Itinerary
- Day 1
Madrid
You'll arrive in Madrid and get transferred to your hotel where you'll meet your Tour Director and the rest of the group. The evening is yours to wander around the city and get a feel for Spain's capital at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Madrid)
- Day 2
Madrid
This morning starts with a guided tour through Madrid's major art museums, the Royal Palace, and some of the city's iconic squares. Afterward, you have time to explore on your own before joining everyone for a Welcome Dinner featuring authentic Spanish cuisine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Authentic Welcome Dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Madrid)
Included Activities
- Guided discovery of Madrid including Museo del Prado, Royal Palace of Madrid, Plaza Mayor, and El Retiro Park
- Welcome Dinner
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Toledo, an ancient city built atop a gorge and home to one of Spain's top 10 cathedrals (own expense)
Landmarks/POIs Museo del Prado Royal Palace of Madrid Plaza Mayor El Retiro Park - Day 3
Madrid to Granada
You'll travel toward Granada with a stop in Úbeda, a World Heritage town where Gothic and Renaissance architecture fill the streets. There's time to taste locally made extra virgin olive oil before continuing on to Granada for a behind-the-scenes flamenco performance and dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Local specialties during Behind-the-Scenes Flamenco Performance)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Meliá Granada or similar)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Úbeda's Gothic and early Renaissance architecture
- Tasting of locally grown and produced extra virgin olive oil
- Behind-the-Scenes Flamenco Performance with dinner
Landmarks/POIs Úbeda 
- Day 4
Granada
The Alhambra takes center stage today - this Moorish palace and fortress complex from 1238 has views overlooking Granada and the River Darro. After your time there, the rest of the day is open for exploring the city however you'd like.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Meliá Granada or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit to the Alhambra Moorish palace and fortress complex with architectural tour and views
Optional Activities
- Optional guided walk through the Albaicín neighbourhood, Granada's oldest district, featuring narrow streets, whitewashed buildings, and one of Spain's best-preserved Arab hammams
Landmarks/POIs Alhambra Albaicín - Day 5
Granada to Córdoba
You'll head to Córdoba and walk through its distinctive Moorish architecture, including the Jewish Quarter and Calleja de las Flores. That evening, you'll return to the Mezquita to see it with special atmospheric lighting and sound effects that really highlight the space.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel NH Collection Amistad Córdoba or similar)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Córdoba's Jewish Quarter
- Visit to Calleja de las Flores (Flower Alley)
- Evening visit to the Mezquita with special lighting and atmospheric sound
Landmarks/POIs Mezquita Calleja de las Flores Jewish Quarter 
- Day 6
Córdoba to Seville
After breakfast, you'll travel to Seville and check into your hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own, then join the group for an authentic tapas experience in the old town, sampling local specialties at traditional tabernas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Authentic Seville Tapas Experience with local specialties including solomillo al whisky (pork loin with whisky sauce), espinacas con garbanzos (spinach and chickpeas), and jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn-fed Iberian ham))
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Seville)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Authentic Seville Tapas Experience exploring tabernas and learning about the city's hidden gems
- Day 7
Seville
You have the full day in Seville to do what you want. Many people visit Plaza de España, the Royal Alcázar, and Parque de María Luisa, though there's also an optional tour to nearby Jerez de la Frontera if you'd prefer something different.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Seville)
Optional Activities
- Optional tour to Jerez de la Frontera, considered the home of flamenco and renowned for world-famous Jerez wines
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de España Royal Alcázar of Seville Parque de María Luisa - Day 8
Seville to Lisbon
You'll cross into Portugal and visit Monsaraz, a medieval village surrounded by ancient walls and olive groves. From there, you'll stop in Évora for a wine tasting at a 15th-century convent and lunch before heading to Lisbon for the evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (Sumptuous lunch at Pousada Convento Évora)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Avani Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Monsaraz medieval village
- Southern Portugal Wine Tasting at Pousada Convento Évora with pre-lunch tasting
- Lunch at Pousada Convento Évora
Landmarks/POIs Monsaraz Pousada Convento Évora 
- Day 9
Lisbon
Lisbon's hilly streets come alive as you explore the city, riding an iconic tram and visiting Belém Tower to learn about Portugal's maritime history. You'll take a hands-on portuguese tart making class at a local bakery, then wrap up with a fado farewell dinner featuring traditional folk music.
- Meals
- Dinner (Fado Farewell Dinner with live fado music performance)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Avani Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Lisbon's hilly streets
- Scenic tram ride
- Visit to Belém Tower
- Portuguese Tart Making Class at a local bakery with hands-on lesson and tasting
- Fado Farewell Dinner with live traditional folk music performance
Landmarks/POIs Belém Tower Pastéis de Belém - Day 10
Lisbon to Sintra to Cascais
A day trip takes you to Sintra, known for its fairytale atmosphere and the famous Pena Palace with its vivid Romanticist architecture. You'll explore the palace gardens, then continue to Cascais, a coastal resort town with golden beaches and medieval buildings to see.
