Barcelona and Madrid
Customize your experience
Two of the days in your itinerary are fully customizable! On those days, you can opt to enjoy unscheduled independent exploration or customize the experience by adding activities and excursions aligned with your academic discipline.
If you decide to customize one or both days, our experts will handle the logistics to help bring your vision to life.
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Day 1: Fly overnight to Spain
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Day 2: Barcelona
Meet your Field Director at the airportWith your Field Director, take walking tour of Las Ramblas, a pedestrian mall where you’ll find endless entertainment, restaurants, markets, monuments and shopping
Enjoy dinner in Barcelona
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Day 3: Barcelona
Take a guided tour of Barcelona
With your expert local guide you will see:
- La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s masterpiece cathedral that is over 130 years in the making
- From the top of Montjuïc, enjoy panoramic views of the harbor below
- Gothic Quarter, a memory of the Roman Empire, now lined with shops and restaurants
- Barcelona Cathedral, a Gothic Revival church known for its gargoyles and other mythical animals
Visit Park Güell, a vast public park designed by Antoni Gaudí that features colorful mosaics and remarkable architecture
Visit La Sagrada Família, a massive cathedral that was started in 1883 and remains unfinished
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Day 4: Barcelona: Customize your day
Spend the day exploring Barcelona on your own, or customize your day with an EF-arranged experience of your choosing:
- Industry Engagement Activity: Dive into your academic discipline alongside industry experts
- Cultural Activity: Experience local culture on a deeper level through an immersive activity
- Out of City Excursion: Embark on a half-day or full-day excursion outside the city center
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Day 5: Barcelona • Madrid
Travel by AVE train to MadridWith your Field Director, take a walking tour of Madrid, Spain’s capital and largest city
Visit the Prado, Madrid's famed art museum where you can behold Velázquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s paired canvases
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Day 6: Madrid
Take a guided tour of Madrid
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s busiest squares
- Plaza Mayor, the center of old Madrid where you’ll learn about the grand square’s history of bullfights, royal weddings, and public executions
- Plaza de Oriente, the Royal Palace square, located across from the Royal Palace
Visit the Royal Palace and get a glimpse of regal Madrid, where you’ll wander the fabulous palace interior
Enjoy a Spanish cooking class followed by dinner
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Day 7: Madrid: Customize your day
Spend the day exploring Madrid on your own, or customize your day with an EF-arranged experience of your choosing:
- Industry Engagement Activity: Dive into your academic discipline alongside industry experts
- Cultural Activity: Experience local culture on a deeper level through an immersive activity
- Out of City Excursion: Embark on a half-day or full-day excursion outside the city center
Enjoy dinner in Madrid
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Day 8: Depart for home
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Day 1: Fly overnight to Spain
-
Day 2: Barcelona
Meet your Field Director at the airportWith your Field Director, take walking tour of Las Ramblas, a pedestrian mall where you’ll find endless entertainment, restaurants, markets, monuments and shopping
Enjoy dinner in Barcelona
-
Day 3: Barcelona
Take a guided tour of Barcelona
With your expert local guide you will see:
- La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s masterpiece cathedral that is over 130 years in the making
- From the top of Montjuïc, enjoy panoramic views of the harbor below
- Gothic Quarter, a memory of the Roman Empire, now lined with shops and restaurants
- Barcelona Cathedral, a Gothic Revival church known for its gargoyles and other mythical animals
Visit Park Güell, a vast public park designed by Antoni Gaudí that features colorful mosaics and remarkable architecture
Visit La Sagrada Família, a massive cathedral that was started in 1883 and remains unfinished
-
Day 4: Barcelona: Customize your day
Spend the day exploring Barcelona on your own, or customize your day with an EF-arranged experience of your choosing:
- Industry Engagement Activity: Dive into your academic discipline alongside industry experts
- Cultural Activity: Experience local culture on a deeper level through an immersive activity
- Out of City Excursion: Embark on a half-day or full-day excursion outside the city center
-
Day 5: Barcelona • Madrid
Travel by AVE train to MadridWith your Field Director, take a walking tour of Madrid, Spain’s capital and largest city
Visit the Prado, Madrid's famed art museum where you can behold Velázquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s paired canvases
-
Day 6: Madrid
Take a guided tour of Madrid
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s busiest squares
- Plaza Mayor, the center of old Madrid where you’ll learn about the grand square’s history of bullfights, royal weddings, and public executions
- Plaza de Oriente, the Royal Palace square, located across from the Royal Palace
Visit the Royal Palace and get a glimpse of regal Madrid, where you’ll wander the fabulous palace interior
Enjoy a Spanish cooking class followed by dinner
-
Day 7: Madrid: Customize your day
Spend the day exploring Madrid on your own, or customize your day with an EF-arranged experience of your choosing:
- Industry Engagement Activity: Dive into your academic discipline alongside industry experts
- Cultural Activity: Experience local culture on a deeper level through an immersive activity
- Out of City Excursion: Embark on a half-day or full-day excursion outside the city center
Enjoy dinner in Madrid
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Day 8: Depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
What's Included
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Transportation
Various modes of transport are tailored to your program. While some transfers are included, others may come at additional cost.
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Accommodations
Safe, comfortable lodging will be waiting for you at your destination.
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Select meals
Enjoy a combination of included meals and the freedom to explore local cuisine on your own.
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End-to-end support
Your dedicated EF team helps secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides enrollment tools, and helps establish your program’s ongoing presence on campus.
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EF Global Learning Toolkit
We offer various tools to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.
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Guided exploration
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides: natural historians who provide cultural insights to enhance learning moments throughout the program.
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Field Visits
Experience academics in action during engaging visits with relevant organizations, thought leaders, and partners.
