
Spain and Portugal Iberian Wonders Explored
Begin and end in Madrid on a relaxed 16–day loop across Spain and Portugal. You’ll sample tapas around Plaza Mayor, tour Madrid’s icons and visit the Bernabéu. Then it’s Andalusia’s hits – Granada’s Moorish quarter, seaside Nerja, cliff–top Ronda and Seville with a Guadalquivir cruise and optional flamenco. Cross to Portugal for Lisbon and Belém, Fátima and a Douro cruise in Porto. Swing north through Galicia – Rías Baixas boat tasting and Santiago – before Green Spain delivers Lugo’s Roman walls, León’s stained glass, Oviedo’s cider houses and the Picos. Finish with Bilbao’s Guggenheim, Rioja wine culture, Zaragoza and Poblet, Gaudí’s Barcelona, Peñíscola and paella in Valencia – back to Madrid.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Tour Overview
Duration
16 daysHotel Rating
3-4 star hotelsStarts
MadridEnds
MadridMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in Spain that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
NoTour Guide
Yes - English speaking guides (guiding may be in additional languages to English)Countries
Spain, PortugalPassengers
$3,043.00
$400.00
Tour Style
Group Size
Min 2 / Max 65
Trip Type
Large Coach Tours
Range
This tour is operated by our trusted local partner and has been handpicked by us to deliver you an unforgettable trip.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Tour Guide
Yes - English speaking guides (guiding may be in additional languages to English)Group Size
Min 2 / Max 65Range
This tour is operated by our trusted local partner and has been handpicked by us to deliver you an unforgettable trip.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Trip Type
Large Coach ToursPlaces You'll See

