Extended Madrid to Barcelona - 20 Days

Madrid - Zaragoza - San Sebastian. From Madrid, we travel to Zaragoza, where you have free time to visit the Basilica of Nuestra Senora del Pilar, patroness of Hispanity, and stroll through the historic streets of the old town.

In the afternoon, we continue to San Sebastian, one of Spain’s most elegant seaside resorts and host of the renowned International Film Festival.

We begin with a panoramic tour of this refined city, beautifully set around La Concha Bay. We travel up to Mount Igueldo for superb views over the city and coastline. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

In the afternoon, you may choose to join an optional excursion across the border into France to visit the picturesque towns of Biarritz and San Juan de Luz.

San Sebastian - Bilbao - Castro Urdiales - Santander. Breakfast and departure to Bilbao. You will have free time beside the striking Guggenheim Museum to admire its bold contemporary architecture.

We continue to the fishing town of Castro Urdiales, where you have time at leisure to explore. Our journey then takes us to Santander, a graceful port city set between mountains and sea, known for beaches such as El Sardinero. We enjoy a guided tour with a local expert to explore the city in depth.

Santander - Santillana del Mar - Covadonga - Oviedo. We depart for Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s most historically significant towns. Its beautifully preserved streets and the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana represent some of the finest Romanesque architecture in Cantabria.

We continue to Covadonga, where you have free time to visit the Sanctuary and the Holy Grotto, housing the image of the Virgin.

In the afternoon, we travel to Oviedo, set among hills at the foot of Mount Naranco. The city is known for its elegant pedestrian streets and remarkable monuments, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its Cathedral is a masterpiece of Asturian Gothic.

Oviedo - Mondonedo - Lugo - Santiago de Compostela. Today we depart into the region of Galicia. On the way to Lugo, we stop in Mondonedo. You have free time to visit its impressive 12th-century cathedral and perhaps try the traditional Mondonedo cake.

In Lugo, enjoy time at leisure to see the remarkably preserved Roman walls - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only complete Roman circuit of its kind in Europe.

We continue to Santiago de Compostela. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Spain’s most important pilgrimage destinations, marking the end of the Camino de Santiago.

We explore Santiago de Compostela on a guided city tour, visiting the Plaza del Obradoiro and entering the Cathedral, dedicated to Apostle Santiago el Mayor.

The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this historic university city.

Santiago de Compostela - Salamanca. We depart for Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its golden sandstone architecture and one of the oldest universities in Europe. You have free time to explore this elegant city.

Salamanca - Porto. Enjoy free time in Salamanca before we continue towards the Portuguese border and on to Porto.

We enjoy a panoramic tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage city overlooking the Douro River. We see the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange Palace and the Church of Santa Clara. We admire the city along the Douro River and then visit one of the city’s famous Port wine cellars for a tasting and gain insight into the region’s centuries-old wine tradition. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Porto - Coimbra - Fatima. We depart for Coimbra, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities and traditionally associated with Fado music. You have free time to explore.

We continue to Fatima, one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. You may choose to visit the Basilica and the Chapel of the Apparitions, located at the Cova da Iria, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.

In the evening, you have the option to attend the candlelight procession.

Fatima - Batalha - Nazare - Alcobaca - Lisbon. We visit the Monastery of Batalha, a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline architecture.

We continue to the fishing town of Nazare, where you have free time, before travelling to Alcobaca to see its impressive Gothic church and 12th-century Cistercian monastery, also UNESCO-listed.

We then proceed to Lisbon.

This morning we explore Lisbon, historically known as "Olissipo". Our tour includes the city’s main squares and avenues, Belem Tower, the exterior of Jeronimos Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries - symbols of Portugal’s Age of Exploration.

The afternoon is free for you to explore districts such as Alfama or join an optional excursion to Sintra and Cascais, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Lisbon - Merida - Cordoba. We depart for Merida, capital of Extremadura and a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its extensive Roman remains, including the theatre, amphitheatre and Roman bridge. You have free time before we continue to Cordoba, once the capital of the Islamic Caliphate in Spain.

Cordoba - Seville. We visit the extraordinary Mosque, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture later transformed into a Cathedral. We also walk through the narrow streets of the former Jewish Quarter.

In the afternoon, we travel to Seville.

We enjoy a panoramic and walking tour of Seville, including entrance to the Cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world after St Peter’s in Rome. We explore the Barrio de Santa Cruz, associated with the stories of Carmen and Don Juan, and visit Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de Espana.

The afternoon is free for you to discover Seville’s vibrant atmosphere and cuisine.

Seville - Granada. After breakfast, we travel east through the heart of Andalusia towards Granada, passing landscapes filled with olive groves. Granada was the last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms until 1492.

We visit the magnificent Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens, a masterpiece of Islamic art and architecture that has inspired writers such as Washington Irving.

In the evening, you may choose to attend an optional Flamenco Zambra performance.

Granada - Valencia. We depart for Valencia on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. We see the exterior of the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex, with its striking contemporary buildings. Valencia is also the birthplace of the traditional Spanish paella.

Valencia - Barcelona. We enjoy a morning city tour, including the historic centre and a drive past the old riverbed of the Turia Gardens to view the exteriors of the City of Arts and Sciences.

In the early afternoon, we travel north along the Mediterranean coast towards Catalonia, passing Tarragona - ancient Roman Tarraco. We arrive in Barcelona, a vibrant city closely associated with the architect Antoni Gaudi, symbol of the Catalan Modernism.

We explore Barcelona on a panoramic tour, seeing Gaudi’s remarkable buildings such as La Pedrera and Casa Batllo, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We admire Montjuic Park for sweeping city views, and see the Olympic Ring and the Columbus Monument.

The afternoon is free for you to continue discovering the city at your own pace.

Breakfast at the hotel. This marks the end of an incredible journey through Spain and Portugal, experiencing it's beauty and all it has to offer.