Spain & Portugal in Style
![Aveiro-Porto-Portugal](/file/resize/c920x485-cc/2544_portugal.jpg)
![Barcelona](/file/resize/c920x485-cc/16556_shutterstock_407568160.jpg)
![Bilbao-spain](/file/resize/c920x485-cc/8837_bilbao_spain.jpg)
![c-eu-portugal-douro-valley-696830728-g-rm](/file/resize/c920x485-cc/14249_c-eu-portugal-douro-valley-696830728-g-rm.jpg)
Snapshot
- 20 nights
- Luxury
- Solo Friendly
- Barcelona to Barca D'Alva
- Multiple departures
From
$27,990*
per person twin share
BOOK NOW
Overview
Enjoy this 20 night luxury tour & river cruise package exploring Spain, France & Portugal. Begin your journey in Barcelona as you visit Zaragoza, St.Jean de Luz, San Sebastian, Bilbao and more as you make your way to Porto. Then board the MS Andorinha for your river cruise along the Douro River to Barca D'Alva. Package departs 5 September 2025.
Inclusions
Inclusions
- 13 night luxury tour from Barcelona to Porto
- 7 night river cruise from Porto to Barca D’Alva
- Private transfers*
Tour Highlights & Inclusions
- Cultural charms and spectacular scenery entice during stays in a Frank Gehry masterpiece, the Belle Époque era - Maria Cristina, a former palace and a historic parador
- Embark on an exploration across three countries; Spain, Portugal and newly added France
- Explorations, winery tours and tastings in the famed Rioja Valley wine region
- A full day journey to French Basque country including visits to Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Discover the essence of La Rioja during a two-night stay at the Frank Gehry-designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Elciego, centerpiece of the "City of Wine" – including a private tour of the winery with a tasting
- Explore Spain's Asturias region highlighted with an overnight stay at Parador de Cangas de Onis in the heart of the region
- Stay at the Parador de Santiago de Compostela, regarded as one of the oldest hotels in the world, established in 1499 to shelter pilgrims making their way to Santiago on the "Way of St. James"
- Two day adventure in Porto including a traditional rabelo boat ride and a sightseeing tour to the city's historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Airport and train station transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
- 26 meals; service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
River Cruise Highlights & Inclusions
- EXCLUSIVE – Private dinner with wine pairings at Quinta do Poral, a Douro Valley wine estate
- EXCLUSIVE – Port wine cocktail-making workshop
- Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, cruise directors
- Seven nights on the Douro aboard ms Andorinha, designed for Tauck
- Guided walking tour of Porto's colorful historic center
- Visits to wine caves and wine tastings in Vila Nova de Gaia
- Choice of a visit to Castelo Rodrigo, a hilltop medieval village with castle ruins, or Museu do Côa in the Vale do Côa Archaelogical Park
- Guided tour of 18th-century Mateus Palace in Vila Real
- Bicycle tour through Vinho Verde country
- Visit to the Museo do Douro, a museum of local viticulture in Peso do Régua
- Visit to a museum of Palaeolithic rock art in Foz Côa
- Guided visit to the opulent Dukes of Braganza Palace in Guimaraes
- Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
- 20 meals; service charges, gratuities to local guides, mission fees, taxes and porterage
*Private transfers are up to the value of $500 per person and subject to availability
Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Barcelona and Spain
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport or the Barcelona França Train Station to Le Méridien Barcelona on Las Ramblas. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.
Meals: Dinner
Stay: Le Méridien Barcelona
Day 2 - Gothic sights & whimsy in Barcelona
Walk along the tree-lined pedestrian promenade of Las Ramblas this morning with a local guide who leads you through the cobblestone lanes of Barcelona's 14th-century Gothic quarter, Barri Gòtic, a medieval warren of Roman relics, hidden courtyards, shops and alfresco cafés, to the Plaça de la Catedral. Set apart from other churches, Barcelona's Cathedral was built between 1298 and 1460 – although its richly decorated façade, guarded by gargoyles, was added in 1870. Your city tour continues with a drive through hilltop Montjuic, rewarding with panoramic views, and a visit to Gaudí's unfinished cathedral, la Sagrada Família, artistically and architecturally unique, and awe-inspiring in every detail. Spend the rest of the day exploring Barcelona as you wish.
