Iberian Discovery: Spain & Portugal

Madrid, Lisbon, Seville, the Alhambra in Granada and Barcelona, with private transfers and guided tours in every city.

Your route

1. 1 Madrid 2 nights
2. 2 Lisbon 2 nights
3. 3 Seville 2 nights
4. 4 Granada 2 nights
5. 5 Barcelona 3 nights

1. Day 1 Madrid

   Arrive, free time.

   Welcome to Spain. Indian travellers need a Schengen visa, which our team helps you file. Our driver meets you at Madrid airport for a private transfer to your hotel in the city centre. Check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, walk to Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, the grand arcaded square, and enjoy tapas or churros with chocolate. Spaniards eat dinner late, often after nine, so plan a snack in the afternoon. Overnight in Madrid.

2. Day 2 Madrid

   Private city tour.

   Enjoy a private tour of Madrid by car with an English-speaking guide. See the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in Europe, the Almudena Cathedral, the Gran Vía with its grand buildings, and Plaza de Cibeles. In the afternoon, visit the Prado Museum, with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya and El Greco, or relax in the Retiro Park with its boating lake and Crystal Palace. Entry fees are extra. Madrid's museums are free in the early evening on certain days, so ask your guide. Overnight in Madrid.

3. Day 3 Lisbon

   Fly to Lisbon.

   Transfer to Madrid airport for your flight to Lisbon, about one hour and fifteen minutes. Our driver meets you and takes you to your hotel. Lisbon, the sunny capital of Portugal, is built on seven hills above the Tagus river. In the evening, ride a viewpoint lift or walk up to a miradouro to watch the sunset over the red rooftops, and try a fresh pastel de nata, the famous custard tart. Portugal is one hour behind Spain, so adjust your watch. Overnight in Lisbon.

4. Day 4 Lisbon

   Belém and Alfama tour.

   A guided tour of Lisbon. In Belém, see the Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery and the Monument to the Discoveries, which honours Vasco da Gama and the explorers who sailed to India. Then explore the Alfama, the old Moorish quarter of narrow lanes and tiled houses, and the elegant Baixa and Chiado districts with a digital walking guide. Ride the yellow Tram 28 if you like. In the evening, hear fado music at extra cost. Lisbon's hills are steep, so wear comfortable shoes. Overnight in Lisbon.

5. Day 5 Seville

   Travel to Seville.

   Travel from Lisbon to Seville, in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia, by road or a short flight. Check in to your hotel and rest. In the evening, walk through the Santa Cruz quarter, the old Jewish neighbourhood with whitewashed lanes, orange trees and flower-filled patios. Seville is the home of flamenco, and an evening show can be added at extra cost. Try local tapas such as gazpacho and fried fish. Seville is very hot in summer, so plan sightseeing for mornings and evenings. Overnight in Seville.

6. Day 6 Seville

   City tour and river cruise.

   A guided tour of Seville. Visit the Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, with the tomb of Christopher Columbus, and climb the Giralda tower. See the Real Alcázar, a royal palace with Moorish halls and gardens, and Plaza de España, a grand semicircular square with tiled alcoves for every Spanish province. In the afternoon, enjoy a cruise on the Guadalquivir river, passing the Torre del Oro. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water, as the Alcázar and cathedral involve a lot of walking. Overnight in Seville.

7. Day 7 Granada

   Travel to Granada.

   Travel from Seville to Granada, about three hours by road or train, through olive groves and hills, with the snowy Sierra Nevada rising ahead. Check in and explore the Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter. At sunset, walk to the Mirador de San Nicolás for the famous view of the Alhambra glowing red against the mountains. In the evening, try free tapas served with drinks in Granada's bars, a local tradition. The Albaicín is steep and cobbled, so wear good walking shoes. Overnight in Granada.

8. Day 8 Granada

   Alhambra and Generalife.

   Visit the Alhambra, the great Moorish palace and fortress complex and one of the most visited monuments in Spain, with a guide. Explore the Nasrid Palaces, with their carved ceilings, tiled walls and courtyards with fountains, then the Generalife gardens. Entry is by timed ticket, so we book well in advance. In the evening, a flamenco show in the caves of Sacromonte can be added at extra cost. Carry your passport, as names on Alhambra tickets are checked at the entrance. Overnight in Granada.

9. Day 9 Barcelona

   Travel to Barcelona.

   Fly from Granada to Barcelona, about one and a half hours. Our driver meets you and takes you to your hotel. Barcelona is a lively city on the Mediterranean, famous for the buildings of Antoni Gaudí. In the evening, walk down La Rambla, visit the Boqueria food market, and wander through the narrow lanes of the Gothic Quarter. Keep an eye on your belongings, as pickpockets are active here. Barcelona's beachfront promenade is lovely for an evening walk by the sea. Overnight in Barcelona.

10. Day 10 Barcelona

    Private city tour.

    Enjoy a private car tour of Barcelona with an English-speaking guide. See the Sagrada Família, Gaudí's extraordinary basilica still under construction after more than a century, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà on Passeig de Gràcia, and Park Güell with its mosaic terraces. Drive up Montjuïc hill for views over the port and the Olympic stadium. Entry fees are extra and best booked in advance. Gaudí's buildings are best photographed in the morning light, and queues are shorter if you arrive early with timed tickets. Overnight in Barcelona.

11. Day 11 Barcelona

    Free day or Montserrat.

    A free day in Barcelona. Relax on Barceloneta beach, shop on Passeig de Gràcia, or visit the Picasso Museum. You may also join an optional day trip to Montserrat, a monastery set among jagged mountains about one hour away, home to the Black Madonna and a famous boys' choir. In the evening, watch the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc when it runs, or enjoy a final Spanish dinner. Montserrat is reached by a scenic rack railway or cable car, with views of the jagged peaks. Overnight in Barcelona.

12. Day 12 Barcelona

    Departure.

    After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Depending on your flight time, enjoy a last stroll or some shopping for Spanish olive oil, saffron or leather goods. Our driver transfers you to Barcelona airport for your flight home. Please reach three hours before departure and claim VAT refunds on eligible purchases before check-in. Pack olive oil and wine bottles carefully in your checked luggage. Your journey through Spain and Portugal ends here, with memories of palaces, cathedrals, flamenco and sunny Mediterranean days.

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