10 Days / 9 nights

 

You’ll depart Chicago on an overnight flight for Paris. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and will have the day free for exploring the wonderful City of Lights. Take a boat cruise on the Seine, stroll through the Louvre, sip champagne beneath the Eiffel Tower as the lights of Paris come on – so much to see and do! The second day of this adventure is also agenda-free. Relax as only one can in Paris: Go to a fashion show or the opéra, pose at the Arc de Triomphe, visit the Orsay museum, see the Le bois de Vincennes in full bloom, feel the cool stones and hear the history inside the impressive Notre Dame. You’ll be given maps of the city to ensure that you’ll quickly find your way around this historic city.

 

This morning it is time to board a train for San Sebastian. San Sebastian is a popular town on the “Green Coast” of Spain where you’ll have just the evening and early the next morning to explore. You may want to put it on your list of places to visit next time you’re in Spain!

 

By noon, you will have departed San Sebastian and you’ll be in Pamplona, home of the festival de San Fermin. Take the afternoon to get the lay of the land because the first bull run will be tomorrow at 7:00 am!

 

You are free to explore Pamplona and take part in all the festivities of the “Running of the Bulls.” We will not be pre-purchasing bull fight tickets, unless you really feel you need one purchased in advance, for two reasons: First, it is much more affordable for you to get your ticket from a scalper when you get there; and second, if the weather is bad, you can easily change the day and time you attend the bullfights.

 

Early in the morning, you’ll head back to the train station in Pamplona for your train to Madrid. You will arrive in Madrid at noon and will have the remainder of the day to take in the sights at your leisure. You should consider a bus tour of Madrid's major monuments that ambles along this magnificent city’s classy boulevards. After checking into your hotel, you may stroll the traffic-free streets and have dinner. Additionally, you will have the next two full days free to explore before your flight home. The following morning, you’ll have ample opportunity to take a walking tour and visit one of Europe's finest art museums, The Prado. The afternoon is free for a visit to the Royal Palace, explore more museums, or people watch in the vibrant Puerta del Sol. We will help you pre-book any tours that you want (for instance, you can do a day tour to Toledo) but we are not presuming that everyone will want to be on the same tours.

 

After enjoying a final morning in lovely Madrid, you will transfer to the airport for an evening flight back to the States.

 

 

- All lodging in Paris, San Sebastian, Pamplona, and Madrid

- Train transportation from Paris to San Sebastian; San Sebastian to Pamplona; and Pamplona to Madrid

- All airport to hotel transfers

- Some meals

- Hotel taxes

- Additional benefits as identified in the final itinerary