Welcome to Madrid! A private taxi awaits you at the airport and accompanies you to the hotel. For those arriving early, you’ll have an option to kick start the tour by diving right in. Walk about the center and grab your first impressions of the grand streets and bright architecture. You’ll soon discover a wonderful assortment of elegant boulevards, illustrious museums, royal palaces, manicured parks, and trendy eateries. Its center is a collection of diverse barrios which each boast a distinct charm, and lay claim to architectural wonders including the 17th century Plaza Mayor and vast Royal Palace. We also recommend a visit to Gran Via, the city’s most famous shopping boulevard, and Puerta del Sol, the so-called ‘Heart of Spain’ and home to the famous Bear and Strawberry Tree statue, which has become a symbol of the city.

In the morning a private guide will take you to Toledo, a fortified city once dominated yet blended peacefully by three cultures simultaneously: the Christians, the Arabs, and the Jewish, which has infused it with a highly unique historical and architectural offering. Located atop a gorge above the Tagus river, this is a must for culture lovers who will revel in exploring the vaulted mosques, Sephardic synagogues, and Gothic cathedrals, as well as the artworks of El Greco with whom the city is synonymous. You can use the afternoon, after having returned to Madrid to soak up the culture with many diverse neighborhoods to visit, sights to see, and local products to purchase. Have a stroll through the gardens of the huge central park – Retiro.

In the morning you will pick up your rental car (aks for the options of a private driver). Today’s itinerary is your creation; starting with the 2-hour road trip from Madrid to Peñafiel. This ancient route owns dozens of tucked-away places worth a visit, as it creeps along with sites of great historical significance from the 15th century. This era is a major highlight and strength in Spanish history. Then known as Las Castillas, this region was ruled by the Catholic Monarchs – King Fernand II of Aragon & Queen Isabella I. We provide insider tips on where to stop and what to see during this exciting drive through this region If 15th-century history isn’t in your cards today then head straight to Peñafiel. Relax, meander, visit, or simply eat & drink as they do so naturally well here, no time limit today.

There are two bodega visits reserved for you this morning. First, you’ll visit the futuristic Bodega Portia – designed by the famous British Architect Norman Foster; it impresses even more than imagined when seen with your own eyes and is a pleasant view of the ground’s transformation over the decades. The next stop is Bodegas Protos; a former castle constructed in the 10th century. As you walk through the old dungeons of the castle, since transformed into wine cellars containing millions of barrels of wine, you can’t help but note the indescribable aroma of aging wine in the French oak barrels on top of one another. The tour of Protos is properly concluded with a tasting of two wines from this famous producer. We encourage you to enjoy the afternoon and remainder of the day with our pro restaurant tips and advice on what to visit in the area; who knows which bodega is around the next corner.

This morning at just an hour's drive, a white wine winery awaits you. The Rueda region is well-known for its Verdejo grape and we’ve arranged a visit for you at the winery Bodega Yllera. You’ll be impressed by its subterranean wine cellars that together form an underground maze. After the tour, you have the afternoon to visit another wine region, just half an hour away. The region of Toro is known for its grape “Tinta de Toro”. Due to the region being exposed to more sun for longer hours, it has a reputation of being a stronger wine than its brother grapes. If you have spare time, on your way back to your accommodation in Peñafiel, make sure to include a stop in Tordesillas – a town with an interesting history. The most iconic figure of this town was Joanna of Castille, known in Spain as “Juana la Loca”, translated as the crazy one. Some say she had either psychosis or schizophrenia and was confined by her own son for 46 years in her palace.

This morning we’ll welcome the opportunity to visit the final bodega that appeals to you the most. Base your choice on alluring scenery, iconic architecture, or the reputation of the Bodega itself. Shortly after, gasp at the views of the breath-taking and untouched nature we’ll pass along the 3.5-hour journey to San Sebastian. The town in the north in the Basque region is known for its pintxos, snacks held together by a long toothpick, displayed on a bar. Tips are provided regarding the picturesque villages and where to pause to enjoy a coffee.

San Sebastian is pleasingly picturesque. Familiarize yourself with its old churches and gentle ancient walkways in the morning. For lunch, explore the center, devoted to the ever-important tapas bars, eagerly serving pintxos and tapas all day and night long to locals and tourists alike. Wander towards the Bay of San Sebastian and stroll along the boardwalk, pausing a minute to observe the surfers and the crashing waves for which it’s famous. In the afternoon you will join a small-scaled local winery with a private guide.

As San Sebastian is the starting point, allow time for leisurely steps today. Catch up on yesterday’s site list, or meander around the town and peruse the French-style-inspired boutique shops. Cuisine in augmented variety awaits you at lunchtime and even still you’ll have no problem finding something new. Then head to the bayfront promenade, Playa de la Concha, and Playa de Ondarreta beaches. We recommend a visit to the cosmopolitan city of Bilbao, an opposite style city from San Sebastian. In this modern city, the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, the first one in the world, awaits your visit. The restaurant, Grace the Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao is definitely a must-visit for those who are dedicated to fine dining. In the afternoon you head back to San Sebastian.

Today is yours to enjoy, always accompanied by our superb advice on top bodegas, and places of local pride and interest to see. On the way to La Rioja, make a stop in the Idiazabal cheese region. See first hand how and why this cheese has won both the “Product of the European Gastronomic Heritage” and the “Best European Sheep Cheese” awards. Step inside this unique process of cheese production, but not before an initial stop-in to an Interpretation center. Leaving the coast, direction southbound, in a blink you’ll have entered the rough, mountainous landscape which once again transforms itself, this time into 1000´s acres of vineyards. Haro, the capital of the Rioja wine region, will be your host for the night. If you’ve arrived early enough into Haro, one or two more bodegas are waiting for you. We also strongly recommend venturing into The “Barrio La Estación”, hosting dozens of more bodegas built together in a convenient row.

A private guide will pick you up in the morning to take you to two fascinating bodega´s. Experience the finest wines of Spain´s wine capital. Get insight information about the history of the region and what made the La Rioja wines so famous. Lunch will be included in one of the exclusive restaurants this region has to offer. Sure that after today you will have become true expert on Spanish wines.

In a little over three hours you’ll arrive back in Madrid; not having missed the view-worthy places to pull into en route. Let your newfound Spanish instincts lead the way back in this metropolis. You’re free to stroll along Gran Vía street for your final shopping spree and check out the souvenirs. Make your final dinner of this trip a memorable one, beit at a trendy eatery, a Michelin star awarded restaurant, tapas along the Cava Baja, the markets, something regional and new, or a shot in the dark at one (or two) of the plethora of restaurants Madrid has to offer – you won’t be disappointed with the magic this evening dangles in before you.

Fly from Madrid back home. A hotel pick-up for you by private taxi will have been arranged. Haven’t had enough and wish to extend your trip or add a few extra stops? Let us know and we’ll be delighted to tailor-make the continuation of this trip according to your wishes.