Barcelona to Madrid: Spain’s Cultural Capitals by Train

This journey brings together Spain’s two great cultural capitals, travelling effortlessly by high-speed train. From Gaudí’s modernist Barcelona to imperial Madrid and its surrounding UNESCO-listed cities, this itinerary balances iconic landmarks with local flavour, historical insight and carefully chosen day excursions.

Private Itinerary
9 Days

Journey Highlights & Signature Inclusions

This carefully curated journey combines Spain’s most celebrated cities with seamless private touring and high-speed rail travel. Enjoy expert-led sightseeing in Barcelona and Madrid, immersive cultural visits, exclusive winery experiences, and enriching day excursions to UNESCO-listed cities.

  • 8 nights in beautiful boutique 4-star hotels
  • 8 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L)
  • Private guided walking tours in Barcelona and Madrid
  • Small group Jeep tour to the Penedès wine region with wine and cava tasting and a local tapas lunch
  • Evening group tapas walking tour in Madrid
  • Guided excursion to the UNESCO city of Toledo
  • Admissions to Casa Batlló, Palau de la Música Catalana, Sagrada Família, Picasso Museum, Toledo Cathedral, and Alcázar of Toledo
  • Private arrival airport or train station transfer in Barcelona
  • High-speed train premium-class tickets, and deluxe private transport as indicated
  • Note: hotel city taxes, if applicable, are not included

Discover The Itinerary

Explore your itinerary in detail, featuring carefully selected hotels, unique experiences, and premium inclusions designed to elevate your travel experience.

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9

DAY 1: Barcelona

Welcome to Barcelona, where Mediterranean energy meets extraordinary architecture. On arrival at the airport, meet your private driver for your transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to begin soaking up the city’s vibrant atmosphere. Perhaps with a stroll along Passeig de Gràcia or a relaxed dinner in one of the city’s many neighbourhood bistros.

H10 Art Gallery

Overnight Hotel / or similar

DAY 2: Barcelona

After breakfast, meet your private driver as you set out to discover Barcelona with your private guide, focusing on the city’s extraordinary architectural heritage. Visit the iconic Casa Batlló, one of Antoni Gaudí’s most imaginative creations, as well as the stunning Palau de la Música Catalana, a UNESCO-listed concert hall celebrated for its intricate Modernism design. Continue to the city’s most famous landmark, La Sagrada Família, where soaring towers and symbolic detail tell the story of Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece and Barcelona’s enduring creative spirit. Your afternoon is at leisure.

H10 Art Gallery

Overnight Hotel / or similar

Breakfast

Meals Included

DAY 3: Barcelona

After breakfast, explore the historic heart of the city with a guided walking tour through the Gothic Quarter, where Roman foundations, medieval lanes and hidden courtyards reveal Barcelona’s layered past. Continue to La Boquería Market, a feast for the senses and a snapshot of everyday Catalan life.

In the afternoon, you have admissions to visit the Picasso Museum with audio guide, housing one of the most important collections of the artist’s early works and offering insight into his formative years in Barcelona.

H10 Art Gallery

Overnight Hotel / or similar

Breakfast

Meals Included

DAY 4: Barcelona – Penedès Wine Region – Barcelona

After breakfast, make your way to the meeting point for your small group Jeep tour to the Penedès wine region.  Visit a boutique winery for a light tapas lunch with wine and cava tastings. Return to Barcelona in the afternoon where your evening is at leisure to enjoy your final night in Barcelona.

H10 Art Gallery

Overnight Hotel / or similar

Breakfast, Lunch

Meals Included

DAY 5: Barcelona – Madrid

Enjoy breakfast before checking out of your hotel and meeting your driver to transfer to the train station. Take the premium-class high-speed train journey to Madrid as you sit back and enjoy the scenery as Spain’s landscapes shift from Mediterranean coast to central plateau. On arrival in Madrid, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel to settle in and unwind at leisure.

