Cooking and Dining your way through the Gastronomy and Culture of Madrid
Madrid is a beautiful, sophisticated and diverse city. It has grand avenues as well as small cobblestone streets. There are smart rooftop bars adjacent to old-fashioned tapas bars, all located in colorful and genteel neighborhoods. The sheer number of restaurants, gastro bars, tapas bars and food markets is bewildering. Madrileños (the locals) really care about their food. A stroll around one of the 40 or more food markets, such as the Mercado de San Miguel in Los Austrias, or the Mercado de San Anton in Chueca, serves as evidence of an infrastructure that can support great gastronomy. On this getaway, you’ll enhance your culinary skills as you discover fine wines and the wonderful heritage of Spain.
ItineraryAccommodationsMapFAQ
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note:
Tour inclusions can change depending upon
seasonality and weather conditions.
•Round Trip Airport Transfers
•Daily Breakfast
•Welcome Dinner with Wine Parings
•Historic & Cultural Walking Tour
•Hands-on Tapas Cooking Class
•Guided Tapas Tour with Wine
While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs,
and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should
speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is
appropriate for your situation.
AVAILABLE DATES
Year-Round Based on Your Travel Dates
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
Click arrows (▶) to show details
Day 1
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Round-trip Airport Transfers | Welcome Dinner
You will be greeted at the Madrid International Airport or train station by your chauffeur. Enjoy a short 25 minute drive to the hotel, in the heart of the city, where you will check-in and have some free time to relax. Tonight's dinner will be at an acclaimed restaurant known for its modern and innovative Spanish cuisine, as well as its excellent wine list. The tasting menu, prepared by a well-known Spanish chef, will be served with matching wines. The menu may include such delights as brochette with langoustines and bacon, sea bass served with an anchovy and pepper sauce, partridge prepared in the Basque style, roasted pork loin with quince or salt encrusted grouper. In Madrid meals are served much later than in most of Europe, with dinner starting usually past 9 o'clock in the evening. After dinner, many bars in the Lavapiés, Chueca and La Latina neighborhoods beckon Madrileños and tourists alike to drink wine, gin or vermouth.
Day 2
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Spanish Breakfast Buffet
Each morning starts with a delicious Spanish buffet breakfast, featuring a wide variety of made to order egg dishes, cereals, cold meats, yogurt, breakfast pastries and breads, natural fresh juices, as well as tea and coffee.
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Guided Historic Walking Tour | Chocolate Tasting
After breakfast, you will head out for a private walking tour around Madrid’s historic city centre. Strolling through the narrow streets, accompanied by your knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide, you will enjoy the sights and sounds of the quirky yet beautiful neighborhoods of central Madrid. Wandering the city’s streets in the older quarters, you'll be sure to stumble upon interesting bars, shops, and galleries. Finish on a "sweet note" with a visit to one of Madrid's most famous landmarks to all things chocolate. You'll sample infusions of handmade chocolates in both liquid and solid forms, a delicious ending! After the tour, there will be some free time for lunch and time to explore the city on your own.
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Tapas Cooking Class | Meal and Wine Pairings
Next up is your hands-on cooking class of traditional Spanish dishes, taking place just a short walk from your hotel. Here you will take part in a cooking class lead by a chef that will introduce you both to the Spanish culture as well as to some of the most traditional tapas of the country. The tapas that you will be preparing are similar to the ones you can sample in the many bars of Madrid; like the popular tortilla de patatas (Spanish potato omelet), pa amb tomàquet (tomato bread with cured ham), or by a crema catalana (crème brûleé). The cooking class will be followed by a meal paired with Spanish wines.
Day 3
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Spanish Breakfast Buffet
Each morning starts with a delicious Spanish buffet breakfast, featuring a wide variety of made to order egg dishes, cereals, cold meats, yogurt, breakfast pastries and breads, natural fresh juices, as well as tea and coffee.
