Best of Spain and Portugal (Classic, Summer, End Madrid, 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 offers a perfect blend of guided exploration and leisure, taking you from the vibrant streets of Madrid to the sun-drenched Costa del Sol, and from the medieval marvels of Segovia to the architectural wonders of Barcelona. Along the way, savor local delicacies, immerse yourself in rich traditions, and discover iconic landmarks such as the Alhambra Palace, the Sagrada Família, and the Rock of Gibraltar. With expert guides and comfortable accommodations, this tour promises an enriching experience filled with unforgettable moments and new friendships. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a foodie, or simply seeking adventure, this tour offers something for everyone, ensuring a memorable journey through two of Europe's most captivating countries.
Included
15 days 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: Arrival in Madrid
- Madrid - Arrival day
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Begin your adventure in the vibrant city of Madrid. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a delightful dinner at a local restaurant, where you will savor exquisite cuisine and fine wine, setting the stage for the exciting journey ahead.
Day 2 – Day 2: Explore Madrid's Historic Charm
- Madrid
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- Naval Museum
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Discover the rich history of Spain's capital with a guided tour through its oldest neighborhoods. Delve into the city's origins and enjoy a special visit to the renowned Prado Museum, where an art historian will illuminate the works of masters like Velázquez and Goya.
Day 3 – Day 3: Medieval Marvels of Segovia 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, a city steeped in history, where you'll explore the impressive Alcazar fortress and the ancient aqueduct. Continue your journey to Salamanca, passing by the historic walls of Ávila. In Salamanca, admire the city's golden stone architecture, including the stunning Plaza Mayor, the honey-hued cathedral, and the historic university buildings.
Day 4 – Day 4: Porto's Wine and Wonders
- Porto
- Salamanca
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- Ponte móvel de Leça
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Cross into Portugal to explore Porto, a city renowned for its Port wine. Visit the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia and indulge in a tasting session. As you wander through Porto, admire the colorful houses, tile-adorned churches, and iconic bridges that define this charming city.
Day 5 – Day 5: Pilgrimage and Medieval Charm
- Lisbon
- Porto
- Fátima
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- Wax Museum of Fátima
- Chapel of the Apparitions
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Journey to Fátima, a revered pilgrimage site, before heading to the fortified town of Óbidos. Stroll through its medieval streets adorned with flowers. Conclude your day in Lisbon, Portugal's vibrant capital, where history and modernity blend seamlessly.
Day 6 – Day 6: Lisbon's Historic and Modern Marvels
- Lisbon
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- Monumento Natural dos Lagosteiros
- Praia do Castelo
- Park Outeiro dos Cucos
- Belém Tower
- National Coach Museum
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Explore Lisbon with a local expert, visiting the grand avenues of the Lower Town and the historic Bairro Alto. Discover the iconic Terreiro do Paço and the Belém Quarter, where explorers once set sail. Savor a traditional Pastéis de Belém and visit the National Coach Museum. The afternoon is yours to explore or join an optional excursion to the Portuguese Riviera.
Day 7 – Day 7: Seville's Splendor
- Seville
- Lisbon
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- Sevilla Aquarium
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Cross the border into Spain and arrive in Seville. Visit the magnificent Seville Cathedral, the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Choose between a guided walk through the old Jewish quarter or a scenic drive offering panoramic views of the city.
Day 8 – Day 8: Cultural Immersion in Seville
- Seville
- Córdoba
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- Casa de Pilatos
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Enjoy a leisurely morning in Seville or join an optional excursion to Córdoba to visit the stunning Mezquita and the old Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, participate in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Cristina Heeren Foundation, where you'll learn about flamenco and try your hand at a dance lesson.
Day 9 – Day 9: Gibraltar and the Costa del Sol
- Mijas
- Seville
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Visit Gibraltar, a unique British territory on the Spanish mainland. Explore the iconic Rock of Gibraltar and the fascinating St. Michael's Cave. Continue your journey along the picturesque Costa del Sol, passing luxurious resorts, and end your day in the charming white-washed village of Mijas.
Day 10 – Day 10: Leisure on the Costa del Sol
- Mijas
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Enjoy a day of relaxation on the sun-kissed Costa del Sol. Whether you choose to bask by the Mediterranean, stroll along the promenade, or explore the nearby city of Málaga, birthplace of Picasso, the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace.
Day 11 – Day 11: Alfarnatejo and Granada's Grandeur
- Granada
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- Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
- Alhambra
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Visit the quaint village of Alfarnatejo, where you'll explore the 18th-century Iglesia del Santo Cristo de Cabrilla. Experience the region's oldest olive grove and enjoy a traditional lunch with a local family. Continue to Granada to marvel at the Alhambra Palace, a masterpiece of Moorish architecture.
Day 12 – Day 12: Valencia's Vibrant Culture
- Valencia
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- City of Arts and Sciences
- Parc de Capçalera
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Arrive in Valencia and explore the Old City, including the City of Arts and Sciences. Enjoy free time to visit the Cathedral or relax at a local café. In the evening, learn the art of making paella with a local chef and savor this iconic dish for dinner.
Day 13 – Day 13: Coastal Charms and Cava Tasting
- Barcelona
- Valencia
- Peníscola / Peñíscola
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- St Pedro's Church
- Casa Batlló
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Travel along the coast to Peñíscola, where you'll visit the sea-lapped castle featured in 'El Cid.' Continue to the Cava Bodegas in 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's Architectural Wonders
- Barcelona
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- Pasaje San Juan
- Sagrada Família
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Explore Barcelona with a local expert, driving along the elegant Passeig de Gràcia and visiting Gaudí's masterpiece, the Sagrada Família. Marvel at the intricate architecture and vibrant stained-glass windows. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a celebratory dinner, toasting to new friendships and unforgettable memories.
Day 15 – Day 15: Farewell to Spain and Portugal
- Madrid
- Barcelona - Departure day
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As your remarkable journey through Spain and Portugal comes to an end, transfer from Barcelona to Madrid. Reflect on the unforgettable experiences and friendships made along the way, as you prepare to return home with cherished memories.
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