Family Getaway to Barcelona: Historical City of Catalan

Today, you will wake to the early morning bustle of street vendors and charismatic cafe workers. You can indulge in a complimentary breakfast at your hotel or step just beyond your front door for a charming outdoor cafe con leche or tostada at an outdoor patio.

By mid-morning, you will meet your knowledgeable guide in front of your hotel as you tour the hidden secrets of the illustrious Gothic Quarter. As you pass along the cobbled streets, you will marvel at the careful stonework and opulent architecture of the 19th and 20th century. You and your family will pass by the ancient synagogue that dates back to the 3rd and 4th century AD before arriving at the looming palace complex that is known as Palau Reial Major, which was once the residence to the counts of Barcelona and the kings of Aragon. You can see remnants of Spain's civil war when you visit the Plaza de San Felipe Neri because bomb depressions are still visible on the building's facade. You will stop for lunch midday at the Placa Reial, which is a massive open-air, public square, where shady palm trees offer respite from the intense Catalonian sun. You can choose from a variety of tapas options that you can share with your whole family, including cheeses, hams, olives, and chicken.

You can also enjoy a few hours of self-exploration that will allow you to peek your heads into souvenir shops or watch vivacious street performers as they captivate their downtown crowds. An internationally acclaimed chef will lead you in a private paella cooking class as you roll up your sleeves. You can take turns, chopping up vegetables, stirring rice, and sprinkling in heaps of saffron before deciding on delicious chicken, seafood, or vegetarian variations of this quintessential Spanish dish. Your chef will instruct you to stir the medley of rice, peas, green beans, and protein in a giant, cast-iron skillet. Then, you and your family will sit on a high-rise balcony as you look out on the city and indulge in your family's delectable creation.

Today, the inner soccer fan in you will rejoice because you will have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of touring the stadium of the world-renowned soccer team FC Barcelona. Visitors can step on the field and get an up-close look at the players' daily routine. Before you tour of Camp Nou, you can spend your morning at the most iconic piece of architecture in all of Barcelona and amongst the most recognized in the world: Sagrada Familia. This whimsical church, which was first constructed nearly 150 years ago, is unlike any other Roman Catholic Church in the world. The fantastical work of its primary architect, Antoni Gaudi, can be seen all over the city. Nevertheless, nothing quite compares to the magnitude of Sagrada Familia.

From the outside, flamboyant stonework exudes a sort of fairytale-like quality, as if the facade itself is melting off the side of the building. Church steeples puncture the sky with their unique, oblong design, and at the rear, intricate stonework depicts the iconic nativity scene of the Bible. You and your family will follow your guide inside the church for a truly breathtaking peek at the interior. Blending colors of lights stream in from dozens of stained glass windows, and central columns rise 175 meters into the air. You will circle the perimeter as your guide explains more about the site's history and construction, which is still a work in progress to this day. After your tour, you can choose from a variety of cuisines at nearby, outdoor cafes.

In the afternoon, you and your family will be in for a treat when you travel outside downtown Barcelona to Camp Nou Stadium. Visitors can walk on the very turf on which the world-famous Barcelona soccer team plays. You will follow your guide to behind-the-scenes locations like the press room and even the locker rooms. Then, you and your family can pose for professional photos to commemorate your visit before being returned to your luxurious accommodation.

The following day, your family will peel away from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona's downtown in exchange for the quaint, Northeastern city of Girona. A scenic train ride will bring you to the bursting red, yellow, and orange hues of this beloved city. Once here, you can walk on the rust-colored Eiffel Bridge as you cross the Onyar River to the city's downtown. There, you will meet your expert guide as you tour the cultural and religious influences that are tucked inside stone buildings, within baroque cathedrals, under the lavish ceilings of the Arab baths, and behind the doors of the ancient synagogues.

