Ultimate Andalusia and Portugal

Welcome to your tour with Europamundo!If you’ve stayed with us in Madrid, we’ll provide your transfer to the station. If not, we’ll send you your high-speed train ticket.Our Madrid-Córdoba high-speed train will depart around 11:00 a.m. (time subject to confirmation), and in less than two hours, traveling at speeds of up to 300 km/h, we’ll arrive in Córdoba, where you’ll have free time for a walk in the old quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, we’ll include a tour with a local guide during which you’ll visit the Mosque-Cathedral (admission included), see the old town with its famous flower-filled patios, and enter the Old Synagogue (tickets included). Finally, just outside Córdoba, we’ll visit Medina Azahara (admission included), the impressive palace-city of the Umayyad Caliphate.Note: From June 21 to September 20, the visit to Medina Azahara will take place in the evening to avoid the heat and enjoy the cooler temperatures and nighttime lighting of the site.

After breakfast, we’ll drive through vast olive groves to Baena, a town with Roman roots, renowned for its high-quality olive oil production. We’ll visit the Núñez de Prado Olive Oil Mill, one of the oldest in the Mediterranean, housed in an 18th-century building. Here, we’ll learn about olive oil production and enjoy a tasting of pan con aceite (bread with olive oil). We’ll then continue to Granada, famous for the Alhambra (admission and guided tour included), a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch will be included. You’ll have free time in the afternoon to visit the cathedral or take a stroll through the Albaicín neighborhood, where you’ll find spectacular views of the Alhambra.

We’ll enjoy spectacular scenery as we cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Our journey will then take us along the Mediterranean, through the so-called Costa Tropical, where the mild microclimate year-round allows the cultivation of tropical fruits and crops such as guavas, mango, and avocado, and in the past, sugar cane. We’ll stop in Nerja, a charming coastal village with impressive cliffs. Next, we’ll head to Frigiliana, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, with its steep streets lined with whitewashed houses, where you’ll discover charm in every corner. Our journey will continue to Malaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, known for its many museums, as the birthplace of Picasso, and the unfinished cathedral La Manquita, meaning in English “The One-Armed Lady”. You’ll have time for lunch and to explore the city center, or if the weather allows it, you can enjoy a visit to the beach for a swim.

We’ll enjoy one of the most beautiful stages of the trip, travelling through the Andalusian White Towns and mountain ranges. We’ll leave early in the morning for Puerto Banús in Marbella, one of the most luxurious marinas in Spain, famous for its yachts and high-fashion boutiques. After a stroll, we’ll continue to Ronda, a picturesque town perched on the Tajo gorge. You’ll have time to explore, and enjoy a traditional lunch before visiting the bullring (included), one of the oldest and most spectacular in Spain (admission included). Our journey will then take us to Setenil de las Bodegas, a marvelous white village with houses built into the rock, and onward to Olvera, known for its Moorish castle, neoclassical church, and balconies filled with flowers, a classic Andalusian scene. We’ll include admission to the castle and the museum. We’ll arrive in Jerez de la Frontera in the evening, where we recommend a stroll through the historic center and enjoying tapas in the tabancos.

Located in the heart of Andalusia, Jerez is famous for its wine tradition, equestrian culture, and flamenco. After breakfast, we’ll photograph the exterior of the Moorish Alcázar and visit the Andalusian Flamenco Center, a symbol of Jerez’s cultural identity. Next, we’ll visit the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art (admission included) to see the harness museum and watch the training of Andalusian horses. Our journey will continue to Puerto de Santa María, a town renowned for its wines and seafood, where we’ll visit the Bodegas Osborne for a wine tasting (admission and tasting included). After some free time, we’ll take a boat to Cádiz for a half-hour crossing. You’ll have free time to explore this ancient city, one of the oldest in Europe, known for its cathedral and charming historic center. In the afternoon, we’ll cross the magnificent bridge to Seville, arriving by the end of the day.

