Highlights of Spain & Portugal

Your vacation begins today as you arrive in beautiful Barcelona, the capital of Spain's Catalonia. Making your way to the hotel independently, you meet the Tour Manager and check in, ready to begin your exploration of Spain and Portugal.

The beating pulse of this city is its colorful art, Modernist streets and fabulous Gothic Quarter. Besides these attractions, Barcelona offers a rich culture, cuisine, and beautiful beaches. You are at leisure for the rest of the day to get to know this exciting city and to choose a place to enjoy dinner independently. Overnight Barcelona.

After breakfast, we are introduced to Barcelona on a sightseeing tour. Our guide shows us the atmospheric Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas, a tree-lined pedestrianized avenue filled with street performers and cafés. Our tour concludes at the city's colorful and lively La Boquería market, where we enjoy a drink tasting. From here, you are free to continue exploring at your own pace.

As one of Barcelona's most celebrated figures, Antoni Gaudí's creativity looms large in the city. You may wish to uncover his remarkable, UNESCO-listed creations, including his masterpiece, Sagrada Família - a monumental cathedral that has taken more than 100 years to complete. Booking in advance is recommended if you want to enter this iconic building.

Above the city, Gaudí's Park Güell boasts colorful mosaics, swirling structures and stunning views, while the Picasso Museum in the Gothic Quarter contains an expansive collection of the artist's most famous works. Later, we regroup for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Barcelona.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning after breakfast, we transfer by coach to the station where we board the train to Valencia. Along the way, enjoy scenic coastal views, particularly between Tarragona and Castellón, where the train runs close to the Mediterranean shoreline.

On arrival in this city of contrasts, we set out on a sightseeing tour of the city. We explore the historic center, where elegant squares and winding streets reveal the city's rich past, before admiring the blend of Gothic and Baroque architecture in the Old Town. Our tour continues as we visit the bustling Central Market of Valencia - one of Europe's largest fresh produce markets - filled with colorful stalls and local specialties beneath its striking ironwork roof.

Afterward, there's time to continue exploring independently before we regroup this evening for dinner in a local restaurant to savor an authentic paella, Valencia's most famous culinary creation. Overnight Valencia.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a free morning ahead, you are at leisure to continue exploring Valencia at your own pace. It is a wonderfully walkable city, and you might choose to revisit the atmospheric streets of the Old Town, stroll through the leafy Turia Gardens or venture towards the striking City of Arts and Sciences.

This afternoon, we regroup and transfer to the station before boarding a high-speed train to Spain's capital city, Madrid. As we travel inland, watch the scenery shift from the Mediterranean coastline to open plains and distant mountain ranges.

On arrival, Madrid reveals itself as a vibrant capital, where grand boulevards, historic architecture and bustling neighborhoods create a memorable first impression. We transfer to our hotel, where we settle in and enjoy dinner together this evening. Overnight Madrid.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Soon after breakfast, we set out with an expert guide on a coach tour of the city. We take in some of Madrid's most glorious sites, including the Prado Museum and the vast El Retiro park - a UNESCO World Heritage site that was once a private garden for Spain's monarchy.

At the end of our tour, we enjoy a tapas lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Madrid's impressive Royal Palace. Entry to the palace and gardens is included and afterwards you are free to explore the palace interior, known for its extravagant décor and Royal Collection that features paintings by artists including Goya, Caravaggio and Velázquez.

The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish. You could enjoy a relaxing afternoon in El Retiro park, which has a rose garden, an ornamental boating lake and several cafés. When it's time for dinner, Madrid offers a variety of cuisine, from traditional Spanish dishes to international fare. Choose nearby Gran Vía or the Salamanca district, or hop on the Metro into the heart of the city. Overnight Madrid.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Leaving Madrid this morning, we transfer to the station for a rail journey to the Moorish city of Córdoba. As the capital of Al-Andalus during the 10th century, Córdoba was the largest metropolis in western Europe and is another remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site.

On arrival, a highlight awaits us as we enter the city's most famous landmark, La Mezquita. Considered one of the greatest remaining works of Islamic architecture in the world, La Mezquita was originally a mosque but has been transformed into a cathedral over the centuries since Andalucía was reclaimed by the Spanish crown. Today, its interior includes dozens of chapels and Christian iconography.

