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Spain Tours

In our opinion, the best time to travel to Spain will be early August 2026. That’s because a most unusual event takes place on August 12th—a total eclipse of the Sun. It’s a spectacle you don’t want to miss. And what better place to witness the total solar eclipse than in the heart of Spain, from your unique vantage point on a sunny plateau ringed by mountains and dotted with medieval towns?

TravelQuest invites you to join our 2026 Spain Total Solar Eclipse Tour—Northbound. During our 10-day Spain trip, we visit some of the country’s most celebrated cities—Madrid, Segovia, Burgos, and Bilbao—while also winding through lesser-known regions to explore aspects of this fascinating nation that mainstream tours miss. And on August 12, 2026, our select group will view the total eclipse of the Sun from a site in rural Castilla that our astronomers believe is most likely to offer unobstructed views during the brief but unforgettable sunset sequence.

TravelQuest has been offering Spain tours to curious travelers for more than 20 years. In that time, our local partners who help us create these trips have become trusted friends. These gifted storytellers, with their passion for sharing their country’s rich history and natural beauty, have always made our Spanish journeys truly magical. And our 10-day total solar eclipse trip to Spain is no exception.

Map Spain 2026 northbound

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Explore this and other types of eclipse travel

The Capital Region

Our tour of Spain begins in Madrid, a capital city that radiates charm from its bustling thoroughfares to its striking architecture. The city’s colorful history blends with modern verve, offering visitors a sophisticated combination of culture, gastronomy, and nightlife. In addition to renowned museums like the Prado and the Reina Sofia, Madrid boasts great theaters, royal palaces, inviting parks, and much more. In short, we’re sure you’ll find plenty of landmarks and experiences to spark your interest. After our morning guided walking tour of the old town, you’re on your own to explore where the city’s spirit takes you.

To the northwest of Madrid is El Escorial, a former monastery and royal residence—a testament to Spain’s richly complex history. It was constructed in the mid-1560s on the orders of King Philip II, whose invincible Armada failed in its attempt to invade Elizabethan England. From the stunning library to the fascinating private apartments of Philip II, this is an unforgettable place.

Later, it’s a short drive to the small city of Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is full of surprises. Its Roman-built aqueduct, constructed around 100 A.D., is one of the best-preserved examples of Roman engineering and is still in use today. The city’s impressive 16th-century Gothic Cathedral is situated in the center of the old town, adjacent to the Plaza Mayor. On the edge of town is the Alcázar, the fortified palace of the kings of Castile; here Isabella was crowned queen in 1474. It’s a fairy-tale-like castle that looks like it was torn from the pages of a children’s storybook. With these amazing sights and more, it’s no wonder Segovia is a favorite stop for many who travel to Spain.

North of Segovia is Valladolid, where we once again meet (figuratively speaking) King Philip II. He was born in Valladolid’s Palacio de Pimentel in 1527. Constructed in the 15th century, it is located on the Plaza de San Pablo and is one of a number of palaces in Valladolid. Later, as we follow the Douro River on our way to Borgos, we see numerous spectacular stone castles that give Castilla its name.

Madrid - Jorge Fernandez Salas
Madrid, the capital of Spain, is an interesting blend of architectural styles from different periods. Courtesy Jorge Fernandez.
Segovia Aqueduct - Sean Pavone
Running through the center of town, the ancient Roman aqueduct of Segovia was built using solid blocks of stone that fit closely together using little or no mortar. Courtesy Sean Pavone.

Into Wine Country

Visits to wineries are a feature of our Spain travel. Wine has been produced in the region for more than 3,000 years, ever since the Phoenicians planted vineyards in southwestern Spain. There are some three million acres of vines under cultivation in Spain, making the country the third-leading wine producer in the world (behind France and Italy). Lunches and dinners that are part of our Spain tour itinerary include many excellent Spanish wines.

Our first winery visit is to one that many consider the best in the famed Ribera del Duero wine-growing region. Ribera del Duero is one of 11 “quality wine” regions within the autonomous community of Castile and León. Later, after we view the solar eclipse, we enter La Rioja in the ancient kingdom of Castilla. This is Spain’s smallest region and home to many of the country’s most renowned wines. You can sample some excellent vintages during our visit to a traditional winery. Toward the end of our Spain travels, we journey along the north coast to the town of Zarautz. Here we’re welcomed at a local winery by members of a Basque family who have created distinctive Txakoli wines for generations.

