Barcelona & Madrid In 5 Days Private Tour Itinerary

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How to spend 5 days in Barcelona & Madrid

Welcome to your 5-day Best of Barcelona and Madrid itinerary!

This itinerary is designed to be the best way to experience two of Spain’s most famous cities in just 5 short days. First, you’ll begin your journey in Barcelona, where you’ll spend the first two days exploring the city’s stunning architecture, indulging in delicious cuisine, and relaxing on the beach. Afterward, you’ll travel to Madrid for the final three days of your journey to explore the city’s artistic treasures, historic landmarks, and lively neighborhoods.

Barcelona Private Tours:

Madrid Private Tours:

What's Included?

Day 1: Barcelona Highlights

Barcelona is a city with a rich history and culture, and there is no better way to experience it than with a private tour. On your first day in Barcelona, you will explore some of the city’s most iconic landmarks and neighborhoods with a private guide.

Guided Tour of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

Your day will begin with a visit to the Sagrada Familia, one of the most famous attractions in Barcelona. This unfinished cathedral was designed by Antoni Gaudi, one of the most renowned architects of the modernist movement. Your guide will take you on a tour of the cathedral, pointing out the intricate details and telling you about the history and significance of the building.

Bari Gotic or Gothic Quarter Walking Tour

After the Sagrada Familia, you will head to the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of Barcelona. This area is full of narrow streets, hidden squares, and charming buildings. Your guide will take you on a walking tour of the neighborhood, pointing out the most important landmarks and telling you about the history of the area. You’ll see the Cathedral of Barcelona, the Plaça del Rei, and the Plaça Sant Jaume, where the city’s government is located.

La Rambla & Barcelona Market Tour

Next, you’ll head to La Rambla, one of the most famous streets in Barcelona. This bustling pedestrian street is full of restaurants, cafes, and street performers. Your guide will show you the most interesting spots and tell you about the history and culture of the area.

Finally, you’ll end the day at the Mercado de La Boqueria, one of the most famous markets in the world. This market has been operating for over 800 years, and it is full of colorful stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, meats, and other culinary delights. Your guide will take you on a tour of the market, pointing out the most interesting stalls and telling you about the history and culture of the market.

Throughout the day, your private guide will provide you with insight and information about each of the destinations you visit. They will be able to answer any questions you have and provide you with recommendations for other places to visit during your stay in Barcelona.

Day 2: Art, Flamenco, and Neighborhood Tours of Barcelona

On your second day in Barcelona, you’ll continue exploring the city with a private tour of some of the most iconic destinations. This day will take you to some of the most famous sites in Barcelona, including Park Guell, the Gracia neighborhood, the Picasso Museum, and a Flamenco show.

Park Guell Discovery Tour

Your day will begin with a visit to Park Guell, a public park full of gardens and architectural elements designed by Antoni Gaudi. The park was built between 1900 and 1914, and it’s considered one of the best examples of Gaudi’s modernist style. Your private guide will take you on a tour of the park, showing you the most important landmarks, including the colorful mosaic dragon, the serpentine bench, and the hypostyle room.

Gracia Neighborhood

Next, you’ll head to the Gracia neighborhood, one of the most charming and bohemian areas in Barcelona. This neighborhood is full of narrow streets, small squares, and art galleries. Your private guide will take you on a walking tour of the neighborhood, pointing out the most interesting spots and telling you about the history and culture of the area. You’ll see some of the most interesting street art in Barcelona and learn about the local tradition of building human towers.

Picasso Museum & Flamenco in Barcelona

After Gracia, you’ll head to the Picasso Museum, which is home to one of the most extensive collections of Picasso’s art in the world. The museum has over 4,000 pieces of art, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Your guide will take you on a tour of the museum, telling you about Picasso’s life and work and showing you the most important pieces in the collection.

In the evening, you’ll have the chance to experience one of the most iconic traditions in Spain: Flamenco. Your private guide will take you to a local Flamenco show, where you’ll experience the passion, music, and dancing of this unique art form. You’ll enjoy a traditional Spanish dinner and drinks while you watch the show.

Simply outstanding! We visited Italy in September & used Luxe for all our tours and we can honestly say, they were the best! Right from the start, communication was easy and professional. Amy and her guides were able to customize their tours to suit our interests! If you want bespoke tours, I wouldn’t use anyone else. We would highly recommend Luxe & will definitely use them again when we next visit Italy!

