- Barcelona
- Gaudi
- Montserrat and Menorca
- Picasso Museum
- Tapas and cava
Dates
December 3 - 11, 2025
Highlights
- 4 nights in Barcelona’s heart; 3 nights on Menorca
- The legacy of Antoni Gaudi: Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, and more
- Landmark architecture; stunning parks and museums
- Natural beauty: Montserrat and the Island of Menorca
- Culinary delights; local experts
Trip Description
The Christmas season is a fun and festive time to explore! Join us as we jump back into the delightful world of off-season travel – reaching for the artistic and architectural hub of Barcelona . . . and it’s off-shore, more low-key neighbor, the island of Minorca. We’ll spend 4 nights in Barcelona, in a lovely embrace. We’ll learn about world-influencer Antoni Gaudi and his “modernista” take on the Art Nouveau movement. We’ll visit several Gaudi creations, headlined by the marvelous Sagrada Familia Church. We’ll join local guides to tour Gaudi’s famous residential designs – like the apartment building nicknamed La Pedrera (“the quarry”); and Casa Batlló , a cutting-edge design for a turn-of-the-century industrialist. Other Barcelona highlights will include local tapas and cava on a daily basis; the Picasso Museum; the vistas of Montjuic – overlooking the port on one side, and the city center on the other. We’ll make a half-day excursion to lovely, scenic, and in-season Montserrat – featuring a beautiful church and monastery, and stunning granite mountain spires.
We’ll fly to Menorca for a three-night sojourn. We’ll enjoy the local good life, savoring local food and drink, sunshine, and stunning coast- and sea-scapes. We’ll enjoy clifftop drives, stately lighthouses, and impressive coastal forts. We’ll join up with a local guide to visit Minorca’s capital, the port of Mahón ; and to visit local agroturismos (farms producing local specialties).
What's Included
Comfortable ground transportation
Accommodation for 7 nights
Breakfast, 3 lunches and 6 dinners
All touring per the itinerary
Guide and concierge service throughout the trip
Trip Price
$5,545 / person (double occupancy; single supplement, $800)
What's Not Included
Price does not include airfare, alcohol, other meals, optional activities, or optional trip insurance.
. . . well-planned, from interesting and fun excursions planned each day to comfortable lodging and transportation. Our trip leaders, Chumley and Khal, were impressive with their knowledge of each area we explored and gracious in their planning of every aspect of our respective trips.
I highly recommend Explore Up Close. Not only did we enjoy some beautiful cities and landscapes, we learned so much history. They are memory makers!
If you want first-class service within a small group of traveling companions that you can really get to know, then definitely consider Explore Up Close.
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Please note, all trip participants should wait for confirmation from Explore Up Close that the trip has the minimum sign-up required to be a “go” before purchasing airline tickets.
Explore Up Close will provide a recommended flight itinerary for your consideration, which is intended as a helpful suggestion. We encourage travelers to choose airfare depending on their personal preferences, as some travelers may prefer to travel independently and meet at our destination, or may wish to extend their travels at the beginning or end of the trip. Our travel agent is available to assist you with booking flights and trip insurance.
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