Included Activities
- Visit to Pena Palace with palace exploration and garden tour
- Exploration of Sintra
- Leisure time in Cascais
Landmarks/POIs Pena Palace Sintra Cascais - Day 11
Lisbon to Óbidos to Nazaré to Coimbra
You'll visit several of Portugal's medieval towns starting with Óbidos, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval villages with intact walls and a castle. Next comes Nazaré with its charming cobblestone lanes and famous big-wave surfing reputation. The day ends in Coimbra, home to Portugal's oldest university.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Coimbra Dona Inês or Tivoli Coimbra Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Óbidos medieval village with walls and castle
- Visit to Nazaré
- Arrival in Coimbra
Landmarks/POIs Óbidos Nazaré Coimbra 
- Day 12
Coimbra to Aveiro to Porto
Aveiro, often called Portugal's version of Venice, is where you'll board a traditional moliceiro boat for a canal cruise. You'll see the colorful azulejo-tiled houses in the Beira Mar neighborhood and check out the bustling fish market before continuing to Porto by the river.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Porto Centro Santa Catarina or similar)
Included Activities
- Traditional Moliceiro boat canal cruise in Aveiro
- Exploration of Beira Mar neighborhood with azulejo tiles
- Visit to Aveiro fish market
Landmarks/POIs Aveiro Beira Mar - Day 13
Porto
A walking tour takes you through Porto's hilly streets and its history. You'll have an exclusive wine tasting at a private quinta with a farewell lunch hosted by the owners. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you like.
- Meals
- Lunch (Farewell Lunch at a private quinta)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Porto Centro Santa Catarina or similar)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Porto
- Exclusive Wine Tasting at a local quinta
- Farewell Lunch at the quinta hosted by owners
Landmarks/POIs Porto - Day 14
Porto to Douro River Cruise
You'll transfer to Porto and board the MS Estrela cruise ship. After meeting fellow travelers and the Cruise Director at a welcome reception, you'll take a scenic sunset cruise along the Douro River.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Embarkation on MS Estrela
- Welcome Reception
- Sunset cruise on the Douro River
- Day 15
Lamego and Pinhão
The ship cruises the Douro River with countless vineyards lining both sides. There's a Portuguese language lesson covering essential phrases, and you'll visit Lamego to see its baroque cathedral and one of Portugal's best museums. Dinner is a portuguese quinta experience in Pinhão.
- Meals
- Dinner (Portuguese Quinta Dinner with traditional dishes and dessert at a local quinta)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Portuguese language lesson
- Visit to Lamego
- Baroque cathedral visit - Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies
- Visit to one of Portugal's best museums in Lamego
- Portuguese Quinta Dinner with traditional dishes and dessert
Optional Activities
- Optional sampling of Bola de Lamego, a local specialty smoked ham roll
Landmarks/POIs Lamego Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies Pinhão - Day 16
Vega de Terrón and Castelo Rodrigo
You'll cruise across the border into Spain at Vega de Terrón. An excursion takes you to Castelo Rodrigo, a tiny hilltop village with preserved ruins and a castle, plus a stone statue of Santiago Matamoros overlooking both countries.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Excursion to Castelo Rodrigo with exploration of ruins, castle, and Santiago Matamoros statue
Landmarks/POIs Vega de Terrón Castelo Rodrigo - Day 17
Salamanca and Barca d'Alva
Disembarking for a coach journey to Salamanca, you'll see its sunlit sandstone buildings and the majestic city square. A flamenco show with lunch fills the afternoon before you return to Barca d'Alva where your ship waits. Back on board, there's a traditional portuguese barbecue dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch during Flamenco Show), Dinner (Traditional Portuguese barbecue dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Coach journey to Salamanca
- Exploration of Salamanca
- Flamenco Show with lunch
- Traditional Portuguese barbecue dinner
Landmarks/POIs Salamanca Barca d'Alva - Day 18
Mateus Palace to Régua
An excursion takes you to Mateus Palace and its gardens, a living museum connected to the famous Mateus rosé wine. You'll rejoin the ship once it docks in Régua.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Excursion to Mateus Palace and gardens with palace tour
Landmarks/POIs Mateus Palace Régua - Day 19
Entre-os-Rios
Your morning includes a portuguese quinta port tasting at a local vineyard with outstanding Douro Valley views. Later, you'll head to Entre-os-Rios where you have free time to explore this vibrant riverside town.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Portuguese Quinta Port Tasting with views over Douro Valley
Landmarks/POIs Entre-os-Rios - Day 20
Porto
Back in Porto, a guided tour covers the city's iconic sights followed by a local port winery tour with tasting. You can explore Bolhão food market, shop for souvenirs, or join an optional excursion to Guimarães. The evening brings a final farewell dinner on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell Dinner with newfound friends)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MS Estrela)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Guided tour of Porto's iconic sights
- Local port winery tour and tasting
- Farewell Dinner on board
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to the World Heritage-listed city of Guimarães, known as 'the birthplace of Portuguese nationality', featuring Guimarães Castle and historic landmarks
Landmarks/POIs Bolhão Market Guimarães Guimarães Castle - Day 21
Porto
You'll have a final breakfast on board the ship, then transfer to Porto Airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final breakfast on board
