Spain's Classics & Portugal

What's Included

• Accommodation

  Experience comfort and style at the H10 Casanova in Barcelona, SH Valencia Palace in Valencia, Barcelo Renacimiento in Granada, and H10 Puerta de Alcala in Seville. Enjoy a luxurious stay at the Vila Gale Collection in Madrid and the Altis Grand Hotel in Elvas, Portugal.

• Transportation

  Travel through Spain and Portugal with ease, utilizing a combination of high-speed trains, comfortable coaches, and scenic boat rides. Enjoy the convenience of included transportation for all major transfers and excursions throughout the tour.

• Meals

  Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Barcelona and a farewell dinner in Lisbon. Savor a 'paella experience' including a paella-making demonstration and lunch, and take a bite of the local culture at a tapas lunch.

• Guided Tours

  Join local experts for guided tours of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Alhambra in Granada, and the Prado Museum in Madrid.

• Cultural Experiences

  Feel the energy of Spain at a flamenco performance in Seville and explore the medieval stories behind the walled town of Obidos.

What's Not Included

• Optional Tours

  Optional tours such as the 'Myths & Legends of Valencia with Tapas' and 'Portugal's Riviera: The Estoril Coast & Sintra' are not included and require additional payment.
  
  

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included in the tour package.
  
  

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
  
  

Experiences

• Stop in the little-known town of Peniscola, the “City in the Sea.”
• Feel the energy of Spain at a flamenco performance in Seville.
• Marvel at world-renowned Spanish art at the Prado Museum.

Options

Valencia: Myths & Legends of Valencia with Tapas

Uncover the mysteries of Valencia on a nighttime walk, delving into the area’s mystical tales. Partake in a tapas dinner paired with regional wines while enjoying the traditional sounds of local music. After dinner, join a local expert and hear stories of local ghosts and legends as you walk along old town Valencia and get to experience Valencia in a new way. Duration approximately 3 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 12 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Portugal’s Riviera is known as the "playground of kings." Many historical and world leaders have chosen this resort area as their home, creating a sophisticated atmosphere. On this fascinating tour you will visit the charming village of Sintra, a UNESCO site, with its fairy-tale palaces and visit its National Palace. Later, a drive through Sintra’s mountain range brings you to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe. Travel along the rugged coastline, passing Guincho beach, a favorite spot for wind surfers, to cosmopolitan Cascais and its captivating bay, beautifully situated overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Duration approximately 5.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Fado: the perfect blend of voice and guitar. A shawl, a guitar, a voice and heartfelt emotion – these are the ingredients of Fado, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Patrimony, as a celebrated form of world music that captures what it is to be Portuguese. No one knows quite how Fado first came into being, but to this day Portugal's traditional music remains at the very heart of the country's culture. In one of Lisbon’s most popular Fado restaurants, professional performers entertain you while you enjoy a three course, candlelit dinner of regional Portuguese cuisine and wine. A Fado dinner and show is an experience that you simply have to include when visiting Portugal. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 20 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Culinaries

• Savor a "paella experience" including a paella-making demonstration and lunch.
• Take a bite of the local culture at a tapas lunch.

Must See

• Step back in time in Toledo, the former capital of the Spanish Empire.
• Visit Antoni Gaudi’s final masterpiece, the awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia.
• Discover the medieval stories behind the walled town of Obidos.

Choice Highlights

Barcelona

Barcelona is an enchanting seaside city with boundless culture, fabled architecture and a world-class drinking and dining scene. Barcelona's architectural treasures span 2,000-plus years. Towering temple columns, ancient city walls and subterranean stone corridors provide a window into Roman-era Barcino. Fast forward a thousand years to the Middle Ages by taking a stroll through the shadowy lanes of the Gothic quarter, past tranquil plazas and soaring 14th-century cathedrals. In other parts of town bloom the sculptural masterpieces of Modernisme, a mix of ingenious and whimsical creations by Gaudí and his Catalan architectural contemporaries for which this city is so well known. Barcelona has also long-inspired artists, including the likes of Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, whose works are in bold display in the city's myriad museums.

La Sagrada Familia, the Holy Family, is a church of the people, built by the people, with the money of the people. While it is not the cathedral of Barcelona, it is widely known due to its unique architecture and phenomenal design initiated by architect Antoni Gaudí. Work on the exploratory church began in 1882 and continue to this day, but with modern technology and the rising number of visitors and donations, the church’s completion date has rapidly become closer. The facades of the church are breathtaking in their intricate and artistic details all of which were inspired by Gaudí. The church is divided into parts including the apse, chapels, cloister, crossing and transepts, crypt, glory facade, the nativity facade, the passion facade, the main nave and the sacristies.

Valencia is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia, Spain. It is the third largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona. The city is located on the banks of the Turia River on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Valencia was founded as a Roman colony in 138 B.C. Its historic center is one of the largest in Spain at 169 hectares in size. The region of Spain, specifically Valencia, is known for its paella: a rice dish native to the country of Spain.

