Classic Barcelona to Lisbon

Indulge in the colour and culture of Spain and Portugal on this 15-day adventure. Start in Barcelona, uncovering the city’s many highlights before making your way along Spain’s beautiful eastern coastline. Immerse yourself in Tarragona’s Roman history, sip on locally made wine in the Catalonia region and look out over the Mediterranean Sea from Peniscola Castle. Then pass into Portugal, where even more unforgettable moments await. Journey into the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Douro Valley, pause for a port tasting in Porto and wander around the cobbled streets of Lisbon. With a local leading the way, this trip will be sure to stick with you.

Activities

• Barcelona - Welcome aperitivo
• Vilafranca del Penedes - Leader-led orientation walk
• Vilafranca del Penedes - Cava vineyard with tastings
• Tarragona - Roman amphitheatre (entrance fee)
• Tarragona - Leader-led orientation walk
• Tarragona - Les Ferreres Aqueduct
• Peñiscola - Leader-led orientation walk
• Peñiscola - Castle visit
• Valencia - Fallero-guided workshop visit
• Valencia - Fallas Museum
• Valencia - Leader-led orientation walk
• Madrid - Churros con chocolate
• Madrid - Leader-led orientation walk
• Salamanca - Leader-led orientation walk
• Douro Valley - Wine Tasting & Lunch
• Porto - Leader-led orientation walk
• Porto - Port wine tasting
• Coimbra - University tour with a local guide
• Tomar - Castelo de Tomar
• Tomar - Leader-led orientation walk
• Lisbon - Leader-led orientation walk
• Lisbon - Pasteis de nata

Highlights

• Tick Madrid, Salamanca, Porto and Lisbon off your bucket list and spend afternoons wandering around narrow, cobbled streets, colourful architecture with hilltop views and glittering coasts as you wait for nightly sunsets to transform these cities into glittering havens.
• Learn about the history and artistry of the unique Fallas festival of Valencia by meeting a professional artist in their workshop to find out how they construct these intricately detailed and often enormous statues.
• Savour a Spanish favourite at a Madrid insititution – cinnamon and sugar-dusted churros with velvety chocolate sauce from a churreria that has over a century of expertise.
• Feast on Spanish and Portuguese cuisine, snacks and local wines with a delicious tapas welcome dinner in Madrid, a port tasting in Porto, a bacalhau dinner in Coimbra and the unmissable pasteis de nata from the best spot in Lisbon – yum!
• Spend a day discovering the history of Tomar – a 12th century town of relaxed streets, public gardens and the Castelo de Tomar, a Templar castle just waiting for the curious to explore its ramparts and cloisters.