From Paella to Pintxo

The prime Golden Mile area is where you will be staying during your time in Madrid, specifically at the regal Hotel Unico which is just as unique as its name suggests, with its grand chandeliers and marble mosaics.

Your culinary adventure begins with a paella cooking lesson and lunch. Madrid is home to some amazing food markets which you will have the chance to visit to stock up on ingredients for your cooking class - be sure to try some fresh seafood and Jamón Ibérico. Guided by expert chefs, you'll be taught how to whip up a full Spanish menu, consisting of paella, gazpacho (cold tomato soup) and sangria, before tucking in and enjoying the fruits of your labour. 

Make the most of the wide array of Madrid's fine dining avenues. Shock your senses with Chef Muñoz’s creative culinary creations at the one-of-a-kind three-Michelin-starred DiverXo restaurant - a dream-like space, where flying pigs adorn the tables and walls and waiters whizz past spooning tomato sorbet into your mouth.  

Another great place to dine is Amazonica - a jungle-inspired restaurant with greenery spilling from the ceiling and a medley of Asian, Mediterranean and Brazilian dishes on offer.

Hop in your car and drive to your next stop - the beautiful wine region of Ribera del Duero, where it’s obligatory to try numerous sun-kissed vintages. The stunning Abadia Retuerta Le Domaine is a 12th-century abbey and wine estate on the banks of the River Duero, set amongst rolling hills and sweeping vineyards. It retains its historic character while embracing the 21st century, from Michelin-starred dining to 24-hour butler service.

You will embark on a full oenological immersion - or winemaking tour - where you will tour the Abadia Retuerta estate and vineyards by 4x4, learn about grape reception and fermentation and have a tasting session.

The wine trail continues in style... Enjoy the scenery as you drive to Elciego, which is known as the ‘City of Wine' and the striking Hotel Marqués de Riscal. Combine ancient and modern here: Elciego is a gorgeous medieval village begging to be explored. The expansive hotel cellars are full of fine wines from the surrounding Marqués de Riscal vineyards, and not only that but you can also enjoy grape-inspired therapies in the spa, such as a Merlot body wrap.

As well as boasting a Michelin-starred restaurant, where you can enjoy foie gras with red wine caviar, this distinctive hotel was designed by architect Frank Gehry. Its unique exterior features ribbons of titanium while the interior has slanted walls and ceilings the height of a cathedral. You can admire more of Gehry’s distinctive architecture when you visit his beautiful wineries as part of the La Rioja Wine Cellars tour - which also includes a gourmet lunch in the Wine Museum and a visit to a 125-year-old winery.

Your final port of call is San Sebastián, a pretty coastal city that hugs the Bay of Biscay. Discover its illustrious heritage, showcased in stunning architecture, and relax on some of Europe’s best city beaches. Gourmands will love the many Michelin-starred restaurants and the plentiful pintxo (tapas) bars. Guided by local experts, go on an off-the beaten-track pintxo-tasting tour, ranked by TripAdvisor as one of the top 10 food tours in the world. 

You’ll make your way from bar to bar, sampling both classic and innovative pintxos and washing them down with the wine that they come paired with. At the majestic and historic Hotel Maria Cristina, which graces the banks of the Urumea River, don’t miss the chance to follow in the footsteps of Hollywood royalty and order an exotic cocktail in the hotel bar.