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Small Group Tour

Discover Spain | Short tour

11 days · Small group · Up to 16 travellers

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People-free editorial view of Short Spain Barri Gotic Hero.
86% return to travel with us again 40+ years of small-group escorted touring 43,000+ travellers have toured with Odyssey

Tour Overview

Barcelona to Madrid

Odyssey Traveller’s fully escorted small-group tours welcome mature travellers, whether travelling solo, as a couple or with friends.

This tour is a shorter version of our longer Spain tour, click here to bring up the full version.

Explore Spain's country’s history, architecture, art and regional culture. Travelling from Barcelona to Madrid, the itinerary takes you through northern Spain, La Rioja and the Basque Country, with visits to historic towns and time to enjoy local food and wine. The group is limited to 16 travellers.

Spain’s past has left a rich architectural and cultural legacy. Roman remains, medieval cathedrals, royal palaces and modern museums tell different parts of the country’s story. On this tour, local guides and an Odyssey Tour Leader help bring that history to life, while regional meals and wine tastings offer a taste of Spain today.

Barcelona, La Rioja and Burgos

Begin in Barcelona, a Mediterranean city known for its distinctive architecture, lively food culture and Catalan heritage. Explore the city and visit the Picasso Museum before travelling by high-speed train to Zaragoza, a city with Roman foundations and notable examples of Mudéjar architecture.

Continue to Calahorra in La Rioja, a town whose history reaches back to Roman times. The region is also renowned for its red wines and distinctive landscapes. In Burgos, discover the city’s medieval heritage, including its UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral and the Cartuja de Miraflores.

The Basque Country and Bilbao

Travel through the Basque Country, a region with its own language, traditions and cuisine. In Bilbao, visit the Guggenheim Museum, whose striking architecture helped reshape the city’s former industrial waterfront. The city also offers historic churches, elegant streets, green hills and a celebrated food scene.

Madrid and Toledo

The tour concludes in Madrid, Spain’s capital and a centre for art, architecture and history. Visit the Royal Palace and explore the city’s churches and historic neighbourhoods. The itinerary also includes Toledo, where Christian, Jewish and Muslim influences are reflected in the city’s architecture and cultural heritage.

This short tour offers a varied introduction to Spain, from Barcelona’s Catalan character and La Rioja’s wine country to the historic streets of Burgos and the art and landmarks of Madrid. It is fully escorted, with local guides supporting visits throughout the journey.

Odyssey Traveller also offers a longer Spain and Portugal tour.

Tour highlights

  • Explore the beautiful city of Toledo.
  • Marvel at Madrid and the architectural splendours of the Catalan Barcelona.
  • Experience La Rioja, the mountain kingdom of Navarra, and neighbouring Basque Country with its astounding Guggenheim Museum.
  • Explore the history of Iberia and its measured way of life.
  • Sample the famous red wines of Spain and enjoy the rich texture of its street life.

Value built into your journey

What’s included

  • 10 nights of hotel accommodation.
  • 9 breakfasts and 6 dinners.
  • Transport and field trips as indicated.
  • Applicable entry fees and services of local English speaking guides.
  • Touring by comfortable and modern coach.
  • Gratuities and necessary tips.
  • Services of an Odyssey Tour Leader.
  • Detailed tour information booklet.
See all inclusions & exclusions →

The Odyssey difference

Small enough to experience more

One dinner table, shared experience

Our groups are deliberately small enough to dine together around one table—an intimate way to get to know fellow travellers, whether you join as a couple or on your own.

Access that larger groups miss

A smaller group can visit more intimate venues, stay in characterful places, and reach experiences that are often impractical for larger coach parties.

Time to understand a place

Expert Program Leaders and local guides add depth, while a considered pace leaves room to explore, rest, or follow your curiosity.