Paella is a type of rice dish originating in the Valencian region on the east coast of Spain. The dish is widely regarded as Spain’s national dish, however most Spaniards consider it to be the regional dish of Valencia. Valencian paella is considered to be the original recipe, even though there are several different kinds of paella. The Valencian dish is comprised of white rice, green vegetables, meat, land snails, beans and seasoning.

Granada is the capital of the province of Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain and sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains at the intersection of four rivers. This city is only an hour from the Mediterranean Coast. Granada has been continuously inhabited by people for the past 2500 years, starting under Ancient Roman rule and features rich cultural elements, historic architecture, beautiful beaches and the snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. The first palace on the site was built in the 11th century and in the 12th and 13th century a fortress-complex palace was built. It is a vast complex, comprised of many structures. The Alhambra is part fortress, part palace, part garden and part government city. Many visitors come to Grenada specifically just to visit and see the Alhambra.

Seville is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Seville is the top destination in the Andalusia region for travelers. Approximately 2,200 years old, the early origins of the city date back to the year 712. It is situated on the Guadalquivir River which splits the city into two halves. Seville is famous for being the birthplace of the Flamenco dance. It is also known for its culture, monuments, traditions and artistic heritage.

While in Seville you have the choice between two activities. First, you can choose to walk along the cobblestone streets of the Santa Cruz quarter with an expert guide, admiring the white washed houses and aromatic orange trees before continuing to the stunning Plaza de España in Maria Luisa Park. Or, if you prefer, you can get a glimpse of the city from a different perspective with a boat ride on the Guadalquivir River, gently drifting by timeworn bridges and gaining insight into the city’s historical connection to New World discoveries.



Walking Tour of Santa Cruz Quarter

Activity Level: 3

Guests should be able to walk over uneven pavement and cobblestone and stand for 45-60 minutes without sitting.



Boat Ride on Guadalquivir River

Activity Level: 1

Guests should be able to get on and off the boat.

The heartbeat of Spain can be found in the houses of flamenco artists. A traditional flamenco show can be found in many of the small towns and cities scattered through the southern region of Spain, Andalusia. Flamenco is a style of dance encompassing the rhythm of lifestyle, personality and beauty of Spaniards. There is eminent beauty in every aspect of a Flamenco show from Andalusian décor, castanets, flamenco attire, polka dots, and the unforgettable strumming of the Spanish guitar. Flamenco is a type of Spanish folk music and dance originating in the region of Andalucía in southern Spain. It includes, singing, dancing, guitar playing and handclaps.

Córdoba is located in Andalucía, southern Spain, and is the capital of the province of Córdoba. This city has an interesting history full of many diverse cultures and was the capital of a Roman province, the capital of an Arab State and a form of an Islamic government. It has the second largest old town in Europe, featuring Roman architecture, including a Roman bridge, as well as several Islamic and Jewish mosques.

Madrid is the capital and the largest city in Spain. Madrid sits on the Manzanares River, just northeast of the center of the Iberian Peninsula. It is estimated that the origins of Madrid can be traced back to the 2nd century B.C. Madrid is home to the head of the Spanish government, the Spanish royal family and the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization. Madrid’s influence on politics, education, entertainment, fashion and culture make it one of the world’s major global cities.

Stroll the halls and galleries inside the world-famous Prado Museum. On a guided tour, step back in time as you view its priceless collection of paintings and sculpture. Open since 1819, the Prado houses the works of legendary European artists from the 15th through early 19th centuries. Stand before the works of Velázquez and Goya, Spain’s greatest painters. Through their genius, gain insight into the rich culture surrounding you. Notable in the museum’s collection is Velázquez’s Las Meninas, one of the most important and studied paintings in the western tradition. Goya’s groundbreaking The Third of May 1808 also calls the Prado home. Whether you are an art aficionado or simply wish to explore the thrill of human expression, this is the perfect way to complete your visit to Madrid.

Toledo is a municipality located in central Spain, about 43 miles south of Madrid and is the capital of the Toledo province. The history of Toledo dates back to the Roman occupation circa 192 B.C. The old city of Toledo is located on a mountain surrounded on three sides by the Tagus River, and medieval walls on the fourth side. From the top of the mountain it features a 150 degree view of the rest of the city.

Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals. Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums are all part of the colorful cityscape, but the real delights of discovery lie in wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets. The Lisbon experience encompasses so many things, from enjoying a fresh pastry and bica (espresso) on a petite leafy plaza to window-shopping in elegant Chiado. It’s mingling with Lisboêtas at a neighborhood festival or watching the sunset from the old Moorish castle.

Standing proudly on the bank of the Targus river in Lisbon is Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This 16th-century tower was where explorers from the Age of Discovery set out towards the New World, across the Atlantic.

Obidos is a small town located on the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. The town’s origins can be traced back to an early Roman settlement. The area of the town is located on a hilltop, surrounded by a fortified wall. From its streets, squares, fortified wall and castle, the town remains as a well preserved example of medieval architecture. It is because of this that the town is a popular tourist destination.

Mode of Transport

Travel through Spain and Portugal with ease, utilizing a combination of high-speed trains, comfortable coaches, and scenic boat rides. Enjoy the convenience of included transportation for all major transfers and excursions throughout the tour.