Your Local Specialist Travel Advisors For Custom Tours in Spain & Portugal
12 nights Lisbon, Porto, Madrid and Barcelona
Prices from 4850 EUROS PER PERSON
Your Local Specialist Travel Advisors For Custom Tours in Spain & Portugal
Prices from 4850 EUROS PER PERSON
Trip Overview:
Discover Lisbon, the magnificent city on the Tagus River, destroyed almost completely by an earthquake and tsunami in the mid-18th century and re-built in all its glory by the remarkable Marquis of Pombal. Stroll the streets of the Alfama in the shadow of the Castelo de San Jorge and visit the royal retreat of Sintra. Soak up the unique...
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Trip Summary:
This is an ideal itinerary for those who might never have been to Spain or Portugal but want to get a sense of some of each country's main cities. While getting to know Lisbon we'll take you to explore Sintra and Cascais too. You'll also discover one of the most popular cities in Europe these days - Porto. And while there we'l...
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Access:
Daily departures.
Flying into Lisbon International Airport.
Departure from Barcelona International Airport.
Totally Spain does not arrange flights so you have the flexibility to book the flights you prefer. We can recommend a travel agent with whom you can book your international flights if required. Otherwise a website such as Skyscanner is very useful for checking up-to-date flight schedules and prices.
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Lisbon, Portugal
Arrive in Lisbon where you will be met at the airport by your private driver who will transfer you directly to your centrally-located Lisbon hotel for 3 nights.
Lisbon - which emerged from a terrible recession energised and up for anything - has found itself in the wonderful position of being Europe's new capital of hip. As construction cranes start to dot the city's skyline again, once-decaying palaces and mansions are being renovated and restored to their former glory as hipster hangouts, from gourmet dining halls to charming small hotels; and the city's once-sleazy waterfront along the Tejo River is in the midst of a wonderful makeover. On a visit to Lisbon, you’ll notice that the city retains a strong sense of nostalgia—keeping close watch on preserving the past even as it grows and expands. Whether you while away the hours with a coffee on one of the beautiful tiled squares or stroll and mooch around the winding side streets of the Bairro Alto, there is so much to appeal to the curious traveller in Lisbon. Portugal’s capital welcomes travelers to a decadent old world anew, where ancient castles meet modern art galleries and sleepy old shopfronts give way to buzzing nightclubs.
Activities & Services Included today
Lisbon, Portugal
You’ll be met at your hotel by your expert local guide for a half day private tour in Lisbon, combined with a gastronomic tour.
This is a walking tour in the historical center of Lisbon that includes several stops in both traditional and modern shops and cafes with delicious portuguese products.
Immerse yourself in the portuguese culture and taste some amazing food and wine, while exploring in the company of your friendly guide the narrow streets of the city and unveiling the secrets of beautiful Lisbon. You'll finish-up in a charming locale in the Bairro Alto for a sitdown, smorgasboard style lunch with wine.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Lisbon - Daytrip to Sintra & Cascais, Portugal
Following a tasty buffet breakfast at your hotel your destination today is Sintra and Cascais.
You'll be met by your driver and guide after breakfast and will proceed to Sintra. Sintra lies 30kms to the northwest of Lisbon and was the favoured summer residence of the kings of Portugal for six centuries and which spawned the building of numerous mansions and palaces in the surrounding area. Loved by artists, Sintra is “the Glorious Eden”, as Lord Byron called it, and a UNESCO World Heritage village with centuries and centuries of stories to tell. You'll visit the town and the Pena Palace, the colorful architectural extravaganza on the hill above Sintra town boasting double chimneys and multiple design styles.
Your guide will assist with arranging a suitable place for lunch according to your requirements.
Following your tour here, you continue on to the nearby coastal resort of Cascais known by some as the Portuguese Riviera. You´ll see the town and the Citadel of Cascais, built between the 15th and 17th centuries as a summer retreat for royalty, today a museum and a deluxe hotel. Also the original glazed azulejo tiles of medieval Nossa Senhora da Assunção church.
Return to Lisbon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Porto, Portugal
Today you'll be transferred to Lisbon train station to board the train to Porto.
