Across Spain and Portugal

We depart for Europe today, with a connecting flight to Lisbon. 

We arrive today in the Portuguese capital. As our group members’ arrival times may vary greatly, we have no sightseeing planned during the day. For those arriving early, our tour director will be able to suggest several activities, or we may choose to simply relax in a nearby café. This evening, after checking in to our hotel (the hotel’s check-in time is 3:00 p.m.), we gather for a welcome dinner and a briefing on the journey ahead.

Overnight: Corinthia Lisbon

Meals: D

This morning’s city tour includes a visit to the majestic Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, a monastery built in 1501 and completed 100 years later. The monastery was built on the ruins of an existing church, and it was here, in 1497, that Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before leaving on their historic journey. Da Gama, along with his four ships and a crew of 170 men, became the first Europeans to sail around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and find a sea route to India. Today, the monastery houses some of Portugal’s treasures from the discoveries of Vasco da Gama and other explorers. 

We also see the nearby Tower of Belém, a symbol of Lisbon and the most photographed monument in Portugal; and stop by the inspiring Monument to the Discoveries, commemorating Portugal’s seafaring and literary heritage. Then, we take a guided walk through Figueira Square in the Baixa district, the vibrant heart of Lisbon characterized by Neoclassical architecture and bustling pedestrian streets. 

After our walk, our afternoon is at leisure with lunch on our own. We can explore the nearby Alfama district, one of Lisbon’s oldest neighborhoods featuring brightly colored buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, and abundant shopping and dining; or perhaps board the historic No. 28 tram to ride up the steep Alfama avenues towards the 11th-century Sao Jorge Castle, where sweeping city views await. Tonight, we may wish to venture out to a local club to hear Portugal’s haunting, traditional Fado music.

Overnight: Corinthia Lisbon

Meals: B

Leaving Lisbon and driving north, we stop in the small, fortified town of Obidos, where we take a walking tour through its medieval streets and squares. The Romans and the Moors had settlements here until Portugal’s first king wrested it from the latter in 1148. Known as the “Wedding Present Town,” Obidos formed part of King Denis’ dowry to his queen, Isabel, on their wedding day in 1282 CE. As we meander through this lovely village full of red-tile roofs and whitewashed walls, it’s easy to see why Portuguese kings continued the tradition of presenting Obidos as a wedding gift for over 500 years. 

We continue on to the seaside village of Nazaré, where we have free time for lunch on our own in this town best known for its massive waves. Big-wave surfers from the world over descend upon Nazaré when the conditions are right, and a few riders have caught enormous waves, including Sebastian Steudner’s 94-foot monster in 2024 (an official Guinness world record), and Hugo Vau’s reported 115-foot “Big Mama” in early 2018. Legend holds that the Virgin Mary miraculously rescued a knight, Dom Fuas, from a fatal fall here in the 12th century; the chapel he built to commemorate the miracle still stands on the cliffs. Early this evening we reach our pousada in lovely Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, one of Europe’s oldest urban centers, headquarters of the port wine trade, and an UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Overnight: Pousada Pestana Palácio do Freixo

Meals: B, D

Today we tour this city with a rich history dating back to the Phoenicians who established a settlement here in the 8th century BCE; the Romans later founded the town of Portus (“port”) in the 1st century BCE. The city lent support to the explorations of its native son, Henry the Navigator, in the 15th century, and Portugal owes its constitutional government to the Liberal Revolution of 1820 that began here. 

Highlights of our city tour include the historic city center; the Baroque Clerigos Church, with its imposing bell tower; and the sophisticated Foz oceanfront district. Then we enjoy a “six-bridge” cruise on the Douro River, source of the microclimate responsible for the grapes that make the city’s famous port wine and upon whose banks the Romans planted grapevines centuries ago. Our tour ends with a visit to a port lodge for a tasting of the fortified wine exclusive to the region. Port’s style can be attributed to British merchants, who began adding brandy to Porto wine to protect the wine during its shipment to England. By the mid-19th century, the practice had evolved to fortifying the wine with brandy before it had fully fermented, as doing so yielded a more desirable vintage better suited to aging. 

This afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration. Some options: visiting the art galleries on Rua Miguel Bombarda or sipping a drink at a café on Avenida dos Aliados in the city center and watching the tripeiros, the name Porto residents are known as. We dine tonight at our hotel.

Overnight: Pousada Pestana Palácio do Freixo

Meals: B, D

Today we journey to Santiago de Compostela, last stop of the celebrated pilgrimage route of the Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago) traveled by thousands of peregrinos (pilgrims) for 1,200 years and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to tradition, the apostle St. James came to the Spanish region of Galicia as a missionary, and after Herod had him beheaded, his followers bore his body back for burial. Upon discovery of his remains in the early 9th century, Galicians constructed a shrine, and people began making the pilgrimage to it, taking various routes throughout Europe. The “Codex Calixtinus,” written in the 12th century and known as the first European guidebook, provided guidance to pilgrims undertaking this journey; Francis of Assisi, Dante Alighieri, Charlemagne, and El Cid number among the many who have walked this path. 

Those who can demonstrate they have walked at least 100 kilometers – today determined by stamps in a “pilgrim passport” from wayside stops – earn a compostela, or certificate of completion, upon arrival in Santiago. The Pilgrims’ Office awards well over 100,000 compostelas to pilgrims from over 100 countries each year. En route this morning to this storied city, we stop in the old Galician town of Pontevedra where we take a walking tour through its historic and architecturally interesting city center. We continue to Santiago, capital of Spain’s northwest Galicia region, and arrive mid-afternoon at our parador, where we dine tonight. 

Overnight: Parador de Santiago de Compostela

Meals: B, D

We discover this important cultural and educational capital on today’s city tour, featuring the Cathedral housing the silver crypt believed to hold the remains of St. James, and the statue in his honor. The Spanish king commissioned the rebuilding of the Cathedral after the original church’s destruction in 997 CE; construction lasted from 1060 to 1211, and stonemasons added the elaborate Baroque façade between the 16th and 18th centuries. 

After designated masses, eight men known as tiraboleiros swing the renowned Botafumeiro, a massive censer suspended by a pulley from the ceiling. Reputedly implemented to mitigate the odor of the many pilgrims who slept in the Cathedral in centuries past, the Botafumeiro stands over five feet high, weighs over 175 pounds, and swings in a 213-foot arc. We exit the Cathedral through the magnificent 12th-century Portico de la Gloria (“Port of Glory”) and enter Plaza de Obradoiro, the monumental square surrounded by Santiago’s most important – and impressive – buildings. The plaza’s four sides encircling us display four architectural styles – Neoclassical, Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic – and are said to represent the four primary aspects of civic life: the religious with the Cathedral, the political with the Town Hall, the cultural with the University of Santiago’s rectorate building, and the commercial with the Hotel de los Reis Católicos. We return to our parador for a tapas lunch together, and then the rest of the day is free for independent exploration in this eminently walkable World Heritage city. Churches, Alameda Park, the marketplace…possibilities abound, and our tour director will be happy to offer suggestions. Dinner tonight is on our own.

Overnight: Parador de Santiago de Compostela

Meals: B, L

Leaving Santiago this morning, we travel east to vibrant León, another stop on the Way of St. James and known for its religious festivals and Easter Week processions. A Moorish ruler sacked León in the 10th century; the Spanish rebuilt it, and the city became the seat of Western Europe’s first parliament under King Alfonso IX in the 12th century. Along the way, we stop at the historic city of Astorga, full of Neo-Gothic, Baroque, and Roman-era architectural treasures. Included in our touring here is a visit to Bishop’s Palace, one of only three buildings outside of Catalonia designed by famed architect Antoni Gaudí. 

Upon arrival in León this afternoon, we embark on a city tour with a local guide. Our tour guide illuminates the city’s impressive historical and architectural heritage as we visit the 13th-century León Cathedral, one of Spain’s most beautiful churches, with its sculpture-covered façade and impressive stained glass windows. Tonight we dine together at our hotel.

