Grand Tour of Portugal & Spain - 11 Days

Madrid - Salamanca - Porto. From Madrid, travel to Salamanca, a historic university city and UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its golden sandstone architecture. You have free time to explore at your own pace before we continue towards the Portuguese border and on to Porto. Accommodation in Porto.

After breakfast, we enjoy a panoramic guided tour of Porto, a UNESCO-listed city overlooking the Douro River. We see the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange building and Santa Clara Church, reflecting the city’s rich mercantile past. We then take to the Douro River for a relaxing cruise, offering a different perspective of the historic centre and its iconic bridges. Our visit concludes at one of the renowned Port wine cellars, where we learn about the production process and enjoy a tasting. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Accommodation in Porto.

Porto - Coimbra - Fatima. Breakfast at the hotel. We travel south to Coimbra, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. You have free time to explore before we continue to Fatima, one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. We see the Basilica and the Cova da Iria, where the Virgin Mary appeared. We recommend visiting the Chapel of the Apparitions and the tombs of Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. In the evening, there is the possibility to attend the candlelight procession. Accommodation in Fatima.

Fatima - Batalha - Nazare - Alcobaca - Lisbon. After breakfast, we depart for Batalha to see its impressive monastery - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline architecture. We continue to Nazare, a traditional fishing town known for its coastal views - where you have free time. We then travel to Alcobaca to see its 12th-century Cistercian monastery and Gothic church, also UNESCO-listed. The journey continues to Lisbon where you will overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we explore Lisbon on a guided city tour. We see the main squares and avenues, the Belem Tower, the Jeronimos Monastery - exterior visit - and the Monument to the Discoveries, all linked to Portugal’s Age of Exploration. The afternoon is free for you to explore independently - perhaps wandering through the narrow streets of Alfama - or you may choose to join an optional excursion to Sintra and Cascais, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Accommodation in Lisbon.

Lisbon - Merida - Cordoba. After breakfast, we cross into Spain and travel to Merida, capital of Extremadura and a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its remarkably preserved Roman remains. You have free time to see landmarks such as the Roman theatre, amphitheatre and bridge. We then continue to Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate. Accommodation in Cordoba.

Cordoba - Seville. Breakfast at the hotel. We visit the extraordinary Mosque, today a Cathedral and one of the most important monuments of Islamic architecture in Europe. We also stroll through the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter, reflecting the city’s diverse cultural past. In the afternoon, we take a short two-hour ride to Seville. Accommodation in Seville.

Breakfast at the hotel. We enjoy a guided panoramic 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 legends of Don Juan and the setting of "Carmen", as well as María Luisa Park and the impressive Plaza de España. The afternoon is free for you to discover more of this lively Andalusian capital at your own pace. Accommodation in Seville.

Seville - Ronda - Costa del Sol. After breakfast, we travel south through typical Andalusian villages to Ronda. You have free time to explore this historic town, dramatically set above a deep valley with views across the surrounding mountains. In the afternoon, we continue to the Costa del Sol, one of Spain’s leading resort regions. Accommodation on the Costa del Sol.

Costa del Sol - Granada. Breakfast at the hotel. We travel to Granada, the last stronghold of the Moorish kingdoms until 1492. We visit the magnificent Alhambra complex and the Generalife Gardens, masterpieces of Islamic architecture and landscaping that have inspired writers such as Washington Irving. In the evening, you may choose to attend an optional Flamenco Zambra show. Accommodation in Granada.

Granada - Madrid. After breakfast, we travel north to Madrid. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel.