EXCITING SPAIN AND PORTUGAL

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Barcelona
Arrival at Barcelona airport. you will be transferred to your hotel. It is suggested that you take advantage of the free time to get to know one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities. In the evening, it is suggested to dine at the Pueblo Español, featuring architectural replicas from all of Spain’s regions.Accommodation.

Day 2 - Barcelona
Buffet breakfast. This morning enjoy an escorted tour of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. See the old Gothic Quarter with its magnificent cathedral. Stop to admire the exterior of Gaudi’s masterwork, the Basilica of the Sacred Family (Sagrada Familia). Continue to Montjuich Hill (site of the Olympic Stadium), to enjoy a spectacular view of Barcelona and its port area.Accommodation.

Day 3 - Barcelona - Zaragoza - San Sebastian - Bilbao
Buffet breakfast. Departure into old Aragon and into the proud city of Zaragoza. Pause downtown in a main plaza where you will have free time to visit the impressive Basilica of El Pilar and have lunch on your own. Continue onto the north coast and the beautiful Basque country, arriving to San Sebastian called “the Pearl of the Cantabrian Sea”. Free time and continuation to Bilbao. Accommodation.

Day 4 - Bilbao - Santillana - Covadonga - Oviedo
Buffet Breakfast. Brief morning panoramic tour of Bilbao and the exterior architecture of the spectacular Guggenheim museum.Free time in Santillana, before leaving along the “Picos de Europa”, one of the most spectacular landscapes of Spain, to visit the shrine of Covadonga. This evening we will be staying in lovely Oviedo the capital of Asturias.

Day 5 - Oviedo - Ribadeo - A Coruna - Santiago de Compostela
Buffet Breakfast. Departure along the pristine green north coast from Asturias into Galicia and the town of Ribadeo where we'll stop for a unique visit of “Playa de Catedrales”, a beach famous for its amazing rock formations visible only during low tide. Afterwards we continue our route via Vilalba and Betanzos, where we you'll have free time to have lunch on your own. We end the day in the mystical pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, we will make a stop in A Coruna. The rest the afternoon and evening are free to enjoy this medieval city. 

Day 6 - Santiago de Compostela
Buffet Breakfast. Today enjoy a guided tour of the old university city of Santiago, a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring the majestic Cathedral on Obradoiro square and the impressive “mercado de abastos”(main market).Accomodation.

Day 7 - Santiago de Compostela - Viana do Castelo - Porto
Buffet breakfast. Depart south along the coastal "Rias Baixas" into northern Portugal. We will visit the town of Viana do Castelo, at the mouth of the Rio Limia with its historic old town and castle. We finalize our journey in the charming city of Porto, famous for its namesake Port wines. Accommodation.

Day 8 - Porto
Buffet breakfast. This morning enjoy a guided tour of this city on the banks of the Douro river including a visit to a local Port winery.Accommodation.

Day 9 - Oporto – Aveiro - Fatima – Lisbon
Buffet breakfast and departure to Aveiro "city of canals", the Venice of Portugal. Continue to Fatima, one of the pilgrimage centers of Christianity. Free time to visit the basilica and enjoy lunch before continuing to Lisbon.Accommodations.

Day 10 - Lisbon
Buffet breakfast. Morning tour of this ancient and lovely city overlooking the Tagus River. Admire its splendid avenues and monuments like the Tower of Belem and the Jeronimos Monastery. Afternoon free, with a strong recommendation to visit the graceful hilltop village of Sintra and the vibrant seaside resort town of Cascais.Accommodation.

Day 11 - Lisbon - Merida - Madrid
Buffet breakfast. Departure toward the Spanish border, and pause in the Roman city of Merida, founded in 25 BC as “Emerita Augusta”, to admire the impressive Roman Amphitheatre archaeological site.Continue to Madrid for late afternoon arrival.Accommodation.

Day 12 - Madrid
Buffet breakfast. This morning's escorted sightseeing tour will allow you to get a glimpse of some of Madrid's most outstanding attractions, like the Puerta del Sol, the magnificent fountains of Neptune and Cibeles, the stately Alcala Gate, the busy Gran Via, the Plaza de España and the Plaza de Oriente. Time for lunch on your own. Free afternoon to explore Madrid’s famous Art Museums or perhaps take an optional tour to the Imperial former capital city of Toledo. Accommodation.

Day 13 - Madrid
Buffet breakfast and transfer at the appropriate time to Madrid airport.