Joelle

★★★★★

Day 3: Arrival in Madrid, Royal Palace, and Madrid Market

After spending 2 days in Barcelona, it’s time to make your way to Madrid, the Capital of Spain. Your private driver will deliver your bags to the train station, where you can make the 2.5-hour journey in a first-class carriage before being collected by your driver in Madrid, or you may prefer to make the 1 hour and 15-minute flight.

After dropping off your bags at your hotel and enjoying a quick lunch, you will join your private guide to start exploring the magnificent city.

Madrid's Royal Palace

Your day will begin with a visit to the Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the Spanish royal family. The palace was built in the 18th century and features impressive architecture and interior design. Your private guide will take you on a tour of the palace, showing you the most important rooms, including the Throne Room, the Royal Chapel, and the Royal Armory. You’ll learn about the history of the palace and the Spanish monarchy.

Plaza Mayor & San Miguel Market

Private tours of the Plaza Mayor and Mercado San Miguel are an excellent way to experience the vibrant culture and rich history of Madrid. You’ll be able to explore the Plaza Mayor, one of the most iconic landmarks in Madrid, and learn about its fascinating history and significance. Your guide will provide insight into the architecture, design, and cultural significance of the plaza, as well as its role in the history of Madrid. You’ll have the opportunity to take in the stunning views of the square and its surroundings while your guide shares interesting anecdotes and stories about the city.

Afterward, you’ll visit the Mercado San Miguel, where you’ll indulge in some of the best tapas and drinks in Madrid. Your private guide will take you on a tour of the market, showing you the most popular stalls and sharing recommendations for the best dishes and drinks to try. You’ll have the opportunity to sample a variety of traditional Spanish foods, such as Iberian ham, cheeses, olives, and local wines. Your guide will provide insight into the history and culture of the market, as well as the culinary traditions of Madrid.

In the afternoon, you’ll explore the historic neighborhoods of Madrid, including La Latina, Lavapies, and Chueca. These neighborhoods are full of narrow streets, plazas, and historic buildings, and they’re great places to experience the local culture. Your guide will take you on a walking tour of the neighborhoods, showing you the most interesting spots and telling you about the history and culture of the area. You’ll have the chance to try some local food and drinks and see how the locals live.

The best trip ever! By far the best travel company in all of Europe. We are a group of 9 who just got back from a French/Spanish/Italian cruise. I chose not to book any excursions through the boat but instead stumbled upon Travel by Luxe. All I had to do was explain to Graziano what ports we were coming into and the gist of what we wanted to see and he handled the rest. Within 48 hours I has a complete proposal with details, pictures, suggestions, itinerary, etc for all 7 cities that we were visiting. Graziano also gave me his personal phone number and not only did we text multiple times before the trip but also during. He was constantly checking in and was always available to help coordinate meeting places, contact people and transportation. Graziano also notified me of schedule changes that the boat made before it was made public to the passengers so were able to adopt to all changes very easily. Additionally on the last day we were so tired we chose not to go on one of the tours so Graziano rolled over our money and we used it as a credit to get to the airport. This was my first time in Europe and I am a nervous person and since I was put in charge of all the tours I was extremely concerned something would go wrong. That was not the case at all. It was PERFECTO!! I would highly recommend this company to anyone travelling to Europe and I will certainly plan on using them again in the future. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all!!

Jeff G ★★★★★

Day 4: Madrid Prado Museum & Walking Tour

On your fourth day, you’ll explore some of the most iconic destinations in Madrid with a private tour. You’ll visit the Prado Museum, Retiro Park, Gran Via, and the Temple of Debod.

Prado Museum & Retiro Park Guided Tour

Your day will begin with a visit to the Prado Museum, which is one of the most famous art museums in the world. Your private guide will take you on a tour of the museum, showing you the most important pieces, including works by Velazquez, Goya, and El Greco. You’ll learn about the history of the museum and the artists and gain insight into the culture of Spain through its art.

Next, you’ll head to Retiro Park, which is one of the largest parks in Madrid. The park features beautiful gardens, sculptures, and fountains, as well as a lake where you can rent a rowboat. Your private guide will take you on a walking tour of the park, showing you the most interesting features, including the Crystal Palace, the Fallen Angel statue, and the Rosaleda rose garden. You’ll learn about the history of the park and its importance to the people of Madrid.

After the park, you’ll head to Gran Via, which is one of the most famous streets in Madrid. The street features beautiful architecture, theaters, and shops. Your private guide will take you on a walking tour of the area, showing you the most interesting landmarks, including the Telefónica building, the Capitol building, and the Metropolis building. You’ll learn about the history and culture of the street and get a glimpse into life in Madrid.

