Spain's Classics With Portugal With Optional Pre-tour

You are on your way to a colorful cultural adventure featuring the best of Spain and Portugal.

Welcome to Spain. Begin your journey in the vibrant city of Barcelona. Tonight, meet your fellow travelers and enjoy a welcome dinner. Today dinner will be included.

Start your morning with a walk from your hotel to some of Barcelona's main sights, getting to experience this amazing city as it was meant to be explored - on foot. After some free time for lunch on your own, embark on a panoramic tour of Barcelona, showcasing the Columbus Monument, Parc de Montjuic, and Antoni Gaudi's Batllo House and Casa Mila building (UNESCO). A local expert will accompany you on a visit to the awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia* (UNESCO), considered to be the most famous of Gaudi's work. Work on the basilica began in 1882, and it is scheduled to be completed in 2026 on the 100th anniversary of the architect's death. Today breakfast will be included.

*On the rare occasion that the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is not available, you will instead visit another top Spanish attraction.

Today, say goodbye to Barcelona! On your way to Valencia, stop in beautiful Peniscola where you will enjoy free time to explore on your own. Known as the "City in the Sea," this fortified town and its Knights Templar Castle dating back to the 13th century are a little hidden gem. End your day in Valencia, a treasure trove of Roman and Arabic architecture, surrounded by citrus groves. Perhaps you will join an optional tour that explores the myths and legends of Valencia. Today breakfast will be included.

On a panoramic tour of Valencia, see the City of Arts and Sciences – an ultramodern educational institution. Explore the city's old town on foot, discovering the history with a local expert. View the ornate Serranos Towers before wandering through the bustling central market, where you'll shop side-by-side with the locals. Enjoy time on your own to explore as you wish. Travel to Albufera, the area where paella first originated. Enjoy a short boat ride on the canals surrounding the rice field plantations. Visit a traditional fisherman's home, known as a barraca, and enjoy a paella-making demonstration and a delicious paella lunch. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.

Today you'll make your way to Granada, the last great capital of the Moors in Spain before it fell to the Catholic monarchs in 1492. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for dinner at a nearby restaurant. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

This morning, join a local expert for a tour of the world-famous Alhambra** (UNESCO,) a stone fortress overlooking the entire city and serving as a mesmerizing example of Islamic architecture. End your day in Seville, considered Spain's "cultural capital." Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

**Alhambra tickets are not guaranteed and subject to availability per Spanish Governing Authority. On the occasion that tickets are not available, you will visit another top Spanish attraction and your group leader or travel agent will be notified.

Decide how you see Seville because it's your choice! Walk the Santa Cruz Quarter with an expert guide, admiring the orange trees and white-washed houses before continuing to the Plaza de España -OR- see the city from a different perspective with a boat ride on the Guadalquivir River, drifting by timeworn bridges and towers. Later, visit the Seville Cathedral*** (UNESCO) – the largest gothic church in the world – and see Columbus' tomb and the Giralda Bell Tower. End the afternoon with a light tapas lunch, overlooking the cathedral. This evening, enjoy an authentic flamenco show (UNESCO) featuring Seville's most famous traditions. Today breakfast and lunch will be included.

***The Seville Cathedral requires a dress code that does not allow for shorts, flip flops, bare shoulders or hats.

Travel to the extraordinary Moorish city of Cordoba. Upon arrival, embark on a walking tour of La Mezquita (UNESCO), an 8th-century mosque that was converted into the city's cathedral in the 16th century. Continue your exploration of Cordoba in the city's well-preserved and historical Jewish Quarter. Then, board the AVE high-speed train to Spain's capital city, Madrid! Arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy some free time to rest or venture out and explore on your own. Today breakfast will be included.

During a locally guided panoramic tour of Madrid's historic center, see iconic sites such as the Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, where events have been held since the 17th century. Join a local expert to explore the priceless masterpieces of the Prado Museum, which opened in 1819 and boasts some of the world's finest collections of art by masters such as Velazquez and Goya. Your afternoon will be free to explore this fascinating city further. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

Travel to Toledo (UNESCO), the capital of medieval Spain until 1560. Embark on a comprehensive tour, highlighting the magnificent Gothic cathedral. Then, visit the Church of Santo Tome and view El Greco's masterpiece painting, The Burial of Count Orgaz. Bid Spain adios and cross the border into Portugal, arriving in the off-the-beaten-path town of Elvas, a garrison town recognized as a World Heritage site. Today breakfast will be included.

After enjoying a relaxing morning in Elvas, make your way to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Spend your day uncovering legends of the country's past, including the Jeronimo's Monastery (UNESCO), the Monument to the Discoveries, and the Tower of Belém (UNESCO). Enjoy time in the evening to settle into your new home for the next 3 nights. Today breakfast will be included.

The day is yours! Discover the capital city on your own. Consider tasting the city's mouthwatering cuisine or taking the historic tram to the vibrant Alfama district. Perhaps you will go on an optional excursion to the Portuguese Riviera, visiting the picturesque towns of Cascais and Sintra. Today breakfast will be included.

Today, visit one of Portugal's most famed towns – Obidos! With its labyrinth of cobblestoned streets and whitewashed houses, this medieval town beckons you to linger and enjoy its charm. You may choose to try one of the local delicacies – sour cherry liquor served in chocolate cups, or simply enjoy the narrow streets and picture perfect alleyways. Gather this evening for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of an unforgettable trip to Spain and Portugal. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.

Return home with memories of a beautiful land and a diverse cultural heritage. Today breakfast will be included.