13 Nights in Spain & Portugal: Part 1: Barcelona
Part 1: Barcelona
Our travel expert Teresa is currently on an epic 13-night adventure throughout Spain and Portugal. Check out her full itinerary below:
Sunday, May 26: Leave Omaha @ 11:21 AM.
Monday, May 27: Arrive in Barcelona @ 10:20 AM local time.
Thursday, May 30: Fly from Barcelona @ 12 PM & arrive in Madrid at 1:35 PM local time.
Saturday, June 1: Fly from Madrid at 12:10 PM & arrive in Lisbon, Portugal at 12:30 PM local time.
Monday, June 3: Leave Lisbon by train at 2:09 PM and arrive in Porto, Portugal at 4:50 PM local time.
Thursday, June 6: Leave Porto by train at 1:25 PM and arrive in Santiago, Spain at 6:15 PM local time.
Sunday, June 9: Fly from Santiago at 5:05 PM and arrive in Dublin at 6:15 PM local time.
Monday, June 10: Fly from Dublin at 11:20 AM and arrive in Chicago at 2 PM local time.
Teresa’s group divided on May 30th, when a brave bunch including her husband Jeff and her daughter Courtni set out to walk a portion of the Camino in Spain. Stay tuned for a full post on this portion of the trip coming to the travel blog soon! For now, let’s check out what Teresa’s half of the crew experienced during their time in Barcelona. Later this week, we’ll recap their time in Madrid and next week, we’ll cover their adventures in Portugal. We’ll also give you all the details on Courtni and Jeff’s hike through Camino in a separate post coming soon.
Barcelona, Spain
Teresa and her whole group spent three nights in Barcelona. Here, they experienced amazing cuisine, Montjuic, some of Antoni Gauid’s architectural marvels, the breathtaking Montserrat and more.
Barcelona Cuisine
Montjuïc
Montjuic is a neighborhood located on a scenic hilltop overlooking Barcelona. Teresa and her crew explored the area during their time in the city.
The Museum of Catalan Art
The Museum of Catalan Art is located inside the grand Palau Nacional, or National Palace. It is not just breathtaking from the outside, however. Inside, the museum holds centuries of Catalan art from the 10th through the 20th centuries.
CaixaForum Barcelona
Originally designed as a textile factory, CaixaForum Barcelona holds several modern and contemporary art shows. You’ll find works of art from Dalí, Rodin, Freud, Turner, Fragonard, and Hogarth inside.
Antoni Gaudí’s Architecture
Antoni Guadi is one of the most famous architectural designers in history. It is widely known that when he graduated with his architectural degree in 1878, his headmaster said. ‘Who knows if we have given a diploma to a nutcase or a genius. Time will tell.’ He may have been a bit of both, but his influence on the world of art and architecture, especially in Spain, will live on forever.
La Sagrada Família: Exterior
Although La Sagrada Família is still under construction today, it is still one of the absolute must-see sights in Barcelona. In addition, it is one of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous designs. Construction on the medieval cathedrals began in 1882. If it is completed by the expected date of 2026, the completion will mark a century since the architect’s death. Ask your Enchanted Travel agent about tours of La Sagrada Família. We suggest purchasing the Sagrada Família skip-the-line tour, especially if you are on a tight schedule.
La Sagrada Família: Interior
Park Güell
Park Güell is Antoni Gaudí’s first foray into landscape gardening. The strange, enchanting park and grounds display his passion for natural forms mixed with bright colors and unexpected twists. Only a certain number of people are allowed into the central area of the park each half-hour, so make sure to ask your Enchanted Travel expert to book your tour ahead. The rest of the park is free and you do not need to book in advance to explore it.
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is one of the most unique residential buildings in all of Europe. It is located on the Passeig de Gràcia. It’s kooky facade offers a glimpse into Gaudí’s odd nature and whimsy. The front is covered in green, blue and mauve tiles and it is recognizable by its wavy windows and balconies. At the top the structure holds an uneven blue-tiled roof and a single tower.
