A Journey Through Madrid and Paris

Juan David

28 Dec 2023

Embark on a 12-day adventure through the vibrant cities of Madrid and Paris. Immerse yourself in the rich history, art, and culture of these iconic destinations. From majestic palaces to world-renowned museums, get ready for an unforgettable experience.

Trip to Madrid

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Unveiling Madrid's Treasures

$113

$ 10

Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana

Depart from your stay 🏨

8 - 10 min

Directions

Huge collections with fossils, whale skeleton & dinosaur replica, housed in a 19th-century building.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$15

20 - 24 min

Directions

Bullfighting arena built in the 1920s in neo-Mudéjar style & used for bullfights, concerts & events.

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

$34

16 - 20 min

Directions

81,000-capacity ground for Real Madrid, with regular matches plus tours of stadium and trophy room.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

$64

Day 2From Fountains to Markets

$ 7

Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana

Depart from your stay 🏨

12 - 15 min

Directions

18th century neoclassical fountain depicting the goddess Cybele on a chariot pulled by 2 lions.

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

•

Free

5 - 8 min

Directions

Displays on nautical science & the Spanish navy from the reign of Isabella & Ferdinand onward.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

•

11 - 16 min

Directions

Expansive, 19th-century park with boating lake & rose garden, plus numerous fountains & statues.

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

•

Free

9 - 14 min

Directions

Triumphal arch near to Parque del Buen Retiro & rich with stone carvings & elegant sculptures.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

•

Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

This popular indoor marketplace established in 1882 has stalls for produce, meat & gourmet fare.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

•

Free

Day 3Exploring Madrid's Landmarks

$34

$ 7

Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana

Depart from your stay 🏨

21 - 26 min

Directions

Leafy square surrounded by imposing buildings, with stone & bronze statue of Cervantes on horseback.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

Free

8 - 11 min

Directions

Ancient Egyptian temple & museum moved from Aswan & rebuilt in lush parkland, with sunset views.

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

•

Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

18th-century, ridge-top palace for state occasions, plus tours with rooms full of art and antiques.

11:15 AM - 1:15 PM

•

$34

4 - 6 min

Directions

Baroque Catholic cathedral known for its colorful chapels, plus a Romanesque crypt & museum.

1:45 PM - 3:15 PM

•

Free

7 - 10 min

Directions

Circa-1916 covered market offering local food, delicacies & events in an elegant ambiance.

3:45 PM - 5:15 PM

•

Free

Day 4A Gastronomic Delight in Madrid

$32

$ 14

Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

Happening, 3-level market with 20 stalls selling diverse, international fare, plus 3 cocktail bars.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

14 - 17 min

Directions

Bustling market with stands selling everything from produce & butchered meats to clothes & books.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

•

Free

18 - 22 min

Directions

Art museum with Velazquez, Goya and El Greco masterpieces in vast 12th- to 19th-century collection.

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

•

$32

Day 5Artistic Wonders of Madrid

$54

$ 10

Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana

Depart from your stay 🏨

16 - 20 min

Directions

Venue for art exhibitions organized by Reina Sofía Museum, modeled on London's Crystal Palace.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

7 - 9 min

Directions

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

Sprawling museum for Spanish 20th-century art collection with works by Gris, Dali, Picasso & Miro.

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

$24

10 - 15 min

Directions

Vibrant indoor market with grocery vendors, international food stalls & public events.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

Free

13 - 20 min

Directions

Museum housing collection of 13th-20th-century European masterpieces, from Renaissance to Pop Art.

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

•

$30

Budget breakdown: $950 In total

Activities & Food:$785

Transport:$165

Trip to Paris

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Unveiling Madrid's Treasures

$72

$ 19

Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

23 - 28 min

Directions

Converted church with scientific & industrial artworks & artifacts, including Foucault's pendulum.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$20

13 - 16 min

Directions

Towering, 12th-century cathedral with flying buttresses & gargoyles, setting for Hugo's novel.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

15 - 22 min

Directions

18th-century mausoleum with colonnaded facade, housing remains of notable French citizens.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

$26

8 - 11 min

Directions

Cluny Museum - National Museum of the Middle Ages

Turreted Gothic mansion housing vast collection of medieval arts, crafts & tapestries.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

$26

18 - 22 min

Directions

Landscaped park with paths & trees, bird life, extensive lawns & a children's play area.

