Gastronomic Spain & Portugal

Bienvenido a Espana! You will be met at Barcelona airport and transferred to our hotel. The rest of today is free for you to head out and explore the city. This evening there's a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant, giving you the opportunity to get to know your tour leader and fellow travellers over a delightful evening of good food and wine.

Please note: We recommend booking a flight that arrives no later than 17.00hrs.

We enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour in Barcelona this morning. Driving down the city's main streets, we will admire some of Gaudi's impressive modernist works, such as Le Pedrera and Casa Mila. We stroll through Montjuic Park to admire the surrounding views of the city and visit stunning La Sagrada Familia, the crown jewel of Gaudi's work. Then we continue to Port Vell to board a catamaran and sail along the beautiful coastline of Barcelona. We will be welcomed on board with music, a courtesy drink and a typical local tapa to start the experience in a Mediterranean style. You can sit in the shaded aft seats to feel the sea breeze, or lie on the forward nets to soak up the sunshine.

The afternoon is free for you to continue exploring Barcelona. Perhaps head for a walk along the beach, find some dinner along La Rambla, or head to Parc Guell to see more of Gaudi's work.

Barcelona - Zarazoga - Pamplona - Bilbao. We enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a picturesque journey from Barcelona to Bilbao, passing through enchanting cities along the route. Leaving Barcelona, we traverse the scenic Catalan landscape, characterized by rolling vineyards and olive groves, on our way to Zaragoza. In Zaragoza, there's free time to see the impressive Baroque architecture of the Basilic-Temple of Our Lady Pilar. Continuing north, the journey takes us to Pamplona, renowned for its annual Running of the Bulls and its charming cultural and architectural attractions, including its medieval old town and the Gothic-style Cathedral. The final leg of our journey takes us to Bilbao.

Bilbao - San Sebastian - Bilbao. After breakfast at the hotel we enjoy a Bilbao city tour, taking in the city's main highlights. The port city of Bilbao is surrounded by green mountains, and the de facto Basque capital is one of the prettiest cities in Spain. There's then time at leisure for you to explore the esplanade where the Guggenheim Museum is located in order for you to admire this modern architectural building.

This afternoon we head to nearby San Sebastian, an exclusive resort town known for hosting the International Film Festival and for La Concha, one of Spain's finest beaches. On a panoramic coach tour of the city we admire the extraordinary landscape dominated by the bay and the magnificent La Concha beach. We stop to enjoy the view over San Sebastian and the Bay of Biscay from Mount Igueldo and have some free time to stroll around this elegant city before returning to Bilbao for the evening. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant, where you can try pintxos, the Basque version of tapas.

Bilbao - Santander. Leaving Bilbao, we head into the green mountainous region of Asturias, admiring the view en route to the fishing town of Castro Urdiales. There's free time to wander around, and you will be able to see the castle which dates back to the Middle Ages. Then it's onto Santander, a coastal city known for the popular Sardinero Beach.

Santander - Santillana del Mar - Covadonga - Oviedo. Our first stop today is Santillana del Mar, known for its Renaissance palaces, medieval towers and the beautiful Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana. We then have a short stop in Covadonga before arriving at our destination, Oviedo. There is free time to explore the many pedestrianized streets and you can see the hilltop Saint Maria de Naranco Church overlooking the city. The UNESCO-listed Cathedral is also worth a visit. We enjoy a group dinner tonight at a traditional cider house.

Oviedo - Mondonedo - Lugo - Santiago de Compostela. Today we head into Galicia, Spain's north-westernmost region. Our first visit is Mondonedo, where you can see the 13th century Cathedral and sample the local delicacy. Mondonedo Cake is made with puff pastry, sponge, almonds and fruit.

Stopping in Lugo, you will have time to admire the historic Roman city walls before we continue our journey to Santiago de Compostela. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is home to one of the most important pilgrimages in Christianity. It marks the end of the Camino de Santiago Route, which was constructed during the Roman Empire.

We spend this morning on a city tour of Santiago de Compostela. We will see the Praza do Obradoiro main square and visit the Cathedral, which is dedicated to the Apostle Santiago. After our tour, the rest of the day is free to stroll around the Old Town's cobbled streets.

Santiago de Compostela - Porto (Portugal). Today is the day we say goodbye to Spain and cross into neighbouring Portugal. First, we travel to the Rias Bajas fjords and enjoy an included cruise, with tasting of local mussels and wine. Back on dry land, we cross the border into Portugal and complete our drive to Porto. One of the oldest cities in Europe, Porto is located along the Douro River estuary and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Day 10 is spent exploring Porto with a number of included activities. We enjoy a guided city tour, taking in highlights such as the Cathedral, Stock Exchange and Santa Clara Church. We also take a cruise on the Douro River, which runs through the heart of Porto. And we visit one of the riverfront Port Wine Cellars, with included tasting of this local drink.

The following day, enjoy a free day at leisure. Tonight, there is an included group dinner, accompanied by a fado show at one of the oldest Fado venues in Porto, residing in a prominent cultural neighbourhood.

Porto - Aveiro - Coimbra. Departing Porto after breakfast, our first stop today is in Aveiro. Often referred to as the "Venice of Portugal," this city is renowned for its enchanting canals, vibrant moliceiro boats, and delightful Art Nouveau architecture.

Upon arrival, we'll embark on a serene boat trip aboard a Moliceiro, gliding through the city's idyllic canals. This journey offers stunning views of colourful tile-covered buildings, scenic bridges, and the peaceful lagoon, all while our knowledgeable guides share fascinating insights into the local history and culture.

After the boat tour, enjoy free time for lunch before we continue our journey to Coimbra. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the historic streets of this former Portuguese capital, including a visit to the prestigious University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in Europe, known for its magnificent Baroque library, the Biblioteca Joanina. Be captivated by the impressive Romanesque Old Cathedral, Sé Velha, and the charming medieval quarter, with its narrow lanes and the soulful sounds of traditional Fado music.

Coimbra - Batalha - Nazare - Alcobaca - Lisbon. This morning we visit the UNESCO-listed Batalha Monastery, a 14th Century Gothic masterpiece, built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. We then enjoy some free time in the quaint fishing village of Nazare before arriving in Alcobaca, where we can see the even older 12th Century monastery located here. This is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world. After admiring the monastery, we complete our journey to Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. The evening is at leisure.

Our day starts with a city sightseeing tour, taking in many of Lisbon's highlights. We see the city's main plazas, the fortified Belem Tower, Jeronimo's Monastery, the Monument to the Discoverers and the Marquis of Pombal Square roundabout.

The afternoon is free, and we recommend you head into the Alfama Quarter, the oldest part of Lisbon. Crowned by the Sao Jorge Castle, this part of the city features narrow alleyways and colourful 'tabernas'.

Lisbon - Merida - Madrid. Departing Lisbon, we cross back into Spain and make a stop in Mérida. Mérida is a historic city established by the Romans in 25 BC. It is famed for its remarkable archaeological ensemble, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Keep an eye out for its famous landmarks such as the Roman Theatre, the Amphitheatre, and the Guadiana River Roman Bridge. We then complete our journey to Madrid.

Today we take in the highlights of Madrid on a city tour. Highlights of the excursion include the historic Barrio de la Morería region, Habsburgs District, Puerta del Sol central square, Plaza Mayor and the Neptuno Fountains. These are dedicated to Neptune, a Roman water god. In the more modern part of the city we see the Salamanca district, Plaza Castilla and Parque del Oeste. We also see the Santiago Bernabeu, the football stadium of Real Madrid, the most successful European club. Enjoy some churros during the visit, a typical chocolate snack in Madrid. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, and in the evening join the group for a farewell dinner.

Enjoy a final breakfast in the hotel before our tour comes to an end. There is an included transfer to the airport.