Portugal & Spain

Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure. You’ll also have a private coach and driver while touring .

This port city was once the entrance point for exotic wares from the far-flung corners of Asia, Africa and the Americas. Get lost in the Alfama, a maze of streets where houses are so close together, you can spread your arms and touch the buildings on both sides of the street! Stroll along the cobblestone pedestrian malls and Lisbon's main street, the Avenida da Liberdade.

See the Castelo de São Jorge, a castle dating back to the Middle Ages, which sits formidably overlooking the city and its port. The Monument to the Navigators, dedicated to various important figures in Portugal’s history, depicts Henry the Navigator, and other explorers on top of a caravel, the standard Portuguese ship used for sailing expeditions. Take an elevator to the top of the monument for an impressive view of the city. Finally, travel to the vast Jerónimos Monastery, an awe-inspiring structure that is considered to be one of the most prominent monuments in Lisbon.

Tour the Jerónimos Monastery, a monastery ordered by Manuel the Fortunate to commemorate Vasco da Gama's voyage to India. The monastery is one of Portugal’s finest examples of Manueline architecture that combines flamboyant Gothic and Moorish influences with elements of the nascent Renaissance. The church features tombs of many of the great figures in Portuguese history, including Vasco da Gama.

Portugal's version of the Blues, Fado means "fate" or "destiny," and its songs generally tell the tale of lost love or glory. Head to a Fado house in the Bairro Alto and see the singers swathed in black, accompanied by 12-stringed guitars, crooning their hearts out.

Enjoy a full day excursion outside of Lisbon to explore the natural beauty and royal buildings of Sintra, the westernmost point of continental Europe at Cabo da Roca and the picturesque seaside town of Cascais.

The National Palace of Sintra, often referred to as the Town Palace (Palácio da Vila), is a historic royal residence situated in Sintra, Portugal. It stands out as the most well-preserved medieval royal palace in the country, having been continuously occupied from the early 1400s until the late 1800s.

Enjoy the stunning views and capture the moment with a photo at Cape Roca, Europe’s most westerly point.

Take some time to relax and enjoy two of Portugal's most beautiful beaches. Visit Cascais and Estoril to take in some rays and meet the locals.

Visit the luxury resort town of Cascais and see the citadel that once served as a summer home for the King of Spain in the 16th century.

Hit the ruins. One of the grandest cities in Portugal, Évora shows off the country's best-preserved Roman temple as well as an imposing city filled with medieval churches, convents, and palaces.

Rising in the hills of the Extremedura, the white-washed village of Jerez de los Caballeros where artistic and architectural heritage meet.

Take a tour of a traditional goats cheese farm in the Extremadura and learn about the distinctive quality of the local cheeses and of course, sample a few along the way.

See the twisted alleyways and cobbled streets of this flamboyant Spanish city with a local guide. Discover the enchanting Plaza de España, the Giralda Tower, within the largest gothic cathedral in the world, and explore the Casa de Pilatos considered the prototype of the Andalusian palace.

Stop at Córdoba to visit one of Spain’s most impressive monuments, the Moorish Mezquita, which dates from the 8th to the 10th centuries. Walk through narrow white-washed alleys, passing tile covered patios, dotted with vibrant colored flowers. Don’t miss the beautiful back quarters.

Race across the country in Spain’s fastest train, the high-tech AVE, which can reach speeds of over 180 miles per hour.

Life in Madrid is centered around talking, toasting and tapas-eating. In a walk through this crowded and social city, your Tour Director will help you get to know the lay of the land. Then stroll over to the Puerta del Sol, the bustling city center. Next, you'll relax at the Plaza Mayor, a grand square where every sort of human drama has taken place—trials of faith, public burnings of heretics, royal marriages, the canonization of saints, and countless balls and bullfights. End at the Plaza de España for a stop at an outdoor café.

Explore the Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid's busiest and most historic squares. While here we will view the Kilometre Zero marker, from which all distances in Spain are measured, and Madrid’s symbol, the Madrono.

Spend time in the Plaza Mayor, Madrid's most famous square. Throughout its long history the square has hosted markets, bullfights, soccer games, public executions, and the Spanish Inquisition. It is now ringed by shops and cafés and is often filled with artists and musicians.

The Plaza de España is a popular place to gather in Central Madrid. It features a large monument to Miguel de Cervante, author of Don Quixote.

Get a taste of Spain's cultural, political and economic center with a tour led by a licensed local guide. See Madrid's mix of traditional and modern as you visit the Royal Palace, an 18th-century masterpiece. The enormous Baroque palace currently has more rooms (2,800) than any other European palace, but it was originally supposed to be four times as large. The palace is dripping with porcelain, jeweled clocks, amazing ceiling frescoes—the most magnificent, in the Throne Room, was done by the Venetian artist Tiepolo when he was in his seventies. Next take a look at the Neoclassical architecture of the Prado Museum and the Puerta de Alcalá triumphal arch, built to honor Carlos III’s entry into Spain.

Stroll down the Gran Via, Madrid’s lively signature boulevard featuring magnificent shopping and cafés.

The Fountain of Cybele, one of the most recognizable fountains in Madrid, depicts Cybele, a Phrygian earth and fertility deity.

See the Puerta de Alcalá, the ceremonial gateway to Madrid commissioned by Carlos III. The Neo-classical structure is located in the Plaza de Independencia and is named for the old path leading from Madrid to nearby Alcalá de Henares.

Browse through the 3,418 rooms in the largest palace in Europe. Art lovers will marvel at the walls lined with priceless paintings, but don’t expect to catch a glimpse of the Spanish royal family—they reside elsewhere.

Officially recognized as Spain’s National Museum of 20th Century Art, The Sofia—as it is more commonly known—is home to an impressive collection from Spain’s two greatest 20th century masters. Hosting works of both Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, it’s no wonder that The Sofia has risen to such a prominent place in the world of art. Certainly the most famous piece in the museum is Picasso’s Guernica, but in addition to this wonderful masterpiece, you’ll also find a vast library, archive, bookstore and restaurant.