Arrive in Porto where you’ll be met at the station by your private driver who will transfer you directly to your centrally-located 4 star hotel, your base for the next three nights.
UNESCO-listed Porto is an edgier city than Lisbon with a very different pace and identity. Conde Nast Traveller describes it by highlighting the old-town neighbourhoods of Vitoria, Ribeira and Miragaia where “clog-makers jostle with tin-beaters, sewing-machine repairmen and other practitioners of long-forgotten trades.” The Guardian agrees that the “past defines much of Porto’s look, but her people have found a way to get on and look forward with hope and panache.” It’s the hope and panache that makes Porto so special. At times, you need to scratch a little under the surface – but it’s so rewarding when you do.
The River Douro is certainly the most dominant feature of the city and the whole North region, in fact. The Ribeira is one of the most popular and most photographed areas in the city along with the bridges. Keep an eye out for the old fashioned ‘rabelo’ boats traditionally used for the transportation of port. Inside Porto, you’ll find lots to explore including the Clerigos Tower (its 200-or-so steps up provide you with one of the best views of the entire city and the Douro). Also the neo-classical Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange), the San Francisco church best known for its gilded Rococo and the Manueline-style and the Church of Santa Clara.
This afternoon you'll enjoy an unescorted but pre-booked visit to a wine cave in Vilanova de Gaia (a short walk across the river from Porto) and a Wine Tasting afterwards. During the wine tasting, you will also experience a live Fado performance, which is the typical melancholic style of traditional music from Portugal.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Porto, Portugal
This morning your local expert guide will meet you at your hotel for a private guided tour of Porto, Portugal’s second largest city. Your walking tour includes the 13th century cathedral, set on a rocky outcrop; the exterior of the 18th century San Joao and the magnificent church of Sao Francisco. You'll also see the Clérigos tower which is Porto’s landmark and panoramic view point dating back to the 18th Century and the 19th century stock exchange Palace.
Following your morning tour we suggest a light lunch before commencing in the late afternoon (4:40pm approx.) a fun, small group, gastronomic tour of Porto. You'll be taken off the beaten path to experience how the city’s past is influencing its future in terms of local cuisine, architecture and culture. This food tour will give you the opportunity to taste traditional Portuguese dishes, regional table wines, local pastries, and, of course, Port wines. You will also have the opportunity to meet passionate local families in their small restaurants, cafes and bars. This walking tour lasts roughly 3 ½ hours and you will visit 7 unique tasting locations, where the new generation of locals are reviving Porto’s gastronomy. You will also receive a mini-masterclass in Port wine.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Porto - Daytrip to Guimaraes & Braga, Portugal
Following breakfast meet-up once more with your local expert guide and driver for a full day private excursion to the picturesque Minho region, the greenest region in Portugal is also the birthplace of Portugal and of the unique vinho verde wine. The region is extremely lush and provides exceptional growing conditions for camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas which reach enormous proportions and afford impressive displays amidst the oak and chestnut woods that fill the valleys of the Minho. Tour the emblematic towns of Braga and Guimarães (UNESCO) both of which have well preserved castles, city walls and elaborate churches. Their mediaeval centres have charming narrow streets and immaculately cared for public gardens that are lovely to explore.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Would you perhaps like to visit a winery in the Minho region today? We can arrange that too if you wish. Just let your Totally Spain representative know this when planning your trip.
Madrid, Spain
Today you'll be transferred to Porto airport for your flight to Madrid. PLEASE NOTE: This flight is not included in the trip price and should be booked by you in conjunction with your international airfare.
Arrive in Madrid. You’ll be met at Madrid airport by your private driver who will transfer you directly to your centrally-located Madrid hotel for 3 nights.
Madrid stands at the very centre of Spain –geographically, culturally and politically. This capital not only offers the culture and good times of a sophisticated, modern city but it also retains the charm and elegance of its early years. Among the splendid attractions of Madrid are the Prado Museum; home to masterworks of Goya, Velazquez and El Greco: the 19th century Villahermosa Palace now the Thyssen-Bornemizsa Museum; the Reina Sofia Art Centre showcasing more than 300 modern works by Dali, Miro & Picasso among others; the 18th century Royal Palace on the lovely Plaza de Oriente; the bustling Puerta del Sol with its many shops, restaurants and tapas bars; Rastro Market on Sundays one of the oldest outdoor markets in Europe; and Retiro Park for strolling while admiring local artists and buskers.