Hotel Preciados

Overnight Hotel / or similar

Breakfast

Meals Included

DAY 6: Madrid

After breakfast, discover Madrid with your private guide, exploring the city’s grand boulevards, elegant squares and historic neighbourhoods. Highlights include a visit to the Royal Palace, one of Europe’s largest royal residences and a symbol of Spain’s imperial past. Spend the afternoon at leisure before meeting your small group tapas walking tour in the evening to sample traditional dishes while learning about Madrid’s food culture and social traditions.

Hotel Preciados

Overnight Hotel / or similar

Breakfast

Meals Included

DAY 7: Madrid

Today is yours to enjoy Madrid at your own pace. You may wish to explore the artistic treasures of the Prado Museum or the contemporary collections of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, stroll through the elegant Parque del Retiro, browse the boutiques of the Salamanca district, or soak up the atmosphere in the literary quarter and La Latina’s traditional taverns.

Alternatively, consider a full-day excursion to the historic cities of Ávila and Segovia, where medieval walls, a soaring Roman aqueduct and a fairytale Alcázar showcase the rich heritage of Castile.

Hotel Preciados

Overnight Hotel / or similar

Breakfast

Meals Included

DAY 8: Madrid – Toledo – Madrid

Meet your driver after breakfast to transfer to the station. Travel by train to Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage city known as the “City of Three Cultures” for its Christian, Jewish and Muslim heritage. With your private guide, explore its atmospheric streets and visit the magnificent Toledo Cathedral, as well as the Alcázar Fortress, now home to the Army Museum, where you can explore the gardens and seasonal exhibitions. Return to Madrid by train in the afternoon, where you will be met by your driver and transferred back to your hotel. The rest of your evening is at leisure.

Hotel Preciados

Overnight Hotel / or similar

Breakfast

Meals Included

DAY 9: Madrid

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and continue your onward journey.

Breakfast

Meals Included

Upcoming Departures

Enjoy your private itinerary

Experience the freedom of a private, fully customisable itinerary with Ormina Tours. This itinerary can start on any date, with options to adjust activities, upgrade experiences, and tailor every detail to suit your travel style, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable journey designed just for you.

  • Depart on any date you choose
  • Fully customisable
  • Unique activities
  • Comfort and privacy
From $7,390 AUD PPFrom price (Private driver)

Upgrade Options

  • Upgrade to stay in stunning 5-star accomodation - recommended: Hotel Ohla Barcelona in Barcelona and Barceló Torre de Madrid in Madrid
  • Add a day trip to Montserrat Monastery with breathtaking mountain views
  • Extend a day from Madrid to explore the UNESCO listed towns of Avila and Segovia
  • Add a private Seafood Paella cooking workshop with sangria & crema catalana
  • Discover Gaudí’s hidden masterpieces on a private Casa Vicens & Torre Bellesguard tour
  • Discover Prado masterpieces with a private guided art experience
  • Enjoy a private premium football tour of the Bernabéu & Legends Museum
  • Escape on a private full-day D.O. Madrid wine & olive oil tasting journey
  • Explore the Botanical Garden & Atocha’s tropical oasis with a private guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What services does Ormina Tours provide?

Ormina Tours provides land services in Europe. We cover most of Europe and are continually expanding. If your destination is uncommon, please contact us to confirm availability.

We offer Small Group Journeys on set departure dates (max. 10 guests for 2025 and max. 12 guests for 2026), tailored private journeys (full F.I.T. services), and booking and coordination of accommodation. From airport transfers to fully customized European travel, we cover everything, except flights

Where is Ormina Tours based, and do you serve clients worldwide?

We are an Australian company with offices in Sydney and Perth, as well as a team in Europe to ensure seamless service delivery. While based in Australia, we cater to clients globally and partner with over 250 travel agents across Australia, New Zealand, and the USA.

When is the best time to visit Europe, and do your tours operate year-round?

Europe offers charm year-round. May and September are popular for Australians, while beach destinations are busiest in August. Most Small Group Journeys run between April and October, while private journeys are available year-round. Early planning (at least 6 months) is recommended for busy regions like the Amalfi Coast.

