15 Day Highlights of Spain & Portugal Tour with Flights

Madrid  

Welcome to Madrid! Upon arrival, a private transfer will be provided. Your driver will be waiting for you at the arrival hall to take you to your hotel and provide all the local information of the area you will be staying at and how to get around to the historic city centre. (Normal Check-in Time is between 2:00pm - 3:00p.m)

In the evening, a transfer will be provided to the Egyptian Debod temple, Plaza de Es­paña and Gran Via; a vibrant district for you to explore the magical ancient city. Spending time at leisure and consider to enjoy a typical Spanish dinner (own expense) before returning to the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Praga or similar
Meals included: none

Madrid City Tour 

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then begin your discovery of Madrid with your local specialist which showcases the beautiful Plaza Mayor (Main Square), its broad and magnificent avenues and its many fountains. Explore the landmark sights that include the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas (entrance included) and followed by a walking tour of the Retiro Park enhanced by the beautiful lake and Crystal Palace. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Consider trying the optional visit to the Royal Palace (entrance not included). In the evening, we provide transfer to the Plaza de Oriente in the historic centre of Madrid where you can spend time enjoying your dinner (own expense) before returning to the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Praga or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Optional activities at an additional cost

Flamenco Show with Dinner (Madrid, Spain) EUR60 per person

To wrap up the day, we offer you to feel first hand the passion and soul of Flamenco singers and dancers by attending one of the most attractive shows in Spain. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch with emotion the vitality with which spectators are engaged by this Flamenco ensemble made up of singers, dancers, guitarists and percussionists who brilliantly go through all the different Flamenco styles: bulerías, seguidillas, fandangos, alegrías and sevillanas. All this accompanied by a delightful dinner made of Spanish products in a unique setting.

Madrid - Zaragoza - Poblet - Montserrat – Barcelona 

We depart early in the morning from Madrid towards Aragón whilst briefly stopping at Zaragoza. We meet our guide at the Basílica del Pi­lar the universal symbol of Zaragoza whilst visiting this impressive sanctuary. Enjoy your time exploring the city centre’s emblematic buildings the La Lonja Palace or the San Salvador Cathedral. We continue our journey in the afternoon to Cataluña to the Monastery of Poblet, surrounded by beautiful defensive walls. This is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world (entrance and guided tour included). We will go for a ride on the rack train for the fantastic views this gives up to Barcelona on the way to the Monastery of Montserrat.  We then continue to Barcelona and should arrive in the late afternoon. 

Important note: in the winter months, from November to March (included), due to the shorter days, the Monastery of Poblet will not be visited (so that we can reach Montserrat in the daylight).

Accommodation: City Park Sant Just or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Barcelona

Following breakfast, today you will get to know Barcelona an impressive city right on the Mediterranean Sea. You will meet our local expert for a fantastic sightseeing city tour of the historic central area with its Gothic neighbourhood dating back to the Middle Ages.  You will also visit the area where the Olympic Games took place. From there it will be possible to see and photograph La Sagrada Familia Basilica; the masterpiece designed by the architect Gaudi. Subsequently, the entry ticket will be included to discover “Poble Espanyol” (meaning “Spanish Village”). This open-air architectural museum is situated in one of the most emblematic areas of Barcelona. Be delighted by the best Spanish craftsmanship and discover the architectural styles, traditions and folklore of the different communities in Spain. You will have some free time to explore the city on your own.

In the evening, we will travel towards the north of Catalonia. Transfer service will be provided to the Olympic Port, enjoy an evening of entertainment before returning back to the hotel.

Accommodation: City Park Sant Just or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Optional activities at an additional cost

La Sagrada Familia of Antonio Gaudi (Barcelona, Spain) EUR45 per person

The Holy Family building proposes one of the most exciting experiences possible today, integrating us in the vision of a genius, Antoni Gaudí, capable of imagining at the beginning of the 20th century a building that incorporated the viewer in the process of Divine Creation, and made for almost 150 years, successive generations were involved in his dream. Something different, impossible to find anywhere else, a living element that evolves as it is concluded, together with the feelings of those who visit it and know it in depth. 

 Barcelona - Peniscola – Valencia

Journeying south along the Mediterranean and will make a special stop at the popular town of Peniscola which is superbly surrounded by the sea. The entrance to the old town is through one of two gateways through its medieval walls. A short introduction will be given by our guide, then you can explore the old town and the castle, fishing port and beaches.

Arrive at the third largest Spanish city Valencia where have lunch at the most important modern tourist site in "The City of Arts and Sciences". Join a tour with our guide to walk through the historic city and to the Cathedral you could see the Holy Grail. It sounds like a very bold claim, but more and more researchers are now beginning to agree that all the evidence points to the item in the Valencia Cathedral as the authentic cup used by Jesus in the Last Supper.

Evening transfer to the Plaza de Toros, the bullring area will be provided. Enjoy a free evening to spend and have dinner as you wish before heading back to the hotel (own expenses).

Accommodation: Sercotel Sorolla or similar
Meals included: breakfast

 Valencia - Alicante - Caravaca de la Cruz – Granada

After breakfast, we continue south through the Valencia Community towards Alicante one of the country's most influenced by tourism cities along the Spanish Coast. Time for a stroll along with this pleasant city by the sea.

In the afternoon we make our way to the Murcia Region where we will visit Caravaca De La Cruz, a town considered by the Catholic Church as one of the five holy cities in the world which also subsequently its church holds a relic of Christ's Cross. A ride up to the historic areas on the tourist train will be included.

We travel along an attractive scenic road to Andalusia where we will arrive at the end of the day in Granada.

