Family Adventure Travel in Spain

Imagine being guided through the maze of tapas dishes by a local food specialist, or taking the family on an amazing motorcycle sidecar trip through the streets of Barcelona. What about a scavenger hunt while exploring the great Prado Museum, learning to dance the flamenco and painting hand made Andalusian tiles? See how bulls are trained to fight in the arena, and go horse riding, canyoning and cycling through the national parks. Explore Roman ruins, Islamic monuments and magnificent palaces – and never forget the cuisine, one of the finest in Europe.

Explore the Prado, one of the greatest museums in the world.

Marvel at the incredible Alhambra, one of the world’s architectural miracles.

Lose yourselves in Gaudi’s bizarre, surreal architecture in Barcelona.

Watch Real Madrid play soccer with 80,000 Madridistas in the Bernabeu Stadium, where the 1982 World Cup Final was played.

Hike Toledo, Sevilla and Granada – the classical cities of Andalusia.

Swim in natural pools, hike through river gorges, ride 4×4’s, go canoeing, cycling, horseback riding – it’s all possible in the Picos de Europa.

Day 1
On arrival in Barcelona your driver will meet you outside the arrivals hall of the airport and transfer you to your hotel in one of the city’s most atmospheric areas.

Day 2
Today we’ll discover the fascinating world of modernist architect Gaudí whose stamp on this city is both colourful and plentiful!We’ll learn about Gaudi and his iconic architectural style. His works have redefined and transformed the landscape of Barcelona and no less than seven have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites!

We’ll visit the immortal Sagrada Familia, a monumental masterpiece of Gaudi’s architecture and still under construction over 100 years after building began. We’ll also visit one of his most famous houses, the Casa Mila and spend time on its fantastic roof, full of amazing structures and with great views of the city.

The afternoon is free.

Day 3
Free morning to explore the city. If you prefer, we will organize tickets for the Barcelona FC Football Museum at the Camp Nou stadium OR a visit to Parc Guell, dedicated to Gaudi, and one of the most wonderful spaces in the city.

Late this afternoon we’ll get to know Barcelona in a delicious way on a private guided tapas tour! Spain has a rich culinary tradition and Catalonia its own regional delights. You will taste the most delicious specialties while enjoying and getting to know the city center of Barcelona. Discover some of the best bars, restaurants and cafes the city has to offer. Your informative guide will help you to select and show you how to order tapas while provides insights into the flavors of wine, the cuisine and Spanish culture.

Day 4
This morning you’ll be transferred to the port for your boat trip!
Come and sail along the Barcelona coast with a professional skipper in a sailboat enjoying amazing panoramic views of the city from the sea. Depending on wind and sea conditions, you will decide how to allocate your time: sailing on the open sea, swimming near the beach or just sitting back and enjoying the fresh sea breeze and the views of Barcelona’s coastline. Starting from the Port Olimpic, we may sail to the old port along the Barceloneta Beach; there you will see the Maremagnum, Aquarium, Columbus Monument, World Trade Center and large cruise ships. Coming back to Port Olimpic we will move away from the coast so you can enjoy the Barcelona Skyline. Test your senses with stunning views, fresh air, tranquility and you can also swim in the sea far from the coast. If you like, you can learn basic sailing techniques from your experienced skipper!

Day 5
Today we’ll discover Catalan countryside life in this unique full-day experience. You’ll visit local organic farmers, learn about seasonal products and pick our own to cook with. Then, you’ll cook and eat traditional Catalan dishes at a 400-year-old farmhouse. For cultural adventurers only!

OR you may choose a different option for food lovers – a visit to the famous La Boqueria market and a cooking class in the city afterwards. Two great choices!

Day 6
This morning we will transfer to the airport for the short flight to Seville (we may also choose to do the trip by train). On arrival you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the heart of the medieval city – El Centro, close to all major sights in the city and buzzing with atmosphere.

