Perfect Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon Vacation

Witness Barcelona’s very best sights on a comprehensive whirlwind tour led by an expert guide. This full-day private sightseeing adventure will take you to the most iconic locales in Spain’s most famous city, including the chic boulevard of Passeig de Gracia and the architectural wonders of La Peddler, Casa Batlló. You will then peruse Antoni Gaudí’s whimsical wonderland, Parc Guell, with its asymmetric, rainbow-colored, and resplendently tiled sculptures and benches that will enthrall and delight you.

Your Barcelona tour will then continue to La Sagrada Familia, where the towering spires of this staggering masterpiece of architecture that was designed by Antoni Gaudí take your breath away. Your final destination of the day will be the magical medieval enclave of Old Town Barcelona. While enjoying a stroll through the streets of the gorgeous Gothic Quarter, your expert guide will regale you with the fascinating history of the city’s origins and also inform you all about Catalan culture.

Once your tour has concluded, you will spend the rest of the day and evening immersed in a hands-on private cooking class with a local master chef. After being taught step-by-step how to concoct an amazing and authentic Catalan dish, you will sit down and enjoy the mouthwatering meal alongside your gracious host. While sharing stories and hearing even more about the intriguing Catalan culture, discover the unique origins of its tasty cuisine. After you have had your fill, your private driver will pick you up and return you to your Barcelona accommodations for a good night’s rest.

Following breakfast, find yourself whisked away to the magical mountaintop monastery of Montserrat for a full day of discovery and awe-inspiring beauty. After being picked up by your expert guide, you will escape the hustle and bustle of Barcelona and journey into the picturesque Catalan countryside via luxury vehicle.

Upon your arrival at Montserrat, you will embark on an awe-inspiring exploration into the unique history of this sacred sanctuary among the Spanish clouds. After being treated to an informative tour through the monastery itself, you will have some free time to wander among the picturesque grounds, which are quite scenic and extensive. Capture keepsake photos and breathe in the peaceful mountain beauty that surrounds you. In high season, you will even have the opportunity to use this time to take a scenic ride in the onsite cable car, which presents an unrivaled panoramic view of the captivating countryside below.

After departing Montserrat, you will venture onward to an award-winning winery, that treats you to several samples of some of the region’s most excellent wines and a sumptuous gourmet Catalan feast. Following the feast, you will stroll around the onsite vineyards and witness a remarkable sunset from one of the winery’s most scenic viewpoints, of course, sipping a glass of impeccable wine. Your private driver will then pick you up and return you to your Barcelona accommodations, happy, satisfied, and with a decidedly wonder-filled wine glow.

Fly high as you embark on an incredible once in a lifetime aerial adventure. Enjoy a VIP hot air balloon ride over the Spanish countryside with your private guide. This unique half-day excursion promises to be one that you will never forget. As your guide picks you up and whisks you away from the city toward your takeoff spot, you will already feel your heart racing in anticipation of this magnificent memory you are about to make.

Once you are in the air, panoramic views of myriad world-famous locales, including Montserrat, the picturesque Pyrenees, the sparkling Mediterranean sea, and even distant views of Barcelona itself surround you. Directly following your tour, as if the fantasy flight was not enough of a treat, upon landing, you will be pampered even further by being served a decadent authentic Catalonian brunch. Then, after dining on the finest local delights and being toasted with the region’s signature cava, you will make your way back to Barcelona to prepare for your evening excursion.

You will spend the evening enjoying a culinary journey into the heart of Barcelona’s best flavors. Led by an expert gourmand guide, you will be introduced to the most lovely epicurean delights of this spectacular city, specifically the fantastic tapas scene that thrives here. Stop by some of Barcelona’s most beloved tapas bars, visit the La Boqueria food market, and stroll through the Gothic Quarter as you are instructed how to order these world-famous appetizer-type treats like a bonafide Catalan. Once your tour is complete, and you are satisfied from the delicate morsels, you will be delivered back to your Barcelona accommodations for the night.

Today’s journey has you saying goodbye to Barcelona in the morning and making your way to Madrid, where you will waste no time in embarking on a comprehensive tour of the city’s best sights with your private guide. After checking in to your luxury Madrid accommodations, your guide will lead you on an in-depth exploration of the most iconic locales.

Madrid will instantly steal your heart as you witness the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, the Gran Vía, and many more scenic destinations. Along the way, you will especially marvel at the majesty of the lovely architecture of this world-renowned city. Then, after traversing along the Paseo de la Castellana and perusing the chic neighborhood of Salamanca, your private tour will conclude, thus giving you some well-deserved free time to stroll and soak in the ambiance of this incredible European metropolis.

During this time, you will have your pick from a plethora of delicious eateries in the area to enjoy a lovely dinner, each of them offering al fresco dining under the stars and a plethora of entrées to choose from. After enjoying your meal and people watching to your heart’s content amid this picturesque and popular area, you will be picked up by your private driver and returned to your luxury Madrid accommodations, sure to sleep well and dream deliciously sweet dreams.

An exhilarating private kayaking adventure begins today, and after meeting up with your expert guide in the morning, you will be taken away from the busy city and brought to the beautiful natural wonderland of Lake Pinilla, located in the stunning Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. Upon your arrival at the lake, and initial operational instructions from your guide, you will launch yourself into the lovely lake and paddle your way among some of the most picturesque scenery in all of Spain.

