Madrid to Barcelona via Rioja: Spanish cities & wine

Although Logroño is slightly off the beaten tourist track and mostly known as a stop on the Camino de Santiago, the city is building itself a reputation as a culinary hotspot. The city has some impressive architecture such as the Gothic Cathedral, but the real draw of Logroño are the narrow, cobbled streets that come alive with traditional Basque pintxos bars and buzz with friendly locals. If that's not enough, Logroño is also the capital of the Rioja wine region - it's impossible to leave without sampling the local speciality.

The multicultural and playful city of Barcelona, founded more than 2,000 years ago, is the capital of Catalonia and combines elements of Roman times, medieval quarters, examples of Modernist style and 20th-century avant-garde movements. While for many people the Sagrada Família by Antoni Gaudí is Barcelona's architectural symbol par excellence, the port city offers many other architectural and cultural attractions and a vibrant nightlife.