Casa Milà
Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is another famous work of art by Gaudí. It shares a similar whimsical facade as Casa Batlló and was the fourth and final Gaudí work built on Passeig de Gràcia. It was designed for the industrialist Pere Milà i Camps to be his family home. On the upper floors are apartments for rent. Below is what you’ll find on the building’s rooftop:
Montserrat
Montserrat is is located about 50 km southwest of Barcelona. It is considered to be the most significant mountain in Catalonia. This is the site of the miraculous appearance of the Madonna and Child in one of the caves, Santa Cova (Saint Cave). You’ll find a number of small churches and chapels throughout the mountains, as well as the main monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat. Head to our Facebook page to see some amazing videos that Teresa shared from her visit here.
Santa Maria de Montserrat
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a monastery at the top of the mountain that houses the depiction of the Mare de Déu de Montserrat. It is accessible by the rack railway that scales the mountain side.
Stay tuned for more on Teresa’s time in Spain, including Madrid. We will also be recapping her time in Portugal, including Lisbon and Porto. In addition, we’ll be posting about Courtni & Jeff’s hike through the Camino. Don’t miss it: Follow us on Instagram (@enchantedtravel_) & Facebook for updates.
To speak to one of our Spain Travel experts, call us at 402-390-9291 or get started here.
Part 2: Madrid
Part 2 of our highlight on Enchanted Travel expert Teresa’s trip in Spain & Portugal is Madrid. Teresa and her crew flew from Barcelona to Madrid on Thursday, May 30th. Here is a recap of their full itinerary:
Sunday, May 26: Leave Omaha @ 11:21 AM.
Monday, May 27: Arrive in Barcelona @ 10:20 AM local time.
Thursday, May 30: Fly from Barcelona @ 12 PM & arrive in Madrid at 1:35 PM local time.
Saturday, June 1: Fly from Madrid at 12:10 PM & arrive in Lisbon, Portugal at 12:30 PM local time.
Monday, June 3: Leave Lisbon by train at 2:09 PM and arrive in Porto, Portugal at 4:50 PM local time.
Thursday, June 6: Leave Porto by train at 1:25 PM and arrive in Santiago, Spain at 6:15 PM local time.
Sunday, June 9: Fly from Santiago at 5:05 PM and arrive in Dublin at 6:15 PM local time.
Monday, June 10: Fly from Dublin at 11:20 AM and arrive in Chicago at 2 PM local time.
As we mentioned in Part 1, Teresa parted ways with a portion of her group as they set out to hike the Camino in Spain. The group that headed to Camino included Teresa’s husband Jeff and her daughter Courtni.
Jeff was the only man brave enough for this unique journey, as he and Courtni were accompanied by 4 adventurous females! Teresa stayed back with her son Lucas & the rest of the group:
It looks like they had their own (more relaxing) fun on their own, though! Let’s check out everything they experienced during their time in Madrid. Read on for more!
Madrid: Champions League Final 2019
Although Teresa & her group didn’t attend the game, they did get to take in the fan fair on the day before the Champions League Final 2019. These pictures were taken on May 30th and the game was held on June 1st, when they left for Lisbon.
The entire city was full of celebrations, especially surrounding the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium where the game was held. Liverpool ended up defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0. Fun fact (maybe not so fun for die hard Spanish soccer fans): This was the first final since 2013 that no Spanish teams made it to the finals. In the past five years, either Barcelona or Real Madrid won the final!
Madrid Dining
While Jeff, Courtni, and the rest of the hikers made their way to Camino, Teresa’s half of the group enjoyed some amazing cuisine during their time in Madrid.
Kausa Madrid
Kausa Madrid is a Peruvian, Latin & vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Madrid. Two brothers own the eatery and their kitchen serves up a fusion between Peruvian and Spanish cuisine.
