Depart IAD

Our journey to Spain & Portugal begins! Tonight we depart IAD on our nonstop flight to Barcelona (8 hrs). 

Arrive in Barcelona

Arrive in Barcelona! We will meet our tour director upon arrival at the airport and transfer to the city center. We'll take a walk through the winding streets of the charming Gothic Quarter, Barcelona’s old city. After, check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day and night at leisure. Our hotel is phenomenally located within walking distance of lots of restaurants and has a rooftop bar with a view of the Sagrada Familia.

Barcelona

A local guide will take us on a half day morning tour to see Barcelona’s highlights. Drive along the grand La Rambla Boulevard and view the impressive plazas including spectacular Plaza de España and Plaza Catalunya. See La Pedrera and Casa Mila from the outside. See the Olympic Ring of the 1992 Olympics and Montjuic Park. Take an inside tour of the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece and Barcelona's most famous landmark which is located just steps from our hotel. We'll have some free time in the afternoon before enjoying a group welcome dinner at a local restaurant

Barcelona / Malaga with Cooking Class

Take a short flight from Barcelona to Malaga.  We'll drive along the coastline of Malaga and check in to our hotel and enjoy free time - either make a visit to the nearby beach or enjoy the pool at our hotel. This evening for dinner we'll enjoy a cooking class. Under the guidance of a professional cooking instructor, learn how to cook a delicious Spanish menu while enjoying what we create for dinner. 

Malaga or Granada

Enjoy a full free day to explore Malaga at your own pace, or relax by its beach! Alternatively, we will offer an optional tour to Granada. 

Malaga/Seville

Transfer via motorcoach from Malaga to Seville, driving through Spain's beautiful southern countryside. Arrival into Seville, where you'll have some free time to stroll around this beautiful small city. In the evening, the group will rejoin for a group tapas dinner where we'll sample an assortment of specialties at a local restaurant.

Seville

We'll embark on a full day guided tour of Seville. We'll take an inside tour of the Cathedral, the third largest Catholic cathedral in the world, and cover all of the other city's principal monuments including the Alcazar and the Santa Cruz Quarter. For those who are interested, tonight we will enjoy an optional dinner experience featuring a flamenco performance with dinner. For those who are not interested in the optional tour, you can enjoy strolling around the city and trying its numerous fabulous restaurants! 

Seville/Evora/Lisbon

Check out of your hotel in Seville and depart for Lisbon. Stops will be made along the way for lunch, to stretch legs, restroom breaks, etc. You will cross through the Alentejo region, and stop in Evora. Evora is a beautifully preserved medieval town, one of the most timeless cities in Portugal that is declared a UNESCO site. You’ll have some time to walk around and explore Evora for some time - you may wish to see the Chapel of Bones, a chapel which has its interior walls covered with human skulls and bones! After some free time in Evora, continue on to Lisbon. 

Lisbon

After breakfast, our tour director will take us on a full day city tour of Lisbon, one of the oldest capitals of Europe. Lisbon is the oldest city in Western Europe, with history rich in different cultures. A mixing of Greek, Moorish, Italian and local architecture blend seamlessly together. It has changed drastically over the years- after a devastating earthquake that leveled it to the ground in 1755, the city was completely rebuilt. The earthquake gave them a fresh start, and they were able to take the best ideas from Paris, London, Rome and Northern Africa when the city was rebuilt.  

Lisbon now is a city of pastel colors and cobblestone streets. Our walking tour will start in Alfama, walking through its narrow streets with Arab influence, its winding alleys, colorful houses, and endless stairs. Proceed to the historic district of Belém, where we can find many of the most prestigious monuments of the city, including the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, both good examples of the 16th century’s Manueline style, and finally the Monument to the Discoveries (all exterior visits). We’ll have the opportunity to taste the delicious “Pastéis de Belém”, the typical pastry of Lisbon. 

Lisbon or Sintra

Enjoy a full day on an independent basis to enjoy Lisbon at your own pace. Alternatively, we will offer an optional tour to Sintra for those who are interested. In the evening, the group will rejoin for our farewell dinner with a Fado show. Fado is a traditional folk music that is traceable back to the early 1800s and typically features mandolins, guitars and a melancholic tune. 

Return to US

After breakfast at the hotel,  we'll be transferred to the airport for our nonstop flight back to Washington DC. Return home full of wonderful memories of Spain & Portugal!