Best of Spain and Portugal (Classic, Summer, End Barcelona, 15 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on an unforgettable 15-day journey through the heart of Spain and Portugal, where history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes await. This multi-day tour takes you from the vibrant streets of Madrid to the sun-drenched Costa del Sol, exploring iconic cities like Lisbon, Seville, and Barcelona. Discover the rich heritage of Segovia, Salamanca, and Granada, and savor the flavors of local cuisine in Porto and Valencia. With expert guides leading the way, you'll delve into the art, architecture, and traditions that define these captivating countries. Whether you're wandering through medieval towns, tasting exquisite wines, or marveling at architectural masterpieces, each day promises new adventures and lasting memories. Join us on this extraordinary tour and experience the best of Spain and Portugal, where every moment is a celebration of life and culture.
Included
14 night accommodation
5 Dinner with Wine (DW)
14 Breakfast (B)
2 Lunch with Wine (LW)
Madrid: Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant and get to know your fellow travellers over a beautiful evening of delicious food and wine.
Vila Nova de Gaia: Sample a selection of world renowned Port wines during a tour and tasting in the city's historic wine cellars.
Lisbon: Delight in a taste of the famous Portuguese custard tart, Pastéis de Belém, made in a 19th century bakery with the original secret recipe.
Torremolinos: Taste a selection of freshly pressed olive oils with locally made farmer bread when you stop at Almazara, the oldest olive grove in the region.
Alfarnatejo: Join a local family for a Dine-at-Home lunch featuring traditional recipes. Learn about regional customs and culture through your hosts' warm hospitality and lively conversation.
Valencia: Learn the authentic recipe of paella when you join a local chef for a Cooking Demonstration. Savour the flavours of this classic dish for dinner, washed down with a glass of Sangria, during dinner.
Barcelona: Join a wine expert when you visit Cava Dorada. Enjoy a tasting at the great Cava vineyards during your delicious Highlight Lunch.
Barcelona: At a typical Catalan restaurant, savour a delicious Celebration Dinner that incorporates classic cooking with the freshest produce.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Seville: Stroll through Barrio de Santa Cruz with a Local Expert and hear how the Jewish community has shaped the city's history.
Seville: See the city's top sights on a panoramic tour with your Local Expert.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
Madrid: Witness the world's finest collection of Spanish paintings, plus an impressive international collection, as you tour the Prado Museum with an art historian.
Granada: Visit the famous Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens. While others wait in line, you'll be exploring accompanied by a Local Expert, keen to share insights into this Moorish landmark.
Seville: The Cristina Heeren Foundation aims to promote the teaching and conservation of flamenco and is a beneficiary of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Meet the students of the foundation, learn some basic flamenco steps, and then feel the passion as they perform an emotional show. The school enables students access to cultural education that otherwise may not have occurred. TreadRights sponsorship has helped students to complete their studies in advanced guitar, singing and dance. As students complete their training, they will carry on and safeguard the traditional flamenco dance, contributing to the protection of Andalusia and Spain’s cultural heritage. The Cristina Heeren Foundation advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education and UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Madrid: See the highlights of the city with your Local Expert. Visit the Old Town, travelling along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, past the fountain in the Plaza de Cibeles, the Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace, before crossing the Puerta del Sol.
Segovia: Visit the medieval streets of this fortified city to see the 14th-century Alcazar Palace and extensive Roman aqueduct.
Salamanca: See the handsome arcaded Plaza Mayor, the honey-coloured cathedral and the 16th century university buildings as you explore the city with your Local Expert.
Porto: See the iconic bridges and buildings decorated in tiles.
Lisbon: Explore with your Local Expert, from the Lower Town, beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paco. Visit the Belém Quarter to see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and the medieval Belém Tower.
Seville: Visit the Seville Cathedral with your Local Expert. Pass the altarpiece dripping with gold and see the Tomb of Columbus, held aloft by four kings.
Gibraltar: With your Local Expert, explore the Rock of Gibraltar, one of the pillars of Hercules, affording magnificent views and see the meeting of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Spanish Sierra. Visit St. Michael's Cave and see the Barbary Apes.
Alfarnatejo: Visit the beautiful, quiet town and walk the town centre.
Granada: Explore 'The City of the Pomegranate' with a Local Expert. During sightseeing you'll see the icons dedicated to this fruit throughout the city.
Valencia: See the ultra-modern Centre of Arts and Sciences and the huge gates of the old town, Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart.
Peñíscola: See the seaside castle featured in the film 'El Cid'.
Barcelona: With your Local Expert, drive along the elegant Passeig de Gràcia to witness some of the finest Modernist architecture as you journey through the Eixample district to see Gaudi's extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerising Sagrada Família.
Barcelona: Venture inside Gaudí's extraordinary masterpiece, the Sagrada Família and marvel at the contrasts of architecture. Above see its giant, tree-like pillars and spectacular vaulting. Admire the wonderful rainbow of the incredible stained-glass windows.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Obidos: Lead by your Travel Director, walk through the picturesque narrow streets up to the main square of this ancient walled town.
Fátima: Led by your Travel Director, explore the pilgrimage site that attracts nearly seven million faithful visitors every year.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Destinations
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Madrid
- Madrid - Arrival day
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- La Alameda's Castle
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Kick off your adventure in the vibrant city of Madrid, where you'll meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers. Savor a delightful dinner at a local restaurant, indulging in exquisite food and wine, setting the tone for the days ahead.
