Iberia... rediscovered, on a journey unlike any other that explores scenic and cultural contrasts of Spain and Portugal, sharing the Iberian Peninsula for centuries.
Departures from March - November 2025
There's a lot of history to be rediscovered in Lisbon at places such as Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the Discoveries Monument and the Tower of Belém, and in the World Heritage Site town of Sintra, where rich cultural landmarks and traditions chronicle lifestyles of centuries past. Neighboring Spain entices with landscapes dressed in romance, from storybook villages in Andalucía to tales of "the Rock" in Gibraltar, flower-decked streets in Seville, and sun-kissed beaches in Marbella. The Moors lingered in Granada and Córdoba the longest, and the royals set up palaces, elegant city squares the treasured El Prado in majestic Madrid and the magnificent Alhambra in Granada. Rediscover them all, in depth, for two glorious weeks...
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Inclusions
EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK
Enjoy breathtaking vistas as you climb from seaside Marbella to cliff-top Ronda, and into the Sierra Nevada mountains to Moorish Granada for a visit to the Alhambra – one of the world's finest examples of Moorish architecture – accompanied by a local guide
Visit one of the world's most beautiful art museums on a guided tour of Museo Nacional del Prado, steps from your hotel in the Art Triangle of Madrid
TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES
A horse-and-carriage ride presents a different view of romantic Seville, and a walking tour with a local guide shares insights about daily life
Feel the passion of flamenco when dancers perform their version of Andalucían folkloric traditions during a private performance in Granada
Experience a taste of royal life in Sintra when you visit the former hilltop summer palace of Portugal's monarchs
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Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Lisbon
Tour begins: 6:15 PM, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. A transfer is included from Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon Airport) to your hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, located in the heart of Lisbon. Meet your traveling companions this evening at a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Day 2 - A taste of Lisbon
A guided sightseeing tour provides an introduction to this intriguing city and its most famous landmarks; view the famous monastery Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and visit the Maritime Museum in the monastery's west wing (featuring an amazing 17,000 items). This afternoon, take part in a cooking demonstration where you'll learn to prepare a traditional Portuguese dish and taste it too! The rest of the day is yours to do as you wish.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Day 3 - Sintra & Cascais
Your day is highlighted with visits to two of Portugal's resort towns; Sintra and Cascais. Depart Lisbon this morning for Sintra, a longtime royal sanctuary, best known for its bright, pastel-colored villas and palaces as well as the Sintra National Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a visit to the palace followed by a short drive to seaside Cascais for a guided stroll through the city center as well as free time to enjoy lunch on your own. There are a wealth of delicious restaurants in the area. Return to Lisbon midway through the afternoon for free time to explore the city on your own or return to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Day 4 - Lisbon discoveries
You're off today on the next leg of your journey - Portugal's Alentejo region. Translating to "Beyond the Tagus," Alentejo is defined by its rural scenery and the small, walled villages and Roman ruins dotting the region. Home to the world's most important area for the growing of cork (producing over two-thirds of the world's supply) be sure to enjoy the wine and take in the sights during your stay here.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Convento do Espinheiro
Day 5 - Off to romantic Seville
Your travels continue into the border region between Spain and Portugal – an area where fortifications dotting the landscape have witnessed centuries of struggle between the Spanish, Portuguese and Moors – then through the Spanish Extremadura, a unique region that was once part of the Roman Empire and today is famous among epicures worldwide for its prized delicacy, jamon iberico. Spend the next two nights in the heart of Seville at one of Europe's most luxurious hotels, commissioned by the king of Spain for the famous Exposition of 1929. You may have dinner at your hotel this evening, or choose to enjoy an included lunch or dinner at the hotel tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Alfonso XIII
Day 6 - A carriage ride & more in Seville
After getting your bearings (and an introduction to many of Seville's historic and cultural attractions) on a sightseeing tour with your local guide, ride a horse-drawn carriage through the city's historic heart. Enjoy a walking tour through the fascinating Barrio de Santa Cruz and the maze of old streets in the city's former Jewish Quarter. Your time in Seville will be capped off with either a visit to the impressive Seville Cathedral or the spectacular Royal Alcazar. The evening is free to spend as you wish; enjoy lunch and dinner as you please today.