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Free Time for Exploring | Guided Tapas Tour
After breakfast you'll have free time to explore the city on your own. You might wish to discover the neighboring shopping streets or explore the many attractions that Madrid has to offer. During your free time, you'll be on your own for lunch. You may want to visit Madrid’s Art Triangle, Plaza Major, the heart of the city’s historic district; Puerta de Alcala, the Royal Palace or the Cathedral de la Almudena. In the late afternoon you will meet your guide to tour some of the most exciting tapas bars in Madrid, tasting dishes like the famous pimento padron – from Northwestern Spain with a glass of Albariño wine or the refined Jamon de Bellota from Salamanca with red wine from Toro. Over the course of the evening, your host will guide you through the delicious food, wines and deeply-rooted gastronomic traditions of this exhilarating country.
Day 4
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Spanish Breakfast Buffet
Each morning starts with a delicious Spanish buffet breakfast, featuring a wide variety of made to order egg dishes, cereals, cold meats, yogurt, breakfast pastries and breads, natural fresh juices, as well as tea and coffee.
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Check-Out and Departure
Time flies when you’re having so much fun, but alas…it is time to check out and depart this delicious, “Edible Destination.” May your future travels come from sweet dreams, and create tasty memories!
Madrid Four Star Hotel
You will stay in an intimate, stylish 4-star hotel. This majestic building, dating from the early 20th century, was recently refurbished in to a boutique hotel with 74 rooms. Conveniently located in the Madrilean Gran Via, on of Madrid’s most famous avenues, the hotel benefits from a close location to some of the most emblematic places in the city — the Puerta del Sol, the Teatro Real and the Golden Triangle of Art. The cosmopolitan Gran Vía is also very well located for those who would like to shop in the Fuencarral area or stroll around the beautiful Retiro Park. All rooms have been recently renovated in a manner that combines modern and elegant features with classical touches. You will find all the amenities you might expect from a 4-star hotel. There is a restaurant onsite, and the friendly staff is eager to make sure your stay is quite pleasant.
Madrid, Spain
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What Currency is being quoted?
The Currency Code is listed directly after the published amount. If it states USD, then the quoted price is in United States Dollars. If it states CAD, then the quoted price is in Canadian Dollars. If it states EUR, then the quoted price is in European Union Dollars…etc. However, please note that all charges are processed in USD, and Epitourean’s Merchant Bank automatically calculates the currency conversion on the day of the charge.
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What does Double Occupancy mean?
Two persons traveling together, and staying in the same room. Tour prices are normally quoted as “per person, double occupancy” in case two people are traveling together and staying in the same room, but paying separately. The cost of the lodging is also shared by two people, thereby reducing costs. This could be a married couple, two friends or relatives.
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What is a Single Supplement?
Whenever a person travels alone, the cost of their lodging cannot be shared by another person. When tour products are priced, they are normally stated as “per person, double occupancy.” Whenever a guest occupies a room as a solo, the whole cost of the lodging must be incurred by that one individual. Tour companies accommodate this by charging a Single Supplement. Epitourean does its best to keep the single supplement as low as possible, but it is a real cost that tour companies must absorb, and must pass along to the single traveler.
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If I am a Solo Traveler, will I be paired with another person?
Epitourean never pairs a solo traveler with another person without a special request. If you book Single Occupancy, you will have a room entirely to yourself. However, should you wish to be paired with another solo traveler to save on the single supplement, you may make this request. We cannot guarantee that we can accommodate such requests, since it would take another solo traveling on the same tour for the same dates. But if requested, we will certainly try.
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Are flights included in the tour price?
No. Flights are never included in the price of our land-only tours. Epitourean does not provide air, rail or sea travel, unless expressly noted in the itinerary.
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May I give a culinary tour as a gift?
Yes. Epitourean has a special program designed specifically for this purpose. Our Gift Packages come with features such as special messages to the recipient, gift box option, gift link (without pricing), and floating dates (should you not know when the gift recipient wants to travel). Contact a Culinary Travel Specialist at 800-390-3292 or customerservice@epitourean.com to receive additional information about this unique offering.
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May we request separate beds if sharing a room?
Yes. In most cases, Epitourean can accommodate a request for two beds to be placed in one room. Just make sure to make this request in the comments section of the reservation process.
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Does each guestroom have a private bathroom?
