Highlights of Spain and Portugal
Highlights of Spain and Portugal
Highlights of Spain and Portugal
13 Days Starting and ending in Madrid
Visiting: Madrid, Cuenca, Valencia, Guadix, Granada, Córdoba, Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Evora, Lisbon, Fátima, Salamanca, Toledo
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SHIGZM19
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
25 - 50
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, Foodie and Wine Tours, Gardens & Nature Tours, History
Activities:
Tour Overview
A round-trip featuring all the highlights of Spain and Portugal. Spend time in the pilgrimage centre of Fátima, join a family on their stud farm in the Alentejo and explore the icons left behind by Catholic kings and Moorish sultans. Visit the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Cathedral Mosque in Córdoba, Seville Cathedral, the Cathedral of Évora, the Hieronymite Monastery in Lisbon, the Shrine at Fátima, Plaza Mayor in Salamanca and the Church of Santo Tomé and the Synagogue in Toledo.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation: NH Collection Eurobuilding
Accommodation Name: NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding/VOCO Madrid
Meals Included: Welcome Reception
The fiery Spanish capital of Madrid paves the way for an unforgettable journey through centuries of history and cultural highlights across the Iberian Peninsula. Embrace la buena vida and soak up the vibrant city atmosphere, before joining your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and orientation of the city's iconic sights.
Day 2: Journey To Cuenca And Valencia
Location: Madrid, Cuenca, Valencia
Accommodation: Silken Puerta
Accommodation Name: Silken Puerta
Meals Included: Breakfast
Witness the dramatic honey-coloured clifftop hanging houses of Cuenca, before your journey continues to Valencia, renowned for its modern verve and spirit of innovation. An orientation drive will include views of the 14th-century Towers of Serrano and Quart, and the City of Arts and Sciences, a large-scale urban recreation centre for culture and science and designed by Santiago Calatrava. This evening, consider indulging in Valencia’s fragrant flavours and aromas of paella.
Day 3: Off To Unique Guadix And On To Granada
Location: Valencia, Guadix, Granada
Accommodation: Catalonia
Accommodation Name: Hotel Catalonia Granada
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We travel through the Sierra Nevadas bound for Guadix, where we’ll witness how generations of locals have carved cosy abodes into their rocky surrounds. We'll view the troglodyte cave dwellings that blend effortlessly into the surrounding ochre landscape. Then, journey through the jagged Mora Pass to Granada, the last stronghold of the Moors in Europe. This evening, sample the hearty flavours of Andalusia during a special Regional Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4: Onwards To Córdoba And Seville
Location: Granada, Córdoba, Seville
Accommodation: Meliá Lebreros
Accommodation Name: Meliá Lebreros Seville
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Tread in the footsteps of Spain's last emirs, joining your Local Specialist for a visit to the incredible Alhambra, with its amazing palaces, gardens and fountains. Inspired by poetry, the architecture is said to be a reflection of paradise as described in Islamic verse. Immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere in quiet courtyards, follow its colossal ancient walls and admire the ornate stone carvings. We leave Granada behind for Córdoba where we'll join a Local Specialist to visit the mesmerising Mosque of the Caliphs, the former mosque of the caliphs and a jewel of Hispano-Islamic art featuring striking arches and Byzantine mosaics. Our final stop for the day is alluring Seville, our home for the next three nights.
Day 5: Uncover The Secrets Of Seville
Location: Seville
Accommodation: Meliá Lebreros
Accommodation Name: Meliá Lebreros Seville
Meals Included: Breakfast
Seville takes centre stage today as we explore this charismatic city. We'll see the symbolic Giralda Bell Tower with a Local Specialist, then visit the Maria Luisa Park, home of the 1929 Exposition. The park was built in a Moorish style and features half a mile of fountains, ponds, pavilions and lush plantings. We'll walk through the imposing Plaza de España and visit the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, where the explorer Christopher Columbus is entombed. Consider an Optional Experience this evening to witness the twirling of colourful skirts and rhythmic clapping of castanets at a fiery flamenco performance.
Day 6: Admire The Sights Of Jerez And Cádiz Dive Into Culture
Location: Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Seville
Accommodation: Meliá Lebreros
Accommodation Name: Meliá Lebreros Seville
Meals Included: Breakfast
We indulge in the aromatic flavours of Jerez today as we Dive Into Culture and into the centuries-old tradition of Spanish sherry production. The leafy boulevards and quiet plazas of romantic Cádiz are our next stop. Tread in the footsteps of Columbus, who used this historic port city as his launchpad to the 'New World', and see the exotic plants and trees dotted throughout the city, said to have been brought here by him upon his return.
Day 7: Venture To Évora Connect With Locals
Location: Seville, Evora
Accommodation: M'ar de Ar Muralhas
Accommodation Name: M'ar de Ar Muralhas Évora
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leaving the zesty scents of Seville behind, we head to the golden landscapes of the Alentejo, where the Brito Paes family await our arrival for a special Connect With Locals lunch on their traditional stud ranch, which has been rearing Lusitano horses since the 18th century. Enjoy a Be My Guest experience in the home of their ancestor before continuing to Évora for a guided sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist of its cathedral, Roman temple and Chapel of Bones. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Day 8: On To Lively Lisbon Dive Into Culture
Location: Evora, Lisbon
Accommodation: Olissippo Marquês de Sá
Accommodation Name: Olissippo Marquês de Sá Lisbon
Meals Included: Breakfast
We arrive in the seafaring Portuguese capital of Lisbon this afternoon, where we'll join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour. A particular highlight of this afternoon is an opportunity to Dive Into Culture at the UNESCO-listed Hieronymite Monastery, an exquisite testament to 16th-century Manueline architecture and art.