Discover why travellers choose Odyssey →
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Have a question? Talk to Anna, our Travel Specialist

Available Mon–Fri

Journey journal

Read, learn & explore before you travel

Expand your journey before departure with destination stories and carefully selected reading that bring the history, art and culture of this tour into sharper focus.

Barcelona-Spain

Blog

Barcelona Travel Notes

Barcelona is one of the cultural highlights of Europe. Situated on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the Catalan capital is famous for its distinctive architecture and its world-renowned food and wine.

Read the article →
Cibeles Fountain In Downtown Madrid

Blog

Highlights of Madrid
Read more →
La Sagrada Familia Gaudi, Barcelona

Blog

15 of the Best Places to Visit in Spain
Read more →
Barcelona

Blog

Questions About Spain for senior travellers
Read more →
Explore tour resources →
Prefer to book or enquire by phone?
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What's Included:
What's included in our Tour
  • 10 nights of hotel accommodation.
  • 9 breakfasts and 6 dinners.
  • Transport and field trips as indicated.
  • Applicable entry fees and services of local English speaking guides.
  • Touring by comfortable and modern coach.
  • Gratuities and necessary tips.
  • Services of an Odyssey Tour Leader.
  • Detailed tour information booklet.
What's not included in our Tour
  • Return international airfare and departure taxes.
  • Comprehensive international travel insurance.
  • Airport transfers.
  • Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls and laundry.

Activity Level

Level 2 - Moderate
Participants must be able to carry their own luggage, climb and descend stairs, be in good health, mobile and able to participate in 3-5 hours of physical activity per day, the equivalent of walking/hiking up to 8 kilometres on uneven ground.
Learn about activity levels

Good to Know:

🛏 Select Room Type

Prices shown per person

Prices displayed below are per person, twin share occupancy.
Departure Date Price Availability
8 May – 18 May 2027
$9,350 AUD
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11 Sep – 21 Sep 2027
$9,350 AUD
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7 May – 17 May 2028
$9,750 AUD
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10 Sep – 20 Oct 2028
$9,750 AUD
✓ Available Book This Date
8 May – 18 May 2027
$9,350 AUD
✓ Available
Book This Date
11 Sep – 21 Sep 2027
$9,350 AUD
✓ Available
Book This Date
7 May – 17 May 2028
$9,750 AUD
✓ Available
Book This Date
10 Sep – 20 Oct 2028
$9,750 AUD
✓ Available
Book This Date

A deposit of A$1,000 per person secures your place. Balance is due 120 days before departure. All prices are per person. View Terms & Conditions.

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Travel Specialist · Odyssey Traveller

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Available Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm AEST

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Prefer a Private Tour?

Travel with your own group on your own dates. We can customise the itinerary to suit your interests.

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Plan your journey

Available dates & prices

Choose a departure and room type to see the current tour price. Every departure travels in a small group of up to 16 travellers.

Choose your room

Prices shown per person, twin share occupancy. Select a departure to view booking details.

Small-group touring with up to 16 travellers Meals: 9B · 6D included Comfortable accommodation and expert local guidance A$1,000 deposit per person secures your place

How many travellers?

Twin share Sharing a room with a companion
Solo traveller A room of your own

0 travellers Deposit due today: —

Review your booking details next. Balance due 120 days before departure.

Small-group touring with up to 16 travellers Meals: 9B · 6D included Comfortable accommodation and expert local guidance A$1,000 deposit per person secures your place

How many travellers?

Twin share Sharing a room with a companion
Solo traveller A room of your own

0 travellers Deposit due today: —

Review your booking details next. Balance due 120 days before departure.

Small-group touring with up to 16 travellers Meals: 9B · 6D included Comfortable accommodation and expert local guidance A$1,000 deposit per person secures your place

How many travellers?

Twin share Sharing a room with a companion
Solo traveller A room of your own

0 travellers Deposit due today: —

Review your booking details next. Balance due 120 days before departure.

Small-group touring with up to 16 travellers Meals: 9B · 6D included Comfortable accommodation and expert local guidance A$1,000 deposit per person secures your place

How many travellers?

