Touch down in Madrid, Spain’s vibrant capital. Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers before spending the remainder of the night exploring the city at your leisure.

Start your day with a guided discovery of Madrid. Packed full of art museums, fabulous restaurants and leafy green spaces – not to mention Europe’s largest palace – Madrid offers locals and visitors alike plenty of things to do. See major sites including the Museo del Prado, the Royal Palace of Madrid, Plaza Mayor and El Retiro Park. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace. This evening, join your fellow travellers for an authentic Welcome Dinner.

Enhance Your Journey – Toledo Day Trip

You may like to join an optional excursion to Toledo, an ancient city built atop a gorge and home to one of Spain's top 10 cathedrals (own expense).

En route to Granada this morning, pause in Úbeda, a World Heritage-listed town set within a lush olive-growing region. Enjoy time here to stroll among the Gothic and early Renaissance Spanish architecture. You’ll also have the opportunity to taste locally grown and produced extra virgin olive oil. Your journey continues to Granada. On arrival, check in to your hotel and prepare for an evening to remember, with an exciting Insider Experience in store.

Insider Experience – Behind-the-Scenes Flamenco Performance

Meet the family working behind the scenes of a powerful flamenco show, before sitting down to watch the performance unfold. Be regaled by the music, dancing, and costumes while you indulge in local specialties for dinner.

No visit to Granada is complete without experiencing the Alhambra, a Moorish palace and fortress complex established in 1238. Marvel at its architecture and take in the breathtaking views – the palace was built on a hilltop overlooking the city and the River Darro. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

Enhance Your Journey – Albaicín Neighbourhood Guided Walk

You may like to join an optional guided walk through the Albaicín neighbourhood, the oldest in Granada, set in the shadows of the Alhambra. Explore narrow streets lined with whitewashed buildings and one of the best-preserved public Arab hammams in Spain.

Today, visit historic Córdoba, a stunning city renowned for its intricate Moorish architecture. The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba (La Mezquita) is a particularly impressive feat, blending the Christian and Islamic faiths within a single monument. At its centre stands a Christian chapel, surrounded by striking red-and-white striped arches. After exploring the city, continue to beautiful Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Spend the evening at your leisure. Perhaps sample tapas, an authentic style of dining, at a local restaurant and wander the city's lively streets.

Today, enjoy exploring the marvels of Seville. You may like to visit the city’s must-see sights, including Plaza de España, the Royal Alcázar of Seville, and Parque de María Luisa. Or perhaps take an optional visit to Jerez. Tonight, celebrate your time in southern Spain with an Insider Experience showcasing authentic local flavours and traditions.

Insider Experience – Authentic Seville Tapas Experience

Stroll between lively neighbourhoods and wander through Seville’s tabernas, tasting a selection of regional tapas while learning about the city’s rich history along the way.

Enhance Your Journey – Visit the Home of Flamenco

Join an optional tour to Jerez de la Frontera, a city famed for its world-famous sherry wines and flamenco heritage.

Journey from Seville to Évora, crossing the border from Spain into Portugal and soaking up the changing landscapes of the Iberian countryside along the way. Stop in the charming medieval village of Monsaraz and savour its peaceful rural ambience. On arrival in Évora, indulge in an Insider Experience before settling in for an overnight stay.

Insider Experience – Southern Portugal Wine Tasting

Delight in a wine tasting at the historic Pousada Convento Évora. This carefully restored 15th-century convent is considered one of the city’s most impressive historic buildings. Taste local wines before savouring a sumptuous lunch of local flavours.

Enjoy a leisurely morning in UNESCO-listed Évora, taking time to delve into the city's historic charm and explore its fascinating landmarks including Roman ruins and medieval buildings. Continue your journey through the idyllic Portuguese countryside to Lisbon. In Portugal's vibrant capital of Lisbon, savour Portuguese dishes with a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

Discover the wonders of Lisbon as you explore the old town. Enjoy your special Insider Experience before enjoying the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Insider Experience – Portuguese Tart Making Class

At a local bakery, discover the art of making the world-famous pastel de nata (Portuguese tart). Master the culinary skills needed to create this beloved pastry during a hands-on lesson led by a local baker. As you bake, learn about the rich history behind the pastel de nata — before enjoying the best part: tasting your delicious creation.

Set off on a full-day tour to the charming towns of Sintra and Cascais today. Begin in the World Heritage-listed town of Sintra, which looks as if it were from the pages of a fairytale. Set in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, this was once the summer retreat for Lisbon’s nobility and royalty. Today, visitors and locals alike make the journey to Sintra to visit the famous Pena Palace, perched atop a hill and boasting stunning panoramas of the surrounding landscape. Admire the palace’s vivid colours, decorative terraces, and Romanticist architecture before exploring its renowned gardens.

Continue to Cascais, a coastal resort town flaunting golden sandy beaches, a popular marina, and preserved medieval buildings. Enjoy time to explore at your leisure. You might like to sprawl out on one of Cascais’ postcard-perfect beaches, peruse a museum, or enjoy a bite to eat at a local restaurant.

Head to Coimbra, stopping en route in the boutique town of Óbidos for a short break. Continue to your destination and enjoy a visit to Coimbra's iconic Old University, established in 1290. Tonight, indulge in an Insider Experience with a premium stay at central Portugal's Viseu, one of Portugal's most peaceful cities.

Insider Experience – Stay in Pousada de Viseu

Spend a night at Pousada de Viseu, a magnificent 19th-century grand estate that seamlessly blends Portugal's rich heritage and neoclassical architecture with sophisticated modern comforts. Situated in the heart of the city, this elegant hotel was originally São Teotónio Hospital, which officially opened in 1842. Rich in character, the property features spacious rooms and a large outdoor swimming pool.

Spend the day exploring Viseu, a historic city in central Portugal known as the "Garden City". Delight in its lush parks and medieval charm as you embark on a walking tour with a local guide, learning about the city's rich heritage and its central role in the renowned Dão wine region. Later, visit a local producer of Serra da Estrela cheese (Queijo Serra da Estrela), where you'll discover the traditional cheese-making process before enjoying a tasting of this regional specialty.

This morning, head north to Aveiro, often regarded as Portugal’s answer to Venice. Board a traditional Moliceiro boat and cruise along the city’s historic canals. Explore Beira Mar, Aveiro’s oldest neighbourhood, where colourful houses adorned with beautiful azulejo tiles line the streets. Afterwards, visit the bustling fish market and observe daily life as locals go about their day before continuing to the riverside city of Porto. This evening, enjoy an Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Local Farewell Dinner

Celebrate your time in Portugal with your new-found friends over a memorable Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant in Porto. Savour local flavours in delectable dishes, sharing stories of your journey.

Your Portugal adventure comes to an end today with a transfer to the airport for your onward journey. Not ready for your adventure to end? Join our eight-day Douro Discovery for a captivating cruise along Portugal’s famed Douro River.