Day 2 – Day 2: Madrid
- Madrid
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- Naval Museum
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Explore the historic neighborhoods of Spain's capital with a Local Expert. Delve into the city's origins in the Old Quarter and enjoy a special visit to the renowned Prado Museum, where an art historian will guide you through masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and more.
Day 3 – Day 3: Segovia, Ávila, and Salamanca
- Segovia
- Salamanca
- Madrid
- Ávila
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- Salamanca Cathedral
- Frog Salamanca
- Anaya Palace
- Alcázar of Segovia
- Segovia Cathedral
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Venture to Segovia, where a Local Expert will guide you through its medieval streets to the impressive Alcazar fortress and historic aqueduct. Continue west, passing the ancient walls of Ávila, before arriving in Salamanca. Here, admire the city's golden stone buildings, including the arcaded Plaza Mayor, the honey-colored cathedral, and the 16th-century university.
Day 4 – Day 4: Porto
- Porto
- Salamanca
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- Praia de Lavadores
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Cross into Portugal to reach Porto, the celebrated capital of Port wine. Visit the Vila Nova de Gaia wine stores, where you'll walk among casks and taste a variety of tawnys and vintages. Continue exploring the city, admiring its colorful houses, tile-adorned churches, and iconic bridges.
Day 5 – Day 5: Fátima, Óbidos, and Lisbon
- Lisbon
- Porto
- Batalha
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- Castle of Óbidos
- Sculpture of Our Lady of Fátima
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Begin your day in Fátima, Portugal's most famous pilgrimage site. Then, journey to the fortified town of Óbidos, where you'll wander through medieval streets adorned with flowers. Conclude your day in Lisbon, the vibrant Portuguese capital.
Day 6 – Day 6: Lisbon
- Lisbon
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- Belém Tower
- National Coach Museum
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Discover Lisbon with a Local Expert, exploring the spacious avenues of the Lower Town and the historic Belém Quarter. Visit the iconic Belém Tower and the National Coach Museum. Savor a taste of the famous Pastéis de Belém and enjoy an afternoon at leisure, perhaps exploring the Portuguese Riviera.
Day 7 – Day 7: Seville
- Seville
- Lisbon
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- Sevilla Aquarium
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Cross the border into Spain and arrive in Seville. Visit the majestic Seville Cathedral, the resting place of Christopher Columbus. Choose between a walk through the old Jewish quarter or a scenic drive around the city, enjoying panoramic views.
Day 8 – Day 8: Seville
- Seville
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- Casa de Pilatos
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Enjoy a leisurely morning in Seville or opt for an excursion to Córdoba to visit the magnificent Mezquita. In the afternoon, participate in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Cristina Heeren Foundation, a flamenco dance school, where you'll learn about the art of flamenco and try your hand at a dance lesson.
Day 9 – Day 9: Gibraltar and Mijas
- Mijas
- Seville
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Travel south to Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory. With a Local Expert, explore the Rock of Gibraltar and St. Michael's Cave. Continue along the scenic Costa del Sol to the picturesque village of Mijas, where you'll stroll through charming streets and gardens.
Day 10 – Day 10: Costa del Sol
- Mijas
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Enjoy a day at leisure on the sun-kissed Costa del Sol. Relax by the Mediterranean, stroll along the promenade, or savor local specialties in nearby restaurants. Alternatively, explore Málaga, the birthplace of Picasso.
Day 11 – Day 11: Alfarnatejo and Granada
- La Cala del Moral
- Granada
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- Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
- Alhambra
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Visit the quaint village of Alfarnatejo, surrounded by stunning mountains. Explore the town center and see the 18th-century Iglesia del Santo Cristo de Cabrilla. Visit a local olive grove and taste different oils paired with farmer bread. Enjoy a homemade lunch with a local family. Continue to Granada to explore the magnificent Alhambra Palace.
Day 12 – Day 12: Valencia
- Valencia
- Granada
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- City of Arts and Sciences
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Travel to Valencia, where you'll pass through the Old City and see its ancient gates and the City of Arts and Sciences. Enjoy free time to explore the Cathedral and El Miguelete or relax with a drink. Learn to make paella at a local family-run restaurant and savor this classic dish at dinner.
Day 13 – Day 13: Peñíscola, Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, and Barcelona
- Barcelona
- Valencia
- Peníscola / Peñíscola
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- St Pedro's Church
- Casa Batlló
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Follow the coast to Peñíscola to view the sea-lapped castle featured in 'El Cid.' Continue to the Cava Bodegas at Sant Sadurní d'Anoia for a light lunch and cava tasting. Conclude your day in the vibrant city of Barcelona.
Day 14 – Day 14: Barcelona
- Barcelona
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- Pasaje San Juan
- Sagrada Família
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Join a Local Expert for a drive along the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, adorned with Modernist architecture. Visit Gaudí's extraordinary Sagrada Família, marveling at its intricate design. Celebrate your journey with a farewell dinner, toasting to new friendships and unforgettable memories.
Day 15 – Day 15: Departure
- Barcelona - Departure day
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Bid farewell to your incredible journey through Spain and Portugal as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight, taking with you cherished memories of this unforgettable adventure.
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