Culinary & Art Tour of Spain

This tour is dedicated to the superlative food, wine, art and architecture of Spain, focusing on the areas most renowned for their art and gastronomy: Madrid, Barcelona, the Basque Country and La Rioja.

Begin in aristocratic Madrid, the Spanish capital and home to one of the most important art collections in the world. During flexible private art touring, visit a number of world-class museums and galleries, according to your preferences. Options include the masterpieces of the Prado Museum—including Velazquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s El Tres de Mayo—and the Reina Sofia National Museum, home of Picasso’s magnum opus, Guérnica. Other alternatives include the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and other, smaller museums and art-filled churches. Also explore the city's elegant squares, stately Habsburg architecture, leafy boulevards and narrow backstreets, and perhaps the majestic Royal Palace. One evening, enjoy a private “tapas tasting” tour of some of the city’s most beloved tapas bars.

Next, fly to San Sebastian (Donostia), an elegant seaside resort near the border of France that is the gastronomic capital of the Basque Country. Tour the picturesque old town, and browse local produce and fish markets. Basque cuisine is generally considered to be Spain’s finest and on this tour you will have ample opportunity to sample the local specialties. Take a class at a private cooking club, and enjoy a private tasting of the region’s delicious pintxos—the Basque version of tapas—and Txakoli, a local, slightly sparkling white wine.

Transfer to La Rioja, one of the world’s most renowned winemaking regions. En route, visit various bodegas (wineries) for wine tasting. Spend two nights at the Hotel Marques de Riscal, in the heart of La Rioja. This architecturally stunning luxury hotel was designed by Frank Gehry and features a wavy metal roof and Spain’s only Caudalie Vinothérapie (“wine therapy”) spa, offering treatments using vine and grape seed extracts. On a private day excursion, visit Laguardia, a beautiful medieval walled village possessing wine caves under its cobblestone streets and impressive views of the nearby hills. Tour surrounding vineyards and enjoy wine tastings at bodegas designed by celebrated modern architects such as Santiago Calatrava or Zaha Hadid.

Continue on to Bilbao, one of the most architecturally progressive towns in Spain. Visit the Guggenheim Museum, a stunning building of swooping titanium curves designed by Frank Gehry. After a private tour of the museum’s art collection, perhaps enjoy dining in its Michelin-starred restaurant.

Conclude in Barcelona, one of Europe's most dynamic centers of modern design and cutting-edge cuisine. During flexible private art and architectural touring, visit a number of museums and architectural sights, such as the Picasso and Miro museums, or the fantastical buildings—such as the famed Sagrada Familia church—created by Modernist architects Gaudi, Puig i Cadafalch and Domenech i Montaner. Also wander Las Ramblas— Barcelona’s most famous boulevard—and the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter and La Ribera. Explore the city’s shopping districts, stopping at upscale boutiques along the broad Passeig de Gracia. Browse design shops in the stylish Born and Raval neighborhoods, centers of Barcelona's design movement. One day, enjoy a cooking class where you will learn to prepare several regional dishes—Catalan cuisine is considered one of Spain’s best and is currently enjoying an explosion of popularity.