Flavours of Spain and Portugal with Douro Discovery

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Overview

Embark on a 21-day journey through Spain and Portugal, travelling in a small group with no more than 24 guests on your Land Tour. Explore vibrant cities, stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage before boarding your Douro River cruise. Sail past picturesque vineyards and historic towns, then continue discovering the sights and flavours of both countries along the way.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Madrid

Touch down in Madrid, Spain’s vibrant capital. Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers before spending the remainder of the night exploring the city at your leisure.

Accommodation: Two Nights, Riu Plaza España Madrid or similar.

Day 2: Madrid

Start your day with a guided discovery of Madrid. Packed full of art museums, fabulous restaurants and leafy green spaces – not to mention Europe’s largest palace – Madrid offers locals and visitors alike plenty of things to do. See major sites including the Museo del Prado, the Royal Palace of Madrid, Plaza Mayor and El Retiro Park. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace. This evening, join your fellow travellers for an authentic Welcome Dinner.

Enhance Your Journey – Toledo Day Trip

You may like to join an optional excursion to Toledo, an ancient city built atop a gorge and home to one of Spain’s top 10 cathedrals (own expense).

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Madrid, Úbeda, Granada

En route to Granada this morning, pause in Úbeda, a World Heritage-listed town set within a lush olive-growing region. Enjoy time here to stroll among the Gothic and early Renaissance Spanish architecture. You’ll also have the opportunity to taste locally grown and produced extra virgin olive oil. Your journey continues to Granada. On arrival, check in to your hotel and prepare for an evening to remember, with an exciting Insider Experience in store.

Insider Experience – Behind-the-Scenes Flamenco Performance

Meet the family working behind the scenes of a powerful flamenco show, before sitting down to watch the performance unfold. Be regaled by the music, dancing, and costumes while you indulge in local specialties for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Two Nights, Meliá Granada or similar

Day 4: Granada

No visit to Granada is complete without experiencing the Alhambra, a Moorish palace and fortress complex established in 1238. Marvel at its architecture and take in the breathtaking views – the palace was built on a hilltop overlooking the city and the River Darro. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

Enhance Your Journey – Albaicín Neighbourhood Guided Walk

You may like to join an optional guided walk through the Albaicín neighbourhood, the oldest in Granada, set in the shadows of the Alhambra. Explore narrow streets lined with whitewashed buildings and one of the best-preserved public Arab hammams in Spain.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Granada, Córdoba

Your journey takes you to Córdoba today, a stunning city characterised by its distinctive Moorish architecture. Spend the day exploring its many sights, including time wandering through the Jewish Quarter and the colourful Calleja de las Flores (Flower Alley) — a narrow lane popular with photography enthusiasts thanks to the dozens of flowerpots adorning its whitewashed walls. This evening, revisit the impressive Mezquita to see it in a new light, where carefully placed lighting and atmospheric sound add an extra layer of fascination to this remarkable building.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: NH Collection Palacio de Córdoba or similar

Day 6: Cordoba, Seville

Begin your morning with breakfast before heading to Seville. After checking in to your hotel, spend time exploring Seville at your own pace. Renowned for its Moorish architecture, flamenco clubs, lush green parks, and mouth-watering tapas, Seville has plenty to offer. This evening, prepare for a delicious immersion into local culture and cuisine with an Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Authentic Seville Tapas Experience

Explore Seville’s old town tabernas for some of the best tapas in the city. Popular dishes include solomillo al whisky (pork loin with whisky sauce), espinacas con garbanzos (spinach and chickpeas), and jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn-fed Iberian ham). Look out for these dishes on menus. As you wander the streets, learn about the city’s rich history and locally loved hidden gems.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Two Nights, Seville, Hesperia Sevilla or similar.

Day 7: Seville

Today is all yours to explore Seville. You may like to visit the city’s must-see sights, including Plaza de España, the Royal Alcázar of Seville, and Parque de María Luisa.

Enhance Your Journey – Visit the Home of Flamenco

You might like to join an optional tour to Jerez de la Frontera, considered the home of flamenco and renowned for its world-famous Jerez wines.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Seville, Monsaraz, Évora, Lisbon

This next part of the journey takes you into Portugal. Your first stop is Monsaraz, a medieval village encircled by ancient walls and surrounded by countryside and olive groves. After time to wander the cobblestone streets, continue to Évora, where you’ll enjoy a special Insider Experience. The capital of Portugal is next. Lisbon, with the Atlantic Ocean lapping at its heels, is the perfect blend of city and coastal living. Take time this evening to explore the hilly capital for yourself.

