¡Bienvenidos a Espana! Upon arrival at Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), make your own way to your hotel for check-in, then spend the rest of the day getting acquainted with the region’s beachside capital.
At 7pm, meet your tour director and fellow travellers at your hotel’s reception desk for a briefing.
Enjoy a day discovering Barcelona. In the city centre, drive along Paseo de Gracia, one of Barcelona’s most significant avenues, home to some of famous architect Antoni Gaudi’s most recognisable works. Look up to the facades of Casa Batllo, with its skeletal balconies and colourful mosaics, as well as La Pedrera (Casa Mila), known for its stone facade and wrought-iron balconies.
Then, visit the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s most famous and ambitious work, under construction since 1882. Step inside to admire its intricate facades and towering spires and learn about Gaudi’s inspiration for the church’s design.
Choose to stay this afternoon to explore Las Ramblas, or enjoy a drink on the rooftop of your hotel looking out over the Sagrada (at own expense).
This evening, come together as a group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Sagrada Familia visit
Following breakfast at your hotel, bid farewell to Barcelona and set a course northwest for San Sebastian. Your first stop along the way is the Roman city of Zaragoza, situated on the banks of the Ebro River and known as the birthplace of the famous painter Francisco de Goya. Catch a glimpse of the riverside Nuestra Senora del Pilar and the 15th-century Stone Bridge – the oldest in the city.
Continue on to Pamplona, renowned as the stage of Spain’s annual ‘Running of the Bulls’ festival where thousands gather to watch brave runners lead bulls through the city streets. Wander the medieval streets and study the city’s Gothic architecture, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real at its centre.
Arrive in San Sebastian, a coastal city between the Urgull and Igeldo mountains, where you’ll enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. six hours
Set out for a day of adventure in San Sebastian, one of Europe’s premier Basque destinations known for its beach, La Concha, and culinary scene. Begin with a tour of the city, wandering down its waterfront promenade to the Old Town, full of Baroque and Gothic churches and plazas.
Then, embrace San Sebastian’s foodie reputation with a pintxo walk through the town’s many eateries. Similar to tapas, a ‘pintxo’ is a small snack typically enjoyed with drinks.
Spend the rest of the evening as you wish. Perhaps you may like to continue your pintxo exploration and eat like a local with your fellow travellers.
Wave goodbye to La Concha bay of San Sebastian as you depart for Oviedo. Cross into Asturias, a region known for its traditional cuisine and cider houses (sidrerias) in towns like Getaria. Here, stop for a tasting of this locally crafted ciders.
Make a stop at Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, famously home to the Guggenheim museum.
As you leave Bilbao, the road takes you along the Basque Coast. Entering Covadonga, look for the village cathedral and stop by at the sanctuary and grotto, home to the patroness of Asturias, Our Lady of Covadonga. Pass by Santander, the region’s capital, and catch a glimpse of the Palacio de la Magdalena, perched on a peninsula.
Your day ends in Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, home to the Oviedo Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece.
Travel time: Driving – approx. four hours
Begin your day with a city tour of Oviedo. Visit the Cathedral of San Salvador, housing the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Holy Chamber, then stroll through the Plaza del Fontan.
Depart from Oviedo and head towards A Coruna, driving through Asturias and Galicia. Along the way, see the Tower of Hercules, the oldest Roman lighthouse still in use.
Continue your journey to Santiago de Compostela, the final destination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
This evening is at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. four hours
Visit Santiago de Compostela, the final stop of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage
This morning, embark on a walking tour of Santiago de Compostela and learn about its significance in the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, culminating at the Santiago Cathedral, which houses the tomb of Saint James the Apostle inside. Wander through the Praza do Obradoiro, then continue through the medieval streets of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. Visit the Monastery of San Martino Pinario, one of Spain’s largest religious complexes.
You may wish to join an optional traditional Galician dinner this evening with a traditional queimada ritual believed to ward off evil spirits with a flame and incantation.
Depart Santiago de Compostela this morning and head south towards Portugal, with your first brief stop in the coastal city of Vigo on the precipice of the Atlantic Ocean.
Continue to Braga, one of Portugal’s oldest cities, where you’ll drive past landmarks like the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary and the ancient Se Cathedral.
This afternoon, arrive in Porto, and check in to your accommodation for the rest of the day at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 3.5 hours
Wake for a day discovering Porto on a guided tour. Admire the Porto Cathedral, the Stock Exchange Palace and Igreja de Santa Clara church.
Later, board your cruise for an easy ride along the waters of the Douro River, the city’s central lifeline, accompanied by a port wine tasting.
Back on land, spend your evening freely.
Douro River cruise
Fuel up at breakfast before setting out for Coimbra, the birthplace of fado – a popular style of traditional Portuguese music. Explore the historic centre of town, including the University of Coimbra and its Joanina Library – a Baroque-style building home to a colony of bats that protect their collection of more than 40,000 books by eating harmful insects.
Spend the rest of the day at your own pace, exploring this academic city.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 minutes
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then set your sights on the towns of the Portuguese countryside. Start your day in historic Tomar, the former seat of the Order of the Knights Templar, home to the sacred Convent of Christ. This Gothic and Manueline masterwork was once a 12th-century Templar stronghold and took over five centuries to complete.
Continue to the fishing town of Nazare, famed for its world-class surfing, with free time to explore North Beach and its waves averaging 15 metres high.
Round out the day with a trip to Obidos, where you’ll have time to explore the medieval town and its 16th-century aqueduct.
Later, arrive in the city of Lisbon and check in for the evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
After breakfast, it’s time to hit the streets of Lisbon on a morning sightseeing tour. Wander the main squares and avenues, passing Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery, a masterpiece of Manueline architecture where Vasco da Gama is entombed. See the Padrao dos Descobrimentos, or ‘Monument of the Discoverers’, on the northern bank of the Tagus River and the Marquis of Pombal Square.
Drive through central Lisbon, including Rossio Square and Liberty Avenue. In the evening, consider an optional traditional Portuguese dinner at one of Lisbon’s oldest Fado venues.
Wave goodbye to Portugal as you travel across the border to Merida. Capital of the western Spanish region of Extremadura, Merida’s famed Roman ruins date back to the 1st century BCE.
Spend time exploring the remains of this ancient colony on a walking tour of the city and stand at the centre of the well-preserved Roman Theatre.
Continue to Madrid and check in at your hotel for the evening at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. six hours
Set out for a morning tour of Madrid, from Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa to the streets of the Moreria and Habsburg neighbourhoods and the neoclassical Fountain of Neptune.
After the tour, spend the afternoon at leisure. You may like to join an optional tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Toledo, a well-preserved medieval town with winding streets, a cathedral and a fortress at its centre.
In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers.
Enjoy one last breakfast at your hotel, bid farewell to Spain and make your own way to Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) for your onward journey.