Coach holiday Best of Portugal & Southern Spain from Barcelona
PEPE TOURS
Coach holiday Best of Portugal & Southern Spain from Barcelona
PEPE TOURS
Departure City
SPAIN, Barcelona
Returning City
SPAIN, Madrid
Number of DAYS
Meeting point
Barcelona
Google Maps
Frecuency
Thursday
PRICE in Euros
1.660,00 €
PORTUGAL & SOUTHERN SPAIN – 12 DAYS FROM BARCELONA
Fascinating escorted tour of Andalusia and Portugal to discover the highlights of the western Iberian Peninsula. An amazing 12 days coach tour to discover the most beautiful places in Andalusia and Portugal, cities of great cultural value: Porto, the capital of northern Portugal, then Lisbon, a nest of history and culture, Seville, a fusion of architecture throughout the history or Granada a cross-roads of civilizations with Alhambra Palace as the flagship of Granada’s historical heritage.
Departure days of the tour
Departures: Thursday
Coach holiday Best of Portugal & Southern Spain from Barcelona includes:
The tour to Andalusia and Portugal includes
Transportation by modern air-conditioned coach / English-speaking accompanying guide during the tour / High speed train tickets Barcelona – Madrid / Visits in Porto, Lisbon, Seville, Córdoba, Granada (Alhambra and Generalife Gardens) and Toledo / Visit to a wine cellar with wine tasting included in Porto / Accommodation in 4* hotels / Daily buffet breakfast (except Madrid) / 3 lunches / 4 dinners / City tax in Portugal / Travel insurance.
Price details
PRICE PER PERSON IN EUROS (SEASON 2024 - 2025) | ||
IN DOUBLE ROOM | from 1660 € | |
IN SINGLE ROOM | from 2060 € |
Itinerary of the coach tour to Portugal & Southern Spain:
Day 1. (Thursday) BARCELONA – MADRID
Call on at Barcelona “Sants” Station and departure by high-speed train to Madrid. Pleasant and short journey with the comfort and speed of this fast train. Arrival in Madrid, capital city of Spain. Transfer on your own to the hotel. Free day at your disposal to discover Madrid, diplomatic capital, economic center and most populous city in Spain, headquarters of the Spanish government and city where the Spanish monarchy resides. We recommend taking a walk through the courtly Madrid de los Austrias Neighborhood with its Renaissance and Baroque buildings in Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa, continue to the Royal Palace located in the elegant Plaza de Oriente, get to know the Cibeles Fountain, Fountain of Neptune, Puerta de Alcalá, Gran Vía or Paseo de la Castellana. You can also, optionally, visit the nearby imperial city of Toledo, declared a World Heritage Site. Hotel accommodation.
Day 2. (Friday) MADRID – SALAMANCA – VIGO
Departure from Madrid to Salamanca, the university city par excellence. Free time to explore at your own pace this World Heritage Site of great artistic wealth. A stroll around the pedestrian streets in its historic centre will take you to Plaza Mayor, one of the most beautiful squares in Spain, you may visit Salamanca’s two cathedrals (the old cathedral dating from the 12th-13th centuries of Romanesque style, and the new one from the 16th century), the House of Shells, the Baroque style Clerecia church and the University with its beautiful Plateresque façade. Later we’ll continue northwest towards Galicia, a mythical land full of history and a unique natural wealth and a rich landscape. Arrival in Vigo, located in the middle of the estuary to which it gives its name, the southernmost of the Rías Baixas (Lower Estuaries) and undoubtedly the most beautiful one, with beaches of great attraction. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3. (Saturday) VIGO – VIANA DO CASTELO – BRAGA – PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Crossing the border with Portugal we will arrive at Viana do Castelo, a town located between the mouth of the Miño River and Porto. You’ll enjoy some free time to visit the old town with cobbled streets and emblazoned buildings. Our route continues to Braga, known as the city of the archbishops and the third most populous city in Portugal. Free time to discover at your own pace the essence of Braga, its labyrinthine narrow streets that hide places of historical interest, original monuments and traditional family businesses. You may visit the medieval Braga Cathedral, home to a sacred art museum and the Gothic-style Kings’ Chapel, the imposing Archbishop’s Palace and the beautiful Santa Barbara Garden. Don’t leave Braga without tasting its exquisite gastronomy among its typical dishes you may find codfish prepared in the Braga style, roast kid and crème caramel with bacon. In the afternoon, departure to Porto, city declared a World Heritage Site. Arrival at the hotel and accommodation.
