Perfect Portugal & Southern Spain - 14 days
Perfect Portugal & Southern Spain - 14 days
Perfect Portugal & Southern Spain - 14 days
14 Days Starting and ending in Madrid, Spain
Visiting: Madrid, Salamanca, Porto, Fatima, Lisbon, Caceres, Cordoba, Seville, Costa del Sol, Toledo
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 24
Age range:
No minimum age
Special diets catered:
Please adviser requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
COACH TOUR: This two week tour of Spain and Portugal sets off from Madrid, visiting Porto, Lisbon, Cordoba, the Costa del Sol and more. Cruise the Douro River and taste local Port wine in a Porto wine cellar. Visit the mosque-cathedral of La Mezquita in Cordoba and the second-largest cathedral in the Catholic world in Seville. Admire the mountains of Andalusia and the beaches of the Costa del Sol, sample organic local olive oil and explore the Alhambra palace in Granada. Watch a traditional Flamenco show, visit hilltop Toledo and end your journey back in the Spanish capital.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Madrid
Accommodation: Hotel
Bienvenido! Welcome to Madrid! You will be collected at the airport and transferred to our hotel, where the evening is at leisure.
Day 2: Madrid
Location: Madrid
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we explore the Spanish capital on a coach tour. We take in highlights of the city including 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.
After the tour, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. There's an included Welcome Dinner this evening at an authentic Tapas restaurant.
Day 3: Salamanca
Location: Salamanca
Meals Included: Breakfast
Madrid - Salamanca - Porto (Portugal). Departing Madrid after breakfast, we make a stop in the university city of Salamanca, with free time to enjoy a stroll around. After our visit, 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 4: Porto
Location: Porto
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today 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.
2025 Itinerary change: please note in 2025 there is an included group dinner at one of the oldest Fado venues in Porto rather than Lisbon.
Day 5: Fatima
Location: Fatima
Accommodation Name: Overnight: Fatima (in 2024), Coimbra (in 2025)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Porto - Coimbra - Fatima. Departing Porto after breakfast, our first stop today is in Coimbra. This riverfront city is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, which was established in 1290. It was also the birthplace of Fado music. There's free time to explore.
We complete our drive to Fatima, another important site in Christianity. It is here, at the Cova da Iria that the Virgin Mary appeared before three local shepherd children - Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, who are buried at the Sanctuary of Our Lady Fatima, the country's most important pilgrimage site. Tonight, we may be able to attend the candlelit procession at around 22:00.
2025 Itinerary change: Please note in 2025 our visit to Fatima will be replaced with a visit to Aveiro and we will overnight in Coimbra. Please see trip notes for more information.
Day 6: Lisbon
Location: Lisbon
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fatima - 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.
2025 Itinerary change: Please note in 2025 our departure will be from Coimbra instead of Fatima.
Day 7: Lisbon
Location: Lisbon
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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'. Tonight, there is an included group dinner at one of the oldest Fado venues in Lisbon.
2025 itinerary change:In 2025 the included Fado dinner will be in Porto not Lisbon.
Day 8: Caceres
Location: Caceres
Meals Included: Breakfast
Lisbon - Caceres (Spain) - Cordoba. Departing Lisbon, we cross the border back into Spain and the southern region of Andalusia. We make a stop in Caceres, home to a fascinating UNESCO-listed Old Town. Caceres is known for its blend of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance architecture. There's time for a walk through the Plaza Mayor Square and the Old Town. We then climb back on board our coach and complete the journey to Cordoba, where the evening is at leisure.
2025 Itinerary change: Please note in 2025 our visit to Caceres will be replaced with a visit to Merida. Please see the trip notes for more information.
Day 9: Cordoba
Location: Cordoba
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cordoba - Seville. This morning we tour Cordoba, an important Roman city that was also an Islamic centre during the Middle Ages. The most important landmark here is the sprawling La Mezquita mosque-cathedral, which dates back to 988 AD. Entrance to the mosque is included on our tour and we also take a stroll through the Jewish Quarter before departing the city and travelling south-west to Seville, capital of Andalusia.
Day 10: Seville
Location: Seville
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we explore Seville on a guided tour. Entrance to the city's cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world, is included. We also visit the Santa Cruz Quarter, where the famous opera 'Carmen' is largely set. Wander through Maria Luisa Park and the picturesque Plaza Espana. After our tour, the afternoon is free for you to further explore Seville at your own pace.
Day 11: Costa Del Sol
Location: Costa del Sol
Accommodation Name: Overnight: Costa del Sol (2024), Ronda (2025)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Seville - Ronda - Costa del Sol. Leaving Seville after breakfast, we pass through quaint Andalusian villages and make a stop in the picturesque mountain-top town of Ronda, where there is free time to explore and admire the view of the surrounding valleys and mountains.
Continuing our journey, we stop at a local Almazara, olive oil mill. Here we can walk through the olive groves and taste some of the delicious organic olive oil produced here. We then reach the stunning Mediterranean coast of the Costa del Sol, where we will usually stay in Malaga or Torremolinos. The evening is at leisure.
2025 Itinerary change: please note in 2025 we make a stop in Jerez before and overnight in Ronda. Please refer to the trip notes for more information.
Day 12: Costa Del Sol
Location: Costa del Sol
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Costa del Sol - Granada. Today we travel to Granada and enjoy an included visit to the Alhambra complex. This famous 13th century palace and fortress is one of the best-preserved examples of early Islamic architecture anywhere in the world, as well as being home to important Spanish Renaissance architecture. We'll tour Alhambra and the adjacent Generalife Palace and Gardens. The gardens have historically inspired many authors, including Washington Irving. This American author wrote his Tales of the Alhambra in 1832 whilst visiting the area.
Back in the city, there is some free time before we enjoy an included group dinner and Flamenco show.
2025 Itinerary change: please note in 2025 we depart from Ronda and stop for a city tour of Malaga on the Costa del Sol, before reaching Granada. Please refer to the trip notes for more information.
Day 13: Toledo
Location: Toledo
Meals Included: Breakfast
Granada - Toledo - Madrid. We return to the Spanish capital of Madrid today, stopping in the imperial hilltop city of Toledo en route. This picturesque location is surrounded by the Tagus River and is protected by UNESCO. It's also something of a confluence of culture, with Christians, Jews and Muslims having lived side by side for centuries. We enjoy a short tour of the historic Old Town before completing our journey back to the Spanish capital, where the evening is at leisure.
2025 Itinerary change: please note in 2025 we will tour the Alhambra complex and Generalife Gardens before travelling back to Madrid. A stop will not be made in Toledo. Please refer to the trip notes for more information.
Day 14: Madrid
Location: Madrid
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel before our tour comes to an end. There is an included transfer to the airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
4-star hotels -
13 breakfasts & 3 dinners
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13 nights 4-star hotels
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Escorted by an English-speaking Spanish or Portuguese tour leader with the services of local guides for city sightseeing
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Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and departure transfer on day 14
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Transportation by deluxe coach with Wi-Fi and audio headsets
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Guided sightseeing in Madrid, Porto, Lisbon, Cordoba, Seville, Granada & Toledo
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Douro River Cruise & wine tasting in Porto
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Entrance to Cordoba Mosque, Seville Cathedral & Alhambra
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Fado show in Lisbon (including dinner)
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Flamenco experience in Granada (including dinner)
What's Not Included
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International flights and visas
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Additional meals and drinks unless specified
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Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
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City tax of €2 per person per night in Porto and Lisbon (€8 in total per person). To be paid directly to the hotel at check-in/out. Please note we recommend paying your city tax when checking in or in the evening during your stay to save time on check out
Check out our Q&As
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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