Grand Tour of Spain & Portugal

Your vacation begins in Spain's vibrant capital city where our tour group is based, in an elegant hotel in the northwest of the city center. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to explore the city. You could begin by discovering the local neighborhood, maybe walking down to the Plaza de Espana - a grand square with a sculpture of the celebrated writer, Miguel Cervantes - or wander a little further down to Gran Via, the city's main fashion street. Other nearby landmarks include the Temple of Debod - an ancient Nubian temple from the 2nd century BC, donated by the Egyptian state to Spain in 1968 - the Sabatini Gardens and the city's Contemporary Art Museum. If you'd like to see more of downtown Madrid, the city has a regular and efficient Metro service so it's easy to get around.

This evening, meet our Tour Manager and the rest of the tour group before dinner in a restaurant nearby the hotel. Overnight Madrid.

• Dinner

This morning we set out with an expert guide on a full day tour by coach. Our tour takes us past some of Madrid's most glorious sites, including the Prado Museum, the vast El Retiro Park - a UNESCO World Heritage site, once a private garden for Spain's monarchy - and other historic monuments. 

At the end our morning of sightseeing we stop for lunch at Plaza Mayor, one of Europe's great city squares, overlooked by Baroque buildings. After lunch, we visit Madrid's imposing Royal Palace, where entry to the palace and gardens is included. You are free to explore the palace interior, known for its extravagant décor and impressive paintings by artists including Francisco de Goya, Caravaggio and Velazquez.

Our tour ends and the evening is free to dine independently. Madrid's many restaurants offer a variety of excellent cuisine, from traditional Spanish dishes to a range of international fare. You could choose a place to eat in nearby Gran Via, continue to the Salamanca district, or hop on the Metro to revisit the heart of the city, 'Puerto del Sol', close to where we had lunch. Overnight Madrid. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

We travel south by rail to the historic city of Salamanca this morning. Known as the 'golden city' due to its beautiful sandstone buildings, we are taken on a guided tour on arrival - a chance to soak up the city's unique ambiance.

Highlights of our tour include the Plaza Mayor, the Old and New cathedrals, and the 800-year-old Salamanca University, one of the world's oldest. While the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Old Town dates to the 3rd century, most of its buildings are Gothic, Renaissance, or Spanish Baroque. However, the city's Roman Bridge is evidence of its earlier history. With entrance included at the university we are free to look around the grand buildings.

The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure and you may like to revisit places seen on our tour, such as the fascinating 15th-century palace, Casa de las Conchas. This evening, our group meets for dinner at a historic restaurant to taste the local delicacies. Local specialities include Iberian cold cuts such as chorizo and jamón ibérico, suckling pig or baked hake. After dinner, an evening stroll through the Old City is magical, as the city's beautiful monuments are floodlit at night to dramatic effect. Overnight Salamanca. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

We venture further into the Iberian Peninsula today as we spend the morning traveling from Salamanca to Portugal by motorcoach. After crossing the border into Portugal, we reach the town of Pocinho. Here we travel by rail to the riverside city of Peso da Régua, in the heart of the port wine region, where you have free time to find lunch independently.

In the early afternoon we are transferred by coach from Peso da Régua to the colorful waterfont city of Porto. On arrival, you are free to get to know this impressive port city and its glorious sights, before we set off from our hotel for a port wine tasting and dinner in one of the city's major historic port houses. Overnight Porto.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we set off on a guided sightseeing tour of the city, by coach and on foot. As the second-largest city in Portugal, Porto is a treasure of grand Gothic and Romanesque architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our tour ends at the neoclassical 'Palácio da Bolsa', a historical palace which is now the Stock Exchange building. We have free time to find lunch independently here before continuing our journey.  

We follow the Atlantic coastline this afternoon as we depart Porto by train towards the country's capital, Lisbon. The route takes approximately three hours to complete. You will know we are approaching as Lisbon's brightly painted yellow and terracotta-tiled buildings come into view. Lisbon is a warm, welcoming destination renowned for its vibrant culture, open plazas and its seven hills. Seafood, music, dancing, and history are all bountiful here. Once we have checked in at our hotel, you are free to set out into the city to sightsee. This evening we have dinner at our hotel. Overnight Lisbon.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we discover the scenic highlights of Lisbon on a guided tour. The city has a staggering 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which means there is plenty to admire during our excursion.

Our tour ends in the coastal district of Belém, famous for its grand villas and as the birthplace of the Portuguese egg custard tart. We complete our excursion with a visit to Pasteis de Belém, which opened in 1837, for a coffee and one of the renowned pastries. Following our tour you are at leisure to continue enjoying the sights and surroundings of Lisbon. After we are transferred back to our hotel, you may like to walk up to the São Jorge Castle (Saint George's castle) to look around and enjoy the fantastic views of the city. Your evening is free to dine independently. Overnight Lisbon.