Day 4. (Sunday) PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. We have a whole day to enjoy this authentic city, capital of Northern Portugal. We begin with a panoramic visit of Porto to discover the Cathedral of Sé, the most important religious monument in Porto, a mixture of styles and influences, also the Palacio de la Bolsa, one of the most beautiful buildings in Porto, Santa Clara Church and ending in a local winery where we will taste the world-famous “Porto wine”. Afternoon free at your disposal to continue exploring the corners of Porto, stroll along the Avenida dos Aliados, the Ribeira de Porto on the banks of the Duero and admire the Don Luis I Bridge, the most famous bridge in Porto, climb to the Clérigos Tower, the best viewpoint of Porto, from where you will have panoramic views of the historic city center or take an optional cruise on the Duero River. Hotel accommodation.
Day 5. Day 5. (Monday) PORTO – COIMBRA
Breakfast at the hotel. We leave Porto heading south to reach Coimbra, a riverfront city rising scenically from the Rio Mondego and the country’s former capital during the Middle Ages. Arrival and free time at your disposal to explore its preserved medieval old town with its dark cobbled lanes, visit Coimbra’s monuments: the monumental 12th century Romanesque cathedral Sé Velha, the historic University of Coimbra, Portugal’s oldest and most prestigious university, the gothic Igreja de Santa Cruz, Coimbra’s most historically important church or enjoy a relaxed coffee and sweet pastry in the Café Santa Cruz. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
Day 6. (Tuesday) COIMBRA – FATIMA – LISBON
After breakfast at the hotel, we continue our route southward to Fatima. We will discover this important sacred center of the Christian Faith, known worldwide for its sanctuary, a place of Christian pilgrimage since the beginning of the 20th century. Free time at your disposal to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima consisting of an impressive Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of the Apparitions, heart of the sanctuary and place where according to the Roman Catholic Church, three visionary children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta Marto received several apparitions and heavenly messages by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. You can visit the tombs of the three little shepherds, the precious statue of Our Lady of Fátima, the great oak tree, and also the monument dedicated to the three little shepherds (the seers) of Fátima. At the end of the day we will continue to Lisbon, the capital and largest city of Portugal. Arrival and lodging in the hotel. In the evening, optionally you can enjoy a Fado music show (typical Portuguese folklore).
Day 7. (Wednesday) LISBON
Breakfast at the hotel. We’ll have a full day to explore each corner of Lisbon. We’ll start the day with an in-depth sightseeing tour of Lisbon. We’ll visit Lisbon’s traditional neighbourhoods, which take us into the Belem district, on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary, the birthplace of many great Portuguese navigators who sailed the oceans in the Fifteenth Century to explore and trade with India and the Orient. We will walk around the Monument of the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos), a monument that celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery, we’ll see the Belem Tower, a medieval defensive fortification and a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style. We will finally see the beautiful gothic style Jeronimos Monastery, Vasco da Gama’s resting place, classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the nearby Tower of Belen. Enjoy some free time at leisure to explore Lisbon at your own pace, to discover the nostalgic corners of the Barrio de Alfama, the old city grouped next to its Castle with its old buildings in narrow and twisted “ruas” full of color and housing the genuine “taverns” where Fado music sounds like a lost past. Optionally you can do a beautiful coach trip to visit Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with Cabo da Roca and admire Cascais and Estoril. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 8. (Thursday) LISBON – CACERES – SEVILLE
