Madrid, Porto & Lisbon - 9 days

Welcome to Madrid, the Spanish capital! You will be collected at the airport and transferred to our hotel. There is an included Tapas dinner this evening to get to know the group.

Today we take an all-encompassing coach tour of Madrid. Highlights of the excursion include the historic Barrio de la Morería region, Habsburgs District, Puerta del Sol central square, Plaza Mayor and the Neptuno Fountains. These are dedicated to Neptune, a Roman water god. In the more modern part of the city we see the Salamanca district, Plaza Castilla and Parque del Oeste. We also see the Santiago Bernabeu, the football stadium of Real Madrid, the most successful European club.

During our tour, enjoy the chance to taste typical chocolate and churros, a popular sweet treat in Spain. We have a tasty Welcome Dinner this evening at an authentic Tapas restaurant.

Madrid - Salamanca - Porto (Portugal). Departing Madrid after breakfast, we make a stop in the university city of Salamanca, with free time to enjoy a stroll around. After our visit, we cross the border into Portugal and complete our drive to Porto. One of the oldest cities in Europe, Porto is located along the Douro River estuary and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Today is spent exploring Porto with a number of included activities. We enjoy a guided city tour, taking in highlights such as the Cathedral, Stock Exchange and Santa Clara Church. We also take a cruise on the Douro River, which runs through the heart of Porto. And we visit one of the riverfront Port Wine Cellars, with included tasting of this local drink. This evening, enjoy an included dinner and Fado show at one of the oldest Fado venues in the whole of Porto.

Porto - Aveiro - Coimbra. Departing Porto after breakfast, our first stop today is in Aveiro. Here we enjoy a ride on a moliceiro, a traditional boat used for navigating the canals of the town. Aveiro is known as the "Venice of Portugal", and rightly so! Our next stop is Coimbra. This riverfront city is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, which was established in 1290. It was also the birthplace of Fado music. We are spending the night in Coimbra and there's free time to explore.

Coimbra - Batalha - Nazare - Lisbon. This morning we visit the UNESCO-listed Batalha Monastery, a 14th Century Gothic masterpiece, built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. We then enjoy some free time in the quaint fishing village of Nazare before arriving in Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. We enjoy an included seafood dinner at a local restaurant.

Our day starts with a city sightseeing tour, taking in many of Lisbon's highlights. We see the city's main plazas, the fortified Belem Tower, Jeronimo's Monastery, the Monument to the Discoverers and the Marquis of Pombal Square roundabout.

The rest of today is free, and we recommend you head into the Alfama Quarter, the oldest part of Lisbon. Crowned by the Sao Jorge Castle, this part of the city features narrow alleyways and colourful 'tabernas'.

Lisbon - Merida (Spain) - Madrid. Departing Lisbon, we cross back into Spain and make a stop in Merida. We have time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is known for its incredible Roman ruins. We can see the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre before we complete our journey back to Madrid. Enjoy an included farewell dinner with your fellow travellers.

Tuck into a final breakfast in the hotel before our tour comes to an end. There is an included transfer to the airport.