Madrid to Barcelona holiday

Environment

Whilst using public transport is not always possible on our itineraries, on this one we’re pleased to say it is – and what better way to tackle the journey from Madrid to Barcelona than by train. Travelling by train is a fast way to traverse large distances, avoid traffic and arrive right into the heart of the city. It’s also the most environmentally-friendly mode of transport, with low CO2 emissions, low-level energy consumption and great views. Not forgetting it offers a perfect opportunity to interact with the locals too, an experience you wouldn’t have when travelling by private van.

On our trips, we always encourage groups to avoid plastic bottles and will give out reusable drinking bottles instead. Drinking water is easily located in Spain, meaning there’s no need for plastic at all. Even when taking you on a picnic, your tour leader will always try his or her best to minimise waste by buying local products with biodegradable packaging or no packaging at all.

The same goes for our reusable travel bags. With a catchy logo and sourced from suppliers that care about environment, our travellers can use them for their shopping, to carry their towel to the beach or for all their daily sightseeing essentials. They make a great souvenir too!

Community

Our tour leaders, often born and raised in the country of flamenco and tapas, carefully choose local hotels and restaurants that work with regional products to give you a proper taste of Spain.

On this trip you’ll visit the Mercado San Miguel in Madrid, one of the oldest markets in the city and a great spot to sample local specialities like seafood paella. Or the recently renovated Mercat Santa Caterina in Barcelona, where you can try Catalan dishes like fideua (similar to seafood paella) and botifarra amb mongetes (haricot beans served with sausage).

When in San Sebastian, a pinxtos crawl is a must. This is the local variation of a tapas crawl. San Sebastian has built its name on its avant-garde culinary scene and no trip here would be complete without a sip of txakoli, a slightly fizzy white wine.

Last but not least, the true hidden gem of this itinerary is Logroño, the capital of the Rioja province, possibly the best wine region in Spain. We chose it for several reasons, one of them was to fight overtourism, as places like Barcelona and Madrid get overly crowded with tourists every summer, impacting local people’s lives. Instead, we travel in small groups (a maximum of 16 people, 10-12 on average), and we visit off the beaten track places like Logroño. These places end up to be the highlight of the trip.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Logroño in June or September, you’ll experience the Fiestas de San Bernabe and Fiestas de San Mateo. These are popular festivals where the whole city comes together to celebrate in the streets, with offerings and fireworks. A unique show and a brilliant way to be part of the Logroñés community, having a positive impact while experiencing the beauty of travel.

The Buena Onda is waiting for you!