Day 9: Lisbon Your Way
Location: Lisbon
Accommodation: Olissippo Marquês de Sá
Accommodation Name: Olissippo Marquês de Sá Lisbon
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is yours to connect with the Portuguese capital. Relax at a sidewalk café with a creamy pasteis de nata and venture to the Castle of São Jorge and admire the sea of pastel pinks, yellows and blues that clad Lisbon's seven hills. You may choose to join an Optional Experience to the historic towns of Cascais and Sintra.
Day 10: Pilgrimage To Fátima And On To Salamanca
Location: Lisbon, Fátima, Salamanca
Accommodation: Gran Corona Sol
Accommodation Name: Gran Hotel Corona Sol Salamanca
Meals Included: Breakfast
Follow the road taken by pilgrims over the last 100 years to the Shrine at Fátima, a site of celebrated religious miracles. We leave Portugal, travelling to the historic Spanish city of Salamanca with its golden-hued façades and ancient university heritage, where we will visit its 18th-century Plaza Mayor.
Day 11: Continue To Toledo And Madrid Dive Into Culture
Location: Salamanca, Toledo, Madrid
Accommodation: Ayre Gran Colón
Accommodation Name: Hotel Madrid Center Retiro/VOCO Madrid
Meals Included: Breakfast
See the walled city of Ávila, the city of Saint Teresa of Ávila. We arrive in the clifftop city of Toledo and join a Local Specialist for a guided walk through its streets. We'll visit the Church of Santo Tomé, home to one of El Greco's most famous paintings – 'The Burial of the Count of Orgaz' and the former Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca. Later, Dive Into Culture and witness local craftsmen at work creating inlaid steel the traditional way. We arrive in Madrid this evening, our home for the next two nights.
Day 12: Explore Fiery Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation: Ayre Gran Colón
Accommodation Name: Hotel Madrid Center Retiro
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, we join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of Madrid, where we’ll see the Royal Palace, Cibeles Fountain and Retiro Park, originally created as a retreat for the royal family. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the city on your own terms. Admire the world's finest collection of Spanish art at the Prado Museum, indulge in some last-minute shopping on Gran Vía or consider an Optional Experience to the medieval UNESCO-listed city of Segovia. This evening marks the end of our memorable journey through the Iberian Peninsula. Join your fellow companions and Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner.
Day 13: Adiós Madrid
Location: Madrid
Meals Included: Breakfast
For now it's time to say a fond farewell to our travelling companions, your Travel Director and the beauty of Spain and Portugal at the end of a memorable holiday. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
What's Included
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Optional Experiences and free time
What's Not Included
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Airfare to and from the tour
Flights to the starting point and from the ending point of the tour are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
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Some Meals
Not all meals are covered, providing the opportunity to explore local cuisines on your own.
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Optional Experiences
Costs for optional experiences and excursions are not included and are available for an additional fee.
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Personal Expenses
Items of a personal nature, including souvenirs, laundry, and drinks, are not included.
Check out our Q&As
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What countries does the Highlights of Spain and Portugal tour visit?
The Highlights of Spain and Portugal tour visits Spain and Portugal.
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What are some of the key highlights of the tour?
Key highlights of the tour include exploring Córdoba, Seville, Évora, Lisbon, Toledo, and Madrid with a Local Specialist, discovering Valencia, Cádiz, and Salamanca, visiting the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Cathedral Mosque in Córdoba, Seville Cathedral, the Cathedral of Évora, the Hieronymite Monastery in Lisbon, the Shrine at Fátima, Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, and the Church of Santo Tomé and the Synagogue in Toledo, and viewing the Hanging Houses of Cuenca, the Towers of Serrano and Quart, and the City of Arts and Sciences complex in Valencia and the Cave Houses of Guadix.
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Is there any free time or optional experiences?
Yes, the tour offers optional experiences and free time for personal exploration.
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What meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes 12 Breakfasts (B), 1 Farewell Dinner (FD), 1 Be My Guest (BMG), 2 Dinners (D), 1 Regional Dinner (RD), 1 Welcome Reception (WR), 4 Dinners (D), and 1 Lunch (L).
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What are the pick-up and drop-off times for the tour?
The pick-up times at Madrid-Barajas airport are 10:30, 13:00, and 15:30, and the drop-off times are 08:30 and 11:00.
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What transportation is included in the tour?
The tour includes luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys).
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Are there any included activities with local specialists?
Yes, the tour includes activities with Local Specialists in cities like Córdoba, Seville, Évora, Lisbon, Toledo, Madrid, Granada, and more, offering insights into the local culture, history, and landmarks.
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What type of accommodation is provided?
The tour provides cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions