Spain·31 March - 6 April 2025

Bedazzling Barcelona & the Costa Brava

Barcelona promises Roman ruins, culinary delights, chic shopping, psychedelic architecture, and the stunning Mediterranean Sea.

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Overview

Barcelona and the Costa Brava should be at the top of your travel bucket list. Catalonia is a distinct region in Spain with its own language and culture. It has established a distinctive Catalan way of doing things, different from the rest of Spain, and proudly so. You'll marvel at Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. The city is famously dotted with fantastical Antoni Gaudí creations, like the iconic Sagrada Familia and the whimsical Park Güell. Barcelona's ancient Roman roots and the Gothic Quarter's medieval alleys mingle with this modernist style. We'll take every opportunity to delve into Barcelona's extraordinary food scene. From the city's tapas bars and open-air markets to modern restaurants, you'll be amazed at the quality and diversity of Catalan cuisine. We'll head northeast, up the Mediterranean coast to the Costa Brava, making the ancient Girona environs our home base. We'll stay in a recently converted palace as we explore the region's historical and artistic treasures. Wander through cobblestone streets, marvel at the Girona Cathedral, and enjoy the colorful houses along the Onyar River as you contemplate the Costa Brava's mix of art and history. Leave the details to us as you prepare for a holiday of a lifetime in Barcelona and the Costa Brava.

Highlights

Experience Antoni Gaudí’s architecture

Experience Antoni Gaudí’s architecture

Taste local Catalan fare the city's best restaurants

Taste local Catalan fare the city's best restaurants

Explore Park Güell, the garden shaped by Gaudí

Explore Park Güell, the garden shaped by Gaudí

Enjoy Barcelona's cafes and wine bars

Enjoy Barcelona's cafes and wine bars

Savor tasty tapas in Barcelona and beyond

Savor tasty tapas in Barcelona and beyond

Watch a live performance at El Palau de la Musica

Watch a live performance at El Palau de la Musica

Explore colorful Girona

Explore colorful Girona

Visit Roman ruins in Barcelona and Girona

Visit Roman ruins in Barcelona and Girona

Discover the unexpected world of Dalí and his wife Gala

Discover the unexpected world of Dalí and his wife Gala

Follow the legend and history of the Virgin of Montserrat

Follow the legend and history of the Virgin of Montserrat

Sip, swirl, and taste sparkling wine at premier vineyards in Penedès and Empordà

Sip, swirl, and taste sparkling wine at premier vineyards in Penedès and Empordà

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip.

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Barcelona

Day 1: Monday, March 31, 2025

Arrive at the Barcelona International Airport (El Prat). If you're flying overnight, consider arriving a day early to rest, relax, and adjust to the local time zone. (See the Add-ons section for the Arrive 1 Day Early option). Regardless of when you arrive, hop into a taxi. There are plenty of them. Head to the 5-star Ohla Barcelona in the Gothic Quarter. Your trip facilitator will meet you at the hotel.

Take time to settle in and freshen up. The day is yours. Relax at the pool, nap, and enjoy the hotel.

We'll set out, with our local guide, on a walking tour of central Barcelona in the evening, followed by a welcome dinner at La Plassohla.

Included

Dinner

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Barcelona

Day 2: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel restaurant and prepare for a morning of Barcelona exploration.

Today, we'll set out with a local guide to experience the whimsy and wonder of Gaudí’s architecture. We’ll step inside the still unfinished (after 150 years) Sagrada Família Basilica, a stunner, with dozens of animals cavorting on the façade.

Next, we'll head up the hillside to Park Güellan expansive area blooming with gardens and buildings by Gaudí. All of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea will be laid out before you from the many vista points inside the park.

From the park, our private transport will whisk us back to the hotel for a bit of downtime. It's your time to explore the city from our central base or shop at the many nearby boutiques. Lunch is on your own, either at the hotel or one of the many cafes and restaurants in the neighborhood.

We’ll get together for dinner at the modern gourmet restaurant Capet for a true Catalan culinary experience in the evening.