Returning to the station, we continue our journey to the celebrated city of Granada. There is plenty to enjoy on the journey as this scenic route takes us through hilly regions of olive groves and vineyards to the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada which provide a dramatic backdrop for Granada and its iconic Alhambra. On arrival, we check in and enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight Granada.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we visit the Alhambra, Granada's most iconic attraction. Once the residence of Moorish leaders, this spectacular palace complex sits on a plateau overlooking the city, with the Sierra Nevada mountains behind. The Alhambra holds UNESCO World Heritage status for its outstanding aesthetic value as the world's only preserved palatine city of the Islamic period and the best example of its architecture.

We walk through a series of palaces with carved wooden ceilings, colorful mosaics and intricate plasterwork, before entering the 14th-century Generalife - once a summer palace and country estate of sultans. After our tour, we enjoy an authentic tapas lunch, after which the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. You might choose to make your way to the Albaicín, the former Moorish quarters of Granada and now a UNESCO World Heritage site of narrow alleys and small squares lined by whitewashed buildings.

Here, you can wander at your own pace and discover the Moroccan-style tea gardens, bohemian bars and craft shops. A must-visit spot is the Mirador de San Nicolás, a wide terrace with great views of the Alhambra. Tonight, you are free to dine independently. Overnight Granada.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Our third and final Andalucían city awaits today as we journey by coach to Seville. On arrival, we set out with a local guide to discover the famed sights and hidden gems of the city.

Sights include the historic Santa Cruz district, a maze of winding lanes and flower-filled squares and Seville's magnificent cathedral, where the remains of Christopher Columbus are interred. We admire this Gothic masterpiece and visit the stunning Plaza de España before we continue to the Real Alcázar, where entrance is included. Here, the blend of Moorish, Mudejar and Christian architecture captivates and you are free to explore the elaborate patios, tranquil gardens and intricate tilework at leisure.

This evening, we experience a captivating flamenco show before dinner- a wonderful way to experience one of Spain's most iconic traditions. Overnight Seville.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our Iberian journey continues this morning as we set off by coach towards Portugal's capital, Lisbon. This scenic route takes us west from Andalucía across rugged plains to the rolling hills of Lisbon, with stops along the way for refreshments and lunch.

One of Europe's oldest capital cities, Lisbon has a staggering 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and you will know we are approaching the city when its brightly painted yellow, orange and terracotta-tiled buildings come into view. This is a warm, welcoming destination renowned for its vibrant culture, open plazas and its seven hills. Fresh seafood, traditional music and timeless history are all bountiful here.

Once we have checked in to our hotel, you are free to relax or explore the local neighborhood. Alternatively, you might choose to take the metro into the city to see some of the sights independently, before meeting for dinner this evening. Overnight Lisbon.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast at our hotel, today's excursion is a four-hour coach tour of Lisbon's highlights, from its vast and impressive squares to its hilly, cobbled streets, celebrated monuments and amazing viewpoints. Led by a local expert, we visit the classic sights of the city, including the traditional quarter of Alfama, with its characterful narrow streets and local craft shops, and the popular area of Baixa, with its vast squares such as Rossio Square and Trade Square.

As our sightseeing tour concludes, you are at leisure to continue enjoying the sights of Lisbon. You may like to visit the São Jorge Castle (Saint George's castle) at sunset or visit one of the city's many 'miradouros' (viewpoints) for breathtaking vistas across to the Tagus River or ocean.

This evening, dinner is accompanied by traditional Portuguese entertainment - a live performance of fado, a type of music dating back to the 1820s. The lyrics and melancholic tempo of the music is characterized by themes of loss, life at sea and longing - an emotion known as 'saudade' in Portugal. Overnight Lisbon.

• Breakfast, Dinner

From Barcelona and Valencia on Spain's Mediterranean coast, across the expansive plains of Andalucía, to Portugal's stunning capital, we have experienced the very best of these two historic European countries. Encountering iconic landmarks including the Sagrada Familia, the Alhambra and La Mezquita, this vacation has included the perfect blend of sightseeing and immersive culture, featuring regional cuisine in Valencia, flamenco in Sevilla and fado in Lisbon.

After breakfast this morning, your vacation reaches its end, and you are free to continue your journey home.

• Breakfast