Madrid and Central Spain (trip)
Madrid and Central Spain
- Madrid airport, Spain
- Culinary & Wine Travel
| from $2,000* per person | 7 Days | Year-round |
| Boutique accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Epicurean Ways | 16 people max | |
Explore Madrid and Historic Castile
Experience the epicurean side of Madrid by tasting traditional and avant-garde tapas and by cooking with a professional Spanish chef. Explore classic Aranjuez, known for its spring harvests of strawberries and asparagus and home to the 17th-century Royal Palace of Aranjuez and the magnificent classical gardens. If you have enough time, discover Toledo, the medieval seat of Jewish, Muslim and Christian Spain, and today a museum of a city, and visit Segovia and marvel at its charming old town and majestic cathedral. Fine Spanish eating and wine pairing will characterize your days in all these magnificent cities.
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Locations visited/nearby
Albania
0 testimonials about this trip.
3 testimonials about the provider, Epicurean Ways:
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Reviewer: Carl
located in
NYC,
San Sebastian’s charm and having eaten at Etxebarri that day definitely made a positive impression. Everything was wonderful and perfect. Gabriella was a delight, generous, and so well connected. Thank you so much for such a fantastic trip. We could not have done it without you and Gabriella, and everyone else involved with the tour.
–Carl, NYC -
Reviewer: Deborah
located in
Indiana
Just returned from a fabulous trip to Spain. Thanks to Jane and her superb connections with great tour guides, my husband and I enjoyed a trip of a lifetime! We visited 7 wineries, learned much about Spanish wines, history (including my Sephardic Jewish ancestory) and culture and ate delicious food. The arrangements and accomodations were perfect. Will go back, hopefully soon!
–Deborah, Indiana -
Reviewer: Manuel, Viridian Farms
located in
Oregon
I just wanted to let you know how delighted we were with our cooking class in San Sebastian. Chef Haritz did an incredible job of exposing us to what San Sebastian has to offer on a deeper, market-driven level—and made our day with him at the market and cooking class the highlight of our trip.
By introducing us to various fish mongers, farmers, produce importers, and specialty food shopkeepers, we gained a greater understanding of how Donosti chefs acquire the raw products for their culinary creations. Later, the dishes we prepared during our cooking class were inspired by what we selected at the market in the morning—improvised and truly driven by what was fresh and in season. His friendliness, professionalism, culinary knowledge, and sincere enthusiasm in helping us learn about gastronomy in San Sebastian were outstanding.
We typically shy away from organized tours, but we were so impressed with our Epicurean Ways experience that we will definitely “travel” with you again whenever we go to Spain.–Manuel, Viridian Farms, Oregon
Special information
- This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
Itinerary
Itinerary
7 days / 6 nights
Madrid
Day 1
Arrive in Madrid and check in at your boutique hotel in the heart of old Madrid. Partake in a private cooking class. Meet the Spanish chef, a member of the Royal Academy of Gastronomy and a knowledgeable and delightful companion. Accompany her to a nearby market to shop for the cooking class, then prepare and cook a full meal in the private cooking studio near Madrid’s Royal Palace, and enjoy a meal with wine afterwards. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure.
Madrid
Day 2
Join a private guide for a walking tour of historic Madrid, through the 17th-century Habsburg district, passing by the Royal Palace along the way. Aftward, enjoy a savory tapas tour; Madrid has an excellent selection of tapas bars specialized in traditional or contemporary cuisine, many with a regional focus. A delightful food and wine professional guide leads you through the streets of viejo Madrid, stopping at tapas bars each exhibiting their own specialties, ranging from traditional patatas bravas, jamón ibérico or pescadito frito to cutting-edge minimalist tapas in sleek design bars with fashionable clients. Sample tapas and wine or beer at each one, gathering inside information on Spanish cuisine, ingredients and the latest in the Spanish culinary world. Chat with some of the chefs along the way, perhaps including Paco Roncero, the prize-winning chef at Estado Puro tapas restaurant. Dinner reservations at a leading Michelin-starred restaurant (cost not included).
Aranjuez
Day 3
Visit the nearby city of Aranjuez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to one of the Spanish crown’s summer residences, consisting of a magnificent royal palace with classical gardens. Aranjuez was converted into a royal site by Ferdinand and Isabella in the fifteenth century and construction on the palace began in the late sixteenth century. Enjoy a privately guided tour of the impressive palace and its many gardens, and perhaps also visit the Royal Chapel, Saint Pascual’s Royal Convent, or the Pleasure Craft Museum. After your tour, savor a special lunch in a well-known restaurant frequented by renowned Madrid chefs. Enjoy the tasting menu, perfectly paired with well-selected wines. Return to Madrid mid-afternoon, and consider attending a flamenco performance before dinner.
Madrid
Day 4
Today, join a private guide on a tour of both the Prado and the Reina Sofia Museums. The guide is a trained art history specialist and has years of knowledge and insight to share as she escorts you through the fantastic galleries in these institutions and highlights particularly notable treasures. Visit any remaining neighborhoods or historic sites of interest, and to check off any restaurants you have not yet enjoyed. Enjoy dinner at a venerable Madrid institution near the Plaza Mayor.
Toledo
Day 5
Discover historic Toledo today, where an exclusive experience has been specially arranged in this nearby city. First, stop outside the city to visit a local winery, where the winemaker will join the tour and share his expertise and wine-making philosophies while visitors enjoy private tastings. Afterward, continue to Toledo to explore its extensive cultural and monumental heritage sites, all of which are standing testaments to the historic coexistence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. Join your guide for a private walking tour of this beautiful city; appreciate the historic cobblestone streets of the Jewish quarter and the old city gates, multiple El Greco masterpieces, a private marzipan tasting, and visit the gothic Cathedral and the oldest still-standing European synagogue. Return to Madrid and consider dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant this evening.
Segovia
Day 6
Today, visit magnificent Segovia, Spain’s “City of Victory”, whose old town and Roman aqueduct have been declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO. Enjoy a walking tour of the old town, including the aqueduct, the Alcazar, and the Cathedral – the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. After lunch of the specialty of Segovia–cochinillo– enjoy some time on your own in this marvelous city, or perhaps visit a local curly-haired-pig farm to learn about the sequence and intricacies of ham production, and to taste some of their delectably fine products.
Departure From Madrid
Day 2
Private transfer to the Madrid airport for your return journey home.
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