Northern Spain and Portugal from Barcelona

Discover the mix of architectonic styles and the gastronomy from the north of the Iberian Peninsula with our 16-day itinerary. Your trip will start in Barcelona, the Catalan city full of modernist buildings designed by the famous architect Antonio Gaudí and it will end in Madrid, the Spanish Capital. You will visit the key points of the peregrinate routes such as Santiago de Compostela Cathedral or Fatima in Portugal. In a fascinating cruise in Oporto you will go down the Duero river and you will taste one of the best wines from this Portuguese city. 

Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Highlights city tour of Barcelona. Half-day sightseeing tour around Barcelona that will allow you to discover the history of the city while visiting some of the most important places in a comfortable and easy way. The first part of the visit consists in a guided walking tour through the small and narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of the city. During this early visit we will see the Cathedral Square, The Cathedral, the Old Jewish Quarter, among other interesting places. Later we will take our bus to start with a panoramic tour around the rest of the city. We will head towards the Mountain of Montjuic, the main scenery of the Olympic Games in the 1992. We will see the Olympic stadium from the bus and later we will have the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of the city riding the aerial tramway (subject to the weather conditions). At the end, back to the bus, we will leave Montjuic and come back to the city centre passing through España square, the twin Venetian towers, the MNAC and the Shopping centre Las Arenas, build in an old bullring. We will pass through the elegant Passeig de Gràcia Street, where there are located two of the most important Gaudi’s buildings (Casa Batlló and Casa Milà “la Pedrera”). We will arrive to Estació del Nord, and we will end up the tour.Afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this wonderful city and surroundings. Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Barcelona “Sants” train station to depart by high speed train to Zaragoza. Arrival to Zaragoza Arrival in Zaragoza and meeting with the guide to continue towards San Sebastián, one of the most famous tourist destinations where they hold the International Film Festival. Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic tour of this elegant and gentrified city whose landscape is dominated by the Bay and La Concha Beach. We will go up to Mount Igueldo, from where we will be able to contemplate a magnificent view of the city. Rest of the day at leisure. In the afternoon, possibility of an optional visit to the picturesque villages of Biarritz and San Juan de Luz, already in French territory. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to Bilbao for some free time on the esplanade of the Guggenheim Museum to admire this modern work of architecture. We will continue towards Castro Urdiales, a typical fishing village where we will have free time. Departure to Santander, a port city nestled between the sea and the mountains, with numerous beaches, such as El Sardinero, one of the best known. Guided tour with a local guide to thoroughly explore this beautiful city.Accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Santillana del Mar, one of the towns with the greatest historical and artistic value in Spain, which houses true architectural treasures, such as the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana, the most important Romanesque jewel in Cantabria. Continue to Covadonga, where we will have free time to visit the Sanctuary and the grotto with the image of the Virgin. In the afternoon departure to Oviedo, located on a series of hills at the foot of the Naranco and which stands out for the beauty of its streets, many of them pedestrian. Its monuments are a World Heritage Site and among them the Cathedral stands out, one of the most important works of Asturian Gothic. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure towards the Galician region. On the way to Lugo, stop in Mondoñedo; free time to visit its imposing 12th century cathedral and try the delicious “Mondoñedo cake”. Departure to Lugo and free time to contemplate the Roman vestiges that it still conserves as its walls, declared a World Heritage Site. Continuation to Santiago de Compostela, whose ancient city is a World Heritage Site, and one of the most important monumental centers in Spain, center of Christian pilgrimage and end of the Camino de Santiago, originally built by the Roman Empire. Accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. City tour of Santiago visiting the Plaza del Obradoiro and its Cathedral (entrance included) dedicated to the Apostle Santiago el Mayor. Rest of the day at leisure to continue visiting this city with a university and student atmosphere. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure to the most picturesque area of the Galician Rías Bajas (Spanish fjords). Through splendid landscapes, we will arrive at the island of La Toja, universally known for its spa and natural wealth. Free time and continuation through the Arosa estuary on the way to Portugal. Arrival in Porto and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic tour of Porto, considered a World Heritage Site where we will contemplate the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange building and the Church of Santa Clara. Then enjoy a different perspective of the city along the Douro River on board a Cruise and discover the historical heritage by visiting a well-known Port Wine Cellar with wine tasting included. Rest of the day free. Accommodation.

Breakfast and overnight at the hotel. Free day in this magnificent city on the banks of the Douro.

Breakfast. Departure to Coimbra, the city that hosts one of the oldest universities in Europe and the cradle of Fado. Leisure. Continuation to Fatima. Center of the Christian Faith and World Pilgrimage Sanctuary with its impressive Basilica and the Cova da Iria, place where the Virgin Mary appeared. The Chapel of the Apparitions, the heart of the sanctuary, with the tombs of the three little shepherds, Lucía, Francisco and Jacinta. At night possibility of attending the candlelight procession. Accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Batalha Monastery, a masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline style considered a World Heritage place by UNESCO. Continue to the picturesque fishing town of Nazare. Free time and continue to Alcobaça (World Heritage) with its Gothic church and Cistercian monastery, whose origins date back to the XII C. Then to Lisbon. Arrival in the Portuguese capital and accommodation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Merida, a World Heritage city. Merida, the capital of Extremadura, is known for its rich historical heritage, including its well-preserved Roman ruins: the theater, the amphitheater, the Roman bridge, and more. Free time and then continuation to Madrid. Accommodation.