You and your family will begin your tour at Girona's central cathedral by stepping inside for a glimpse of the stunning stained-glass windows. Then, you can venture to the Jewish Quarter, which is home to one of the oldest synagogues in the region, dating back to the third or fourth century AD. It is also well-documented that this region of the city, which is also known as El Call, was home to some of the most prestigious poets, thinkers, and philosophers of the time. Nearby, you will step inside the Arab Baths, which are complete with a central stone basin and towering pillars along the periphery. Finally, you can walk atop the far-stretching Roman wall that encompasses the city for impressive panoramic views.

In the afternoon, you will travel to the sparkling ocean waters of Costa Brava. Brightly colored beach towels and umbrellas will dot the coastline while families and couples relax and soak up the sun with their children jumping in the dark blue waves. First, your ground transportation will stop at the beach of Blanes or Cadaques, which are perfect locations for sunbathing and boat watching. Then, you will delight in a lovely dinner at the town of Palafrugell, where bright white buildings pop in sharp contrast to the crashing blue waves. Afterward, you will be returned to your luxurious accommodation for the evening.

Today, you will exchange beaches for mountains by embarking on a day trip to the mountainous region of Montserrat. You will experience awe-inspiring terrain unlike any other when you arrive in the mountain town for some mild scenic hiking and a unique peek inside the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery. Your journey to the mountain is almost just as much of a thrill as you will enjoy a scenic train ride of approximately two hours en route to the mountains. Then, your expert guide will meet you at the Montserrat train station, where together, you will hop inside a suspended cable car for a unique bird's eye view of the jagged and saw-like mountain peaks that rise into the sky.

Shortly, you will arrive in the town of Montserrat, which is perfectly nestled into the surrounding mountains. Here, you can partake in a light hike around the downtown as you admire the luscious foliage and quaint city streets. You can then choose to continue on a five-kilometer hike en route to the monastery above, which takes approximately one and a half hours, or you can opt for ground transportation instead. Once reaching the summit, you will have unparalleled views of the mystical monastery and surrounding mountains. You will follow your guide on a short tour of the Montserrat Museum, the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, and the music school of Montserrat. Then, you can indulge in one to two hours of self-exploration as you venture to places like the Santa Coca de Montserrat and the Montserrat lookout point. You will also have the chance to shop and enjoy a late lunch before once again joining your guide for the cable car ride down the mountain before being returned to your hotel for the evening.

In the morning, you will return to Barcelona for a new adventure through Antoni Gaudi's most masterful design: Park Guell. This fairytale-like oasis boasts the quintessential Gaudi aesthetic. Small stone cottages, arching tunnels, and statues lie in between the pathways, all containing melting stone qualities, animal-like features, and iridescent tilework like those that can be found in Gaudi's other work. You will stroll through the verdant fields as locals set up picnics and visitors snap pictures of the panoramic skyline. Afterward, you can step inside the Gaudi House Museum before admiring the beautiful, arching water streams of the park's central fountains. You can take a calming walk on the Passeig de la Palmeras, which is a green walk beneath massive palm trees. Then, you can discover the mosaic salamander and other tile mosaic animal designs that are unique features of the park. From the serpentine-like mosaic benches, visitors can see all of Barcelona, the coastline, and the ocean horizon.

In the evening, you will return to the city for your final night in Spain. As a family, you will walk down to the port of Barceloneta, which teems with activity until the early morning hours. You can gather your whole family together to hop on a scenic Ferris Wheel ride above the city before indulging in some Spanish arcade games. On your ventures, you may pass by colorful kiosks of souvenirs for last minute gifts home, and later, you will enjoy a lovely meal at water's edge as you indulge in one last meal of paella or traditional tapas. In the evening, you can snake your way through the cobbled streets of the Gothic Quarter one final time while street buskers serenade you with their acoustic melodies.

As the seagulls cry out in the distance, you and your kids will wake up one last time with a warm cup of cafe con leche at an outdoor cafe with your family. You can spend the early morning hours near your hotel, sneaking inside the Mercado de La Boqueria one last time for some take-home souvenirs or to simply admire the Baroque architecture of the Gothic Quarter once more before you depart.

Soon after, you will meet ground transportation in front of your hotel who will transfer you to Barcelona’s international airport. As you wait to board your flight home, you and your family will have your first opportunity to reminisce about your extraordinary adventure.