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Le Méridien Barcelona
Day 3 - Zaragoza & on to wine country
Board a train for a rail journey through the Spanish countryside to Zaragoza, one of the oldest cities in Spain with a rich history that dates back to the Roman Empire. Enjoy a visit to the expansive Plaza del Pilar with time for lunch. Drive to your Frank-Gehry designed hotel this afternoon in the Rioja Valley for a two-night stay and have dinner in the winery tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Marqués de Riscal
Day 4 - Wine tasting in Rioja Valley
Begin your day with a tour and tasting at the Marqués de Riscal winery, founded in 1858. Next, head to Laguardia, a walled medieval town for lunch on your own and time to explore its wealth of historic features, including the Church of Santa María de los Reyes or spend the afternoon enjoying the amenities at your hotel. Join us for dinner in a local restaurant featuring regional fare.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Marqués de Riscal
Day 5 - Pamplona & seaside San Sebastián
Drive to Pamplona this morning, immortalized in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, and walk the famous route followed during the town's annual running of the bulls. After free time for lunch and personal exploration, it's off to coastal San Sebastián, other culinary capital of Spain, and inviting with oceanfront views of its world-famous surfing beach and medieval city centre. Have dinner at your elegant Belle-Époque hotel tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Maria Cristina
Day 6 - Medieval charms of San Sebastián
Join a local guide this morning for a walking tour along the cobblestone streets of San Sebastián's Old Town (Parte Vieja), lined with pintxo bars, churches and lively squares, before spending the rest of the day exploring on your own, discovering its charms on a relaxing pace.
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Hotel Maria Cristina
Day 7 - French Basque country
Drive to the elegant seaside town of Biarritz on France's Basque coast; see elegant villas styled with Belle Époque and art deco details and visit the lighthouse, dating to 1834. Continue to the charming village of Saint-Jean-de-Luz for a walking tour and free time for lunch before returning to San Sebastian. Sample the city's famous pintxos tonight on a memorable tasting tour in Old Town.
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Hotel Maria Cristina
Day 8 - Bilbao, the Guggenheim & a country parador
Visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao this morning, a Frank Gehry-designed showcase for large-scale contemporary works by international and Basque artists. Continue to Santillana del Mar, stopping for lunch at the Parador Gil Blas with free time to explore. Your parador accommodations in Cangas de Onis tonight are on the site of a restored ancient monastery believed to have been founded by King Alfonso I in the 8th century.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Parador de Cangas de Onís
Day 9 - Parador pastimes & cider tasting
Spend the morning indulging in the scenic beauty surrounding your rural parador before departing your hotel for a cider tasting experience. Learn about cider production and try your hand at pouring the drink like the locals do from above your head! Lunch family style as you enjoy an "Espicha," a traditional Asturian meal celebrated during harvest time. Drive to your restored monastery parador in León where dinner is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Parador de León
Day 10 - A pilgrimage centuries old to Santiago
Explore medieval León on a walking tour this morning, seeing a mix of historic and artistic monuments from various periods across the centuries. Stop for lunch along the coast en route to the world-famous pilgrimage town of Santiago de Compostela before checking in to your hotel late this afternoon, the historic Parador de Santiago de Compostela (also known as Parador de los Reyes Catolicos). Considered to be one of the oldest hotels in the world, it has welcomed travellers since the 15th century. Dine tonight at your choice of restaurants in the parador.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Parador de Santiago de Compostela
Day 11 - Sights of Santiago de Compostela
When what was believed to be the grave of St. James the Greater was discovered in this region of what is now northern Spain in the ninth century, hundreds of thousands began making the arduous pilgrimage along El Camino de Santiago – the Way of St. James – on foot to visit it. Legend has it that a bright star led a shepherd boy to the forgotten tomb of the apostle; today your local guide leads the way on a guided walking tour of the town's historic quarter and a visit to the world-famous 11th-century Romanesque Cathedral of St. James, home to the relics of the saint. Following lunch at your historic parador, the rest of the day is free to spend as you like, walking in the footsteps of pilgrims who have made their way here from around the world for centuries.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Parador de Santiago de Compostela
Day 12 - Spanish mussels in Galicia & drive to Porto
Take a boat ride to a mussel farm on the Galician coast, where you will discover how mussels and other shellfish are farmed, enjoying a tasting during your visit. Cross into Portugal as you drive to Porto this afternoon for a two-night stay in a restored 18th-century palace hotel located in the heart of the city. Dine at your leisure tonight.