Overnight: Parador de León

Meals: B, D

Continuing our journey, we stop in the elegant port city and Cantabrian capital of Santander, which sits in one of Spain’s most beautiful bays. Spanish kings made this city their residence in the early 20th century. Our touring reveals some highlights, including Santander’s beaches and the cape of Cabo Mayor with its clifftop vista and iconic lighthouse. After lunch at a local restaurant, we travel on to Bilbao, the industrial port city on the Bay of Biscay almost magically transformed by the construction of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in 1997. Shakespeare alluded to the city’s centuries-old ironworking and swordmaking industry in both Hamlet and The Merry Wives of Windsor, but as we see on during our time here, the city now boasts a vibrant contemporary art scene. Dinner tonight is on our own tonight in this city known for its outstanding cuisine.

Overnight: Meliá Bilbao

Meals: B, L

This morning’s tour begins in Bilbao’s medieval Old City, with a charming mix of narrow cobblestone streets and inviting squares. We see the Catedral de Santiago (c. 1379), once a stop on the Way of St. James, as well as the monumental Plaza Nueva and busy riverside La Ribera market. 

Then comes a tour highlight, as we enjoy a guided tour of the Guggenheim and its contemporary art collection. Designed by award-winning architect Frank Gehry, the jaw-dropping structure of limestone, titanium, and glass has drawn acclaim, attention, and visitors to the city, but its external façade only paves the way for the mind-bending contemporary sculptures and paintings within. After thoroughly absorbing the treasures on offer here, we head to Bilbao’s Fine Arts Museum, with its rich collection of Spanish and Basque artworks, where we can explore on our own. Then we have the afternoon at leisure for lunch and for more independent exploration, perhaps to walk along Santiago Calatrava’s spectacular glass footbridge spanning the Nervion River. We dine together tonight at our hotel.

Overnight: Meliá Bilbao

Meals: B, D

A day-long excursion takes us through countryside historically home to the Basque people of Spain’s Atlantic Coast and western Pyrenees. Our first stop is at the picturesque islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, with its clifftop 10th-century hermitage dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Connected to the mainland by only a thin ribbon of arched stone, the islet has played a role in history both real and imagined — the islet was used as the location of Dragonstone in HBO’s Game of Thrones TV series. 

After stopping to view the islet from the mainland, we continue our drive along the coast, passing through the key fishing town of Bermeo and the town of Mundaka, a surfing haven famous for its “left wave.” Here we enjoy magnificent views of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve of streams and a salt marsh surrounded by sheer cliffs. Our next stop is a poignant one: Gernika (Guernica), heart of the Basque region and the town razed by Nazi bombing in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War, then immortalized in the namesake painting by Pablo Picasso. Here we see two cherished symbols of democracy and self-governance for the Basque people – the Assembly House and the storied Tree of Gernika, a descendant of the tree under which representatives from each Biscayan village met to formulate provincial laws. We continue to a winery to sample the Basque coast’s unique Txakoli wine, grown in vineyards overlooking the sea. Traditionally only made for local consumption, Txakoli began to gain broader recognition in the late 1980s. Following our tasting, we enjoy a lunch of pintxos, the Navarre region’s signature tapas, at the winery. Our full day of Basque country touring complete, we return to our hotel and have the remainder of our evening free with dinner on our own.

Overnight: Meliá Bilbao

Meals: B, L

We travel today to Bielsa in the Pyrenees region, stopping en route in fabled Pamplona, known for its annual Encierro – better known as the Running of the Bulls. Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises helped publicize a practice that began in the 16th century of running bulls the half-mile from Pamplona’s corral to its bullfighting ring. Our tour here features the striking Monument to the Encierro, a bronze sculpture created by Bilbao artist Rafael Huerta to commemorate the bulls and thousands of daring participants – 15 of whom have died since 1910 – that run daily during the annual festival of San Fermin from July 7–14. 

