Grand Tour of Spain & Portugal

Grand Tour of Spain and Portugal

A grand exploration of the creat cities and treasures of the Iberian Peninsula.

16 days from £1359

Excursions & Visits
• Salamanca - splendid Renaissance architecture
• Porto - spectacular setting on the River Douro
• Lisbon - historic old town
• Evora - fortified hill-tip town
• Seville - majestic Andalucian city
• Cordoba - Spain's grandest Moorish mosque
• Granada and the Alhambra - one of Andalucia's must-see places
• Toledo - city of three cultures
• Madrid Spain's cosmopolitan capital 

For a little bit extra why not try..
• Porto sightseeing - see the highlights
• Seville sightseeing - enjoy the best of the city
• Cordoba sightseeing - explore this Andalucian city
• Madridy city tour - see the landmarks
• Cities of Castille: Avila and Segovia - spectacularly situated historic cities

Your holiday itinerary
Day 1 Local departure by coach, then to the Paris area for an overnight stay.
Day 2 Through France to the Bordeaux area for an overnight stay. (B,D)
Day 3 - Into Spain, to the Salamanca area, for an overnight stay. (B,D)
Day 4 Salamanca - Included morning visit to Salamanca, regarded by many as Spain's finest example of Renaissance architecture then cross into Portugal to Porto for an overnight stay. (B,D)
Day 5 Porto - Enjoy an included visit to Porto. Explore independently or join our optional guided sightseeing tour of the historic quarter. Later this afternoon, we leave Porto and head to Lisbon for two nights. (B,D)
Day 6 Lisbon - Included full day in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. A panoramic coach tour takes us around the main sights before visiting the Belem area of the city and in particular the Monument to the Discoveries and the monastery. (B,D)
Day 7 Evora - We leave Lisbon and head east to the hill-top town of Evora. With its fortified walls and castle, narrow cobbled streets and brilliant white houses. Evora is a fine example of a Moorish city. Spend time here before we cross into Andalucia, Spain to Seville for a two-night stay. (B,D)
Day 8 Seville - Included full-day in Seville. Our optional, half-day guided sightseeing tour will feature the major sights including the cathedral, the third largest in the world, and the equally imposing Alcazar Royal Palace, which dates from the 12th century. We also walk through the quaint streets of the Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz. For the rest of your time, you are free to relax and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this lovely city. (B,D)
Day 9 Cordoba - Leaving Seville, we travel to Cordoba, home to the grandest mosque ever built by the Moors in Spain, the Mezquita. Join our optional city tour to see the beautiful gardens of the Alcazar, and the imposing Plaza de la Corredera, once the site of a Roman ampitheatre and the burnings of the Inquisition. We continue to Granada for a two-night stay. (B,D)
Day 10 Granada and the Alhambra - The hightlight of our included guided tour of Granada is the vast Alhambra Palace which dominates the skyline, with the snowy peaks of Sierra Nevada mountains in the background. Dating back to the 11th century it is one of Andalucia's 'must see' places. You'll also have free time to explore this impressive and delightful city independently. (B,D)
Day 11 Toledo - Leaving Granada, we head north to Toledo, often regarded as the Spanish city with the greatest wealth of monuments. Known as the 'city of three cultures', because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived there for centuries. Behind its walls, Toledo preserves its artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. The diversity is best represented in the old quarter of the capital of La Mancha. Continue to Madrid for three nights. (B,D)
Day 12 Madrid - Included day in Madrid, a truly cosmopolitan city, with a wealth of cultural attractions. The splendid Plaza Mayor provides the perfect starting point to explore Old Madrid, lined with beautifully muralled buildings. See the huge Palacio Real (Royal Palace), a landmark of the city, explore the Paseo de Prado of Bourbon Madrid and enjoy a stroll around the magnificent Retiro Park. (B,D)
Day 13 Cities of Castille: Avila & Segovia - Another free day in Madrid of join our fabulous optional excursion. We travel first to Avila, a World Heritage Site, which rises from the ground, under the dramatic backdrop of the Gredos Sierra. Behind the walls of this capital of Castile-Leon, a wealth of beautiful Romanesque and Gothic architecture and Renaissance churches and palaces can be found, all examples of bygone splendours of the city. We continue to Segovia, with its old quarter and Roman aqueduct, both of which are World Heritage Sites. Segovia, quite rightly lays claim to being the most spectacularly sited city in Spain, built high on a rocky spur and surrounded by the Eresma and Clamores Rivers. In addition to its famous aqueduct, numerous Romanesque churches, the cathedral and fortress create a magnificent landscape that presides over this part of castile. (B,D)
Day 14 We leave Madrid and travel into France for an overnight stay in the Bordeaux area. (B,D)
Day 15 Continue to the Paris area for an overnight stay. (B)
Day 16 We travel to Calais, then return home. (B)
Included Meals: B=Breakfast, D=Dinner

Your hotels
You’ll stay overnight at the 4-star Hotel Tefio on the outskirts of Salamanca, followed by one-night at the 4-star Eurostars Hotel Das Artes in Porto. In Lisbon, you will stay for two-nights at the 4-star Hotel Turism and in Seville you will stay for two-nights at the 4-star Hotel Tryp Macarena, or similar. Your two-night stay in Granada will be at the 4-star Senator Granada Spa Hotel or the Hotel San Anton. In Madrid, you will stay for three-nights at the 4-star Hotel Praga. Your overnight stays in France will be in city-style hotels.

What’s included? 
• 15 nights' accommodation with 15 continental breakfast & 13 evening meals
• Excursions and visits as detailed above
Travel by Silver Service coach for
• Extra legroom for your added comfort
• Rear lounge to relax and chat
• Porterage at your hotels