Spanish Delights to Portuguese Charms - 8 Days

Welcome to Madrid. On arrival at the airport we’ll transfer you to your hotel, after which you’ll have free time until the tour begins. Please check the noticeboard in hotel reception for the time and details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers. In the evening we’ll provide a transfer to Plaza Mayor and La Latina – Madrid’s best-known area for nightlife and tapas. You can dine wherever you like, with plenty of Spanish, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern options. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

This morning we begin with a guided tour of central Madrid, taking in Paseo del Prado, the Cibeles and Neptuno fountains, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then stroll through Retiro Park to see its lake and the Palacio de Cristal – a calm green space in the heart of the city.

Entrance to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is included – home of Real Madrid, considered by many to be the best football club in the world. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore as you wish. In the evening, we provide a return transfer to the hotel.

We leave Madrid early and head south across La Mancha – pausing in Puerto Lápice, a classic Manchego village evocative of Don Quixote. We continue through the Despeñaperros pass into Andalusia, arriving in Granada where lunch is included. The afternoon is free – you could visit the Cathedral, which houses the tomb of the Catholic Monarchs, or wander the Albaicín neighbourhood and enjoy views of the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás.

Please note: admission to the Alhambra is not included. If you wish to visit, we recommend booking in advance via the official website https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es or through companies offering city visits.

Today we leave the Sierra Nevada behind and follow the Mediterranean along the Tropical Coast – a mild year round microclimate that supports guavas, mangoes and avocados, and formerly sugar cane. We stop in Nerja, a seaside town with impressive cliffs, then continue to Málaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, with a beautiful historic centre. You’ll have time for lunch and a stroll in the centre. Afterwards we head into the Andalusian sierras to reach Ronda – a white town famous for the dramatic gorge that splits the city in two. We continue to Seville, arriving in the late afternoon – dinner is included at the hotel.

This morning we set out on a guided tour of Seville, taking in the cathedral and its Giralda tower, the banks of the Guadalquivir, and the atmospheric neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz – the former Jewish quarter – and riverside Triana, known for ceramics and flamenco traditions. After the tour, we enjoy an included boat ride on the Guadalquivir for panoramic views of the city from the water.

The evening is free – you can choose to attend a flamenco tablao performance, a showcase of a musical and dance tradition with deep roots in Andalusia.

We leave Seville, travelling through rolling hills and open pasture towards Extremadura. In Mérida, we include entry to the Archaeological Ensemble – featuring the Roman theatre and amphitheatre – renowned for its excellent preservation and World Heritage status. You’ll have free time for lunch and to wander the pedestrian historic centre with its restaurants and local character.

We then continue into Portugal, stopping in Évora – also a World Heritage Site – noted for its whitewashed streets, Renaissance palaces and cathedral. We arrive in Lisbon in the evening.

This morning we’ll set out on a panoramic tour of Lisbon – the Portuguese capital of seven hills – taking in its characterful lanes, iconic tiles, a touch of saudade and bright Atlantic light. We then visit Belém, the riverside district from which Portuguese navigators set sail in the 15th century. The afternoon is yours to explore – you might wander up to Bairro Alto and its viewpoint – or you can choose an optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. In the evening, we’ll provide a return transfer to the hotel from lively Restauradores Square, where you can enjoy its bars and cafés before departure.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Lisbon. You can check out and make your own onward travel arrangements – we hope you leave with lasting memories.