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Hotel Alfonso XIII
Day 7 - Gibraltar & Marbella on the Costa del Sol
Head to Marbella today on the southern coast of Spain. En route, stop at a private hacienda for lunch and visit Gibraltar to see the "rock," St. Michael's Cave, and the Barbary Apes' Den. Continue to your resort on the Costa del Sol where dinner tonight is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Gran Meliá Don Pepe
Day 8 - A day by the beautiful sea in Marbella
The entire day is yours to enjoy the pleasures of your elegant resort hotel, Grand Meliá Don Pepe, a paradise for the senses in the heart of the Costa del Sol. On one side is the famous Port of Marbella; on the other, gleaming white boats anchored at the exclusive Puerto Banús. And on the horizon, you can see Gibraltar and the North African coast, majestic in the distance, against the magnificent backdrop of the mountain peak – La Concha de Marbella. Long a favorite of celebrities in Marbella's privileged enclave of Sierra Blanca, the resort's guest list has included Sean Connery, Julio Iglesias, Prince, Maximillian Schell, Arthur Rubinstein, Bob Hope and many more... and you, spending a perfect day as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Gran Meliá Don Pepe
Day 9 - Moorish influences in Ronda & Granada
As your tour continues, journey from the Spanish coast into the mountains to visit scenic Ronda, perched on a cliff overlooking the spectacular El Tajo gorge. Ronda is synonymous with the evolution of the art of bullfighting; along with revealing the town's Moorish heritage and remains, a guided walking tour includes a visit to one of Spain's oldest bullrings, the Plaza de Toros. Continue on to Granada, situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. The city boasts extraordinary architecture from over 250 years as the capital of a Moorish kingdom; your hotel is steps away from Granada's celebrated Moorish palace, the Alhambra. Dine at a local restaurant this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Alhambra Palace
Day 10 - Treasures of the Alhambra & the Generalife
A highlight today is a guided visit to Granada's famed Moorish palace, the Alhambra, constructed to be a "paradise on Earth" by caliphs who ruled here in the 13th century. Tour the palace itself, considered to be one of the world's most beautiful, and stroll through the Generalife, the grounds of the summer palace of former sultans.Explore the sights of Granada on a historically rich guided tour before discovering the city as you please this afternoon. Nestled in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the city was the last stronghold of the Spanish Moors who left their mark here in Islamic architecture, horseshoe arches, teahouses and culinary traditions; you'll also find historic basilicas, tapas bars, flamenco clubs and cafés aplenty. Dinner tonight is at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Alhambra Palace →
Day 11 - Córdoba, La Mezquita & on to Madrid
Continue from Granada to Córdoba today for a visit that begins with a guided walking tour through the cobblestone streets of the Judería, Córdoba's former Jewish Quarter; from its alleyways, you can see the walls and decorative details of the candy-striped La Mezquita (Spanish for "mosque.") Your visit to this masterpiece of architecture and art reveals its nearly 1,200-year history as an early Christian church, a Moorish mosque, and, since the 16th century, a Roman Catholic cathedral. Late this afternoon, board the AVE train in Preferente class for a rail journey to Spain's amazing capital city. Arrive in Madrid for three nights at The Westin Palace, Madrid – a Belle Époque landmark in the heart of the city, a short walk from the tapas bars that American novelist Ernest Hemingway made famous. A light dinner will be served at your hotel this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: The Palace, Madrid
Day 12 - Toledo, city of three cultures
Set off this morning for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Toledo, known as the "city of three cultures" because for centuries Christians, Arabs and Jews have lived together behind its walls – as the range and artistry of the city's architecture attests. It was also the home of the Spanish artist El Greco whose haunting canvases include one of his most famous works, View of Toledo. From afar, Toledo still looks as it did when El Greco painted it. See Toledo up close today on a guided walking tour with a local guide. Make your way along cobbled streets paved with history, including visits to the 12th-century Synagogue Santa María la Blanca, considered one of the oldest synagogues in Europe still standing, and the Church of Santo Tomé, home to El Greco's painting, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. Have lunch in a local restaurant before returning to Madrid late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: The Palace, Madrid
Day 13 - Discovering Madrid & the Prado
Join a local guide for a morning orientation tour (either by coach or on a walking tour) of Madrid's landmark sights including the vast Plaza Mayor and the Mercado San Miguel. Then view the art treasures of Madrid's celebrated Museo del Prado – one of the most famous art museums on Earth, just a block away from your hotel – on a guided visit with a local expert. Join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner with traditional Castilian entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: The Palace, Madrid
Day 14 - Journey home
Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid Barajas Airport or Madrid Atocha train station. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
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Booking terms and conditions apply.
* 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.