Yes. Epitourean partners with the best lodging options in each destination, and private (en suite) bathrooms are a requirement. However, you should inquire as to the configuration of bathrooms should you have a special need. For example, some tours include accommodations in medieval villages, where either a shower or bath(but maybe not both) are present.
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Can your tours accommodate my dietary restrictions?
In almost all cases, Epitourean can accommodate dietary choices and restrictions. But we do request that you ask a Culinary Travel Specialist prior to making your reservation so that we can assess your individual situation.
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If I am unable to use a portion of the tour, can I get a partial refund?
Unfortunately, due to vendor and supplier contracts, we are unable to provide partial refunds for unused portions of any tour or tour component.
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Are Transfers included in the Itinerary?
Round-trip transfers from the airport or train station are normally included in our international tours. Transfers to the destination (for both international and domestic tours) are not included in the tour price. Please see the Sample Itinerary. If it mentions that transfers are included, then yes, transfers are included at no additional cost.
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What meals and excursions are included in the tour?
The Sample Itinerary should be your reference. If the meal or excursion is described in the Sample Itinerary, then it is included at no additional charge. For those days where it expressly notes Free time, then any optional activities you elect to participate in might have an additional cost. In addition, if the itinerary states "evening on your own," it would imply that you have the opportunity to visit a restaurant of your own choosing, and at your own expense. If you have any question about inclusions, please submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button under the price section.
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Is it possible to book pre or post tours or stays through Edible Destinations?
Yes, we often do have optional 2 and 3 night excursions that are priced separately from the tour. We can also assist with pre and post night stays in a hotel if you choose to come in early before the tour starts, or stay on after a tour ends. The price of those hotel stays are not included in the price of the tour, but we would be happy to provide a quote. Simply ask your Culinary Travel Specialist, or submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button.
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Are Guide or Host Gratuities included in the price of the tour?
Since tipping guidelines and customs vary widely between countries, we do not include gratuities in the price of the tour. Your Culinary Travel Specialist can provide you with recommendations. But the general rule is to tip modestly when you are pleased with a guide’s services, either at the end of the tour, or at the conclusion of a specialty day excursion where you will only be with that guide (or chef) on that day.
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Should we plan on any personal expenses during the tour?
All lodging, meals, transfers, classes and excursions mentioned in the Sample Itinerary and Vacation Highlights are included in the price of the tour. However, we highly recommend taking local currency for purchasing personal items, souvenirs, tipping, etc. You can either get the local currency at an airport exchange service, ATM or from your local bank prior to travel. However, you should note that many hosted destinations do not accept credit cards for personal purchases.
Winner OUTSTANDING CULINARY TRAVEL Category
Vacation options presented on this website are offered by Epitourean LLC doing business
as Edible Destinations pursuant to an agreement with Marriott Resorts, Travel Company,
Inc. d/b/a MVC Exchange Company (“MVC”). MVC and its respective affiliates make no
warranty, express or implied, regarding the quality, condition, features or amenities
or any other aspect of any tour or package. The tours and packages offered herein may
have limited availability, are subject to change, and/or may be subject to additional
fees and/or taxes. MVC and its parent company and respective affiliates are not liable
for any damage to, loss of, or theft of personal property, for any bodily injury, or
any other matters, that occurs arising out of or related to the tours or packages
available through Epitourean. MVC HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CONDUCT OF Epitourean, AND
DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY IN THIS REGARD TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Access to the Culinary Tours is made available through the Abound by Marriott Vacations™
exchange program and is subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the
applicable Abound documents. Actual experiences will be provided via contractual
arrangements with third-party providers and may require the payment of additional fees.
The experiences described herein are examples of potential vacation opportunities and are
subject to change.
Marriott Vacation Club International and its respective affiliates and subsidiaries make
no warranty, express or implied, as to the condition, capacity, performance, features or
amenities or any other aspect of the activities, events, or service providers listed
herein. No inquiry has been made into the activities or events, or the qualifications or
the quality of services offered by the providers. Do not consider this an endorsement of
or recommendation for any of the activities, events, or providers.