After you have paddled a few hours and heard all about this special place, you will park your kayak along the shore and be treated to a mouthwatering gourmet meal prepared right before your eyes by a private chef. After devouring this well-deserved feast, you will be given some free time to swim before paddling back to your original departure point and returning to Madrid for your exciting evening event.

Your nighttime culinary event is no ordinary cooking class. Instead, it is a 4-hour in-depth journey of discovery, during which you will uncover all of the delicious secrets of authentic Spanish cuisine. You will roll up your sleeves and dive into learning how to make the country’s signature dishes, like tapas, paella, gazpacho, all completely from scratch. Get your hands dirty as you knead dough, roll out fresh pasta, slice fresh vegetables, simmer, stew, and beyond in this fantastic culinary escapade, all under the watchful eye of a local master chef.

Finally, after you have toiled tirelessly in the kitchen together, you and your gracious host will sit down and break bread with one another. Feast on the fruits of your shared labors and share stories over wine and what is sure to be one of the best meals that you have ever tasted. The highlight of the evening comes at the end of the night when you are sent back to your accommodations with a lovely labeled recipe book, including all of the mouthwatering dishes you just created. Now, you can recreate this magical night’s meal at home any time you want.

Following your culinary adventures, today finds you embarking on yet another gastronomic excursion as you spend the day visiting a trio of the region’s most respected wineries. Departing the city in the morning with your private guide, you will be swept away to the stunning Spanish countryside to sample and learn all about the unique wines of the area surrounding magical Madrid.

As you arrive at the wineries and tour each one, you will be regaled with a fascinating insight into the intricate production processes that they use, involving bodegas, which are otherwise known as atmospheric wine cellars. You will even learn about the production of organic wines before being led on a sunlit stroll among the vineyards themselves, allowing you to witness where the actual grapes grow, even plucking a few of the decadently delicious orbs from the vines to sample as you walk.

Midway through the day, you will pause to partake in a lovely al fresco lunch overlooking one of the vineyards. Following lunch, your driver will take the long way back to Madrid, allowing you to enjoy the remnants of your post-wine glow while simply relaxing and soaking up the extraordinary views on the scenic journey back to the city. As you are dropped off at your luxury accommodations for the night, you will have a newfound appreciation and understanding of all things wine, at least regarding the Madrid region’s best blends.

As the next day dawns, you will say goodbye to Madrid and depart for your final destination, Portugal’s capital city. Upon your arrival in Lisbon, after checking in to your luxury accommodations in the heart of the city, you will meet up with your private guide, who will lead you on your first official excursion, a captivating tour of the most beloved locales in Lisbon.

Navigate Lisbon’s undulating landscapes as you admire its landmarks and monuments on the quintessential trolley. As your guide regales you with intriguing historical facts about Lisbon, you will get to witness the lively Alfama district with its famed narrow streets, the bustling Bairro Alto area, well-known for its nightlife revelry, the elegant Chiado section, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Belem Tower and much more.

Once your comprehensive tour is complete, you will be transported to a once in a lifetime experience as you are treated to a mouthwatering authentic Portuguese meal, followed by a riveting and compelling live Fado performance that will leave you in awe. To be able to see this beloved national pastime performed right before your eyes is like nothing that you have ever experienced, surpassing far beyond what mere words could describe. As your driver returns you to your luxury accommodations for the night, you will still be caught up in the magical moment.

Fast on the heels of your emotional and electrifying Fado experience the night before, you will awaken to a new journey of discovery that is sure to steal your heart. Today’s magical destination is the fairytale world of Sintra, world-famous for its awe-inspiring architectural wonders and enchanting charm.

As you make your way to this dreamlike haven in a luxury vehicle, your private guide will regale you with the fascinating history of this wonderland, as well as advise you about what to expect during the day’s exciting escapade. The moment you set foot in Sintra, you will be immediately smitten, as this enclave is truly a Disney movie set come true.

You will first visit the multi-colored Pena Palace, which the sight of alone will take your breath away with its multiple turrets and twirled, rainbow towers.

Even its curly-queued gates that seem to swirl up to the sky will have to pinch yourself, wondering if this heavenly place does exist in real life.

After departing Pena Palace, you will stop by the equally enchanting Castelo dos Mouros and Quinta da Regaleira, before your final stop, charming Sintra town. Here, you have free time to stroll the lovely town streets, browsing among novelty shops, cute cafes, and sweet boutiques before enjoying a lovely dinner at one of the local eateries of your choosing. After your meal comes the highlight of the night, as you are picked up and delivered back to your luxury accommodations via an authentic horse-drawn carriage ride, absolutely fitting with the rest of the glorious day’s fairytale motif.

Spend the last morning of your dream vacation enjoying a delicious gourmet brunch. As you savor every morsel of your meal, you will consciously be soaking up these final few remaining magical moments of your time away in this European wonderland.

Then, as you finish your brunch and your private driver arrives to take you to the airport, you will already be planning your return visit. The magical feeling that you have gotten throughout this entire experience will be one that you will want to come and recapture again and again.