Is travel insurance required?

Yes, we require all clients travelling to have travel insurance as this is a requirement for Tour Operators Insurances, otherwise guests must sign a release and discharge of liability waiver for us to accept the booking. If you need assistance arranging insurance, just ask.

Do you cater to travellers with mobility challenges?

We tailor all journeys to our client’s travel preferences and needs, including any mobility challenges whether it is special vehicles, travel scooters, hotel rooms with accessible showers and hoists. We also have expertise on most attractions and towns to know which are more accessible than others.

With our Small Group Journeys, any significant mobility challenge requires an accompanying minder/helper to attend on the tour as it is not always possible for our Tour Directors, drivers and guides to offer continuous care in a group environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

What is the group size, and what happens if only two people book the tour?

Our Small Group Journeys are designed for a maximum of 10 guests (12 guests in 2026) to ensure an intimate experience. A minimum of 2 guests is required to guarantee departure (4 guests in 2026).

Should fewer than four guests be booked, you will have the exclusive opportunity to enjoy the same itinerary as a private journey at a preferential rate, giving you the confidence and certainty to book in advance. If you do not wish to undertake the small group journey itinerary as a private journey and we advised within the require deadline as disclosed, we will provide you with a full refund.

What is included and excluded in a Small Group Journey?

Our itineraries include accommodation, transportation, guided activities, and meals as marked – B (breakfast), L (lunch), or D (dinner). Exclusions typically include flights, city taxes, personal expenses, and any items not explicitly listed in the itinerary.

Do I need to tip?

Tipping is optional but appreciated for exceptional service. After booking you will be provided with some tipping guidelines should you choose to do so.

What is the luggage allowance?

Each guest can bring one standard checked bag and one carry-on. Please inform us if you need to bring extra luggage.

What is a private journey?

Private journeys (named City Breaks and Regional Discoveries) are not tours with other people. They are suggested itineraries for the city/region that can be fully customised with prearranged services, allowing independent exploration.

Can I choose my hotel?

For private itineraries, we recommend hotels in our itineraries, we can certainly work to accommodate your preferences.

Hotels are set for Small Group Journeys but you can opt to upgrade your room.

What currency are your tours priced in?

Tours (that is our Small Group Journeys) are priced in AUD for Australian residents, NZD for New Zealand residents, and USD for US residents. Other nationalities will pay in AUD unless otherwise arranged.

Prices are fixed once paid in full. In rare cases of significant currency fluctuations, unpaid bookings may be subject to price adjustments. If this occurs, we will contact you or your travel agent to advise you and you will have the option to either pay the full tour price by a certain date or accept the increase.

Do you accept credit cards?

Yes, though credit card fees may apply. Domestic wire transfers are also accepted.

What deposit is required?

Deposit amounts vary on the size of the booking and whether the booking includes tickets and admissions that maybe non-refundable or non-transferable after purchase. Full payment is due 3 months before your first service date.

Can I change or cancel my booking after making a deposit?

Changes incur a $100 fee per request unless additional services are added. Cancelling more than 50% of services is considered a cancellation, and fees will apply.
Any cancellation made by you prior to your travel (including any changes to your departure date) will result in the following cancellation fees:

Days of notice from notification to first date of service:

  • 91+ days: Loss of deposit
  • 90–75 days: Loss of Booking Deposit and 50% of the balance of the Tour Price
  • 75 days or less: Loss of Booking Deposit and 100% of the balance of the Tour Price

We always advise our clients to purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover any unforeseen cancellations.

What are Ormina Tours’ COVID-19 guidelines?
  • Follow local laws, wear masks, and maintain social distancing as required.
  • Do not travel if you are symptomatic, recently exposed, or COVID-positive.
  • Stay updated on airline and country-specific protocols.

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help!

Reach out to our team for personalised assistance and start planning your next European adventure with Ormina Tours.