The menu at Kausa Madrid includes items like Ceviche de Pescado and Pulpo a la Plancha (an octopus dish). It is not all seafood however; they also serve meat dishes. In addition, they have a wonderful selection of deserts, including Crema Volteada, which literally translates to “cream flipped” but is like a flan or Crème Brûlée. Their drink menu is also outstanding and they have an extensive wine list. Menu prices range from about $5 – $20.
Chocolatería San Ginés
Chocolatería San Ginés is one of the most famous chocolate and churro shops in Madrid. The shop has more likes on TripAdvisor than anyone! Teresa opted for the traditional chocolate with churros, pictured above.
The famed Chocolatería is located in the quaint San Ginés passageway (pictured above) in the heart of the city near Puerta del Sol.
Inside, the eatery is reminiscent of cafes of the late nineteenth century. It has 2 floors with white marble tables and beautiful tiles. It was built in 1890 as an inn and hostel. In 1894, the brothers converted it into its famed chocolate shop establishment.
More in Madrid
The rest of their short time spent in Madrid consisted of strolling the quaint streets, relaxing at the outdoor cafes, and admiring the beautiful architecture and ambiance that can only be found in this unique city.
Call us at 402-390-9291 to book your own trip to Spain. Ask for one of our Europe travel specialists! You can also get started here.
Camino del Norte: An 8-Day Hike Through Northern Spain
Part 1: Bilbao + the First 4 Days of the Hike
Our family friend and Courtni (she’s also our outside agent Teresa’s daughter!) completed the daunting Camino del Norte hike in Northern Spain. The full route is over 800 kilometers long, which would take about 35 days to complete. Courtni and her group, including father Jeff, decided to hike from Mondonedo to Santiago. The 150 km hike took them 8 days to complete. In order to receive a compostela – the certificate which proves you’ve completed the Camino – you must hike at least 100 km.
Let’s start from the beginning of Courtni’s journey and look at her full itinerary at a glance:
5/26: 8 pm flight from Chicago to Bilbao, Spain
5/27 Land in Bilbao at 4:15 PM local time.
5/28: Stay in an AirBnB in the Old Town area of Bilbao.
5/29: Private transfer from Bilbao to Mondonedo, about a 4 hour trip.
5/30: Hike Mondonedo to Abadin: 16.8 km (10.4 miles).
5/31: Hike Abadin to Vilalba: 21 km (13 miles).
6/1: Hike Vilalba to Baamonde: 14.6 km (9.9 miles).
6/2: Hike Baamonde to Miraz: 13 km (8 miles).
6/3: Hike Miraz to Sobrado dos Manxes: 25.6 km (15.9 miles).
6/4: Hike Sobrado dos Manxes to Arzua: 22 km (13.7 miles).
6/5: Hike Arzua to Arca: 18 km (11.2 miles).
6/6: Hike Arca to Santiago: 21 km (13 miles).
6/7: Explore Santiago + afternoon trip to Padron via taxi.
6/8: Day trip from Santiago to Finisterre and other coastal towns.
6/9: Fly from Santiago to Dublin with a 5:05 PM departure and overnight in Dublin.
6/10: Fly from Dublin to Chicago, arriving 2 PM local time.
Day 1 (5/28): Bilbao
For the purposes of this article, we are going to refer to Bilboa (5/28) as “Day One” of Courtni’s trip since it is the first full day. Courtni and her group arrived in Bilbao at 4:15 PM local time and stayed at an AirBnB in the Old Town area.
The Casco Viejo “Old Town” is the oldest and most historical area in Bilbao, with narrow streets and winding alleys, plus many restaurants and bakeries.
While in Bilbao, Courtni and her group also explored La Ribera Market. This market houses dozens of stalls selling everything from fresh fish and vegetables to hot tapas and takeaway meals.
Art is a huge part of the culture in Bilbao. It is home to a Guggenheim Museum, but you’ll also notice street art everywhere you turn. Courtni notes that both the train station and the Ribera Market have beautiful stained-glass windows that tell stories of the region.