Day 7
This morning we’ll have a walking orientation tour of the city. We’ll focus on the mighty Seville Cathedral, the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world, and the Seville Royal Alcazar, a Royal Palace developed by Moorish Muslim kings. We’ll stroll around Barrio de Santa Cruz, formerly the Jewish Quarter and the most picturesque and delightful part of the city, with narrow winding cobbled streets and whitewashed houses. The Alcazar is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe and it was registered in 1987 as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Alcazar houses different palaces of various periods and its gardens, which evoke its Muslim past. The upper levels of the Alcazar are still used by the royal family as the official Seville residence. Seville’s cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world with the largest wooden altar made of Christendom and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The cathedral stands on the site of the 12th century Great Mosque, of which only the minaret remains.

Day 8
Today is a free day to explore the region surrounding Seville. We have organized a rental car for you and suggest driving out to Ronda, the small Andalusian town built around a massive gorge. Alternatively the fast train will get you to Cordoba in just 45 minutes. Cordoba is a wonderful Andalusian city and with our private guide you can explore La Mezquita – the great mosque with a Catholic church built inside after the Reconquest. An incredible building! Your flexible train ticket allows for you to return to Seville anytime you wish.

Day 9
Seville is known for its food scene and today we’ll enjoy an inspiring private tour through Triana’s local food market followed by tapas tasting. Your local guide will lead around Triana market, a local food market where the variety of stalls is impressive – every kind of seafood imaginable, Iberian ham stalls with all their different products, fruit and vegetable stalls, spices and bread stalls. One of Seville’s leading chef will give you plenty of tips on picking local, seasonal products and learn how to get the best ingredients. You will also have time for local tapas tasting, everything from Jabugo ham (from the black pigs, found only in the western corner of Andalusia) to tiny shellfish cooked in oil with garlic. Tapas and drinks are included.

After your walking tour, we’ll join a group and enjoy a river cruise. We will begin a lovely river boat trip along the Guadalquivir where you can enjoy views of the city. On board we can see firsthand the untouched sides of the Golden Tower, the famous Betis street, the Bullring, Triana bridge – the oldest in the city, designed by none other than Gustav Eiffel himself and the more modern bridges and the Pavilions, built during the 1992 Exposition. We´ll see the famous Isla de la Cartuja and its Monastery where Christopher Columbus lived for some years.

Day 10
Today we have a day trip to Jerez!
World famous, Jerez de la Frontera has spread its name around the globe for centuries. Sherry wine is known the world over and you’ll learn all about it today. We will tour the area and discover the secrets of this region with the help of our insider tips. In addition to its wine Jerez is also famous for flamenco, horses and bullfighting.

Jerez purebred horses have gained worldwide celebrity through centuries of tradition. Today we’ll go see the famous Andalusian horse show, an experience full of art, where we will enjoy the different styles of horsemanship, like ´doma vaquera´, Classical Dressage, Carriage Driving and more.

Afterwards we’ll go on a Jerez Winery Visit and Sherry tasting paired with a local lunch. With more than 2000 years of history, the history of sherry is closely linked to the development of the region and Bodegas Díez Merito, one of the most well known sherry estates in the world. Afterwards we will return to Seville for one last night to stroll around the city taking in Andalusia’s special sights and sounds!

Day 11
Today we will transfer you to the airport or train station for your onward travel.

Spain is excellent at all times of year. Summer is hot and busy but shoulder season is absolutely lovely and Spain’s mild winter climate makes it a great Christmas/New Year destination.

Spain is great for families! There is history everywhere and even the most modern cities have wonderful medieval alleys to roam about and explore. Spain is imbued with an incredible buzzing atmosphere and it often looks like the whole population is on vacation!

Families can really do everything in Spain! One could spend weeks exploring the great cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla; enjoy classic towns like Cordoba, Granada and san Sebastian; hike in the mountains or spend time at the beach – the Spanish ‘Costas’ are world famous!

Spaniards love meat so expect a lot of it! Seafood is also very abundant. San Sebastian is regarded as one of the great food centers anywhere in the world. A joy of Spanish food is enjoying a variety of tapas and pinxtos that makes for an affordable and fun meal.

Accommodation can include intimate boutique hotels, large North American and European chain hotels, and wonderful country style haciendas and ranches.

Spain is not a cheap destination. It is very popular, especially over summer and the Xmas/New Year period. It attracts plenty of North American guests, standards are good and English is spoken in most areas frequented by tourists. A typical Quivertree trip will include 4* and 5* accommodations as well as lovely homestyle haciendas and guesthouses.