Included

Breakfast-Dinner

Not Included

Lunch

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Barcelona

Day 3: Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Enjoy a light breakfast because we're heading to the famous, sprawling Boqueria Market. Wander between stalls. Vendors have sold their wares here since the 13th century.

We'll stop at select spots to buy ingredients for our private cooking class. Then, it’s over to the kitchen so the chef can show us the ropes. This is a hands-on experience, so get ready to tie on an apron and slice and dice. The payoff is a three-course meal with wine, enjoyed with your Girls' Guide travel companions.

Enjoy “you time” after lunch. Hit the hotel for a siesta or stroll the Gothic Quarter to sightsee and shop.

Tonight, we'll be wowed by a live performance at Palau de la Musica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most important concert venue in the city. The Palau de la Música Catalana was built between 1905 and 1908 by the modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. After the show, we'll stop in for some light tapas.

Sleep tight. Tomorrow we're off to the Costa Brava.

Included

All Meals

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Girona

Day 4: Thursday, April 3, 2025

Today, we'll depart Barcelona to motor north to Girona. Perched on the Onyar River, the walled city of Girona is our first stop in the Costa Brava. The city is a compact cluster of history and culture with roots in Roman times.

We’ll start with a walking tour of Girona, using local Catalan guides. Visit the cathedral and Jewish Quarter, and enjoy free time in the old part of the city, browsing the charming boutiques.

Today, our lunch is at Carlos, an old inn with stone walls and arches, a former meeting for the merchants of yesteryear. 

After lunch, we’ll make our way to our home in Girona, the Hotel Palau Fugit. Located in the heart of Girona’s Barri Vell, Palau Fugit was originally an ancient baroque palace from the 18th century. In 2022, the building was completely renovated and converted into a hotel and a space open to art, artisans, and nature - lucky us!

Later in the evening, we'll dine at a local Girona restaurant.

Included

All Meals

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Pubel

Day 5: Friday, April 4, 2025

Today is all about wine, history, and art – three things we love about Catalonia!

We’ll head to Púbol to explore Gala’s Castle. Gala was Salvador Dalí’s wife. The artist gave her the castle as a gift. It is a weird and wonderful place, and we’ll learn much more about the castle, the couple, and their interesting visitation arrangement.

We'll lunch together in the beach town of Begur.

After lunch, we'll head to Peratallada, a stone village built in the Middle Ages. Peratallada means “carved stone.” You’ll appreciate the name as you tour this charming hamlet. If we have time, we'll also stop at Pals, another Medieval village. The cobblestone pathways, bursting flower boxes, and snug plazas will captivate you.

Later, we'll head back to our fabulous hotel. Enjoy some downtime, sip some cava, and marvel at how lucky we are to be in this remarkable place.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Order room service or try one of the many Girona cafes and restaurants. (We'll offer recommendations.)

Included

Breakfast-Lunch

Dali

Barcelona

Day 6: Saturday, April 5, 2025

We'll check out of our hotel and begin the journey back to Barcelona. In Figueres, we'll get up close and personal with Salvador Dalí’s artwork at the Teatre-Museu Dalí. We’ll learn more about the artist’s fascinating life and discover the evolution of his work over the years. Dali’s museum is like no other you've ever seen. The artist designed the museum contents himself. We’ll have a guided museum tour, then free time to look around the grounds or shop and wander around Figueres. Even if you're not a Dali fan, after learning more about the man and the importance of his work, you’ll walk away changed.

Back in Barcelona, we'll check in at the Ohla Eixample. The rest of the afternoon is yours to catch up on anything you missed during the first few days. Perhaps you want more Gaudí or feel like scoping out a few Barcelona art museums, like the Joan Miró Foundation, the Picasso Museum, or the MACBA, or explore the Eixample neighborhood.

We’ll conclude our adventure with a farewell dinner at La Pepita, a hyper-local Tapas bar in the heart of Barcelona.

Included

All Meals

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Barcelona

Day 7: Sunday, April 6, 2025

For those not joining the optional trip extension, it’s time to say goodbye. It’s “fins després” to all your Girls' Guide amigas before hopping into a taxi to the Barcelona International Airport for your return flight home.

We're happy to help you set up your taxi to the airport with the help of the hotel’s front desk. 

