Barcelona, the Costa Brava & the Costa del Sol - 14 days

Day 1: Arrive in Barcelona & Get Oriented

Welcome to Spain! On arrival in Barcelona, you'll transfer to your hotel in the city center. Take some time to settle in and get your bearings before heading out and about to explore the surroundings. Walk down to the waterfront, stop in a café, and enjoy a stroll through the quiet medieval streets of Barri Gòtic (also known as the Gothic Quarter), the oldest part of the city.

Day 2: Go on a Private Guided Tour of the City

This morning starts with a private walking tour of Barcelona and one of its most striking landmarks, La Sagrada Familia. Antoni Gaudí's jaw-dropping masterpiece, which is still under construction, rises high above the city skyline. It's even more amazing inside, as you'll see on a guided visit. Later, you'll stop by a few of Barcelona's buzzing marketplaces to taste regional treats, including jamón (ham), freshly caught seafood, and delicious cakes and pastries. Afterward, your guide will leave you at a tapas restaurant to continue sampling small plates and Spanish wines. The rest of the evening is yours to explore or relax. 

Day 3: Visit Montserrat & Sample Wines

Set off this morning to the impressive Monastery of Montserrat, set amid dramatic scenery. You'll have a chance to hear the monastery's famous boys' choir perform. Then you'll go for a short walk to the religious shrine of Santa Cova. Depart Montserrat at midday and enjoy a fantastic lunch — Catalan cuisine in a traditional restaurant — followed by a guided tour of one of the region's best boutique wineries. You'll taste some wines (and buy a bottle or two to take with you) before returning to Barcelona for the evening. 

Day 4: Road Trip to the Costa Brava

After a relaxing breakfast in Barcelona, you'll pick up a rental car and drive north to the Costa Brava, close to the border with France. Take your time on the drive, pulling over when you feel like it to explore small villages and coastal communities. Detouring to Girona, a historic gem known for its medieval architecture, is a great choice. Your destination is Begur, one of the prettiest towns along the coast. Settle into your hotel and go out for a walk to enjoy the small-town atmosphere, dining out at a local seafood restaurant before getting some rest. 

Day 5: Explore the Costa Brava 

Today you'll spend the whole day exploring the Costa Brava, a section of coastline that's renowned for its picturesque villages, idyllic coves, rugged beaches, historic ports, and pebbled beaches popular with swimmers and sunbathers. Since you have your rental car, you'll have the morning to explore independently. After a seafood lunch in one of the villages, you'll enjoy a visit to a boutique winery for a tour and tasting. The rest of the afternoon and evening is at your leisure.

Day 6: Discover Beaches & Villages

Today, continue enjoying the seaside, driving into quaint villages and sunbathing on beautiful beaches up and down the coastline. Don't miss the photogenic towns of Peratallada, Pals, and Calella de Palafrugell. Stop for lunch in a beachfront bar, enjoying views of the Mediterranean, colorful ports, and quintessentially Spanish squares facing the sea.

Day 7: Go Hiking in the Pyrenees

Take a break from the beach and head into the Pyrenees Mountains today, where you'll find numerous medieval villages with stone houses built directly into the mountainsides. These villages have been amazingly well preserved, and they're connected by hiking and walking routes. Go for an easy hike along wooded trails, stopping at clifftop lookouts, streams, rivers, and waterfalls. Take in spectacular views of deep river canyons and forested valleys before breaking for a relaxed three-course lunch in a traditional restaurant. 

Day 8: Catch a Flight from Barcelona to Málaga

This morning, circle back to Barcelona's airport and drop off your rental car. Then catch a flight to Málaga. When you arrive, you'll pick up another rental car and drive west along the Costa del Sol to the coastal town of Marbella, long renowned for its sunny climate. Check into your hotel, then go out for a walk, catching the sunset over the ocean and enjoying tapas in a local restaurant before the adventure continues the next day. 

Day 9: Explore Marbella & the Costa del Sol

Marbella, perched between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains, is beloved for its sandy beaches, quaint old town, and extensive seafront. Cruise down the Golden Mile, with its luxurious villas, hotels, and shops on the way to Puerto Banus, where you'll admire elegant yachts moored in the marina. There are a number of excellent restaurants where you can stop for a relaxed lunch with ocean views. Afterward, soak up some sun on the beach, go shopping, or sample Spanish wines at a bar in the old town.

Day 10: Day Trip to Ronda

Wake up in Marbella. After coffee and a pastry, continue your journey inland, navigating hairpin turns as you work your way up and over the mountains to the mountaintop city of Ronda. The capital of the Pueblos Blancos (White Towns), Ronda will be your home base for the next few nights. Drop your luggage off and settle into your hotel before venturing out to explore the town, with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.

Day 11: Explore the White Villages & Visit a Winery

After a hearty breakfast, head out to explore Ronda at your own pace with a local guide. Visit Spain's oldest and most important bullring, Plaza de Toros, as well as many historical attractions dating from Moorish and Roman times, like the 14th- and 15th-century Baños Árabes (Arab Baths), Palacio of the Marqués de Salvatierra, and the Casa del Rey Moro, featuring steps carved into the cliff wall that leads down to the river. In the afternoon, you'll visit a winery just outside of the city for a tour and tasting of the region's best wines. 

Day 12: Go Hiking Around Ronda

Take the morning to explore Ronda and its environs with a hike through the beautiful surrounding landscape. There are a number of great hiking and walking routes to choose from — a great place to start is a hike down to the bottom of the El Tajo Gorge and the Río Guadalevín river. Reward yourself with a delicious lunch in nearby Setenil de las Bodegas, checking out the town's whitewashed houses built into the cliffs. If there's time, dip your feet into the refreshing waters of Cueva del Gato and explore other local villages, such as Montejaque, before returning to Ronda for your final afternoon and evening at leisure.

Day 13: Return to Marbella & Relax by the Sea

On your last full day of the trip, you'll head back to Marbella and enjoy a day to do whatever you like! Swim in the ocean, relax on the beach, dine on seafood in a local restaurant, shop for souvenirs, go for a long walk by the Mediterranean, and catch the sunset. It's been a busy two weeks—savor your last day! 

Day 14: Depart Spain

Today the trip comes to an end. Transfer to the airport in Barcelona to catch a flight out. Safe travels!