Off the Beaten Path in Spain & Portugal: Marvelous December Tour

You will arrive at Madrid’s international airport, where your private driver will greet and transfer you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Upon your arrival, you will have time to settle in and to explore the area on your own before meeting your guide for your first authentic taste of Madrid. You will be guided on a tapas crawl through the city’s top bars, restaurants, and back-door eateries. During your tour, you will discover the history of Spanish tapas. At the conclusion of your tour, you can have the remainder of the evening to spend at your leisure.

This morning you will transfer to the nearby city of Salamanca. Upon your arrival, you will surely notice the unique sandstone buildings that characterize this medieval city. You can stroll through the timeworn streets as your knowledgeable guide explains a bit about the city’s fascinating history. Home to the oldest university in Spain, Salamanca University, Salamanca has historically been a key intellectual center. Today, Salamanca remains a vibrant city with a melting pot of international students. In the afternoon, you will have ample time to explore the city at your leisure before boarding your private transfer and returning to Madrid.

Today, you will board Spain’s high-speed train and transfer to Granada. Upon your arrival, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your luxurious accommodation. Once you have had time to settle in, you will begin your private tour with the magnificent Alhambra, which was constructed originally as a palace and a fortress by the Moors. From the Alhambra, you will exit into the Generalife Gardens. In the evening, you can attend a flamenco show accompanied by a gourmet dinner and wine pairing.

This morning, you will continue your explorations of Granada by transferring to the Albayzin neighborhood, which is the historical Muslim Quarter of the city. Afterward, you can wander through the neighborhood at your leisure, stopping at the charming tapas bars and shops that abound from the streets. Once you have had your fill of the Albayzin, you transfer to Granada’s Arabian baths. Here, you can soak in intricately patterned mosaic baths. You may also decide to indulge in a massage or spa treatment. In the afternoon, you will return to the city center, where you will spend the next several hours at your leisure before transferring to Granada’s Christmas market in the evening.

Today, you will fly to Portugal’s fascinating city of Aveiro. Upon your arrival, you will meet your driver and transfer to your luxurious accommodation. Renowned as Portugal’s version of Venice, you will be enchanted by the lovely canals that work their way through the city. You will begin your time here with a private tour of the canals by moliceiro, which is a traditional colorful boat unique to Aveiro. Once your boat tour has concluded, you will stroll through the vibrant and colorful streets of Aveiro. Afterward, you will have the remainder of the day to spend at your leisure.

You will begin the day with a private tour of Aveiro’s top sites and destinations. Your tour will lead you to the Rossio neighborhood and the Monastery of Jesus, which is an incredible religious art museum that doubles as a church. Afterward, you will be led to the iconic Fish Market Square, where you will explore the interesting market and enjoy the fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables that are brought in daily. In the afternoon, you will transfer to the Costa Nova neighborhood, which is a seaside village that is characterized by beautiful beaches and colorful buildings. You will have ample time to wander through Costa Nova at your leisure before boarding your transfer back to the city center.

Today, you transfer from Aveiro to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. As you settle into your suite, you can gaze at Lisbon’s steep hills and orange-tiled roofs. When you are ready, you can continue the day’s activities. You will be led to one of Portugal’s most famous bakeries, where you will sample the iconic pasteles de nata, which are traditional Portuguese egg tarts. From there, you will transfer to the nearby city of Sintra, where you can visit the Pena Palace for incredible views of the entire city. In the evening, you will be returned to Lisbon, where you will be led to the brilliant Christmas Market in the heart of the city.

Today, you enjoy your final breakfast in Portugal. You can spend the morning wandering through the charming streets of Lisbon at your leisure. Soon, you will return to your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home.