Weekend trips in Spain
At Top School, we give our students the possibility of getting to know other Spanish cities, and therefore, have organised weekend excursions to cities as exciting as Madrid and Barcelona, amongst others. The trips are from Friday to Sunday and all excursions include transport, a guide, travel insurance, accommodation and organized visits (subject to a minimum number of students).
Barcelona
Barcelona is one of Europe’s most in-demand destinations. In terms of culture, finance, shopping and tourism, Barcelona is the ideal spot for a quick, weekend getaway or to have the holiday of a lifetime. Its stunning beaches, the Sagrada Familia, the Parc Güell, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló and Pedralbes Monastery are an absolute must on this trip. Furthermore, football fans can visit the Nou Camp, home to one of the world’s finest teams, Barça.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain, the country’s largest city and the third-largest in Europe with over 3 million inhabitants. One weekend alone will never be enough to fully enjoy all that Madrid has to offer. However, Top School students will not be leaving until they have visited the most famous, emblematic landmarks of the Spanish capital: Cibeles square, la Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the beautiful Retiro park, the Prado Museum and the Rastro street market. We will also stop to sample some of Madrid’s culinary delights, such as Spanish omelette and the authentic Madrid sandwich, “bocadillo de calamares” (fried squid sandwich).
Toledo
Known as the City of the Three Cultures, due to Christians, Muslims and Jews once having lived here side by side, one of Toledo’s main attractions is a stroll through its old quarter, awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. However, Toledo offers much more than this, such as: its stunning cathedral, the Alcázar, the gates to the city, El Greco Museum and the San Martín and Alcántara bridges. As well as these visits, our Spanish students will also have the opportunity to sample the local gastronomy – its exquisite cheeses, gazpachos manchegos or marzipan, the city’s favourite and most famous sweet.
Granada
Granada is a must for all visitors to Spain. Our Spanish students can discover this gem of a city, as it is only a 3-hour drive from Elche. It is a monumental city with many attractions, its main one being La Alhambra (a palace from the Nasrid dynasty). This is the most renowned of all its landmarks, yet there are others that are worth a visit too: el Generalife, Granada Cathedral, La Cartuja Monastery, and the neighbourhoods of Albaicín and Sacromonte. Another of Granada’s strong points is its famous “ruta del tapeo” (like a pub crawl, only this time the emphasis being on tasting delicious tapas), where you can savour traditional Andalusian dishes at very cheap prices.
Valencia
Valencia, situated on the Spanish coast, is the ideal tourist destination for those seeking a combination of modernity, culture, fine cuisine, not to mention beautiful, sandy beaches. The City of Arts and Sciences is one of the city’s most prominent attractions, a modern complex aimed at promoting science and culture, where visitors will also find the Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe, with over 500 species of sea life. Other fun days out are a trip to Gulliver’s Park, the Bioparc, the collection of historical buildings you can find dotted around the city (Baroque palaces, the gothic Silk Exchange, modernist markets, St. Peter’s Cathedral, Santa María and El Miguelete). When the sightseeing is over, there is nothing better to recharge our batteries than sample the Valencian dish par excellence, paella.
Cuenca
Most renowned for its Hanging Houses, Cuenca has an important historic patrimony which can be seen all over the city. Must-see places in Cuenca are the famous Hanging Houses, the impressive cathedral and the Ciudad Encantada (Haunted City in English), where you can admire the formation of monumental rocks created by nature over the course of time. Cuenca has its own museum also, dedicated to the city itself, as well as the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art and the Castilla la Mancha Science Museum, which are well worth paying a visit to, if you have some free time to spare.
Sevilla
There is an old song about Seville having a “special colour” and anyone who spends a few days there will confirm this. For the beauty of its streets and historic monuments, for the warmth of its people, for the flavour of its cuisine and for the alegría (happiness in English) that eminates from its bars full of music and dance, Seville has become one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations. Students of Top School will enjoy getting to know this wonderful Andalusian city and culture, visiting the most important landmarks and places to see, while taking in a real, authentic Flamenco show.
