Best Spain & Portugal Highlights for Seniors

Your flight will arrive at Madrid Barajas International Airport, where your transfer will greet you at baggage claim and escort you to a luxurious accommodation near the vibrant center of the captivating city. After settling in to the comforts of your accommodation, you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure to enjoy the beauty of Madrid at your preferred pace. The Gran Via embodies the excellence of the city with its combination of architectural styles. The Telefonica Building remains an iconic aesthetic that stands over 265 feet tall and once boasted the title as Europe’s tallest building.

Your tour of the city will lead you to the Prado Museum, which is a world-class gallery with sensational Spanish artwork that dates back to between the 12th to 19th centuries, including 140 works by Francisco de Goya. Your guide will provide you with insight into a number of the most prominent and famous works in the museum, including Fra Angelico’s Annunciation. You will continue to the Royal Palace, where you will find the facade of pure grandiosity. The regal, glamorous, and extravagant design dates back to the 18th century and is enunciated by the image of the Grand Staircase.

Your private transfer will greet you in your hotel’s lobby and escort you from Madrid to the enchanting city of Toledo. Once in the city, you will follow your guide through the remarkable medieval streets to explore the Catedral de Toledo, which is a 13th-century masterpiece that was built over the former mosque and neighboring the Jewish quarter. You will continue to the captivating city of Granada at the heart of Andalusia. Your guide will then escort you to the icon of Muslim Spain and the Reconquista, where the Spanish monarchy returned to the Iberian Peninsula.

This morning, your guide will escort you from Granada to Ronda with time to discover the charms of a city that was once beloved by both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles. You can view the stunning New Bridge, which dates back to the 18th century and spans the narrowest gap in the gorge, reaching nearly 230 feet long. The Moorish baths act as a hidden treasure in town with a history that dates them between the 13th and 15th centuries. The complex offers an example of one of the best-preserved Moorish baths in the country with a series of hydraulic heating systems for the hot water.

This morning, the resplendent facades of the Mudejar palaces will lead you to the fascinating sight of the Gothic cathedral with your guide. The immense work of religious splendor casts an inspiring image and was built between the 15th and 16th centuries. The majestic ambiance of the city will keep its hold on you into the evening as you partake in the captivating rhythm of a flamenco show. You will experience the spirit of the performance as you listen to the melancholy music meant to evoke passion.

After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in the lobby and lead into Portugal and the capital of the Algarve region. Your guide will provide you with a highlights tour of the city, which will embody the essence of Portugal in one of the most popular resort regions of Europe. You will continue to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, for a guided tour of the impressive city, where funiculars ascend the steep hills and trams travel along the distinctive neighborhoods. After settling in to your opulent accommodation in the center of the city, your guide will lead you on a fantastic tour through Lisbon, beginning with Castelo de Sao Jorge.

This morning, your guide will lead you to the marvelous city of Sintra outside of Lisbon, where layers of history will reveal a place where Moors constructed a forceful fortress. You will begin your exploration of the storybook town at the Palacio Nacional de Sintra, where conical chimneys rise above the whitewashed walls of the building. The structure is the oldest surviving palace in the country and dates back to the 14th century with several floors that can provide a unique insight into the tremendous history of Portugal’s royalty. The marvels of the palace grounds culminate in the Sala dos Brasoes, which is a hall that is laden with mesmerizing azulejo tiles.

Today, your guide will meet you at the hotel and whisk you into the heart of the Alentejo province to explore the regional capital of Evora. As one of Portugal’s most captivating and ancient cities, Evora reflects the perseverance of diverse cultures and distinctive religions with its architectural styles and robust city walls. At the center of the city remain the ruins of a Roman Temple, which represents one of Portugal’s most significant Roman landmarks. The Roman baths will provide you with another perspective of life from the past with foundations that date back to the 1st century AD.

This morning, you will leave behind the beauty of Lisbon for the charms of Porto. When touring the remarkable city, your guide will lead you through the neighborhoods, along the riverfront, and to the Palacio da Bolsa, which is a neoclassical monument that was built in 1842 to honor the ancient and contemporary money merchants. On the outskirts of the city, you will visit a selection of vineyards and wine cellars within the Douro Valley. During your time here, you will visit with a renowned winery whose family continues to work the land and whose cellars hold hundreds of barrels and casks.

As the morning returns to Porto, you will be able to see the Clerigos Tower as it punctuates the skyline at 246 feet tall. The 18th-century granite construction resembles a rocket, hosting 240 steps and rewarding visitors with a spectacular view of the Douro Valley. The grandeur of Palacio da Bolsa reflects the former prestige of the 19th-century stock exchange and represents the wealth of the city. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at your luxurious accommodation to escort you to the Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport for your flight home.