For those joining the trip extension, ¡Adelante!


Included

Breakfast

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Barcelona

Optional Trip Extension - Day 1 - April 6, 2025

After a lovely breakfast at the hotel, we’re off to the sandcastle spires of Montserrat, where an eponymous abbey sits snugly between the peaks. A Benedictine community has existed in Montserrat for almost 1,000 years and is still active today. Short hikes meander on paved pathways from the abbey. 

It’s a quick jump from Montserrat to Penedès, Spain’s premier cava region. (Cava is like champagne but made in Spain). We’ll have lunch in wine country at the Codorníu vineyard. The visit includes a tour and a bubbly wine tasting. The expert bilingual guides will explain the 450-year-old history of this brand and give you the scoop on the best way to serve cava (spoiler: icy cold). 

In the afternoon, we’ll head back to Barcelona. 

Enjoy the evening alone or dine out with your new amigas.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Not Included

Dinner

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Barcelona

Optional Trip Extension - Day 2 - April 7, 2025



What a trip! You'll have memories and friendships to last a lifetime.

After a leisurely morning (last minute shopping anyone?), we're happy to help you set up your taxi to the airport with the help of the hotel’s front desk. 






Included

Breakfast

You'll Be Staying Here

Hotel Palau Fugit

Hotel Palau Fugit

Located in the heart of Girona’s Barri Vell, Hotel Palau Fugit was an ancient baroque palace from the 18th century, once called Casa Heras de Puig. In 2022, the building was completely renovated and, for the first time, it opened its doors to travelers.

Ohla Eixample

Ohla Eixample

The Ohla Eixample is a stylish boutique hotel 10 minutes walk from two of Gaudi’s major works, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló

Hosts

Regina Winkle-Bryan

Regina Winkle-Bryan

Regina is from the Pacific Northwest in the United States (she calls Seattle home). She lived in Barcelona for TEN years and speaks fluent Spanish AND some Catalan. Spain is one of her favorite places. Along with local guides, Regina will lead this trip and introduce you the best of Catalonia.

Price

Private Room

Private Room

Everyone gets their own fabulous room!

FROM$8,895

Shared Room

Shared Room

Share a room with a friend or family member

FROM$7,495

Optional Trip Extensions

2 Days / 1 Night - Trip Extension to Montserrat & Penedès

2 Days / 1 Night - Trip Extension to Montserrat & Penedès

Visit the magnificent Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey and Spain's finest Cava region, Penedès

FROM$1,495.00/pp

Barcelona is one of the best cities in the world

Barcelona

A buzzing and lively city on the east coast of Spain, Barcelona is home to delights, like Gaudi architecture, a fantastic foodie scene, and even several beaches. Catalonia's capital regularly tops lists of Europe's best places to visit.

Barcelona

What's Included

What's Included

Everything stated in itinerary above including meals (except otherwise noted) plus wine or beer with your evening meal

Lodging at unique hotels

An English-speaking facilitator accompanying you every step of the way

Local Catalan guides to show you the best of Catalonia

A planning and packing guide to get you ready for this adventure

All in-country transport

Roundtrip airfare to Spain (Barcelona)

Spa Treatments

Airport transfers

Additional wine, beer, or spirits beyond what is offered at meals.

All personal souvenir purchases

Travel and Medical Insurance (required)

FAQs

Fly into the Barcelona International Airport (El Prat) and hop into a taxi to the hotel. Your trip leader will meet you at the hotel.

The trip officially starts on March 31, 2025, but if you are traveling overnight to get to Spain, consider arriving a day early so you have time to relax and adjust to the local time zone. If you do decide to arrive early, you can purchase the Arrive 1 Day Early option in the Add-ons section, and we will book your room for you and make sure that you stay in the same room as when the trip starts.

We will have a zoom call about 6 weeks before the trip starts to discuss all that information and give you a packing list. Here is a great website that we love that will help you with packing and travel trips.

The average temperatures is generally around 65°F during the day, and 55°F at night. 

Inquire about this trip

Bedazzling Barcelona & the Costa Brava

Spain· 31 March - 6 April 2025· 6 nights

FROM$8,895/pp