We also visit the city’s favorite meeting place, Plaza del Castillo, known as “Pamplona’s Living Room,” where residents have gathered since the Middle Ages. For lunch on our own, we can sample the local pintxos – perhaps at multiple establishments as the Pamplonans do. After lunch, we continue into the Pyrenees over mountain roads to Bielsa and our parador, arriving late this afternoon. Tonight we dine together at our parador.

Overnight: Parador de Bielsa

Meals: B, D

Fresh mountain air and stunning scenery are on tap today as we visit Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A royal decree established Ordesa, Spain’s oldest national park and one of Europe’s first, in 1918 and the government has since expanded it to include more than 56,000 acres. This dramatic, glacier-carved landscape provides habitat for 171 bird species and 32 mammal species including the endangered ibex and the lammergeier, a bearded vulture. Touring by smaller vehicles, we take in the beauty of the limestone Pyrenees mountain chain with its lush valleys dotted with clear blue streams and beech, fir, and pine trees, making stops for photo opportunities. Later this afternoon is free to hike or simply relax amidst the natural beauty. Tonight we have dinner together at our parador.

Overnight: Parador de Bielsa

Meals: B, D

Today we transfer to the fascinating city of Barcelona. People remain divided over the origins of this coastal city, with one legend saying Hercules founded it 400 years before Rome’s birth and another insisting that Hannibal’s father Hamilcar Barca founded it in the 3rd century BCE. Now Catalonia’s capital, Spain’s second largest city, and one of Europe’s most popular vacation spots, Barcelona had no beaches prior to the 1992 Olympics, when it relocated the industries that had occupied the seaside and reclaimed more than 2½ miles of sand and surf. The city loves its walkers, too, as we will see, boasting the equivalent of 260 football fields designated as pedestrian zones; roughly 3,500 people stroll down the Portal de l’Ángel, Spain’s most-traversed street, each hour. We reach Barcelona late this afternoon with time to explore before dinner on our own. Our hotel’s location in the heart of this city renowned for its walkability gives us a great starting point for exploration and dining options aplenty; our tour director will happily provide suggestions.

Overnight: El Avenida Palace

Meals: B

This morning, we embark on a city tour, passing Las Ramblas, the tree-lined pedestrian mall that attracts locals and visitors alike, day and night. We then pay homage to Barcelona’s native son, flamboyant artist Antoni Gaudí, as we enter his magnum opus, the landmark Sagrada Familia, a surreal cathedral that was unfinished when the artist died unrecognized and penniless in 1926. After a walking tour of the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), a maze of medieval streets, squares, and mansions, we enjoy a tapas lunch together. Then, we have free time to explore this exciting city as we wish. Among the many attractions near our hotel: Plaça Catalunya, the city’s bustling central pedestrian square; elegant Passeig de Gracia avenue with its boutiques and modernist architecture; and Olympic Port with its seaside promenade. We have another chance to sample Barcelona’s renowned Catalan cuisine tonight with dinner on our own.

Overnight: El Avenida Palace

Meals: B, L

Today we start with a walk through Gaudí’s fanciful Parc Güell, one of Barcelona’s most beloved spots.  After spending some time here, we attend a special cooking workshop to learn how to prepare paella, one of Spain’s most well-known dishes. We then bid ¡adios! to Spain and to our fellow travelers while enjoying the fruits of our labor at a farewell lunch. The rest of the day is free to explore Barcelona. Spend time by the sea, browse the many shops, watch the passersby with a café con leche in a plaza, indulge in Barcelona’s art scene at a museum, and be sure to enjoy the culinary scene with lunch on our own in this cosmopolitan city. From small cafes to five-star restaurants, intimate parks to miles-long boulevards, and ancient architecture to some of the most contemporary buildings we will see anywhere in the world, travelers will be swept up in the Catalonian capital. Dinner tonight is on our own.

Overnight: El Avenida Palace

Meals: B, L

We depart Barcelona today, with a connecting flight to the United States.

Meals: B