Wine casks TQ - PD
Stacks of wooden barrels in a Spanish winery hold wine being aged prior to bottling. Courtesy TQ/Paul Deans.

Step Back in Time

When we travel to Spain, we can’t help but go back in time, as Spanish history has a fascination all its own. In Madrid, El Escorial, Segovia, Valladolid, and Burgos, we see the influence of the kings of Spain and the Roman Empire. But those several hundred years of history pale in comparison to the finds at Atapuerca, a small village some 12 miles northeast of Burgos.

Atapuerca was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 after archaeologists unearthed evidence of the earliest hominid settlement in Western Europe. Around one million years ago, the caves of Atapuerca provided shelter for hominid and animals. Several limestone caves have preserved a large number of hominid fossils, the oldest dating back to 1.2 million years ago. You have a unique opportunity to see these discoveries up close, as we talk to some of the experts whose work has transformed our understanding of how human life evolved on the continent.

Atapuerca - Alberto Carrera
The caves of Atapuerca contain an amazingly rich fossil record of the earliest hominid in Europe, extending nearly one million years into the past. Courtesy Alberto Carrera.

Solar Eclipse in Spain

You can tour Spain any time, but rarely can you add a solar eclipse to your Spanish itinerary. If you’re captivated by the idea of seeing the Sun vanish behind the Moon, then the best time to travel to Spain is August of 2026. That’s when a total solar eclipse sweeps across the northern part of the country. Because the eclipse occurs late in the day on the 12th, there is time to explore the breathtaking monastery of Silos, where the monks’ performance of Gregorian chants helps set an appropriately contemplative mood ahead of the astronomical wonder we’ll experience at sunset.

According to Jay Anderson, TravelQuest’s eclipse meteorologist, Spain in August is mainly a land of sunshine and warm temperatures, offering the best prospects for a cloud-free eclipse of any location along the Moon’s path. Completely sunny days are common in Spain during the late summer. Still, in choosing TravelQuest’s observation site in rural Castilla, we’ve avoided areas that are prone to afternoon cloud buildups to ensure a clear sight line to the setting Sun. We’ll also be far enough inland to avoid coastal cloud, in a viewing spot tucked behind mountains that impede incoming weather systems. Although it will be a short eclipse at 1 minute 45 seconds, its ghostly appearance above the sunset horizon, over a generally sunlit landscape, will add a special drama to the spectacle.

Totality Alson Wong
When the Moon covers the Sun during a total solar eclipse, the corona—the Sun’s pale outer atmosphere—is revealed. Courtesy Alson Wong.

Join Us as We Travel to Spain in 2026

Post-eclipse, our Spain trip takes us along a less-traveled route to the village of Frias. Here we find a medieval castle complete with an impressive 12th-century bridge, quaint houses hanging over the hillside streets, and a population of 200 residents who proudly protect their patrimony while sharing it with visitors. As we continue north, passing through sweeping grainfields of the central plateau and green coastal landscapes, we are greeted by the grandeur of San Sebastián’s Belle Époque architecture and the storied history of this seaside promenade.

Ultimately, we end our tour of Spain in Bilbao with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum, the masterpiece of Canadian-born U.S. architect Frank Gehry. A global landmark, this museum of modern art is as much a sculpture as a building, with a titanium-sheathed exterior in which, in Gehry’s words, “the randomness of the curves is designed to catch the light.”

So join us, as we embrace the spirit of discovery on the Iberian Peninsula during our 2026 Spain Total Solar Eclipse Tour—Northbound. Our original southbound tour sold out quickly, and we expect this identical northbound version to also sell out rapidly. Our trip to Spain blends cultural and astronomical adventures, and provides unique access and expert insights that are hallmarks of the TravelQuest experience.

9 Frias TQ-PD
A section of the small village of Frias as seen from its castle tower. Courtesy TQ/Paul Deans.
10 Guggenheim exterior TQ-PD
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao consists of interconnected, titanium-sheathed buildings, suggesting a gigantic abstract sculpture. Courtesy TQ/Paul Deans.

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