• Breakfast

After breakfast in Lisbon we join a motorcoach for our journey back into Spain, to the glorious city of Seville. The capital of Andalucía, a region with both Moorish and Christian heritage, Seville is renowned for its flamenco tradition, tapas bars and diverse history. The city has many stunning buildings, many of which are constructed in Moorish and Gothic styles or a unique combination of the two.

On arrival, we tour the city with a knowledgeable guide, seeing Seville's magnificent Gothic cathedral, where the remains of Christopher Columbus are interred. We are also shown the Real Alcázar, Royal Palace, a combination of Moorish, Mudéjar and Christian architecture, and Seville's baroque and Moorish landmark, the Plaza de España.

After checking in to our hotel, there is time to relax and settle in before dinner at the hotel. Overnight Seville.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We leave Seville by motorcoach this morning, heading for another of Andalucía's great Moorish cities, Córdoba. Here we have time to explore the historic Old Town, including entry to the exquisite Mezquita, a mosque-cathedral with UNESCO World Heritage status. Close to this magnificent 8th-century building is the city's atmospheric Jewish Quarter, the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs - which has a beautiful garden with cooling water features - and the Roman Bridge. There are several eateries in the Old Town where you can find lunch independently.

In the early afternoon we continue by coach to the Moorish city of Granada, passing rugged plains and olive groves, with the evocative Sierra Nevada mountains looming into view as we approach. We check into our hotel and enjoy dinner this evening.

Overnight Granada.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We awake in Granada, whose idyllic position beneath the Sierra Nevada mountains, with the Alhambra overlooking the city makes it an unforgettable setting.

This morning we are introduced to the city's iconic attraction, the Alhambra, a World Heritage site. Construction on this incredible Islamic fortress began in 1238 and lasted for another 120 years. Today, the Alhambra sits as a shining reminder of the depth of Granada's history on its plateau above the city. During our visit, we walk through both the High and the Low Gardens (known as the Generalife), with their Moorish water features, flowers, and ancient cypress trees. At the heart of a series of palaces, each with beautifully-preserved rooms, passageways and arches, is the Nasrid Palace, considered the most sacred of the Alhambra. Ornately carved ceilings, elaborate tile work, and lavish archways, further demonstrate the love and care of the Alhambra's construction.

After our tour we have a tapas lunch in a local restaurant, followed by a guided tour of the Moorish Albaicín neighbourhood and its cobbled streets. We return to our hotel and your evening is free to get to know this vibrant city where you will find many restaurants to choose from, in the historic centre or among its modern streets. Overnight Granada. 

• Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, we transfer to Granada rail station to continue our journey east to Barcelona, traveling by high-speed AVE train. Our route takes us along Spain's eastern seaboard, through the coastal cities of Murcia and Valencia enroute to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.

The beating pulse of this city is its colorful art, Modernist streets and fabulous Gothic Quarter. Besides which, Barcelona offers a rich culture, cuisine, and beautiful beaches. We arrive mid-afternoon and are met by vistas of the imposing Sagrada Familia, which towers over the city at 566 feet tall, less than a mile from our hotel. Views of Barcelona's other buildings and attractions, lie ahead on our walking tour.

Our guide shows us the famous Gothic Quarter, and Las Ramblas, a pedestrianised avenue with street musicians, entertainers, and vendors of artwork and books. Other sights include the Palatine Chapel of Santa Agata, Plaça del Reial, and Barcelona Cathedral.

A highlight is a visit to La Boqueria, the city's fresh produce market, where we taste some local specialties. Following the tour, you are free to continue sightseeing on your own and to dine independently. Overnight Barcelona.

• Breakfast

Nearly 150 years of construction have led to the grand basilica, a crowning jewel of Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia. This is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Although the labors and craftsmanship continue to this day, what has been completed so far is nothing short of a masterpiece. We visit the Sagrada Familia basilica this morning with ample time to take in the extraordinary details of the structure - the light streaming through its stained glass windows, its carved facades, soaring columns and three-dimensional ceiling artwork.

The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy other treasures of Barcelona. Whether you choose to seek out art and architecture - possibly at the Picasso Museum, the National Art Musuem, or Gaudi's extraordinary Parc Guell - stroll through the municipal park, along the city beaches or sample the local flavors, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this wonderful city. This evening we gather for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Barcelona.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After almost two weeks of travel and endless experiences, soaking up the glories of the Iberian Peninsula, your grand tour of Spain and Portugal draws to a close this morning. From Spain's capital city of Madrid to its ancient university city of Salamanca, its great Moorish cities of Seville and Granada to the unforgettable city of Barcelona, we have seen the many vibrant highlights of this great Iberian country. We have also taken in Portugal's beautiful cities of Lisbon and Porto, experiencing the Douro Valley enroute.

After breakfast you are free to head homewards, or you may choose to continue exploring this wonderful part of Europe independently. Speak to our friendly booking team for suggestions of where to visit next.

• Breakfast