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Iconic Portugal & Spain

15 days, Lisbon to Seville

From the flash of flamenco to the soul of fado, discover the soul of the Iberian Peninsula on an in-depth exploration of southern Spain and Portugal. Venture from Moorish masterpieces to whitewashed neighbourhoods, exploring an array of UNESCO World Heritage sites alongside knowledgeable local experts, including the spectacular Alhambra. Step back in time amid medieval Évora, the fairytale castles of Sintra, and painting master El Greco’s ancient walled hometown of Toledo.

15 days - Lisbon to Seville

From$4249USD
was $4999
Valid on Jul 7 2024
Trip Code: EPSNG

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Special Offers

Expires on Apr 01, 2024 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G24SDQ015EUR03

From the flash of flamenco to the soul of fado, discover the soul of the Iberian Peninsula on an in-depth exploration of southern Spain and Portugal. Venture from Moorish masterpieces to whitewashed neighbourhoods, exploring an array of UNESCO World Heritage sites alongside knowledgeable local experts, including the spectacular Alhambra. Step back in time amid medieval Évora, the fairytale castles of Sintra, and painting master El Greco’s ancient walled hometown of Toledo.

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: National Geographic Journeys

Greater exploration, insider access, and the freedom to roam – all without sacrificing comfort.

Service Level: Upgraded

Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.

Physical Rating: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 16, Avg 12.

Age requirement: 12+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Check Your Visa Requirements

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

View our Entry Requirements tool

15 days - Lisbon to Seville

From$4249USD
was $4999
Valid on Jul 7 2024
Trip Code: EPSNG

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Special Offers

Expires on Apr 01, 2024 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G24SDQ015EUR03

See how your trip uplifts communities

In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.

Trees for Days

Help us spread love around the world — with trees! Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 15

Ripple Score

Want to create ripples that change lives? The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.

Ripple Score for this trip: 98

Map of the route for Iconic Portugal & Spain

Places visited

Itinerary Notes

There are new Health & Safety Protocols for National Geographic Journeys tours. Please see here for full details and up-to-date requirements as they may change.

Itinerary

Day 1Lisbon

Arrive at any time. This evening, savour a traditional Portuguese dinner and performance of fado, a local folk singing tradition, in one of Lisbon's oldest neighbourhoods.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Foodie Moment Fado Night with Traditional Portuguese Meal

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 2Lisbon

Travel back in time to the fairytale castles and hills of Sintra, a 19th-century resort town and UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the colourful manors, medieval palaces, and lush gardens that enchanted English Romantic poet Lord Byron as well as Portuguese royalty. Enjoy a short orientation walk followed be a free afternoon to discover Lisbon’s pastel-hued architecture and lively plazas. Opt to soar over Lisbon on the historic Santa Justa lift, an engineering marvel that ascends 147 feet to an epic viewing platform.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 3Lisbon/Évora

Head to medieval Évora, in the heart of the bucolic Alentejo region, for a fascinating foray into the past. Be mesmerized by the haunting Chapel of Bones, erected by 16th-century Franciscan monks. Then pay a visit to one of the best preserved Roman temples on the Iberian Peninsula, known as Diana’s Temple.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 4Évora

Venture into the Alentejo countryside, home to centuries-old cork forests. Join a local expert at a traditional farm, and learn about cork harvesting and production. Then sit down to a traditional cork stripper’s lunch at the cork farm. This afternoon, return to Évora and explore its UNESCO World Heritage–designated city centre on your own, walking past whitewashed houses decorated with azulejos and wrought-iron balconies.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Cork Farm Visit

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 5Évora/Coimbra

Spend the day in Tomar and delve into the Crusades era in Portugal. Go on a guided walk with a local expert around the vast medieval complex of the Convent of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Templar Castle, founded in 1160 by Gualdim Pais—grand master of the Knights Templar. Continue on to Coimbra for the evening.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Knights Templar Historic Tour

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 6Coimbra/Porto

This morning, enjoy a tour around the centuries-old University of Coimbra, Portugal's most prestigious university and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enter through the 10th-century Porta Férra, the old entrance to the citadel of Coimbra. Following mosaic cobblestone paths around campus, stopping to see the baroque stylings of the Joanina Library, elaborate azulejo wall tiles adorning the Chapel of São Miguel, and the 18th-century Botanical Garden. Later, catch the train to Porto on the coast.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 7Porto

Board a boat down Portugal's Douro River, or "river of gold". Float on the typical Rabelo Boat along the riverbanks of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia and marvel at the historical bridges connecting the two cities. Famous for centuries as a port wine shipper's centre, discover the rich tradition of port making at a local wine cellar, then cap off the day with a tasting of this distinct regional specialty. In your free time, explore the cobblestone streets of Porto’s medieval Ribeira district, marvel at the baroque São Francisco Church, and admire the palatial Palácio de Bolsa, a one time stock market.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Hands-On Moment Port Wine Cellar Visit

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 8Porto/Madrid

Transfer to the airport and catch a short flight to Madrid. Set out on your own to take in the elegant squares and leafy boulevards of Spain’s bustling capital. Amble around the baroque Plaza Mayor, a 17th-century square lined with shopping arcades, and soak up the scene over a coffee at one of its outdoor cafés.

