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Grand Tour of Portugal & Spain: Porto to Barcelona

with Basque Country extension

Duration: 15 or 18 days
Group size: 15-38

Discover the diversity of two neighboring countries.

The seafaring history and Moorish architecture that the Iberian Peninsula is known for only tells part of the region’s story. The other half lies in the local culture, which is best experienced at a bustling Portuguese taverna or in a colorfully tiled Spanish plaza. Dive into the delights of classic destinations like lovely Lisbon and sunny Seville while also enjoying time to marvel at sites such as the captivating Chapel of Bones in Évora and awe-inspiring Alhambra in Granada.

Your tour package includes

13 nights in handpicked hotels
13 breakfasts
5 dinners with beer or wine
Guided sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides

Included highlights

Stock Exchange Palace
Palace of Ajuda
Évora’s Chapel of Bones
Seville Cathedral
olive oil tasting

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Day-by-day itinerary

Overnight flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Porto today.

Porto2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Porto

Included meal: Dinner

Welcome to Portugal! Settle in to your hotel in the heart of this 2,000-year-old, UNESCO-listed city. Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner tonight.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Porto

Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know Porto like a true tripeiro (Porto resident) as you follow your local guide.

Wander through the medieval lanes of the Old-World Ribeira district and along the picturesque Douro Riverfront
Pass citywide icons, such as the Baroque-style Clérigos Tower, the Gothic São Francisco Church, and the wrought-iron Maria Pia Bridge
Step inside the city’s famed neoclassical Stock Exchange Palace

Enjoy free time in Porto or add an excursion.

Douro River Cruise & Port Wine Cellar

Excursion (additional cost)

Lisbon2 nights

Day 4: Lisbon via Coimbra

Included meals: Dinner, Breakfast

Drive south and stop to explore Coimbra on a guided walking tour of the city’s chapel and the country’s first university. After, continue on to Lisbon and sit down for an included dinner.

Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Lisbon

Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know the Portuguese capital on a tour with a local guide.

Admire views of the city from Eduardo VII Park, then pass the Plaza del Marqués de Pombal and the Mouraria District
Discover the city’s maritime heritage at the Monument to the Discoveries and Tower of Belém
Enter the Palace of Ajuda and learn about Portugal’s former royal family
Walk from Mercado da Ribeira through Chiado square to the Baixa district in the heart of the city

Spend a free evening in Lisbon or add an excursion.

Lisbon Cooking Class & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Seville2 nights

Day 6: Seville via Évora

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Join a local guide on a tour of UNESCO-recognized Évora, a picturesque Portuguese locale and one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.

Take in the region’s whitewashed homes and intricate tilework
Pass the remains of the Roman temple and enter the Chapel of Bones
Stop at the Alentejo Cork Factory for a tour to see how cork is made

After, continue on to Seville, Spain and sit down for an included dinner.

Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Seville

Included meal: Breakfast

Uncover the beauty of Seville, the historic Andalusian capital, on a guided tour.

View the tiled pavilion of the Plaza de España
Pass the whitewashed homes of Barrio de Santa Cruz
Enter the Gothic Seville Cathedral, the third largest church in the world

Enjoy free time in Seville or add an excursion.

An Evening in Seville: Tapas & Wine

Excursion (additional cost)

Granada2 nights

Day 8: Granada via olive oil farm

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Pay a visit to a local olive oil farm this morning. You’ll take a guided tour of the groves, mill, and cellar to learn how the oil is harvested and produced. Then, enjoy a tasting to learn which foods pair well with and bring out the natural flavors of the olive oil.

Continue on to Granada and sit down for an included dinner.

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Granada

Included meal: Breakfast

Set off on a guided tour of Granada.

Explore the Alhambra, the Moorish sultans’ last stronghold in Spain
Admire the blend of Western art and Islamic design
Stroll through ornamented courtyards

Spend a free evening in Granada or add an excursion.

Granada Flamenco Show

Excursion (additional cost)

Madrid3 nights

Day 10: Madrid via Córdoba

Included meal: Breakfast

Transfer through the Andalusian countryside to Córdoba, Europe’s largest medieval city, and discover its history on a guided tour.

View the Calleja de las Flores
Enter the Mezquita, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the eighth century as a mosque and then converted into a cathedral during the Reconquista
Walk through the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter

After, board a high-speed train and travel to Madrid.

Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Madrid

Included meal: Breakfast

Get an insider’s view of Madrid with a local guide.

