Barcelona, Northern Spain & Portugal

From the airport, we transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or begin exploring the city at your own pace.

Today we discover Barcelona aboard an open-top double-decker bus, with a hop-on and hop-off ticket that allows us to explore the city at our own pace.

The Orange Route takes us beyond the city’s emblematic modernist landmarks towards the western districts. We pass the FC Barcelona stadium and the National Museum of Art of Catalonia. You may choose to visit either museum before rejoining the route. You can also explore El Born, known for its lively atmosphere and excellent cuisine, or simply remain on board and enjoy the views. The Green Route focuses on the city’s most artistic quarter. From Placa Catalunya to Park Guell, we take in some of Barcelona’s most impressive architecture. We admire Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, noted for the intricate symbolism of its facades, and learn more about the city’s history along the way.

Barcelona - Zaragoza - San Sebastian. We transfer to Barcelona "Sants" railway station and travel by high-speed train to Zaragoza. On arrival, we meet our guide and continue to San Sebastian, one of Spain’s most elegant seaside resorts and host of the renowned International Film Festival.

We enjoy a panoramic tour of this refined coastal city, beautifully set around La Concha Bay. We go up to Mount Igueldo for sweeping views over the bay and the city below. The remainder of the day is free. In the afternoon, you may join an optional excursion across the border into France to visit the charming towns of Biarritz and San Juan de Luz.

San Sebastian - Bilbao - Castro Urdiales - Santander. We travel to Bilbao and stop at the esplanade of the Guggenheim Museum, an architectural landmark of contemporary design, where there is free time to admire its striking exterior. We continue to Castro Urdiales, a traditional fishing village, where you have time at leisure. Our journey proceeds to Santander, a port city framed by sea and mountains. On arrival, we enjoy a guided tour with a local expert, exploring highlights including the famous El Sardinero beach.

Santander - Santillana del Mar - Covadonga - Oviedo. We depart for Santillana del Mar, one of Spain’s most historically significant towns. Its Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana is considered one of Cantabria’s finest Romanesque monuments. We continue to Covadonga, where you have free time to visit the Sanctuary and the sacred grotto, housing the image of the Virgin. In the afternoon, we travel to Oviedo, set among hills at the foot of Mount Naranco. Its elegant pedestrian streets lead to remarkable monuments, several recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the impressive Gothic Cathedral.

Oviedo - Mondonedo - Lugo - Santiago de Compostela. We enter the region of Galicia, stopping in Mondonedo. You have free time to visit its imposing 12th-century cathedral and sample the local Mondonedo cake. We continue to Lugo, where you may admire the remarkably preserved Roman walls, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our journey concludes in Santiago de Compostela. Its historic centre, also UNESCO-listed, is one of Spain’s most important monumental cities and the final destination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

We enjoy a guided city tour, visiting the Plaza del Obradoiro and entering the Cathedral, dedicated to Saint James the Greater. The remainder of the day is at leisure to further explore this vibrant university city.

Santiago de Compostela - Salamanca. We travel to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its golden sandstone architecture and historic university, one of the oldest in Europe. Free time to explore.

Salamanca - Porto. You have free time in Salamanca before we depart for Portugal, crossing the border en route to Porto.

We take a panoramic tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage city overlooking the Douro River. We admire the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange Palace and Santa Clara Church. We then see the city from a different perspective along the Douro and visit one of the renowned Port wine cellars for a tasting. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Porto - Coimbra - Fatima. We depart for Coimbra, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities and traditionally associated with Fado music. You have free time to explore. We continue to Fatima, one of the world’s most important Catholic pilgrimage sites. Here you may choose to visit the Basilica and the Cova da Iria, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared. We recommend seeing the Chapel of the Apparitions and the tombs of Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. In the evening, you have the option to attend the candlelight procession.

Fatima - Batalha - Nazare - Alcobaca - Lisbon. We visit the Monastery of Batalha, a masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue to the fishing town of Nazare, where you have free time. Our journey proceeds to Alcobaca to see its 12th-century Cistercian monastery and Gothic church, also UNESCO-listed. We then travel on to Lisbon.

This morning we explore Lisbon, once known as Olissipo. Our tour includes the city’s principal squares and avenues, Belem Tower, the exterior of Jeronimos Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries. The afternoon is free. You may choose to explore the historic Alfama district or join an optional excursion to Sintra and Cascais, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Lisbon - Merida - Madrid. We depart for Merida, capital of Extremadura and a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Roman heritage. You have free time to discover landmarks such as the Roman theatre, amphitheatre and Roman bridge. We then continue to Madrid.

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport. This marks the end of an incredible journey through Spain and Portugal.