Authentic Europe · Guided

Grand Tour of Spain & Portugal

Guided small-group tour from Lisbon to Seville with a National Geographic escort

Grand Tour of Spain & Portugal, a rail journey with Authentic Europe

Authentic Europe runs this 15-day guided tour from Lisbon to Seville, led throughout by a certified National Geographic tour escort for a group of up to 16 travelers. The route starts with an excursion to Sintra and the Palace of Pena, then continues to Evora for a cork farm tour with lunch, and on to Coimbra, where day 6 includes a guided tour of the university before the trip reaches Porto for a port wine cellar visit and a cruise on the Douro River. Day 8 covers the move from Portugal into Spain by flight to Madrid, followed by a guided day in Toledo. The route then heads south through Cordoba, with its Mezquita and Jewish Quarter, to Granada for a guided visit to the Alhambra, and finally to Seville for a Flamenco dancing experience. Accommodation totals 7 nights at a 3-star hotel and 7 at a 4-star hotel. This suits travelers who want Spain and Portugal's major historic sites covered by a guide, with food and cultural experiences built into most stops.

What to know before you look closer

  • Day 8 covers travel from Portugal to Madrid by flight rather than by train or minibus, so this trip is not entirely overland despite its train and minibus transport list.
  • The evidence lists total nights by hotel star rating, 7 nights at a 3-star hotel and 7 at a 4-star hotel, rather than naming specific hotels or which city gets which category; confirm hotel assignments with Authentic Europe.
  • The itinerary does not specify which travel days are by train and which are by minibus; transport is listed only as a mix of the two.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal

  2. Day 2

    Excursion to Sintra and free time in Lisbon

  3. Day 3

    Travel to Évora and visit local historial sites

  4. Day 4

    Visit a cork farm and free time in Évora

  5. Day 5

    Explore Tomar as you travel to Coimbra

  6. Day 6

    Visit Coimbra's university and travel to Porto

  7. Day 7

    Visit Porto and a Port wine cellar (tasting incl.)

  8. Day 8

    Fly to Madrid, the Spanish capital

  9. Day 9

    Visit Toledo and own time to explore Madrid

  10. Day 10

    Travel to Córdoba & explore the city

  11. Day 11

    Explore Córdoba and travel to Granada

  12. Day 12

    Guided visit to Alhambra, and free time in Granada

  13. Day 13

    Travel to Seville, the capital of Andalucia

  14. Day 14

    Explore Seville & Flamenco dancing experience

  15. Day 15

    Final day & departure according to your own itinerary

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2An excursion to Sintra includes a guided tour of the Palace of Pena.
  • Day 4A guided tour of a cork farm in Montemor-o-Novo includes lunch.
  • Day 7A visit to a port wine cellar in Porto includes a tasting, alongside a cruise on the Douro River.
  • Day 12A guided visit to the Alhambra takes place in Granada.
  • Day 14A Flamenco dancing experience takes place in Seville.

Included

  • 7 nights accommodation (3-star hotel) in a standard room with private shower or bath/ WC, including breakfast
  • 7 nights accommodation (4-star hotel) in a standard room with private shower or bath/ WC, including breakfast
  • 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 1 dinner
  • Services of a certified National Geographic tour escort (English-speaking)
  • Fado night with a traditional Portuguese meal in Lisbon
  • Orientation walk in Lisbon, Porto & Granada
  • Guided tour of the Palace of Pena in Sintra
  • Chapel of Bones tour in Evora
  • Diana's Temple visit in Evora
  • Guided tour of cork farm in Montemor-o-Novo with lunch
  • Guided Knights Templar historic tour in Tomar
  • Guided tour of Coimbra University
  • Cruise on the Douro River
  • Visit of a port wine cellar in Porto
  • Guided tour of the historic city of Toledo
  • Visit Córdoba including the Mezquita (mosque) and the medieval Jewish Quarter
  • Guided visit of Alhambra
  • Flamenco dancing experience in Granada
  • Internal flight from Porto to Madrid
  • Transport between destinations and activities
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers
  • 24/7 Emergency phone service while travelling

Questions travellers ask

Is this trip guided or independent?
It's guided by a certified National Geographic tour escort, English-speaking, throughout, with a maximum group size of 16.
Is the whole trip by train?
No. Transport is a mix of train and minibus, and day 8 covers the trip from Portugal to Madrid by flight.
What hotels are used?
The evidence does not name specific hotels; it lists 7 nights at a 3-star hotel and 7 nights at a 4-star hotel across the trip.
What is included besides hotels and transport?
A Fado night with a Portuguese meal in Lisbon, guided tours of the Palace of Pena, Coimbra University, Toledo, and the Alhambra, a cork farm tour with lunch, a Douro River cruise, a port wine cellar visit, and a Flamenco dancing experience in Seville, plus 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner.
How much does it cost?
From 4,349 euros per person, about 4,979 US dollars, roughly 332 US dollars per day.
How long is the trip?
15 days and 14 nights.

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