Overview
Travel on a school trip to Madrid and Barcelona with your students. Two incredible cities—mountains or vibrant cityscapes? With a local guide, explore mountainous Madrid, including the famous Prado Museum and Picasso’s Guernica. Next, visit Toledo, the medieval capital. Then, take a quick train ride to Barcelona, where you’ll marvel at its stunning architecture, including Gaudí’s masterpieces, and experience the energy of Spain’s second-largest city. Truly an educational student tour to remember.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Spain (Madrid)
Day 2
Arrive in Madrid
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Day 3
Madrid guided sightseeing tour
Prado visit with Whisper headsets, Plaza Colon visit, Plaza de España, Royal Palace
Reina Sofia Museum visit
Officially Spain’s National Museum of 20th Century Art, the Reina Sofía houses masterpieces by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Its most famous work is Picasso’s Guernica, a powerful anti-war statement. Beyond the galleries, the museum also offers a vast library, archive, bookstore, and restaurant, making it a hub of art and culture.
LEAP Cocina Española!
Create and enjoy some of Spain's most popular and iconic dishes and discover firsthand what makes these dishes enduring classics of Spanish cuisine.
Day 4
Toledo guided excursion
St. Mary’s Synagogue visit, Toledo Cathedral visit, Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes visit, Sword factory visit
Lunch
LEAP Zapateando
First, take part in the passionate Flamenco dance style and experience the connection between a dancer, musician, and singer. Then, watch while your instructors and accompanists show you how it’s done in a live performance.
Dinner on your own
Day 5
Travel to Barcelona via high-speed AVE train
Barcelona guided sightseeing tour
Discover Barcelona with a licensed guide as you explore its mix of Gothic charm and modernist brilliance. Visit Plaza de España, then marvel at Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, the soaring church that defines the city’s skyline. Wander through Park Güell with its colorful mosaics and sweeping views, and journey to Montjuïc Hill, home to historic fortresses and the 1992 Olympic grounds.
Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia guided visit
This breathtaking church, said to be the master-work of architect Antoni Gaudí, has been under construction since 1882 and is not expected to be completed until 2026! Despite its unfinished state, the church has 18 spindle-shaped towers that soar above the church itself, making for a striking addition to Barcelona’s skyline and more than worth the visit.
Day 6
Picasso Museum visit
Take an unparalleled glimpse into the development of Picasso’s genius. Bringing together the Spaniard’s early and late works, the museum traces the evolution of Picasso’s art from his realism-based schoolboy exercises of the1890s through his Blue Period in 1904, and then jumps into the artist’s remarkable late work. A series of 1950s oil paintings shows Picasso’s explorations of Velazquez’s Las Meninas, in which he transforms the original into a perspective-shifting explosion of color and line.
La Pedrera - Casa Milà visit
This magnificent building is the epitome of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí’s fantastical style. See how he uses twisted pillars, curved archways and warped metal balconies to create a totally unique design all his own.
Day 7
Dali Museum in Figueres (optional)
Surrealist art lovers will especially enjoy visiting Figueres, the hometown of the famous Salvador Dali. Explore the Theatre and Museum he built to memorialize his life's work. The museum boasts the largest collection of his work including paintings, sculptures, mechanical devices, 3D collages and even living room furniture! It's certainly a sight to see!
LEAP Spirit of Spain
Immerse yourself in the art that captures the passion of Spain. Compare the techniques and meanings in the works of artists from El Greco to Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Deepen your understanding of art history as you debate how these and other masters defined and shaped Spanish culture.
Day 8
Return home OR Extend your stay
Board your flight home or choose to extend your trip with two days in Palma. Fly to the island of Mallorca and enjoy guided sightseeing of the Old Town, Gothic Cathedral, and Bellver Castle. Spend your last day relaxing on Palma’s pristine, beautiful beaches before your journey home.
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
Scenes from Spain
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.