Santiago, Portugal & Seville With Train - 9 Days

Once you arrive in Santiago de Compostela, make your way to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or begin exploring at your own pace. You might take a stroll through the atmospheric old town, visit the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago, the final resting place of St James, or simply enjoy a coffee in one of the lively squares as you watch pilgrims arrive at the end of their journey.

Please note: This tour is bilingual and will be conducted in Spanish as well as in English.

Meeting point: HOTEL OCA PUERTA DEL CAMINO, C/ Miguel Ferro Caaveiro, s/n, 15703 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña at 7:30 am on day 2.

Santiago de Compostela - Rias Bajas - Vigo. Today, we will be picked up from Hotel Oca Puerta del Camino at 7:30 AM and begin our journey towards the beautiful region known as the Spanish Fjords, or Rías Bajas. We travel through splendid coastal landscapes, making a brief stop at La Toja Island, famous for its natural beauty and thermal springs.

Our next stop is O Grove, where you can take an optional catamaran cruise to see the local oyster and mussel farms, with a tasting of fresh mussels and Ribeiro wine included. We then continue to Vigo, where you will have some free time to explore the city at your leisure or join an optional excursion to Santa Tecla.

Vigo (Spain) - Viana de Castelo (Portugal) - Braga - Porto. This morning, we cross the Portuguese border and arrive in Viana do Castelo, a charming city set between the River Miño and Porto. You will have free time to wander through the old town, known for its cobbled streets and noble buildings.

We then continue to Braga, often called the city of archbishops and the third-largest city in Portugal. You will have some free time to explore before we continue our journey to Porto.

After breakfast, we set out to explore Porto, a city recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We enjoy a panoramic tour, taking in key landmarks such as the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange building and the Church of St Clara. Our visit concludes at a local wine cellar, where we savour a tasting of the city’s most famous export, Port wine.

Porto - Coimbra. We leave Porto and travel to Coimbra, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe and known as the birthplace of Fado, the traditional music of Portugal. After lunch, you will have time at leisure to explore the city at your own pace.

Coimbra - Fatima - Lisbon. Today, we depart for Fátima, one of the most important pilgrimage centres in the world. You will have free time to visit the Sanctuary and take in the peaceful atmosphere of this revered site.

We then continue to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, where we settle into our accommodation. In the evening, you may choose to join an optional night tour to experience a traditional Fado show, featuring the soulful songs and music of Portugal.

This morning, we set out on a panoramic sightseeing tour of Lisbon, a beautiful city located at the mouth of the Tagus River. We begin at the Edward VII Park viewpoint for a sweeping view over the city, then pass Rossio Square, Liberdade Avenue and the historic Madragoa District, where Fado, Portugal’s traditional music, was born. We continue to the Belém District to see its iconic landmarks, including the Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries and the Jerónimos Monastery. You will have the afternoon free, with the option to join an excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril.

Lisbon (Portugal) - Merida (Spain) - Seville. We depart towards the Spanish border and arrive in Mérida, where you will have free time to explore its remarkable archaeological site, home to the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre, both recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After lunch at leisure, we continue along the Silver Route, known in Spanish as the Autovía de la Plata, towards Andalusia, arriving in Seville for dinner and accommodation.

Seville - Madrid. After our final breakfast, we set out on a city sightseeing tour of Seville, visiting María Luisa Park, Plaza de España, and viewing the exterior of the city’s magnificent Cathedral and its bell tower, La Giralda. We also explore the charming Santa Cruz neighbourhood, known for its narrow lanes, pretty squares and lively atmosphere.

If you wish, you can take an optional cruise along the Guadalquivir River to enjoy a panoramic view of the Gold Tower and the Expo 92 grounds, or visit the historic Maestranza bullring.

Our services conclude here. In the late afternoon, you will transfer on your own to the train station to board the AVE train back to Madrid.