No time set

•

Free

Day 2From Fountains to Markets

$72

$ 19

Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

15 - 18 min

Directions

Former historic palace housing huge art collection, from Roman sculptures to da Vinci's "Mona Lisa."

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$44

14 - 17 min

Directions

Victor Hugo's evocative apartment, decorated with original furniture, plus artifacts and sketches.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

18 - 22 min

Directions

Centuries-old institution housing rare plant & animal life, dinosaur skeletons & tropical hothouses.

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

•

$28

Day 3Exploring Madrid's Landmarks

$84

$ 23

Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

10 - 15 min

Directions

Richly decorated 1900 building, housing eclectic fine arts dating from Renaissance to 20th century.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

Free

12 - 15 min

Directions

Imposing museum with ornate ceramics, crystal and fine furniture, from Middle ages to present day.

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

•

$30

8 - 11 min

Directions

Display of contemporary art from François Pinault's collection in a space within the Stock Exchange.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

•

$30

11 - 14 min

Directions

Former royal residence, now repurposed & used as the meeting place for the French senate.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

10 - 12 min

Directions

Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain

Foundation hosting temporary exhibits housed in an airy building designed by architect Jean Nouvel.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

$24

8 - 10 min

Directions

Upmarket 19th-century mall for designer apparel, housewares, beauty products & gourmet groceries.

No time set

•

Free

Day 4A Gastronomic Delight in Madrid

$82

$ 19

Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

7 - 9 min

Directions

Museum with 20th-century European art collection, showcasing 8 of Monet's water lilies murals.

8:00 AM - 8:45 AM

•

$28

16 - 20 min

Directions

Architecturally avant-garde complex housing National Museum of Modern Art, library and music center.

9:15 AM - 12:15 PM

•

$26

7 - 10 min

Directions

Neo-Renaissance administrative building with regular exhibitions & tours by appointment.

12:45 PM - 3:45 PM

•

Free

16 - 20 min

Directions

18th-century mansion & sculpture garden displaying Rodin's influential works, such as The Thinker.

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM

•

$28

Day 5Artistic Wonders of Madrid

$68

$ 23

Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

Major 19th- & 20th-century European art collections housed in a monumental, former railway station.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$36

20 - 24 min

Directions

Museum in neighboring mansions with Paris art & history exhibits focused on 16th & 17th centuries.

11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

•

$10

33 - 40 min

Directions

Imposing Gothic cathedral with ornate 12th-century stained-glass windows & many reclining statues.

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

$22

31 - 38 min

Directions

Museum in the 1830 house of painter Ary Scheffer, with one floor dedicated to writer George Sand.

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

•

Free

Day 6Discovering Parisian Marvels

$124

$ 10

Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

9 - 14 min

Directions

Iconic triumphal arch built to commemorate Napoleon's victories, with an observation deck.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

$28

9 - 11 min

Directions

Art museum with a significant collection of work by Claude Monet & other Impressionists.

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

$30

10 - 12 min

Directions

Gustave Eiffel's iconic, wrought-iron 1889 tower, with steps and elevators to observation decks.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

•

$40

5 - 8 min

Directions

Engaging, indigenous art and global tribal exhibits in contemporary museum created by Jean Nouvel.

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

$26

11 - 16 min

Directions

Chic Beaux-Arts fashion museum displaying 3 centuries of clothing, accessories & photography.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

•

Free

Day 7A Day of Royalty and Art in Paris

$42

$ 10

Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

12 - 18 min

Directions

Museum for major 20th-century art & contemporary exhibitions in eastern wing of Palais de Tokyo.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

36 - 44 min

Directions

This is a note to the activity

Immense, 18th-century palace with gilded apartments, chandeliered Hall of Mirrors & fountain show.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

$42

Budget breakdown: $950 In total

Activities & Food:$785

Transport:$165