View the Royal Palace, Spain’s largest royal residence
Pass by the Temple of Debod, a reassembled temple from ancient Egypt
See the city’s squares, including Plaza de España, Plaza Mayor, and Puerta del Sol
Explore the Prado, a world-class art museum that began as the private collection of the Spanish monarchy and is home to the works of Goya, Velásquez, and more

Enjoy a free evening in Madrid or add an excursion.

Traditional Spanish Evening

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 12: Free day in Madrid

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Madrid or add an excursion.

Toledo

Excursion (additional cost)

Barcelona2 nights

Day 13: Train to Barcelona

Included meal: Breakfast

Board a high-speed train and travel to Barcelona. Then, enjoy a free evening in the city or add an excursion.

Barcelona Home-Hosted Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 14: Sightseeing tour of Barcelona

Included meal: Breakfast

Follow a local on a guided tour of the Catalonian capital.

Step inside La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s famous masterwork-in-progress
Drive along Passeig de Gràcia, past Gaudí’s “House of Bones”
Stop at Montjuïc, where the 1992 Olympic Games took place, and stroll through Mirador de l’Alcalde Park
Pass Plaça d’Espanya and view the soaring monument to Christopher Columbus

Spend a free afternoon in Barcelona or add an excursion.

Celebrate your trip with your group at tonight’s farewell dinner.

Park Güell & La Pedrera

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 15: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to explore the beauty of the Basque Country.

Extension to Basque Country

With rolling hills, rugged coastal cliffs, and distinctive cuisine, Northern Spain offers a remarkable contrast to the rest of the country. Journey to the Basque Country and discover the unique sites of Pamplona and Bilbao, from the Running of the Bulls route to the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim.

Basque Country3 nights

Day 15: Basque Country

Included meal: Breakfast

Board a high-speed train and travel to Pamplona, the famous setting for the Running of the Bulls, and get to know the old city on a walking tour.

Pass Plaza de Toros and walk along the Running of the Bulls route
Admire Pamplona Cathedral and Pamplona City Hall

After, continue on to your hotel in the Basque Country.

Day 16: Sightseeing tour of Bilbao

Included meal: Breakfast

Meet up with a local guide and take a tour of Bilbao.

Admire the architecture in Bilbao’s Old Quarter, known as Casco Viejo
View the unique architecture of the Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum, a showplace of modern and contemporary art

Day 17: Free day in the Basque Country

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in the Basque Country or add an excursion.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your group.

A Day in San Sebastián

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 18:

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the Bilbao airport for your flight home.

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Hotels, flights, & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter Portugal and Spain, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for at least 2.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with some hills.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of trains.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Porto and depart from Barcelona (or Bilbao on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
Train rides from Córdoba to Madrid and Madrid to Barcelona are included in the price of your tour. The tour extension also includes a train ride from Barcelona to Pamplona.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Portuguese food is fresh, hearty, and delicious. Try seafood stew cooked in a cataplana, a shell-shaped copper pan, or the national dish, bacalhau (salted cod). A couvert, or simple plate of bread, butter, and olives, is often served when you sit down to a meal—while it is free in many restaurants, some will add a charge to your bill for it.
In Spain, breakfast like a local with just a pastry and coffee. Then, tuck into a three-course lunch featuring a Spanish staple like savory seafood paella or grilled meat and fried potatoes. Dinner is less hearty than lunch and is served late, between 9pm and midnight. Snack on small plates called tapas any time of day.
Cuisine in Spain’s southern Andalusia region is heavily influenced by surrounding countries, and has many Arabic elements. Kebabs are popular, and desserts are often prepared with almonds, honey, and cinnamon. Be sure to try Serrano ham, which is considered a regional delicacy, as well as the famous chilled soup known as gazpacho.
Catalan cuisine, which can be found in Barcelona, is markedly different from food in other parts of Spain. Nearly every restaurant will offer pa amb tomàquet—toasted bread with tomato and olive oil. Fresh seafood, hearty meat dishes, cheeses, and locally grown vegetables, such as wild mushrooms, are culinary mainstays.
Pintxos, small snacks that are usually spiked with a toothpick to a piece of bread, are an especially popular sort of tapas in the Basque Country on the tour extension.

Electricity & air conditioning

Portugal and Spain operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

Portugal is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
Spain is one hour ahead of GMT and six hours ahead of ET.
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm in Portugal and 6pm in Spain.

Currency

You will use the euro on tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.