Temple of Debod

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Temple of Debod, which is an ancient Egyptian temple that was relocated to Madrid in the 20th century. The temple features beautiful carvings and hieroglyphics, as well as stunning views of the city. Your private guide will take you on a walking tour of the temple, showing you the most interesting features and explaining the history and culture of the temple. You’ll have the chance to take some great photos and learn about the connection between Egypt and Spain.

Amazing Travel Agency! Marta helped us plan our whole trip and it was absolutely amazing! We did private walking tours, private winery tours, and everything was great! Marta made the itinerary with our interests in mind and was extremely helpful! The tour guides (Viola and Jessica to name two of the many) were outstanding! Marta also helped plan the perfect engagement! We highly recommend this company and will be using them again!

Katie S ★★★★★

Day 5: Madrid Museums & Neighborhood Tours

On your final day in Madrid, you’ll continue exploring the city with a private tour that will take you to some of the most iconic museums, neighborhoods, and viewpoints. You’ll visit the Reina Sofia Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Lavapies neighborhood, and the Cibeles Palace rooftop terrace.

Reina Sofia & Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Tours

Your day will begin with a visit to the Reina Sofia Museum, which is one of the most important modern art museums in Spain. Your private guide will take you on a tour of the museum, showing you some of the most important pieces of art, including works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miro. You’ll learn about the history of the museum and the artists and gain insight into the culture of Spain through its modern art.

Next, you’ll head to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which is one of the most famous art museums in the world. The museum features a vast collection of European art from the 13th to the 20th century, including works by Rembrandt, Monet, and Van Gogh. Your private guide will take you on a tour of the museum, showing you the most important pieces and giving you insight into the history and culture of each piece.

Lavapies Neighborhood in Madrid

After the museums, you’ll head to the Lavapies neighborhood, which is known for its vibrant culture and lively atmosphere. Your private guide will take you on a walking tour of the neighborhood, showing you the most interesting landmarks, including the Mercado de San Fernando, the street art murals, and the multicultural street food scene. You’ll learn about the history and culture of the neighborhood and get a glimpse into life in Madrid.

In the evening, you’ll head to the Cibeles Palace rooftop terrace, which offers stunning views of the city at sunset. Your private guide will take you to the top of the palace, where you’ll be able to enjoy the view while sipping on a refreshing drink. You’ll learn about the history and culture of the palace and gain insight into the architecture and design of the city.

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Step 1

Fill out the form below with the destinations, wish-list, an idea of budget, & preferences for your perfect trip.

Step 2

Your personal tour planner will be in touch within 24 hours of receiving your request to begin planning your custom itinerary.

Step 3

Your private guide and/or driver will meet you at the pre-arranged starting point of your tour and everything necessary for a seamless tour experience.

Contact Us About A 5 Day Spain Itinerary

The advantage of a private tour is that you can customize your itinerary to fit your interests and preferences. You can spend more time at any of the destinations if you wish or skip any destinations that don’t interest you. Plus, you’ll have the flexibility to explore at your own pace without feeling rushed or confined to a large group.

For our insider suggestions and the finest guided tour experiences in Spain, contact our local team of tour planners for your complimentary 5 day Spain itinerary.

Email us

Let us know your questions!

Call our team

+1 (424) 766-5955

WhatsApp us

We're here to help!

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Use this company! An excellent experience! As a seasoned traveler and very detailed oriented customer, working with both Irene’s was a joy and in the end produced a wonderful experience. Their personal touch on every detail and their communication was extraordinary.

Recommend them highly! These folks are very professional, and flexible in creating a custom tours, and handling last-minute changes. The guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Recommend them highly!

A Flawless Trip! Travel by Luxe assisted us in planning an excellent trip to Genoa and the Italian Riviera including Cinque Terre. The drivers they provided were courteous, efficient, safe and their vehicles were immaculate and comfortable.

Hands down the best travel company! Every detail was taken care of! All questions were answered. Every guide was knowledgeable, flexible, and kind! In a situation when travel can be stressful, every individual was fantastic.

A Great Experience! We just returned from a trip that was organized through Travel by Luxe. It was one of the best trips we ever took and it was organized brilliantly. A special thank you to Francesca, a great experience and highly recommend.

Amazing Italy Awesome trip! Graziano arranged everything perfectly and was very patient with our planning process and changes. Private tours and transfer worth the extra $$$. Will use again.

Explore More Luxe Private Tours in Spain

Take a look at some of the example tour itineraries below for inspiration before getting in touch with our experts to start planning your own trip!