Our last breakfast in Portugal. Departure towards Spain travelling along beautiful green plains that extend as far as the eye can see dotted with cork oaks and olive trees that withstand time. Back in Spain, we enjoy the beautiful landscape of Region of Extremadura, the typical wooded pasture known as the “dehesa” where the iberian pigs forage freely for acorns. Arrival in Caceres, a magical medieval city, capital of the Extremadura region in western Spain. Free time to stroll through the old town with its city walls and watchtowers and its well-known medieval neighborhood, considered a World Heritage Site. We recommend you to follow the narrow walkways that will transport you to another century and engage you in its old charm. You’ll discover the main square of Cáceres – the Plaza Mayor and the Bujaco Tower locally known as the Clock Tower, the Arch of the Star, which is one of the five access gates of Cáceres, the beautiful Palace of the Golfines… In the afternoon, we’ll travel along the Silver Highway towards Andalusia, a region with a huge heritage from a splendorous past, to arrive at Seville, Andalusia’s capital. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9. (Friday) SEVILLE
After breakfast we’ll do a monumental and panoramic visit of Seville. You will visit from outside the Cathedral of Seville, the second largest in the Catholic world after San Pedro in Rome and its famous Giralda, the old minaret of the Arab mosque, then stroll throuhg the popular neighborhoods of Santa Cruz, natural scenery of “Carmen” as well as where it developed the myth of “Don Juan” and also Triana, with a deep popular flavor and cradle of bullfighters and artists. After the visit we’ll invite you to taste the local andalusian gastronomy in a central restaurant (lunch included) and then you’ll enjoy some free to discover different perspectives and specific flavors of this active city full of light. May we recommend you an optional boat trip on the Guadalquivir River to enjoy the panoramic views that exist from the boat? Then you can walk along the banks of the Guadalquivir River, the “great king of Andalusia” as the local poet Luis de Góngora y Argote called it. Accommodation at the hotel. At night, optionally you can enjoy a flamenco show.
Day 10. (Saturday) SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll drive south along the Route of the White Washed Villages, listening to stories of bandits while arriving at Ronda, one of the most beautiful towns in Andalusia, situated on the gorge of the Guadalevin River (locally known as Tajo de Ronda) that cuts the city in half. You’ll enjoy some fre time to admire this town of Celtic origin and the marvellous views of the valley and mountain range. In the afternoon continue on to the Costa del Sol, one of the most modern and important international tourist areas of Spain. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11. (Sunday) COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Granada, with its incredible and amazing monumental environment, the last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdom up to 1492. We’ll visit the world-famous Alhambra complex with its imposing Alcazaba fortress, the Palace of Charles V, and the Generalife Gardens, fountains, gardens, and courtyards that with their sights and sounds have inspired authors such as Washington Irving in his “Tales of the Alhambra“. Free time in the afternoon. We recommend you to visit the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel that houses the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs or stroll through the Albaicín neighborhood and enjoy the beautiful views of the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Optionally you can see a Gipsy Flamenco Show held in a cave-house at Sacromonte Quarter.
Day 12. (Monday) GRENADE – TOLEDO – MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive northward where, toward the sky of Castile and surrounded by the Tagus River, it emerges the impressive Imperial City of Toledo – a World Heritage City – where the three cultures Christians, Moorish and Jewish, have lived together in harmony. Resume of the Spanish art, history and spirituality, the whole town of Toledo is a National Monument. We’ll enjoy the lunch in a local restaurant (included) and then we’ll do an in depth city tour of Toledo that includes the most important monuments, its narrow streets and we’ll discover the famous “Damasquinado Art” (gold and silver inlaying in iron). After the visit we’ll continue to Madrid. Arrival and end of our services.
Summary
- Departure city: SPAIN, Barcelona
- Returning city: SPAIN, Madrid
- Cities where we will travel through: Barcelona, Braga, Caceres, Cascais, Coimbra, Costa del Sol, Estoril, Fatima, Granada, Lisbon, Madrid, Porto, Ronda, Salamanca, Seville, Sintra, Toledo, Viana do Castelo, Vigo
- Countries where the tour goes: PORTUGAL, SPAIN
- Nº days of the tour:
- Departure day of the tour: Thursday
- Price: from 1660 €
- Tour code: 01166-12000J000-02-BCNMAD-EG
Please note that
Exceptionally, the itinerary and the order of the excursions could be altered and modified for organizational reasons. Depending on hotel availability or in case of last minute reservations, the provided hotels may be replaced by others of the same category (see list of planned hotels at Scheduled Hotels). During the train journey from Barcelona to Madrid and during the stay in Madrid, there is no accompanying guide service.