Itinerary
- Day 1
Madrid
You'll arrive in Madrid and get transferred to your hotel at one of four times depending on your flight: 09:00, 11:30, 13:30, or 16:00. The rest of the day is open for you to explore at your own pace - there's plenty to see with the city's wide boulevards, large parks, and different architectural styles. At 18:00 you'll meet up with your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant where you'll get to know the other travelers on the tour.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant with wine)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Explore Madrid's elegant boulevards, expansive parks, and varied architectural styles
Landmarks Plaza de Cibeles Royal Palace Puerta del Sol 
- Day 2
Toledo - Granada
Heading south from Madrid, you'll visit a craftsman who specializes in Damascene work, an ancient technique of setting gold and silver into iron that dates back to Moorish times. After that you'll go to Toledo, which sits high above the River Tagus and was once Spain's capital. Your Local Expert will walk you through the narrow cobbled streets to the Church of Santo Tomé, where you can see El Greco's 'The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.' Later you'll travel on to Granada for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Damascene workshop and meet master artisan
- Explore Toledo's ancient city with Local Expert
- Visit Church of Santo Tomé to see El Greco's masterpiece
Landmarks Church of Santo Tomé River Tagus - Day 3
Seville
Granada starts with the Alhambra Palace and its arabesque gardens, fountains, and intricately carved stone with your Local Expert. From there you'll see the Generalife's exotic water gardens, the summer home of Spanish royals, and enjoy views over the town. Then you head to Seville and get to choose: visit the cathedral where Christopher Columbus is buried and explore the old Jewish Quarter, or take a panoramic city tour with a café stop instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Alhambra Palace with Local Expert
- Explore Generalife Gardens
- Explore Granada with Local Expert
- Visit Seville Cathedral with Local Expert (Insight Choice option)
- Explore Seville's top sights on panoramic city tour (Insight Choice option)
Landmarks Alhambra Palace Generalife Gardens Seville Cathedral 
- Day 4
Seville
Today is yours to spend as you'd like in Seville. If you want a structured experience, there's an optional trip to Córdoba to see the 8th-century Mezquita mosque with a Christian cathedral built inside it. Back in Seville you could learn flamenco basics and watch a performance at the Cristina Heeren Foundation, or simply wander around Triana's restaurants or the local night market Lonja del Barranco for tapas and sangria.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Cristina Heeren Foundation: flamenco lesson and performance
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience to Córdoba - visit the Mezquita (8th century mosque with Christian cathedral)
- Visit Cristina Heeren Foundation for flamenco dance lesson and performance
- Explore Triana neighborhood restaurants
- Visit Lonja del Barranco night market for local tapas
Landmarks Cristina Heeren Foundation Mezquita (Córdoba Cathedral-Mosque) Triana - Day 5
Évora - Lisbon
You'll travel to Évora in Portugal, a university town and one of Europe's best-preserved medieval places with architecture from Roman times mixed in. There you'll visit the Capela dos Ossos, a chapel decorated with 5,000 bones in a unique way. After that you'll continue on to Lisbon for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) with Travel Director
- Explore Évora ancient city with Travel Director
Landmarks Capela dos Ossos Évora 
- Day 6
Lisbon
Your Local Expert leads a guided tour of Lisbon, moving through the Lower Town's wide avenues and the Bairro Alto neighborhood to Terreiro do Paco, the city's main square. You'll go to the Belém Quarter and try the famous Pastéis de Belém from the historic bakery that's been using the same recipe for nearly 200 years. See the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belém Tower, which was originally built in the river but now sits on the bank. The Jerónimos Monastery, 500 years old with its UNESCO-listed Manueline architecture, is also on your route. The afternoon is free, and there's an optional experience to the Portuguese Riviera if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Snack (Pastéis de Belém (Portuguese pastry delicacy))
Included Activities
- Guided city orientation with Local Expert - Lower Town and Bairro Alto to Terreiro do Paco
- Visit Belém Quarter
- Taste Pastéis de Belém from historic patisserie
- View Monument to the Discoveries
- View Belém Tower
- Visit Jerónimos Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience to Portuguese Riviera
Landmarks Terreiro do Paco Belém Quarter Monument to the Discoveries Belém Tower Jerónimos Monastery - Day 7
Fátima - Salamanca
Traveling north from Lisbon into green hills, you'll reach Fátima, Portugal's most important pilgrimage destination. Visit the chapel that marks where the Virgin Mary appeared to three children in 1917. You'll cross back into Spain and go to Salamanca, known for its golden stone buildings and the lovely arcades around Plaza Mayor. The Puente Romano spans the River Tormes, and 15 of its 26 arches date back to ancient Roman times.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chapel at Fátima pilgrimage site
- View Plaza Mayor with Local Expert
- See Puente Romano (historic bridge)
Landmarks Chapel of the Apparitions, Fátima Plaza Mayor Puente Romano 
- Day 8
Ávila - Madrid
Crossing through the rocky hills of Castile, you'll arrive at Ávila and walk inside its ancient walls, completely surrounding the city from the 11th century in a way that's rare in Europe. After that you head back to Madrid to explore more with your Local Expert. By evening you'll join your Travel Director and the other travelers for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant, toasting the end of your travels together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Celebration Dinner at local restaurant with wine)
Included Activities
- Walk within Ávila's ancient walled city
- Explore Madrid highlights with Local Expert
- Celebration Dinner at local restaurant with wine
Landmarks Ávila City Walls - Day 9
Madrid
After breakfast, you'll depart Madrid for the airport with transfers available at 07:00, 09:00, or 11:00 depending on your flight time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
