13 Days - The Best of Spain & Portugal
From Madrid to Madrid
Itinerary & Map
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description.
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN MADRID, SPAIN.
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is for you to relax or start exploring Madrid taking advantage of the Cosmos GO app. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Dinner Dinner
DAY 2: MADRID–TOLEDO–GRANADA.
Drive south to Toledo. Spectacularly situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River, the ancient Castilian capital is a treasure-chest of masterpieces. Visit the walled Old Town with a Local Guide and marvel at the 12th-century CHURCH OF ST. TOME, known for its large painting by El Greco of The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. Later, cross the Guadalquivir River and head for the olive and orange groves that dot the rolling Andalusian hills. Overnight in history-steeped Granada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada.
Today’s Distance: 298 mi/ 480 km
Breakfast Breakfast Dinner Dinner
DAY 3: GRANADA–MONTILLA–CORDOBA.
Granada was the Moors’ most treasured city, and they still mourn its loss in their prayers. With a Local Guide, visit the ALHAMBRA COMPLEX*, built by Moorish kings. More grand scenery as you reach Montilla to visit a local WINE CELLAR and taste some of its wine. Then, continue to Cordoba on the banks of the Guadalquivir River.
Today’s Distance: 143 mi/ 230 km
Breakfast Breakfast
DAY 4: CORDOBA–SEVILLE.
With a Local Guide visit the magnificent MEZQUITA, famous for its 850 pillars of porphyry, marble, and jasper. On to vibrant, festive Seville.
Today’s Distance: 93 mi/ 150 km
Breakfast Breakfast Dinner Dinner
DAY 5: SEVILLE.
Get to know Seville on the included city tour. The capital of Andalusia, colorful Seville has much to offer: the cathedral, the beautiful La Giralda minaret tower, a symbol of Seville; and the Real Alcázar palace, with its extravagant moorish architecture and opulent gardens. Fun fact: the “Palace of the Kingdom of Naboo”, from Star Wars, and the “Palace of the Kingdom of Dorne”, from Game of Thrones, were filmed in Plaza de España and the Royal Alcazar of Seville.
Breakfast Breakfast
DAY 6: SEVILLE–EVORA, PORTUGAL–LISBON.
Enjoy the scenery of the Sierra de Aracena before crossing into Portugal and the fertile plains of the Alentejo. Admire the forest of cork trees and make a stop to visit Evora, a delightfully attractive Moorish city with arches, alleys, flower-decked balconies, brilliant white houses, and the Temple of Diana. Continue to Lisbon.
Today’s Distance: 267 mi/ 430 km
Breakfast Breakfast
DAY 7: LISBON.
Henry the Navigator made Lisbon the 15th-century “Mistress of the Seas.” You’ll see his monument, the Belem Tower, the Moorish Citadel, the impressive Black Horse Square, and other highlights on the guided sightseeing tour. Spend the afternoon at leisure in the Alfama’s tile-decorated streets, or take an optional excursion to the scenic Portuguese Riviera.
Breakfast Breakfast
DAY 8: LISBON–FÁTIMA–COIMBRA–PORTO.
Stop in Fátima to visit its world-famous SANCTUARY, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Continue to Coimbra, known for its university, one of the oldest in Europe, and to Porto on the northern bank of the Douro River. For the perfect way to round out your day, why not join an optional Douro River cruise and dinner?
Today’s Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km
Breakfast Breakfast
DAY 9: PORTO.
Discover Porto’s highlights on the guided city tour. See its historical cathedral, and visit a PORT WINE CELLAR along the banks of the Douro River. This afternoon, consider an optional excursion to Guimarães, called the “cradle” of Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant.
Breakfast Breakfast Dinner Dinner
DAY 10: PORTO–SALAMANCA, SPAIN.
Enjoy the plentiful woodlands and mountains on your return to Spain via the scenic Douro Valley. Reach the ancient and beautiful university town of Salamanca in the early evening, the best time to take a stroll in the Plaza Mayor.
Today’s Distance: 267 mi/ 430 km
Breakfast Breakfast
DAY 11: SALAMANCA–ÁVILA–SEGOVIA–MADRID. Journey to fortified Ávila with its many towers and visit ST. THERESA’S CONVENT before continuing to Segovia, a medieval town picturesquely set on a rocky hill. Spend some time in Segovia before crossing the boundary between new and old Castile to arrive in Madrid.
Today’s Distance: 168 mi/ 270 km
Breakfast Breakfast
DAY 12: MADRID.
The capital of Spain, situated 2,180 feet above sea level, Madrid is the nearest thing to Heaven, according to Spaniards. Discover Madrid’s main highlights on the included guided city tour.
Breakfast Breakfast
DAY 13: MADRID.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast Breakfast
Accommodations:
CORDOBA Selu (ST) or Selu (ST)
GRANADA Alixares (F)
LISBON Roma (ST)
MADRID Praga (ST) or Praga (ST)
PORTO Portus Cale (ST)
SALAMANCA Catalonia Plaza Mayor Salamanca (F) or Sercotel Artheus Carmelitas Salamanca (ST)
SEVILLE Don Paco (ST)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Sightseeing:
TOLEDO
Guided sightseeing
GRANADA
Guided visit of the Alhambra Complex*
MONTILLA
Visit a wine Bodega
CORDOBA
Guided visit of the Mezquita
SEVILLE
Guided sightseeing
EVORA
Visit
LISBON
Guided sightseeing
FÁTIMA
Visit the Sanctuary
COIMBRA
Visit
PORTO
Guided sightseeing, visit a port wine cellar
SALAMANCA
ÁVILA and SEGOVIA
Visits
MADRID
Guided sightseeing
Notes:
April 07 Departure – Easter
April 28 Departure – Feria in Seville
December 14 Departure – Christmas dinner in Madrid
*Entrance to the Nasrid Palace is not guaranteed
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:
Historic Centre of Oporto
Alhambra and Generalife Granada
Cathedral in Seville
Historic centre of Evora
Historic city of Toledo
Old City of Salamanca
Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct
Old town of Avila with its Extra muros Churches
Belem tower in Lisbon
Cultural landscape of Sintra
Guimaraes
Transportation:
Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi
MEALS
Buffet breakfasts daily; 4 dinners, including a dinner at a local restaurant in Porto
Travel Terms & Conditions:
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