Madrid

Granada

Malaga

Marbella

Ronda

Seville

Mérida

Évora

Lisbon

Fátima

Porto

Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary

Cambados

Santiago de Compostela

Lugo

O Cebreiro

León

Oviedo

Covadonga

Santillana del Mar

Santander

Bilbao
Foronda Service Area

La Rioja

Zaragoza

Poblet

Barcelona

Peniscola

Valencia
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Day 1 - Madrid
Welcome to Madrid. On arrival at the airport, we’ll transfer you to your hotel – the rest of the day is free until the tour begins. Please check the information signs in the hotel reception for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers.In the evening, we provide a transfer to Plaza Mayor and the La Latina neighbourhood – one of Madrid’s most famous areas for nightlife and tapas. You can choose where to dine, with plenty of options including Spanish, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern cuisines.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.
Day 2 - Madrid
We begin the day with a comprehensive tour of central Madrid, taking in Paseo del Prado, the fountains of Cibeles and Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then head into Retiro Park to see the lake and the Palacio de Cristal, before visiting the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with admission included – home of Real Madrid. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. In the evening, we provide a return transfer to the hotel.
Day 3 - Madrid - Granada
We’ll depart Madrid early, travelling south across La Mancha with a stop in Puerto Lápice – a classic Manchego village linked to Don Quixote. Continuing through Despeñaperros into Andalusia, we arrive in Granada, where lunch is included. The afternoon is free – you can visit the Cathedral, which houses the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs, or wander the Albaicín neighbourhood and take in views of the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás. Note: Admission to the Alhambra is not included – if you wish to purchase a ticket, please use the official website https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es or companies that organise city visits.
Day 4 - Granada - Nerja - Malaga - Ronda - Seville
We leave Granada behind and travel through the Sierra Nevada, then follow the Mediterranean along the Tropical Coast – a region with a mild microclimate that supports guavas, mangoes and avocados, and once sugar cane. We stop in Nerja, a seaside town backed by striking cliffs, before continuing to Málaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, known for its lively historic centre. You have time for lunch and a stroll. In the afternoon we head into the Andalusian sierras to reach Ronda, a classic white town famed for the dramatic gorge that divides it. We continue to Seville, arriving in the late afternoon, with dinner included at the hotel.
Day 5 - Seville
This morning we set out on a guided tour of Seville, taking in the cathedral with its famous Giralda, the banks of the Guadalquivir, and the characterful neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz – the historic Jewish quarter – and Triana, the traditional riverside district. After the tour, we include a relaxing boat ride on the Guadalquivir, offering panoramic views of the city from the water. In the evening, you can choose to experience a flamenco tablao.
Day 6 - Seville - Merida - Evora - Lisbon
Leaving Seville, we journey through rolling hills and open pasturelands towards Extremadura. In Mérida, we include admission to the Archaeological Ensemble – home to the Roman theatre and amphitheatre – renowned for its excellent preservation and UNESCO World Heritage status. You’ll have free time for lunch and a stroll through the pedestrian historic centre. We then continue into Portugal, stopping in Évora – also a World Heritage city – known for its whitewashed streets, Renaissance palaces and cathedral. We arrive in Lisbon in the evening.
Day 7 - Lisbon
This morning we take a guided sightseeing tour of Lisbon – the city of seven hills – exploring its characterful lanes, traditional tiles and clear Atlantic light. We continue to Belém, the district from which Portugal’s great navigators set out across the oceans in the 15th century. Your afternoon is free – you can wander through Bairro Alto and up to its viewpoint, or join an optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. In the evening, we provide a return transfer to the hotel from lively Restauradores Square, known for its bars and cafés.
Day 8 - Lisbon - Fatima - Porto
We travel north from Lisbon to Fátima for a visit to this important pilgrimage site, then continue to Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city. After lunch, we enjoy a 50 minute cruise on the Douro aboard a traditional rabelo boat – a fresh perspective on the city’s riverside. Afterwards, you have free time to explore the medieval Ribeira district with its narrow streets, historic merchant houses and inviting cafés, before we head to the hotel.
Day 9 - Porto - Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary - Cambados - Santiago de Compostela
Leaving Porto, we travel to Braga and ride the world’s oldest water–operated funicular up to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus for panoramic views. After time to explore, you can descend its staircase if you prefer. We then continue into Galicia to Cambados or O Grove in the Rías Baixas for a glass–bottom boat trip on the Ría de Arousa, learning about mussel and oyster production as we sample wine and mussels on board. Around lunchtime, we arrive in Santiago de Compostela for a guided city tour with a local expert, exploring its medieval streets and renowned pilgrimage sites dating back to the Middle Ages.
Day 10 - Santiago de Compostela - Lugo - O Cebreiro - Leon - Oviedo
We travel along the Way of St James to Lugo, where we allow time to explore the historic centre and its UNESCO-listed Roman walls. We then continue to O Cebreiro, a traditional Galician stone village, before reaching León around lunchtime. Here we visit the magnificent Gothic cathedral – renowned for its stained-glass windows – and take a stroll through the historic quarter.Crossing the Cantabrian Range into Asturias, we arrive in Oviedo by evening. We include a guided city tour with a local expert – scheduled either on arrival or tomorrow morning – lasting around one and a half hours and covering the 9th century cathedral, the Calatrava Congressional Palace, the Campoamor Theatre and Calle de la Rua. Dinner is included in a traditional Asturian cider house.
Day 11 - Oviedo - Covadonga - Santillana del Mar - Santander
We depart Oviedo for the Picos de Europa, beginning with a visit to the Basilica of Covadonga – an important Asturian pilgrimage site. From here we follow the coast to Santillana, regarded as one of Spain’s most beautiful towns for its intact medieval quarter. Tickets are included for the nearby Altamira Cave Museum. Later we continue to Santander, the regional capital, where an included panoramic tour with a local guide introduces this elegant coastal city – framed by mountains and beaches – and its beautiful bay.
Day 12 - Santander - Bilbao - Foronda Service Area - La Rioja - Zaragoza
After breakfast we travel to Bilbao for a guided tour of the Basque Country’s largest city – the region’s main economic and cultural hub. A highlight is the Guggenheim Museum, celebrated for its striking architecture. You’ll have free time to explore the area around the museum or go inside if you wish.Later we continue to La Rioja – renowned for its wines – to visit the Wine Culture Museum in Briones. We arrive in Zaragoza in the evening.
Day 13 - Zaragoza - Poblet - Barcelona
This morning we take a panoramic tour of Zaragoza with a local guide, visiting the Cathedral–Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, exploring works by Francisco de Goya, and seeing the Roman theatre and a Renaissance palace before a stroll by the Aljafería Palace. After lunch, we travel into Catalonia to visit Poblet Abbey – a walled monastery and one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world (tickets included). We then continue to Barcelona, arriving in the evening.
Day 14 - Barcelona
In the morning, we take a panoramic tour of Barcelona, open to the Mediterranean and renowned for Gaudí’s modernist architecture, the lively Ramblas and the legacies of its World Expositions and Olympic Games. The tour finishes at Maremagnum – a waterfront dining and leisure complex beside Columbus Square – where you can stroll the area at your own pace. The afternoon is free for you to continue exploring. We return to the hotel at the end of the day.
Day 15 - Barcelona - Peniscola - Valencia - Madrid
We travel south along the Mediterranean coast, pausing in Peniscola – a walled seaside town in a scenic setting – for a relaxed stroll. We then continue to Valencia, a vibrant port city on the Levantine coast, arriving around lunchtime; you could try the city’s famous paella. At around 16:30 we set off for Madrid, with a brief stop at Valencia’s striking City of Arts and Sciences. We expect to arrive in Madrid between 20:30 and 21:00. Depending on passenger numbers, the Valencia–Madrid sector may be by high speed train.
Day 16 - Madrid
After breakfast, our journey comes to an end — we bid you farewell and hope you leave with lasting memories.
Tour Reviews
Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.
Post-Tour Accommodation - Madrid

Pre-Tour Accommodation - Madrid

Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.
Confirmation of the hotels used may not be available until 48 hours before the tour departs.
If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.



Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with 2 travellers. 'Double/Twin' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. 'Triple' prices are per person when there are 3 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Shared' prices are for solo travellers who are happy to share with another solo traveller of the same sex in a twin room - a single room will be provided at no additional cost if there are no suitable travellers to share with.
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