For Madrid and for all the other places on this tour, we’ll provide you with our Totally Spain City Guides which highlight the best cafes, bars, restaurants along with museums, parks and other cultural spaces you can explore in your free time. Your Totally Spain agent will also make personal recommendations based on your final choice of hotel and the size of your party.
We can also assist with restaurant reservations and booking other attractions to avoid queues.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Special note: Flight from Porto to Madrid is not included in price. A website such as Skyscanner is useful for checking available flights and prices on your proposed travel dates.
Madrid, Spain
After a delicious buffet breakfast you’ll be met at your hotel by your expert local Madrid guide who will take you on an private tour of the historic city centre. You’ll enjoy visiting such places as the principal streets and squares including the Plaza del Sol, Plaza Santa, Plaza Mayor as well as the Mercado San Miguel, one of Madrid’s famous food markets. Remember this tour can be tweaked if you have other special interests. You only need to let your Totally Spain representative know this.
You will continue with your guide to Plaza de la Villa and the Plaza del Oriente. Visit the Royal Palace that stands on the site of an old alcazar fortress and a former Moorish castle. The current building was completed in 1764. With 3,418 rooms there’s something to represent every style (and every monarch) since its construction.
This afternoon visit the Prado Museum at your leisure as we have included pre-booked tickets for you that avoid lining-up. The museum is a wonderful space dating back to 1785 that now houses art from the 12th to the 19th century including large permanent collections by Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Bosch, Titian, Van Dyck and Rembrandt.
This evening you’ll take part in a guided small group tapas tour with all food & drinks included. It’s a great way to experience Madrid’s most interesting and authentic bars and restaurants without the research or guesswork. Your guide will recommend the wines and other drinks to try and will order speciality tapas at each bar or tavern. Your guide will talk about the history of tapas, the types of tapas served in Madrid and elsewhere in Spain and will also give you a history of the neighbourhood you are visiting as well.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Daytrip to Toledo, Spain
Today your destination is Toledo. You'll be transferred from your hotel to Madrid train station to board the high speed train to Toledo. Upon arrival you’ll meet our expert local guide who will first take you by taxi to the Cigarrales area for some magnificent panoramic views of Toledo city over the Tagus River.
The city of Toledo is the capital of the province of the same name, and is also the capital of the Autonomous Community called Castilla-La Mancha. The city is located at 529 metres above sea level, in the Castillian meseta (plateau), practically in the centre of the Iberian peninsula. and just 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Madrid. The monumental city centre sits atop a craggy rock, which is almost entirely encircled by the Tagus river. UNESCO declared Toledo a World Heritage city in recognition of its uniqueness and its past as a host to Christian, Islamic and Hebrew culture which the splendid architecture of the city still relects - being almost impossible to walk its streets without stumbling on a Gothic or Mudejar church, an ancient mosque, a Romanesque or Visigothic structure, a former synagogue or a Renaissance palace.
Your guide will lead you on a walking tour exploring the old city while you learn about the three cultures that lived side by side during the Middles Ages and see the most important sights in Toledo including Zocodover Square, Alcazar of Toledo, Santo Tome Church,Transito Synagogue, Santa Maria La Blanca and cathedral (entrance included).
Free time for lunch and sightseeing at your leisure before returning to Madrid by high speed train where you will be met by your driver and transferred back to your hotel.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Barcelona, Spain
This morning you and your luggage will be transferred to Madrid train station to board the high speed train to Barcelona.
Arrive in Barcelona and meet your private driver who will transfer you to your centrally located 4-star hotel.
Barcelona is without doubt one of Europes most exciting cities. It is a place of extraordinary architectural dazzle, achieved by what has been called both Catalán Art Nouveau and Modernisme, by architects Gaudi, Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch. Monumental sculptures by local masters like Joan Miró adorn public spaces, and museums house extraordinary treasures ranging from works of the ancient Romans to those of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. The city is further enhanced by brightly colored outdoor markets, a magnificent Mediterranean port and a plentiful array of stylish restaurants. Needless to say, the nightlife is splendid.