Accommodation: Hotel Alixares or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Granada

Join our local guide this morning to tour Granada’s famed Moorish palace, the Alhambra Palace (entrance included), a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Spend the rest of afternoon free to see the Cathedral with the sepulchre of the Catholic Kings.

Evening transfers are available to the Plaza de Gracia, try out some delicious local flavours as you wish. Then, consider joining an optional activity – a flamenco dance show and the traditional neighbourhood of Sacramonte.

Note: in the Alhambra complex, the Nazari palaces allow a limited number of people in at a time. If in the event that we are not able to visit the area of Alhambra, a visit to the Alcázares will be included in Seville (which have similar architecture and features).

Accommodation: Hotel Alixares or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Optional activities at an additional cost

Zambra Gypsy - Flamenco Show (Granada, Spain) EUR30 per person

In this activity, you will go out at night in the city of Granada, particularly in the famous Albaicin-Sacromonte district, declared UNESCO Heritage Site, where you will attend a Zambra Gitana show. We will go for a walk in this picturesque place arriving at the famous Mirador de San Nicolás (San Nicolás lookout) from where we will enjoy the view of the Alhambra illuminated at sunset. You will have the chance to see a genuine Flamenco show in Granada: Flamenco style, dance, singing, guitar performance, all of this accompanied by a drink.

 Granada - Malaga - Marbella - Ronda – Seville 

From Granada, we drive to Malaga, a port city on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol. Upon arrival, we will have a quick stop to stroll along the historic centre with its cathedral and the Picasso Museum. We continue a scenic drive along the coastal motorway with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. Arrive Puerto Banus in Marbella, a pretty high-level recreational port. After lunch (own expense) we travel through the hills and their stories of bandoliers until we come to Ronda, a very beautiful white town with its large gorge that divides it in two, then arrive Seville at the end of the afternoon. 

Accommodation: Alcora Sevilla or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Seville 

We join our local guide for a scenic tour of Seville featuring the Cathedral and its famous Giralda, the banks of the Guadalquivir River, the popu­lar neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana, as well as the beautiful Plaza de España. (Note: If the group has fewer than fifteen travellers, it can be arranged in both Spanish and English). Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Spend your evening visiting the historic city centre area (Calle Alfonso XII) you will also enjoy your dinner tonight.

Accommodation: Alcora Sevilla or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Optional activities at an additional cost

Artistic and Seville Cathedral (Seville, Spain) EUR25 per person

We will visit the cathedral, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Great work done over several centuries, considered as one of the largest in the world on the surface, a real museum inside, where you can find the grave of Christopher Columbus. Then, if you wish, you can get to the famous tower of the "Giralda" cathedral with 104 meters where you can enjoy a fabulous view of the city of Seville.

Sevillian Night in Patio Sevilla (Seville, Spain) EUR40 per person

One of the most famous tables in Seville. You will witness the art of Andalusia as captured by the dance, the guitar and the signing. The bailaores and cantaores (dancers and singers) have received national and international awards. They will show us the true art of Flamenco and Spanish classical dance.

 Seville - Rabida Monastery - Mertola - Evora – Lisbon

Today we drive from Seville to Palos De La Frontera. See the La Rabida Monastery, a Franciscan monastery strongly linked to the history of the discovery (entrance included) before visiting the Carabelas Museum (entrance included), this is where Columbus set sail on 3 August 1492 for America.). We continue our journey and stop for lunch at this ancient Muslim city of Mertol, its present church was a mosque. Through the Alentejo region, we come to the capital city Evora,  a city declared by UNESCO World Heritage. Entrance included visiting the impressive Chapel of Bones, built with 5000 skeletons! We will arrive in Lisbon at the end of the day.

Accommodation: Vip Executive Entrecampos Hotel Conference or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Lisbon 

Join a sightseeing tour with our local guide (note: Explanations may be given by our guide if the group has fewer than twelve people). Visit the tra­ditional neighbourhoods in the Belem district, the birthplace of the great Portuguese navigators who sailed the oceans in the Fifteenth Century. See the Monument to the Discoveries, Belem Tower, and the stunning Jeronimos Monastery, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring this great city independently. In the evening a transfer to Restauradores Square will be provided to whose numerous bars and cafes create a lively atmosphere. Consider taking the “Elevador da Gloria” to the Upper district and its fabulous viewpoint.

Accommodation: Vip Executive Entrecampos Hotel Conference or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Optional activities at an additional cost

Cascais and Estoril (Lisbon, Portugal) EUR30 per person

In this visit, you will enjoy the landscapes of the Tagus estuary, the famous Costa del Sol, a resting place and residence of nobles in the history of Portugal. We will stop at the wonderful city of Sintra, immortalised by Lord Byron, and enjoy its microclimate and its many palaces and summer homes. We will continue to the famous Guincho beach where you will see the westernmost point in Europe, the Cabo da Roca, and we will stop in the beautiful city of Cascais. Afterwards, we will have a brief stop in Estoril with its famous casino. A varied tour with beautiful landscapes overlooking the ocean and the Tagus estuary.

 Lisbon - Fatima – Madrid

Today we travel to the north of Portugal to visit Fatima. The magnificent sanctuary of Fatima is one of Europe’s most important religious pilgrimage destination.  We will continue our way through the green lands into Spain, and reach the North of Extremadura, a beautiful area of mountains, forests, lakes and reserves. Lunch included en route in a regional restaurant (vegetarian option included).  Continue our journey to the capital of Spain, Madrid, a city of elegant boulevards and expansive. Arrival at the end of the day. 

Accommodation: Hotel Praga or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Madrid 

Free at leisure until a transfer to the airport for your homebound flights.

Meals included: breakfast

Australia

Arrive Home

Meals included: none