Twin share Sharing a room with a companion
Solo traveller A room of your own

0 travellers Deposit due today: —

Review your booking details next. Balance due 120 days before departure.

◈

Book with confidence

Your departure, room type and price are confirmed before checkout.

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Flexible booking support

Our travel specialists are available to help you choose the right departure.

Your route

Barcelona to Madrid

Follow a carefully paced route through the places, stories and experiences that bring this journey to life. Open any day for the detail behind the itinerary.

Route map for this tour
⌖ 11 days · 5 stops
⌗ View larger map
1–3 3 days

Barcelona

We arrive in Barcelona, where Catalonia's proud identity emerges from layers of history—Roman colonies, Gothic quarters, and modernist visions. After settling into our hotel, we gather for an orientation and welcome dinner, beginning our journey through a region where ancient heritage and bold creativity have always existed in compelling conversation.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, we will come to the hotel individually. Our tour begins with an orientation and welcome dinner. Once part of the Aragonese Empire, Catalonia is now an autonomous Spanish province, proud of its distinctive language and culture. Stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees, it was here that the Romans first landed on the Iberian peninsula and founded a new "colonnia" on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement, the area now forming Barcelona's "Barri Gotic." Catalonian heritage is a mixture of old and new as ancient churches and monuments vie for attention with the Modernist school of Gaudi and Dali. The Catalonian capital reflects this contrast with architecture ranging from its Gothic cathedral to Gaudi's modernist Sagrada Familia. (D)

Today, we enjoy a full day tour around Barcelona, visiting the Miró Foundation, the National Museum of Catalan Art and Park Güell, a World Heritage Site since 1984. The evening is free to relax or to discover one of the many local restaurants for dinner. (B). (B)

Today we will continue to explore Barcelona. We will view the main sights of the city, walk along the Paseo de Gracia, and walk through the Barrio Gothic. Entrance to the Museum of Contemporary Art is included. We will have lunch individually, and afternoon touring takes us to the Pauau de La Musica Catalana, with a guided tour and entrance to Sagrada Familia cathedral.. Dinner tonight is at own arrangements. (B)

4 1 day

Barcelona - Calahorra

We begin in Barcelona with Picasso's masterworks before boarding a swift high-speed train toward Zaragoza. During our two-hour journey through the Spanish landscape, anticipation builds for an evening in a city where Roman foundations meet the ornate beauty of Mudejar design. Leisure time allows us to settle in and prepare for discovery ahead.

In the morning we will visit the the Picasso Museum and then transfer to the train station where we will take the high speed train from Barcelona to Zaragoza. The journey takes approximately 2 hours. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure and dinner is at our hotel this evening. Zaragoza was founded by the Romans in 25 BC, features some of Spain’s best examples of Mudejar architecture. (B,D)

5 1 day

Calahorra - Bilbao

This morning carries us to Pamplona, where centuries of tradition pulse through storied streets. Our local guide unveils the city's character and celebrated heritage. After time to lunch at your leisure, we journey onward to Bilbao, where new horizons await.

This morning we will travel to Pamplona, famed for the running of its bulls. We will meet our local guide for a tour of the city. After lunch at own arrangements, we carry on to Bilbao. (B,D)

6 1 day

Bilbao - Burgos

We discover Bilbao's vibrant transformation through its architectural treasures and world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, where contemporary masterworks captivate us for hours. A leisurely lunch at the historic Mercado de Ribera precedes our journey inland to Burgos, where we settle in for the evening ahead.

