- Tour code
FRAADV01
- Start
Nice
- End
Barcelona
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
Two Mediterranean cities, one week. The first half of this trip is pure Côte d'Azur. You are based in Nice, with its old town, its market stalls and the long sweep of the Promenade des Anglais, and a day trip takes you up to the stone village of Èze and along the coast to Monaco.
Then you swap France for Spain. In Barcelona you cook paella together on your first night, walk the Gothic Quarter and see Gaudí's Sagrada Família, head out on the water by catamaran and eat tapas the way locals do.
Food runs through the whole week: a hands-on session with lunch in Nice, a welcome dinner of regional dishes, and a final excursion to the Penedès wine region, with tastings and lunch at a family-run winery, before a last dinner in the city.
The arrival transfer, hotels, group meals and the key experiences are set up in advance, and with a maximum of 16 travelers there's room for free afternoons on the beach or in the markets without juggling bookings.
Why This Journey
Nice and Barcelona share a sea but feel very different: one French, compact and built around its old town and promenade, the other Catalan, big and restless, with Gaudí on every other corner. Seeing them back to back shows how much the Mediterranean changes over a few hundred kilometers of coast, in food, language and pace.
The trip suits travelers who want culture and good food without a museum marathon, and who like a mix of group moments and time to wander. Cooking paella with a local chef, sharing tapas in a neighborhood bar and lunching at a winery are the parts that are hard to arrange well on your own, and they're the parts people tend to remember.
Where You'll Stay
Nice (3 nights): Hôtel Aston La Scala, a short walk from Vieux Nice and Place Masséna. Barcelona (4 nights): H10 Madison, in the Gothic Quarter beside the cathedral. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. This is an open-jaw trip: fly into Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) and out of Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN). Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
The Riviera and Barcelona: from Nice's old streets to Catalonia
Paella class, tapas dinner, wine tastings and Riviera flavors
Catamaran sailing, Mediterranean beaches, plus Èze and Monaco coastal views
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travelers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Fly into Nice and you will be met for the transfer to your hotel, so the first thing you have to do is relax. If you arrive early, the seafront and the gardens of the Promenade du Paillon are close by for a first walk.
In the evening your Soca Islands Host brings everyone together for a welcome dinner of regional dishes and local wine, the first chance to get to know the group.
Your morning starts in the maze of Vieux Nice, where market stalls, pastel buildings and sea glimpses at the end of every lane give you a sense of the city's long history.
Next comes a hands-on food session: taste local specialties, pour a glass of wine and share lunch around the table.
By late afternoon you are free to walk the Promenade des Anglais, look around the boutiques or find a spot to watch the light fade over the Baie des Anges.
Today you leave the city for Èze, a medieval village perched high on a rocky hilltop above the sea. Its cobbled lanes wind up to views that stretch far along the coast.
Monaco follows. Spend your time as you like: peek into the Monte Carlo Casino, sit by the yacht-filled harbor or head to the beach. It is a small place with a big personality. Return to Nice for the evening.
You leave France behind for Barcelona today. Check in at the hotel in the Gothic Quarter.
In the evening, join a local chef for a paella class, glass of cava in hand, and learn how the rice, stock and timing come together. Dinner is the paella you have just made, shared with the group.
The best way to understand Barcelona is to walk it. Today covers the narrow lanes of the Gothic Quarter, the big squares and neighborhoods lined with tapas bars.
There's also a stop at the Sagrada Família, Gaudí's basilica that has been under construction since the 1880s. The afternoon is open: browse a market, head to the beach or go looking for a flamenco bar.
A catamaran takes you out onto the Mediterranean this morning, with the city skyline spread out behind you and time to enjoy the sun and breeze. Afterward, the day is free.
Tonight the group eats tapas at a spot favored by locals: patatas bravas, pan con tomate, garlic prawns. After dinner, carry on at a vermouth bar or a live-music venue if the mood takes you.
A short drive out of Barcelona brings you to Penedès, one of Spain's best-known wine regions and the home of cava. At a family-owned winery you learn how they farm sustainably, then sample their wines over an unhurried lunch.
Back in the city, the group gathers for a final dinner of Catalan favorites such as jamón ibérico and croquetas, with sangria to toast the week.
After breakfast the trip wraps up and your departure transfer takes you to the airport.
Barcelona's airport and rail links make it easy to head home or carry on traveling in Europe; if you'd like to stay longer, extra nights can be requested.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Hôtel Aston La Scala
A large city-centre hotel on Avenue Félix Faure, facing the Promenade du Paillon gardens. Vieux Nice, Place Masséna and the Promenade des Anglais are all a short walk away, so the old town markets and the seafront are easy to reach on foot.
Upper-floor rooms look over the Old Town and the Paillon gardens, and the hotel has a restaurant and bar on site. Twin beds are available across the main room categories, which helps a group sharing rooms.
Rooms are 24 m² (258 ft²).
Hotel websiteH10 Madison
A hotel in the Gothic Quarter, a few metres from Barcelona Cathedral, with Las Ramblas, El Born and Passeig de Gràcia all within walking distance.
The rooftop Terrassa del Gòtic has a bar and views of the cathedral, there is a small heated plunge pool on the top floor, and a buffet breakfast is served in The Avenue restaurant.
Rooms are 22 m² (237 ft²).
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,320 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the May 16, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) and out of Barcelona–El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN).
Proposed accommodation is Hôtel Aston La Scala in Nice (3 nights) and H10 Madison in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter (4 nights), or similar hotels, subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. An arrival transfer from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) and a departure transfer to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
7 breakfasts and 3 lunches are included, plus the group dinners described in the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Barcelona & the South of France trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
Similar trips
Barcelona & the South of France 8 days, 7 nights
- Travel dates:
May 16 – 23, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$3,999$3,599 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,320Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 4 monthly payments of about $825Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Jun 20 – 27, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$3,999$3,599 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,320Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 5 monthly payments of about $660Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Jul 11 – 18, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$3,999$3,599 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,320Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 6 monthly payments of about $550Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Aug 15 – 22, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$3,999$3,599 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,320Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 7 monthly payments of about $472Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Sep 12 – 19, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$3,999$3,599 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,320Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 8 monthly payments of about $413Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Sep 20 – 27, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$3,999$3,599 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,320Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 8 monthly payments of about $413Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
Your impact
With this purchase you are supporting local guides, drivers, hosts, accommodations and businesses.
Secure your spot
Trips 90 days or more away need just a $300 deposit per person. Between 60 and 89 days, it's 50% at booking.
Flexible payment plan
Pay the balance in equal monthly payments. Everything is due 60 days before departure, so trips departing sooner are paid in full at booking.