The Guggenheim Museum is an enormous abstract structure with a variety of outdoor sculptures including a bronze spider with an egg sac and a scottie dog made of living flowers. They also have temporary installations like the fire fountains, which only come on in the evenings.
One important piece of advice is to use the Nervión River which cuts through the city as your guide while exploring Bilbao.
Day 2 (5/29): Private Transfer from Bilbao to Mondonedo
On the second full day, Courtni and her crew made the 4 hour jounrey to Mondonedo. They used a company called UrbanTaxi, which specializes in getting hikers to small towns on the Camino route.
Here they stayed the night in the Hotel Montero. Hotel Montero is part hotel and part albergue, otherwise known as a pilgrim’s hostel.
Day 3 (5/30): Hike Mondonedo to Abadin
On Day 3, Courtni and her group began their hike of Camino del Norte. On this first day they hiked 16.8 km (10.4 miles). The group stared out by passing through the Cathedral Square in Mondonedo, which is where you can choose one of two paths out of the city on your way to Abadin. One is shorter but steeper, while the other is a more leisurely path (though still plenty of climbing involved!). Their group decided on the more leisurely route.
The first day was hot and hilly and they soon learned there were no services on the path – as in no cafes or bathrooms for breaks. There was one small homeshare that the group came across at the very beginning of the day that offered tea, but they didn’t stop there because they assumed there would be more along the way. Luckily they packed enough food and water for the 5 hours of hiking to the next town.
After the 5 hour hike, the group checked into the albergue, or pilgrim’s hostel. It cost 6 euros per night but was a surprisingly great facility – clean, shared bathrooms, plenty of bunk beds and even a kitchen. They went to the local grocery store for cured meats, cheese, olives, and bread for dinner and breakfast the next morning. There are cafes in Abadin, but they didn’t open for dinner until 8-9 PM. As you can imagine, the group was exhausted so they opted for their groceries!
Day 4 (5/31): Hike Abadin to Vilalba
On the fourth day of their trip and the second day of their hike, the group set out for Vilalba. The hike from Abadin to Vilalba is 21 km (13 miles).
About 4 miles into the hike, the group stopped at an albergue in OXistral for refreshments. The woman hosting made the group tea, coffee, tortilla Espanola (a favorite for hikers including fresh eggs, cheese and potatoes), croissants, and torta de Santiago (an almond cake).
Though Day 2 of their hike was another hot day, they did witness a spectacular sight: a brilliant all-white peacock.
While on the trail, a man drove up to them with an ad for an albergue in Vilalba. They decided to take him up on the offer and stayed there that night at the Albergue Turístico Castelos, pictured above. It had semi-private rooms, laundry facilities, and was located on the far end of the city which would give them a head start on their hike the next morning.
Vilalba is bigger than Abadin and Mondonedo so the group spent the evening exploring the city and drinking wine at a cafe with other “pilgrims” before heading to bed early.
Day 5 (6/1): Hike Vilalba to Baamonde
The third hike day was shorter than the previous day, but not by much. They hiked about 15.6 km (9.9 miles) to the town of Baamonde.
Although this was the hottest day of the trip, the hiking was overall smooth and they ended up loving Baamonde. It had the best food and a beautiful park and swimming hole.
The group ate at KM101, a restaurant named because it’s located 101 km from Santiago, the final destination of the Camino.
That night they stayed at the Albergue de Peregrinos de Baamonde.
Day 6 (6/2): Hike Baamonde to Miraz
The fourth day of their journey took them 13 km (8 miles) from Baamonde to Miraz. Miraz is very small so they made a stop for dinner and breakfast supplies on their way in. They cooked at their hostel, the Albergue de San Martin, and enjoyed their time with the hosts. The hostel is run by the Confraternity of St. James, UK. Volunteers take two-week shifts to man the lodging and make breakfast for the hikers. While all of the lodging on the Camino was very cheap (between 6-10 euros per night), this place only asked for donations, whatever you could give.
Stay tuned for the last 4 days of Courtni’s journey, plus details of her time spent in Santiago.