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Italica (admission included), an ancient Roman city where emperors Trajan and Hadrian were born. We’ll visit its amphitheater, which once held 25,000 spectators, as well as its baths and mosaics. Next, we’ll head to Palos de la Frontera, from where Columbus´ ships set sail for America in 1492. We’ll visit La Rábida Monastery, where Columbus secured support for his expedition, and the Wharf of the Caravels (tickets included), where we’ll see replicas of his ships. There will be time for lunch in Huelva. In the afternoon, we’ll follow the Atlantic coast, near the Doñana National Park, renowned for its biodiversity. We’ll stop in El Rocío, a village famous for its pilgrimage and rural charm, where we’ll visit its sanctuary and enjoy views of Doñana. We’ll return to Seville in the evening.

In the morning, we´ll embark on a city tour of Seville, where you´ll see the cathedral with its famous Giralda, the banks of the Guadalquivir River, and the popular neighborhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana. After the tour, enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Guadalquivir River offering stunning panoramic views (included). In the evening, you´ll have the option to attend a popular flamenco tablao.

We’ll leave Seville, traveling through pleasant landscapes of rolling hills and expansive pasturelands as we head towards Extremadura. In Mérida, admission is included to the Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida, which features a Roman Theater and Amphitheater. This site is renowned for its excellent preservation and its designation as a World Heritage Site. You´ll have time for lunch and a stroll through the vibrant pedestrian historic center, filled with restaurants and local charm. We will then continue to Portugal, stopping in Évora, another World Heritage Site, known for its whitewashed streets, Renaissance palaces, and cathedral. We’ll arrive in Lisbon in the evening.

In the morning, we´ll embark on a sightseeing tour of Lisbon, exploring the Portuguese capital of the seven hills, with its charming alleys, iconic tiles, the feeling of "saudade," and the beautiful Atlantic light. We’ll also visit the Belem neighborhood, from where the great Portuguese navigators set sail to cross the oceans in the 15th century. Free time in the afternoon to walk and go to the Bairro Alto and its viewpoint; if you’d like to, you could take an optional trip to the towns of Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. In the evening, we’ll return to the hotel from the lively Restauradores Square, filled with vibrant bars and cafes.

We’ll travel to the north of Portugal, where we’ll visit Fátima, an important pilgrimage site. We’ll then continue to Porto, the country’s second-largest city. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a 50-minute cruise along the Douro River aboard a traditional Portuguese "Rabelo" boat, offering a unique perspective of the city’s beautiful riverside. Afterwards, you’ll have free time to explore the lively medieval Ribeira district, known for its narrow streets lined with historic merchant houses and charming cafés, before heading to the hotel.

Today, we´ll travel through stunning landscapes. In Braga, we´ll take a ride on the world’s oldest water-operated cable car to reach the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, where breathtaking views await. After exploring the sanctuary, we recommend descending via its picturesque staircase. Our journey continues into Galicia, where we´ll visit the historic town of Cambados in Rías Baixas. Here, we´ll embark on a glass-bottom boat trip along the Ría de Arousa, learning about mussel and oyster production. Enjoy wine and mussel tasting onboard. At lunchtime, we´ll arrive in Santiago de Compostela for a city tour led by a local guide, exploring its medieval streets and renowned pilgrimage sites dating back to the Middle Ages.

We´ll journey along the Way of St. James, stopping in Lugo to explore the historic town center and the Roman Walls of Lugo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continuing our route, we´ll stop in O Cebreiro, a charming Galician stone village. By lunchtime, we´ll reach León, where we´ll visit the Gothic cathedral renowned for its stained-glass windows and take a leisurely stroll through the historic town center. Departing around 5:00 p.m., we expect to arrive in Madrid by approximately 9:00 p.m.Note: Depending on the group size, the journey from León to Madrid may be done by train or regular transport.Our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful and lasting memories.Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.