Spain and Portugal

Experience Spain’s capital with a licensed guide. Visit the Royal Palace, Europe’s largest, to see lavish halls and frescoes. Stroll lively Gran Vía with its theatres, shops, and cafés. Admire the Cibeles Fountain depicting the earth goddess Cybele. See the Neoclassical Puerta de Alcalá in Plaza de la Independencia, a ceremonial gateway to the city. Conclude at Columbus Square, a hub of monuments and museums.

Tour Toledo, long considered the spiritual capital of Spain and once home to El Greco. Visit Toledo Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece filled with treasures such as alabaster sculpture, El Greco’s paintings, and a gilded monstrance carried in Corpus Christi processions. Step into St. Mary’s Synagogue, a symbol of coexistence among three faiths, and explore Toledo’s famous sword-making tradition at a local factory.

A castle fit for a king! This stone fortification rises up imposingly from a rocky crag in the old city of Segovia. See its towering round turrets, spindly spires, luxurious throne room and fully stocked armory.

This guided sightseeing tour introduces Salamanca, a historic city shaped by scholarship, religion, and pilgrimage. Visit the Casa de las Conchas, now a public library, known for its façade decorated with more than 300 scallop shells, the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Explore the Catedral Nueva (New Cathedral), noted for its unexpected modern carvings added during a 1992 restoration, and the adjoining Catedral Vieja de Santa María (Old Cathedral), dating to the 14th century. The tour also includes the University of Salamanca, founded in 1134, where Christopher Columbus once presented his plans for a new route to the West Indies.

Known as the birthplace of Portugal, Guimarães is a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its well-preserved medieval architecture. On this Tour Director–led sightseeing tour, explore Guimarães Castle, a 10th-century fortress built to defend the region from invaders. Stroll through the historic Old Town, admire the medieval square Largo da Oliveira, and visit the Gothic Church of Our Lady of the Olive Tree, gaining insight into the origins and early history of Portugal.

A guided sightseeing tour introduces Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, known for its bustling riverfront, historic neighborhoods, and iconic bridges, including one designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel. Begin in the Ribeira district, where colourful houses and decorative balconies line narrow cobblestone streets along the Douro River. Visit the Church of São Francisco, whose plain exterior contrasts with its richly gilded Baroque interior, and continue to the Sé Cathedral of Porto, featuring marble and stonework, a silver altarpiece in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, and traditional Portuguese azulejo tiles.

Journey through Portugal's renowned wine region on a traditional Rabelo boat, taking in breathtaking views of terraced vineyards, historic estates, and charming villages along the riverbanks.

Portugal's biggest university town, Coimbra has been a centre of learning since 1290, when the country's first college was founded here. Fátima draws pilgrims rather than students. In 1917, three children saw several apparitions of the Virgin Mary in a field here, and the enormous basilica that was built in her honour attests to the continuing flood of pilgrims who visit the city each year.

Enjoy a walking tour through the University of Coimbra, featuring key highlights such as the Porta Férrea, the Via Latina, the Sala dos Capelos with its portraits of Portuguese kings, and the University Chapel. Inside the chapel, see an 18th-century organ, 16th-century candelabra, 17th-century tiles, and a finely carved Manueline portal.

Explore Portugal’s capital city as you visit the Monument to the Discoveries and consider Portugal’s Age of Exploration. Tour Mosteiro dos Jerónimos to study Manueline architecture and the legacy of Vasco da Gama, then examine Belém Tower’s defensive role along the Tagus River. Discuss the engineering of Ponte Vasco da Gama and take in panoramic views from the Mirador de Santa Justa while reflecting on Lisbon’s blend of medieval heritage and modern growth.

Learn the traditional art of painting and glazing ceramic tiles, a craft deeply rooted in Portuguese culture. These workshops often involve hands-on activities, allowing attendees to design and create their own unique tiles while exploring the rich history and techniques of Azulejos.

Portugal's version of the Blues, Fado means "fate" or "destiny," and its songs generally tell the tale of lost love or glory. Head to a Fado house in the Bairro Alto and see the singers swathed in black, accompanied by 12-stringed guitars, crooning their hearts out.