Description
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN BARCELONA, SPAIN
Welcome to Barcelona! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Dinner included
DAY 2 BARCELONA
Gaudi’s Masterpiece BARCELONA Guided sightseeing includes the Palau de La Musica and panoramic views of the city and harbor from Montjuïc Hill. Stop at Sagrada Familia Basilica, Columbus Monument, Plaza de Cataluna, and Paseo de Gracia.
Tour Highlight:
The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia stands in Barcelona as a monument to the Holy Family and a testament to the masterwork of Antoni Gaudi. Built on the reliance of donations since the first stone was laid more than 130 years ago, the iconic church remains an unfinished masterpiece and the world’s longest-running construction project – slated for completion in 2026 on the 100th anniversary of the architect’s death.
Breakfast included
DAY 3 BARCELONA–MADRID
Splendid Spain Scenic drive through the Catalonian and Aragonian countryside en route to Madrid.
Bus distance covered:
385 mi / 620 km
Free time tips:
The the city of Madrid is filled with intriguing stories and hidden secrets. Stroll around the streets and take pictures of “El Osoy el Madrono”(The Bear and the Strawberry Tree), the biggest symbol of the city. See the Statue of the Fallen Angel, depicting Lucifer’s expulsion from Heaven.
Breakfast included
DAY 4 MADRID
Day 4 Madrid guided sightseeing includes the Prado Museum and sights of the Cibeles Fountain and Calle Alcala.
Tour Highlight:
The Prado Museum houses one of the world’s largest art collections, including its amazing assortment of masterpieces by historic artists like Velasquez, Goya, and El Greco. The famous museum also displays the works of renowned European masters, including Rubens and Rembrandt, along with a stunning collection of Greco-Roman statues.
Breakfast included
DAY 5 MADRID–CORDOBA–SEVILLE
Cordoba guided walking tour includes the Mosque of the Caliphs. Free time to browse before departing for Seville.
Bus distance covered:
354 mi / 570 km
Tour Highlight:
The Mosque of Córdoba (Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba in Spanish) today is a Catholic cathedral but was originally a mosque built for Muslim prayer by Abd ar-Rahman I in the 8th century. The mosque’s architecture is rich in dazzling detail, with over 800 granite and marble pillars supporting its beautiful brick and stone arches - a major focal point in the mosque along with the soaring bell tower – the tallest structure in the city.
Breakfast included
DAY 6 SEVILLE
Dance Steps in Seville SEVILLE Visit Plaza de España. Guided sightseeing includes the Casa de Pilatos and a walk through the Santa Cruz quarter. Enjoy dinner with local specialties at El Palacio Andaluz restaurant with Flamenco entertainment.
Tour Highlight:
You will be moved by the soulful sounds and steps of the Flamenco. You’ll see the very best display of this passionate Flemish dance performed by award-winning dancers who’ll add some spice to your dinner at El Palacio Andaluz restaurant in Seville. Ole!
Breakfast and dinner included
DAY 7 SEVILLE–SETUBAL–AZEITÃO, PORTUGAL–LISBON
Stops in:
Setubal - Free time for lunch in the vibrant food market.
Azeitao - Visit a traditional tile workshop.
Enjoy free time in Lisbon late afternoon and evening.
Bus distance covered:
273 mi / 440 km
Tour Highlight:
Enter a world of authentically handmade Portuguese tiles at the São Simão Arte workshop and gallery in Azeitão. It is here that distinguished antique collector Antonio Soares Franco creates his ceramic masterpieces by hand in the style of his ancestors.
Breakfast included
DAY 8 LISBON
Lovely Lisbon LISBON Guided sightseeing includes Jeronimos Monastery and cloister with a photo stop at Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Join a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Tour Highlight:
The stunning capital city of Portugal is a treasure trove of historic and architectural masterpieces. Lisbon is home to the 16th-century Monastery of Jerónimos, adorned with its 100-foot façade featuring images of St. Michael the Archangel and Our Lady of Belém. See the 16th-century Belém Tower, which served as a fortress but also as an embarkation point for sailors and was their last sight of land before the start of their journey. Lisbon’s Monument to the Discoveries pays homage to great Portuguese explorers with a spectacular carved prow of an ancient ship.
Breakfast and dinner included
DAY 9 LISBON - SANTA CRUZ
Fly to Santa Cruz, near Funchal city the biggest and arguably most beaufitul island of the Azores. Orientation walk. Free time.
Tour Highlight:
Mother Nature has created a land full of natural beauty, ready to be explored, in the blue immensity of the Atlantic. Waterfalls tumble down basalt cliffs, rainforest-covered hills are topped by spectacular crater lakes and pale-green pastures are hedged by a kaleidoscope of hydrangeas. Dive into the rich cultural heritage as well with warm welcomes by local residents who graciously share stories of proud history and traditions.
Breakfast included
DAY 10 SANTA CRUZ - EXCURSION TO FUNCHAL
Tour Highlights:
Funchal used to be called “Little Lisbon”, and that is no coincidence. There are plenty of historical buildings to discover in the narrow streets, while the traditional white houses are nestled on the steep slopes.Yon won’t believe your eyes at the heart of the Zona Velha (Old Town), a swirl of public creativity, which has seen the entrances to buildings along the Rua de Santa Maria adorned with bright paintings and imaginative scenes. Images include everything from a fisherman sitting by his boat in the moonlight to a dislocated eye peering from behind a cracked “window” of yellow glass.
Breakfast and dinner included
DAY 11 SANTA CRUZ
Day at leisure. Head West and stop in Camara de Lobos, a small fishing village that in 1949 Winston Churchill chose to paint. Continue towards Cabo Girai the worlds second highest sea cliff (and Europe’s highest) and the Paul de Serra, Madeira’s biggest and highest plateau. Visit Porto Moniz, the most north-western valley. Here visit its beautiful natural pools which are the village’s main attractions and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
DAY 12 SANTA CRUZ - LISBON
Leisure Time in Santa Cruz and fly to Lisbon.
Free time in Lisbon.
Breakfast included
DAY 13 LISBON
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast included