This afternoon is at leisure to settle in to Barcelona and enjoy time to yourself. Visit the Gothic Quarter and the bustling Las Ramblas boulevard, with its numerous street entertainers. This lively tree-lined pedestrian mall stretches for 1.2 kilometres and is popular with both tourists and locals alike. Also just off of the Ramblas see the colourful Boqueria Food Market, one of Europe’s largest and most famous food markets.
This evening you’ll take part in a small group tapas tour with all food & drinks included. It’s a great way to experience a number of Barcelona's most interesting and authentic bars and restaurants without the research or guesswork. Your guide will recommend the wines and other drinks to try and order the speciality tapas at each bar or tavern. Your guide will talk about the history of tapas, the types of tapas served in Catalonia and elsewhere in Spain and will also give you a history of the neighbourhood you are visiting as well.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Barcelona, Spain
Enjoy a hearthy breakfast before meeting your expert private guide and driver. Today you’ll see why Barcelona is the heart of architectural modernism and experience the work of Antoni Gaudi, the maximum exponent of this spectacular artistic movement.
You’ll visit the remarkable Sagrada Familia - one of the most famous and spectacular of Gaudi’s works. It’s a Christian temple where Gaudi worked on fulltime from 1915 until his death in 1926 – even living on-site in the year leading up to his death. His remains are buried in the crypt. Work continues to this day on the building!
You’ll also visit Parc Guell – adored for brightly coloured mosaic tiles in animal forms and its great views over the city. Gaudi lived here from 1906 until 1925 – his former residence is now the location for the Gaudi Museum. Finally you’ll see the private residences Gaudi worked on in downtown Barcelona including Casa Mila- La Pedrera on the Passeig de Gracia. This last building you will visit the interior on your own.
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. You might like to visit Montjuic or head down to the Barceloneta area for a seafood lunch by the sea.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Barcelona - Daytrip to Girona, Spain
Today you travel just over an hour north of Barcelona to the colourful city of Girona known as the City of the Four Rivers. You'll be transferred from your hotel to Barcelona train station to board the speed train. Upon arrival you’ll meet your expert local guide for a sightseeing tour.
Your guide will begin the walkabout in the old quarter. Girona was a very important Jewish centre during the Middle Ages and it still has the best-preserved and most important Jewish quarter in Spain. Today, this neighbourhood is the heart of the Jewish Network in Spain and you can experience the Sephardi history as you walk beneath the archways, along narrow streets by medieval stone buildings.
Girona is full of interesting shops and architectural treasures including the Cathedral, the Arab Baths, the churches of Sant Feliu, Sant Pere de Galligans and Sant Domènech, and the city walls, which can still be walked on.
This afternoon you will have free time in Girona before returning to Barcelona by train. Meet your driver at Barcelona train station will will get you safely to your hotel for your last night in the city.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Departure,
Following breakfast you will be met by your private driver and transferred to Barcelona International Airport for your departure.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
RELATED POSTS FROM TOTALLY SPAIN'S BLOG
Guide to the Lisbon region in Portugal
Guide to Porto and the North region of Portugal
Travel Checklist for Spain and Portugal
Guide to Gaudi's Barcelona
What to do in Madrid
Travel Checklist for Spain & Portugal
Understanding Portuguese Tipping & Gratuities – When Do You Tip in Portugal?
Portugal’s Museums
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Accommodation (based on 2 people sharing)
Meals
Transport
Private Guided Tours
Pre-Booked Entrance Tickets
Group Guided Tours
Special Highlights
Other
NOT INCLUDED
Flights, Personal Travel Insurance, Porterage (not commonly available in Spain), Tips, Meals, drinks or hotel extras other than those described above. Anything else not specified above.
Prices from
4850 EUROS PER PERSON
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Then please contact us today so that we can customize this trip to suit your exact needs and dates of travel; and prepare a personalized proposal for you to consider.
