City Escape: Madrid – Barcelona – Valencia – Madrid

City Escape: Madrid – Barcelona – Valencia – Madrid

Travelers: 2 adults, 0 children

Itinerary Overview

1) Madrid → Barcelona

• Transport: Rail transfer from Atocha Railway Station (Madrid) to Sants Railway Station (Barcelona).
• Accommodation (2 nights): Hotel ILUNION Bel Art, Barcelona (Spain).

2) Barcelona → Valencia

• Transport: Transfer from Barcelona El Prat Airport to Valencia.
• Accommodation (4 nights): Hotel Villacarlos, Valencia (Spain).

3) Valencia → Madrid

• Transport: Rail transfer from Valencia Joaquín Sorolla to Madrid-Chamartín-Clara Campoamor Railway Station.

For your journey, I recommend bringing a couple of compact guides. For Barcelona, “Rick Steves Barcelona” or the “Lonely Planet Pocket Barcelona” offer excellent neighborhood walks, Gaudí highlights, and restaurant tips. In Valencia, “Lonely Planet Pocket Valencia” or the “DK Eyewitness Top 10 Valencia” will help you explore the City of Arts and Sciences, the historic center, and the best spots for authentic paella. As general background reading on Spain, “Spain” by Lonely Planet gives you practical information and cultural context, while “Ghosts of Spain” by Giles Tremlett is a very engaging introduction to modern Spanish history and society. If you enjoy fiction set in your destinations, you might like “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (atmospheric Barcelona) and “Cathedral of the Sea” by Ildefonso Falcones for more historical flavor. These titles will help you appreciate the art, food, and local customs in each city as you travel.