Northeastern Spain: Pintxos & Plazas 2027

Meet in Madrid: the next eight days might just change your life. The memories you make begin tonight with the group of strangers you meet before dinner at a local restaurant. What's on the menu? Something that sparks your inner Spaniard. 

Bilbao beckons: after breakfast, hop aboard a coach with locals and other travellers for a road trip. Destination: Bilbao. Recommendation: a bag full of snacks, a litre of water and your latest read or watch.

Get your bearings: did you know? Your Trip Leader's an expert in all things Spain. Join them for a whip around the city. History, food and culture in one go. Then, decide which pintxos bar you're hitting later tonight! Eating at 10pm's the norm here.

More pintxos: after this morning's train ride, you're in for a walking tour with a twist. Not only will your Trip Leader spill goss about the city like your bestie after that one ex returned, but you'll taste so many pintxos, it's likely your lips will be coated in drool.

Later, your way: your stomach may be full, but there's always room for dessert. Churros are the nation's favourite and Basque cheesecake is a must-eat whilst you're in its home region. Later, share jugs of sangría, swapping stories and favourite skits with the group. 

Your day, your way: what could you do with 24 hours in a new city? Now's your chance to find out. Hop to France for a stroll around St. Jean de Luz with your Trip Leader. Head to the ocean for a surf class. Or soak up the sun on the beach.

Your choice for dinner: if you fancy a change from tapas and pintxos, go to a traditional cider house. Apple cider straight from the barrel, grilled meats, Idiazabal cheese and wooden tables filled with people sharing thoughts, food and memories. 

Main sights: after a minicoach drive, stretch your legs in Zaragoza with your Trip Leader. Visit Aljafería Palace, a little sister to Granada’s La Alhambra, and El Tubo: a labyrinth of lively narrow streets in Old Town.

Later, your way: stick to El Tubo for a true vision of energetic life in Zaragoza. Mix with locals, dance in the streets with your trip mates, bar hop, let every corner lead the way. Head to Basilica del Pilar for a peek into the past. Or do a combo. It's your choice. 

Barcelona beckons: gothic towers, buzzing plazas and tapas bars so discreet you might walk straight past them. Luckily, there's a Trip Leader with a brain full of facts and a plan full of food. Stroll through Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, stopping to taste what the city has to offer.

Later, your way: eat more, explore more, discover more. It's what you're here for. Fancy a bit of flamenco? There's a show you can attend. Its location? A 17th-century palace. Wear the outfit you want to capture, snap pics with your friends, escape to a different reality. 

More insider access: those Gothic spires designed by Gaudi have been chasing clouds for almost 150 years. Step inside the famed Sagrada Familia where colours from stained glass windows trace the floor and art makes you gasp. A local guide shares its secrets and its story.

Come together: after a free afternoon doing more of what you came for (there's a foodie tour to join if you're up for all the local favourites!), gather for one final dinner. Share a jug of tinto verano, swap your best bits and talk deep into the night with the people who've made this trip one-of-a-kind.  

Hasta luego: translation: see you later. This doesn't have to be the end of your Spanish story. Keep the adventure going with these people, in this place. Head to another sizzling city filled with more culture, more traditions and more food. Or join our Spain & Portugal: Tapas & Tradition trip to meet even more people just like you.