Highlights of Paris and Barcelona

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Departure from the United States.

Day 2: Paris

Bienvenue en France! Arrive in Paris and meet your ACIS Tour Manager before beginning to explore one of the world’s great cultural centers, brimming with museums, art galleries and historic sights alongside an endless array of charming curbside cafés and boulangeries.

Day 3: Paris

Today's guided sightseeing tour shows you the magnificent Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées, Napoleon's final resting place at Les Invalides and the Gothic wonder of Notre Dame. There may be no better place to view the city than the Eiffel Tower, and you'll ascend to the top floor for breathtaking views. In the evening, see the City of Light from a totally different perspective on an illuminated river cruise on the Seine.

Day 4: Paris

This morning breeze by the crowds with your timed entrance to the Louvre and discover the many famous masterpieces that call it home. Insightful commentary from your local guide highlights the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo and more as you wander through the galleries. From its beginnings as a royal fortress to its current status as the world's most visited art museum, the Louvre has long been at the center of Parisian culture and home to a collection of 35,000 works of art from around the world. In the evening, a tasty cultural exchange awaits—separate into small groups and be welcomed into the homes of local Parisians to enjoy an authentic dinner and lively conversation.

Day 5: Paris

Travel to Versailles this morning to visit the intricate gardens and stunning palaces of the Sun King, Louis the XIV. Your visit includes the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, and the breathtaking surroundings. Don't worry if you don't have time to cover every room of his vast palace. The best stuff is all in the gardens and grounds: all 1,976-acre gardens, 200,000 trees, 50 fountains and 620 jets of water worth. You'll also get to see Marie Antoinette's Hameau and Petit Trianon. These “small” cottages are delightful for their scale and grounds. Later we'll return to Paris with time to explore more at your own pace. Perhaps check out the booksellers along the Seine or visit the Pompidou Center. Tonight you may choose to enjoy an optional dinner at Le Boeuf sur Le Toit, a famous restaurant that once served as the cultural hub of Parisian high society in the Roaring 20s and was known for its spirited intellectual gatherings of artists, musicians, writers and fashionistas.

Day 6: Barcelona

Bid Paris adieu and board a flight to Barcelona. Founded by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, it’s known for its artistic treasures and fine architecture from Gothic to modernist. Take in the street scene of this culturally rich city via a bike tour that takes you through Ciutadella Park, and to the Olympic Port, a lively marina that hosted sailing events during the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Day 7: Barcelona

Begin your day with a panoramic sightseeing tour. Your local guide will point out the major highlights of Barcelona, from the Gothic Quarter to the unique Gaudí designs along the Passeig de Gràcia, and will make a stop outside his masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia. Antoni Gaudí, one of Catalonia's most famous sons, was a Modernist architect whose distinctive style is revered to this day. Later, stroll through his whimsical Parc Güell for a sweeping view over the city, and also enjoy a visit inside one of the city's unique Gaudí-designed houses, either Casa Batlló or La Pedrera. Then you'll learn about one of Spain's most enduring traditions—flamenco dancing. An expert teaches you the moves to this traditional and passionate Spanish art form during your flamenco lesson.

Day 8: Barcelona

Today is yours to further connect with Barcelona's strong cultural identity, perhaps by chatting with locals in the winding streets of the Gothic Quarter, visiting the Picasso Museum or tasting traditional foods at the bustling and colorful La Boqueria market. Or you may choose to take an optional excursion north for a full-day in Figueres, the birthplace of Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Visit the Dalí Museum and its expansive collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture, jewelry and other works created by the renowned artist.

Day 9: Departure

Depart for the USA.