an active day across the city. Ride an electric bike up Montjuïc Mountain, glide above the rooftops by cable car, and explore the Olympic Ring and Montjuïc Castle.

Continue down to the harbor and relax on a scenic boat trip along the seafront to the Olympic Harbor, taking in wide views of the skyline.

Back on land, cycle through elegant streets and past some of Barcelona’s signature landmarks, including Passeig de Gràcia, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, and the Sagrada Família.

Set off on a scenic self-drive from Barcelona to Vielha, capital of the Val d’Aran. Along the way, explore Andorra and mountain towns such as La Seu d’Urgell, with time for local food, village streets, and Pyrenean landscapes away from the crowds.

Arrive in Vielha, a mountain town framed by peaks and the Garona River. Stroll its lively streets, browse artisan workshops and outdoor outfitters, then wander the old quarter’s narrow lanes.

Visit Sant Miquèu church beside the Town Hall arcades, known for its octagonal bell tower and revered Christ of Mijaran, and gain a deeper sense of this distinctive corner of Spain.

Self-drive into Andorra, the tiny principality tucked high in the Pyrenees between Spain and France. Framed by rugged peaks and deep valleys, it offers a striking contrast to the towns and landscapes you have explored so far.

Stroll through Andorra la Vella, Europe’s highest capital, where Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese, and French influences meet in daily life.

Pause at scenic viewpoints, explore alpine landscapes, and see how this independent microstate blends mountain traditions, duty-free shopping, and a relaxed high-altitude lifestyle before returning to Spain.

Self-drive from Vielha through Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of soaring peaks, deep valleys, and rich wildlife. Pause for scenic walks, viewpoints, and photo stops along the way.

Continue toward Navarra, with possible stops in Roncesvalles on the Camino de Santiago, the Baztan Valley, or characterful villages such as Elgorriaga, Elizondo, and Zubiri. Time permitting, detour to Pamplona for historic streets, pintxos bars, and local Navarre culture.

End the day in the Irati Forest, one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved beech and fir woodlands. Follow trails near the Irati River, hike beneath a dense green canopy, or pause by the turquoise Irabia reservoir to take in the stillness of the Western Pyrenees.

Self-drive through the lush Baztan Valley, a chain of fifteen villages scattered across the Atlantic Pyrenees and one of the best places to visit in Spain for rural heritage, mountain scenery, and traditional architecture.

Begin in Elizondo, strolling beside the Baztan River to see noble houses, Arizkunenea Palace, the City Hall, and the charming Beartzu quarter.

Continue through Irurita and Elbete, where turreted ancestral homes, medieval towers, and baroque palaces reveal the valley’s layered past. Visit Arizkun’s Ursua Tower, then Amaiur Maya with its historic houses, before exploring Arraiotz for a deeper look at Pyrenean culture.

Drive across the fertile Arga River plain to Pamplona, a city of medieval walls, grand churches, lively plazas, and deep-rooted traditions. Stroll through the atmospheric old town, where historic streets lead to local cafés, pintxos bars, and gathering places that still shape daily life.

Later, explore authentic Navarre flavors in a cozy local restaurant. Savor garden-fresh asparagus, piquillo peppers, and haricot beans, followed by roast lamb with tomatoes and peppers.

Pair your meal with Navarra Designation of Origin wines and finish with a glass of fragrant pacharán.

Self-drive from Irati to Haro in La Rioja, following scenic roads through vineyard-covered hills and historic villages. In Haro, visit some of the region’s finest wineries, taste distinctive Riojan wines, and learn about the traditions that shaped one of Spain’s most celebrated wine regions.

Continue through nearby villages such as Eltziego, Cenicero, Nájera, and Santo Domingo de la Calzada, known for its monastery and Camino de Santiago heritage.

Time permitting, detour to Ezcaray, a charming mountain town with stone streets, artisan shops, and a relaxed Riojan atmosphere.

Enjoy a private, insider wine experience in La Rioja, visiting three boutique estates for intimate cellar tours, guided tastings, and generous tapas-based meals. This is the kind of slow, flavor-led day that brings depth to any Spain itinerary.

Taste single-grape Rioja wines inside an 11th-century underground cellar, then enjoy a light tapas pairing on a terrace overlooking the vineyards at a château-style winery.

Stroll the cobbled streets of medieval Laguardia with a guide, before ending the day at a family-run boutique winery, where several generations have shaped wines near architectural icons such as Marqués de Riscal and Ysios.

Drive from Haro toward the Basque coast, arriving near San Sebastián, a refined seaside city known for its elegant promenade and exceptional food scene. This region is a paradise for food lovers, from traditional pintxos bars to Michelin-starred restaurants that can be reserved in advance.

Settle into a charming boutique hotel in the fishing village of Getaria, your coastal base for the night.

From here, explore Biarritz and the French Basque coast independently, or add a private tour with trusted local experts for a deeper look at the region.

Discover San Sebastián with a local guide, exploring its charming streets and lively old town. As evening unfolds, visit up to five favorite pintxo bars, tasting five standout pintxos paired with five Spanish wines or soft drinks.

This relaxed experience feels like dining with a knowledgeable friend. Along the way, learn local customs, pick up insider tips, and savor some of the most authentic flavors in the Basque Country.

Spend the day exploring the Basque coast from your base in Getaria, a small fishing town known for its harbor, medieval streets, and deep connection to the sea.

Stroll through the old town, visit the waterfront, and enjoy views across the Bay of Biscay. With time, follow the coast to nearby villages, stop for fresh seafood, or sample local txakoli, the crisp white wine produced in the surrounding hills.

This is a relaxed day to experience the Basque Country at a slower pace, with coastal landscapes, fishing traditions, and local flavors all close at hand.

Enjoy a private cooking class at one of San Sebastián’s iconic gastronomic clubs, with exclusive access arranged through your host’s membership. Begin with a guided visit to the local market, choosing fresh ingredients for the dishes you will prepare.

Back in the club kitchen, a professional chef will guide you through authentic Basque recipes as you cook, taste, and share wine.

Prepare market appetizers, lobster rice, hake with clams and cheeks, and classic pantxineta for a relaxed, hands-on Basque feast.

Start the day with a small group tour through the French Basque region. Stroll Hendaye’s sweeping beachfront, then follow the scenic La Corniche Road to Saint Jean de Luz, a former corsair stronghold where royal history meets the rhythm of a working fishing town.

Continue to Biarritz, a chic seaside retreat long loved by surfers and European royalty.

End in Hondarribia, where fortified medieval streets and flower-filled fishermen’s houses offer a more intimate view of the Basque Coast.

Discover the Txakoli wine region on a private visit to a family-run winery. Learn about the local grapes and taste this crisp Basque wine paired with tuna, chili peppers, and chorizo.

Return to Getaria with a sharper focus on its fishing heritage, following medieval lanes toward the harbor before enjoying a grilled fish lunch by the water.

In the Basque hills, meet an artisan Idiazabal cheesemaker for an intimate tour and tasting, or visit a nearby coastal village to sample local cheeses with sweeping sea views.

Say goodbye to the Basque Coast with a final scenic drive from San Sebastián to either San Sebastián Airport or Bilbao Airport. Take in the last views of green hills, Atlantic light, and fishing villages along the way.

Return your rental car before your flight, carrying home the flavors, stories, and local encounters that made your Spain trip feel personal and tailor-made.