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas
Day 13 - A rabelo boat ride on the Douro
Join a local guide for a sightseeing tour of Porto; world famous for its port wine, the city's historic centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. Enjoy a boat ride on a traditional rabelo boat as you cruise under the city's iconic bridges on the Douro River, followed by a free afternoon, Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at a port house in Gaia, where tastings of Portugal's liquid gold are sure to delight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas
Day 14 - Porto
A transfer will take you from the InterContinental Porto to your riverboat, MS Andorinha, on the Douro River.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15 - Porto and The Douro Valley
Situated in northwest Portugal where the Douro meets the Atlantic Ocean, Porto has been known around the globe as the city from which authentic Port wine has been shipped throughout the world for nearly three centuries. Rising on staggered hills along the river, this colourful city beckons you to its labyrinthine streets and stairways, medieval alleys, Baroque churches, fountains, and bell towers, Beaux-Arts buildings, and bohemian neighborhoods whose narrow cobblestoned lanes wind their way past centuries-old former merchants' homes and trendy cafés.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16 - Peso da Régua and Pinhão
Dock in the historic town of Peso da Régua, once a busy hub where wooden boats called rabelos, laden with barrels of Port, sailed downriver to Vila Nova de Gaia. Visit the Douro Museum, set within the restored Casa da Companhia Velha building, once part of Real Companhia Velha (Royal Oporto Wine Company), chartered in 1756.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17 - Along the Douro to Vega de Terron
The Douro River Valley and its unique landscapes of terraced mountains, villages, and wine estates unfolds today on a full day's sail to the small Spanish port town of Vega de Terron, where the Douro forms the border between Spain and Portugal. The landscape, at a confluence of rivers, is tranquil, beautiful and unspoiled, at the edge of Douro International Natural Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18 - Castle ruins and Palaeolithic art
At the town of Pocinho you have a choice of shore excursions. Your first option visits a local town on the border between Spain and Portugal for a look at the town and region's historical landmarks including its many defensive strongholds. Alternatively, travel to the Museum of Art and Archaeology of the Côa Valley for stunning exhibits of rock art from the valley's Palaeolithic era, discovered in the 1990s when excavations began for a Côa River dam; unlike cave art found in other parts of Europe, the thousands of petroglyphs in the Côa region were created in the open air by the valley's earliest inhabitants, and the museum explores their mystery through state-of-the-art multimedia exhibits. Return to the riverboat for lunch and sail back to Pinhão, arriving this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 19 - Pinhão and Mateus Palace
Your choice of excursions this morning includes an opportunity to explore Pinhão and its early-20th century train station, adorned with blue-painted tiles (azulejos); or a vigorous hike in the hilltop vineyards with striking views of the town and river. Sail to Régua, where you'll have two choices; visit 18th-century Mateus Palace, a lavish Baroque residence designed by Nicolau Nasoni that is now a museum with period furnishings and artwork, a heraldic hall, formal gardens, a winery, and a chapel with tombs and reliquaries. Alternatively, join a local guide for a visit to a local wine-making estate called a quinta, rewarding with a port cocktail making class. Begin the return trip to Porto, and dock overnight in this verdant wine country, where some traditional farms grow vines on pergolas and fences so high the grapes must be harvested with ladders.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 20 - Guimarães or Amarante to Gaia
Today, you have a choice of full day excursions; one option provides an opportunity to explore the medieval town of Guimarães, known as the "Cradle City; the kingdom of Portugal was born here after a famous battle in 1128. The city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a wealth of architectural treasures, including the ruined Castle of Guimãraes, with its tempestuous history and sweeping views, the opulent Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, lush with 17th-century furnishings and tapestries, and the 13th-century Church of São Miguel do Castelo. Alternatively, take a bicycle ride (for experienced cyclists in good physical condition) through the Vinho Verde region before arriving in the pastoral town of Amarante, famed as being the hometown of São Gonçalo, Portugal's St. Valentine. Enjoy lunch before your late afternoon arrival into Porto where you'll cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner aboard the ship.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 21 - Homeward bound
Tour ends: 8:00 AM Porto. Disembark and fly home anytime. A transfer is included from your riverboat to Porto Airport or Porto Campanhã station. Allow at least 3 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
*Itinerary is subject to change & availability.
Dates/Prices
Departs | Twin Share | Solo |
---|---|---|
18 April 2025 | $27,990*pp | SOLD OUT |
30 May 2025 | $27,990*pp | SOLD OUT |
5 September 2025 | $27,990*pp | $30,629*pp |
26 September 2025 | $27,990*pp | SOLD OUT |
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*Conditions apply. Advertised pricing is based on per person twin share on 5 September 2025 departure and is subject to change & availablity. Pricing correct as 3 July 2024.
* Term and conditions apply:
All pricing subject to change and availability.
Advertised prices are per person twin share unless stated otherwise.
Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Itineraries are subject to change.
Booking Conditions and Phil Hoffmann Travel Schedule of Professionalism* applies.
Please speak to your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant for more information.