Insider Experience – Southern Portugal Wine Tasting

In Évora, delight in a pre-lunch wine tasting at the historic Pousada Convento Évora. This carefully restored 15th-century convent is considered one of the city’s most impressive historic buildings. Sip local wines before enjoying a sumptuous lunch in this significant setting.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Two Nights, Lisbon Marques de Pombal or similar.

Day 9: Lisbon

Discover the wonders of Lisbon as you explore its hilly streets, hop aboard an iconic tram for a scenic ride, and finish at Belém Tower — a symbol of Portugal’s Age of Discoveries — for a picturesque insight into the city’s maritime history. Belém is also renowned as the birthplace of the Portuguese tart, baked and sold at the famous Pastéis de Belém since 1837. It’s here that you’ll enjoy your special Insider Experience. This evening, savour the rich flavours of Lisbon during a Fado Farewell Dinner, where a delicious meal is paired with a powerful performance of fado — traditional folk music born in the city’s historic neighbourhoods.

Insider Experience – Portuguese Tart Making Class

At a local bakery, discover the art of making the world-famous pastel de nata (Portuguese tart). Master the culinary skills needed to create this beloved pastry during a hands-on lesson led by a local baker. As you bake, learn about the rich history behind the pastel de nata — before enjoying the best part: tasting your delicious creation.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Lisbon

Set off on a full-day tour to the charming towns of Sintra and Cascais today. Begin in the World Heritage-listed town of Sintra, which looks as if it were stolen from the pages of a fairytale. Set in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, this was once the summer retreat for Lisbon’s nobility and royalty. Today, visitors and locals alike make the journey to Sintra to visit the famous Pena Palace, perched atop a hill and boasting stunning panoramas of the surrounding landscape. Admire the palace’s vivid colours, decorative terraces, and Romanticist architecture before exploring its renowned gardens.

Continue to Cascais, a coastal resort town flaunting golden sandy beaches, a popular marina, and preserved medieval buildings. Enjoy time to explore at your leisure. You might like to sprawl out on one of Cascais’ postcard-perfect beaches, peruse a museum, or enjoy a bite to eat at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Lisbon, Óbidos, Nazaré, Coimbra

Spend the day further exploring Portugal’s picturesque towns and cities. In Óbidos, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval villages, step back in time to an era of knights and folklore as you explore the medieval walls and castle. Continue to Nazaré, renowned worldwide for its big-wave surfing. Stroll through the cobblestone lanes, enjoy people-watching at a local café, or relax on the beach. Conclude your day in Coimbra, a historic riverfront city home to Portugal’s oldest university, founded in 1290. Check in to your hotel before enjoying the remainder of the day at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Coimbra Melia Aeminium Coimbra or similar.

Day 12: Coimbra, Aveiro, Porto

Explore Portugal’s version of Venice when you visit Aveiro this morning. Board a traditional Moliceiro boat and set off on a canal cruise along the city’s historic waterways. Afterwards, explore the vibrant Beira Mar neighbourhood, the oldest area in Aveiro, and discover colourful houses adorned with azulejos tiles, as well as the city’s bustling fish market. Your journey continues to the riverside city of Porto.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Two Nights, Cenica Porto Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton or similar

Day 13: Porto

Begin your day with a walking tour of Porto, learning about the city’s rich history and architecture as you navigate its hilly terrain. Prepare for an exciting Insider Experience before spending the remainder of your day at leisure.

Insider Experience – Exclusive Wine Tasting at a Local Quinta

Immerse yourself in local cuisine, wine, and culture during an exclusive wine tasting experience at a private quinta. Accompanying the delicious local wines is a memorable Farewell Lunch, hosted by the quinta owners to celebrate your time here.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14: Porto, Embark Ship

Transfer to Porto and embark your ship. Tonight, meet your fellow travellers and Travelmarvel Cruise Director at a Welcome Reception as you take in the sights along the Douro River on a sunset cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Seven Nights, MS Estrela

Day 15: Régua, Lamego, Pinhão

Begin cruising along the spectacular Douro River. Flowing from the northern reaches of Spain, through Portugal and into the Atlantic, this river is bordered by countless vineyards. As you cruise this morning, take part in a Portuguese language lesson, where you’ll learn some essential phrases of this beautiful language. This afternoon, visit the picturesque village of Lamego and the elaborately decorated Baroque cathedral, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies. While in Lamego, visit one of Portugal’s best museums. You may also like to sample one of the town’s famous specialties, Bola de Lamego – a delicious smoked ham roll. On arrival in Pinhão, you’ll enjoy an Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Portuguese Quinta Dinner

Enjoy a sumptuous dinner of traditional dishes and dessert at a picturesque local quinta, a Portuguese winery.