We will view the main sights of the port city of Bilbao with our guide, who will show us the city's highlights. Today’s highlight is the amazing Guggenheim Museum, where we spend 2 to 3h viewing their collection of contemporary works of art. We will stop at Mercado de Ribera where we can get some lunch (own arrangements) before continuing on to Burgos. We arrive at our hotel in time for dinner. (B,D)

7–11 5 days

Madrid

We begin in Burgos, exploring its magnificent cathedral before traveling south toward Madrid. Our journey carries us through historic landscapes, pausing in Santo Domingo de la Calzada and Segovia to witness the remarkable Roman Aqueduct. As we arrive in Spain's soaring capital, we settle into four nights amid centuries of artistic and architectural splendor that

Today we will have a city tour of Burgos in the morning including entrance to the Cathedral. We will drive to Segovia with a stop for lunch in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and view the Roman Aqueduct before continuing our journey to Madrid where we stay for 4 nights. Madrid is the capital of Spain and Europe's highest capital city, located close to the country's geographical centre on the Castilian Plateau. With a population of over 3 million, it offers a rich treasure chest of Spain's art and ancient monuments. (B)

Today we have a full-day tour exploring the highlights of the city, including entrances to the Royal Palace and the Museo Reina Sofia, Spain's national museum of 20th century art. Later in the evening, we will meet our local guide again for a Tapas tour to sample the local cuisine across a series of bars. After a post-dinner walk to Mercado San Miguel we return to our hotel. (B,D)

Today we will join our local guide to explore the nearby city of Toledo. We will visit the Synagogue de Santa Maria la Blanca, Sante Tome Church, the cathedral, and view the outside of Alcazar. Dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant. (B,D)

In the morning we make our way to the Prado Museum and meet our local guide for a tour of the museum. The remainder of the day is free for you to continue to explore the city.

After breakfast, the tour will end. (B)

Plan with confidence

Travel Information

Everything you need to know before you travel, presented in one easy-to-read planning guide.

What’s Included

What's included in our Tour
  • 10 nights of hotel accommodation.
  • 9 breakfasts and 6 dinners.
  • Transport and field trips as indicated.
  • Applicable entry fees and services of local English speaking guides.
  • Touring by comfortable and modern coach.
  • Gratuities and necessary tips.
  • Services of an Odyssey Tour Leader.
  • Detailed tour information booklet.
What's not included in our Tour
  • Return international airfare and departure taxes.
  • Comprehensive international travel insurance.
  • Airport transfers.
  • Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls and laundry.

Traveller stories

What our travellers say

Real reflections from travellers who have experienced this journey with Odyssey.

Featured traveller review

This was by far the ‘best’ Tour I’ve experienced both with Odyssey and with other companies – small, pleasant group etc. The tour guidelines, itinerary etc were the best I’ve had in comparison to other tours. I particularly liked the graph of the expected weather in Spain (makes packing easier). I’m a vegetarian and know that in a tour such as ours providing food for me can be fraught. Almost without exception the restaurant/hotel meals were worthy of a 5 star restaurant. My meals always met the five food group criteria and were beautifully presented – we even photographed some! The restaurants even managed vegetarian tapas!
★★★★★
Carol T.

More traveller reflections

Stories from this Odyssey journey

★★★★★

“This was a wonderful tour, crammed with experiences of Spain, and all delivered apparently with the greatest ease. Well done!”

John M.
★★★★★

“Great small mature travellers tour. Well organised, great hotels , lovely food, local knowledgeable guides showed us around their towns. With entry included to the majority of sites. A comfortable small coach so the fourteen of us had plenty of room but we weren’t in a massive coach. It wasn’t really like the other tours following someone with a flag. We were more like a group of friends out exploring. Lesley and”

Ken S.
★★★★★

“I like Odyssey – it provides small groups where you can get to know one another.”

Angela L.
★★★★★

“This tour was really wonderful in its scope of meeting Spanish culture and history. Being able to link it in with my previous European travels was very meaningful to me. I was totally impressed by every aspect of the tour.”

Participant
★★★★★

“Cannot speak too highly of our tour director, Stephan De Roeck. Stephan’s local knowledge, command of the language, care for our welfare and unfailing good humour made everyone feel special.”

Participant
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Next departure
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View dates & prices