Day 9Madrid

Drive south to the ancient walled city of Toledo, perched on a rocky headland overlooking the Tagus River. Join a local historian on a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site filled with churches, synagogues, mosques, and plazas. Explore the old quarter and glimpse the soaring tower of the city’s 13th-century cathedral, a masterpiece of high Gothic architecture. Return to Madrid and enjoy free time to admire the world-renowned artworks at the Museo del Prado, relax at a café, or experience the city’s legendary nightlife.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Historic City of Toledo visit

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 10Madrid/Córdoba

Take the high-speed train to Córdoba, a beguiling Andalusian town steeped in history. As the capital of Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain) until its fall in 1236, Córdoba was once the largest city in Europe, known for its mosques, palaces, and libraries. Discover the medieval centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, or Mezquita, where a 13th-century Catholic cathedral stands in the center of a former Moorish mosque that dates to the 8th century. Afterwards, stroll the historic Jewish quarter’s maze of winding lanes and traditional whitewashed houses. This evening, opt to savour the city’s distinctive gastronomy—a mélange of Roman, Moorish, Christian, and Jewish traditions.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 11Córdoba/Granada

Arrive in Granada and set out on a CEO led orientation walk of this alluring Andalusian city. Here, in the birthplace of flamenco, take a private dance class in a professional studio. This evening, put your new moves to practice as you experience the city’s upbeat nightlife on your own.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Flamenco Dancing Experience

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 12Granada

Spend today immersed in the majesty of the Alhambra, a pinnacle of Moorish architecture in Europe. This fortress and palace built by 13th-century Nasrid sultans crowns a hilltop overlooking Granada. On a guided tour of this extraordinary World Heritage site, marvel at the intricate stuccowork, elegant archways, and intimate courtyards bursting with blooms. Later, explore on your own time as you amble through the old Moorish quarter, the Albayzín, and enjoy views of the Alhambra glowing in the twilight.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 13Granada/Seville

Journey to Seville, one of Spain’s most colourful and beautiful cities. Set out on a CEO led orientation walk and choose to climb the cathedral Giralda’s bell tower or visit Casa Pilatos, a prototypical Andalusian palace that combines Italian Renaissance and Spanish Mudéjar architectural styles. Get a glimpse of traditional gypsy culture by opting to witness a soulful performance of flamenco dance.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 14Seville

Enjoy a full day of free time to follow your impulses in Seville. Lose yourself among the winding alleys, flower-draped patios, and picturesque squares of the charming Santa Cruz quarter. Opt to visit the ornate Mudéjar palace and gardens of Real Alcázar de Sevilla, a World Heritage site and former filming location for Game of Thrones.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 15Seville

Depart at any time.

Meals included:

Breakfast
View full itinerary

What's Included

  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cork Farm Visit, Montemor-o-Novo
  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Knights Templar Historic Tour, Tomar
  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Historic City of Toledo visit, Toledo
  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Flamenco Dancing Experience, Granada
  • Your Foodie Moment: Fado Night with Traditional Portuguese Meal, Lisbon
  • Your Hands-On Moment: Port Wine Cellar Visit, Porto
  • Lisbon orientation walk
  • Guided tour of Palace of Pena in Sintra
  • Chapel of Bones tour in Evora
  • Diana's Temple visit in Evora
  • Guided tour of Coimbra University
  • Porto orientation walk
  • Douro River boat cruise
  • Explore Cordoba including the Mezquita (mosque) and the medieval Jewish quarter
  • Granada orientation walk including a guided visit of the Alhambra
  • Internal flight
  • Transport to/from all included activities and between all destinations

Accommodations

Hotels (14 nts).

Meals

13 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Allow USD625-815 for meals not included.

Transportation

Private vehicle, train, plane, walking.

Staff & experts

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guide.

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

My Own Room - From $1699.00

If you're travelling solo and would prefer to have your own private room throughout your trip, select this option during the online booking process.

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

Iconic Portugal & Spain

| 15 days - Lisbon to Seville - from $4249 USD