Madrid and Lisbon

Madrid & Barcelona, the world’s greatest avant-garde and modern cities, Portugal with its old-fashioned charm..

Visit Madrid, one of the world’s truly great cities and Lisbon, that offers all the delights you’d expect of Portugal’s star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals.

Day 1
Arrive to Madrid - Caceres

  • Arrival to Madrid Airport by scheduled flight. After entry formalities you will depart to Caceres. The journey will take you through the wild countryside of mountains and lakes. Upon arrival, check in to hotel. Overnight.

Day 2
Caceres - Lisbon

  • Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast begin HD panoramic tour of Caceres. Caceres is a medieval city situated in the province of Extremadura and is a city that has not changed for hundreds of years, so everything is the same as in the medieval times. You will be able to see the Church of San Antonio (a former synagogue), which might be the only church in Christendom with a women’s gallery. Free for lunch on own.
  • After lunch depart to Lisbon. Upon arrival, check in to hotel. Overnight.

Day 3
Lisbon - Sintra - Lisbon

  • Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast start a HD panoramic tour of Lisbon. First we will have a panoramic tour that will take you through the most historical and traditional points of the city, such as the Park Edward VII, Liberty Avenue, Restauration Square, Rossio Square, the Downtown (rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755) and Commerce Square. Afterwards we will continue to Belém, that is known as the “Discoveries Quarter” – it was from here that the caravels set sail to their trips to South America and to the Orient. First we will see the Tower of Belém (entrance not included) – built in Manueline style on the north bank of the River Tagus for defence of the city – and afterwards photo stop at the Monument of the Discoveries that celebrates the Portuguese discoveries and specially Henry the Navigator. Continue towards the Geraniums Monastery (entrance not included), built in the 16th century in Manueline style. This monument celebrates the power of King Manuel I and the magnificence of the empire. Free time for lunch on own.
  • After lunch proceed to Sintra, a beautiful town situated on the green slopes of a mountain range. This town used to be the residence of the Portuguese royal family during the middle ages and it was considered World Heritage by UNESCO. Visit of the National Palace (entrance not included), built over an ancient Arabic palace and rebuilt over the centuries. It houses an interesting collection of glazed tiles, paintings and furniture. Return to Lisbon. Overnight.

Day 4
Lisbon - Cascais - Estoril - Merida

  • Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast depart to Merida. En route stop in Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in Continental Europe with wonderful views over the Atlantic and with a unique flora. We will then drive along the coastline towards Cascais, where we will have a stop for a beautiful view of the fishing port. Cascais became a look-out for Lisbon during the age of the Discoveries. Due to its location close to the mouth of the River Tagus it was the first place the navigators used to see when they returned from overseas. Cascais became very famous in the end of the 19th century, when it was chosen as a summer residence by the Portuguese Royal Family. Continue to Estoril and enjoy a panoramic view of its gardens and Casino. Free time for lunch on own.
  • After lunch proceed to Merida. Upon arrival, start a panoramic tour of Merida (without local guide). Merida is designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. This was once the most important city in the Roman’s Iberian empire. You will be able to see the extensive Roman ruins (entrance not included), considered to be the best-preserved and finest outside Italy. After panoramic tour, check in to hotel. Overnight.

Day 5
Merida - Toledo - Madrid

  • Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast depart to Madrid. En route stop in Toledo. Upon arrival free for lunch on own. After lunch HD panoramic tour in Toledo. Toledo was declared a World heritage site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Spanish Empire and place of coexistence of Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures. Many famous people and artist were born or lived in the city, including Garcilaso de la Vega, Alfonso X and El Greco. Toledo also was well known for historic events such as the Visigothic Council of Toledo. You will be able to see the Cathedral of Santa Maria (entrance not included), a 13th century high gothic cathedral, the Santo Tome Church (entrance not included) with the El Greco’s best known work “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz” an exceptionally large painting, clearly divided in two zones, the heavenly above and the terrestrial below, and the former Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca (entrance not included), a religious building erected in 1180 (according to the inscription on a beam). Its stylistic and cultural classification is not simple, because it was constructed in Christian territory by Islamic constructors for Jewish use and owners. It is considered a symbol of the cooperation of the three cultures that lived in the Iberian Peninsula in the middle ages.
  • Continue to Madrid. Upon arrival check in to hotel. Overnight.

Day 6
Madrid

  • Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast begin HD sightseeing tour in Madrid. Madrid is a multi-faced city, with its Arab-fortress which origins to the court days during the reign of Philip II and that of Charles III, at which period some important building schemes were undertaken and, finally, present day Madrid, one of the most important European capitals. We’ll drive past such well-known avenues as those of Gran Vía and Castellana; famous squares such as the Plaza de España, Oriente, Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Atocha, Neptuno, Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá, Colón and Plaza de Castilla; quarters of mayor historical relevance such as that of the Austrias, the Borbouns and Salamanca; the Oeste and Retiro parks; commercial and financial areas coliseums such as the bullring, the Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium, University campus, etc. You will visit the Prado Museum (entrance not included). Free for lunch on own. Free afternoon for personal activities. Overnight.

Day 7
Madrid - Escorial - Valle de los Caidos - Madrid

  • Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast at the hotel, begin the full day excursion to Escorial and Valle de los Caidos. Our first stop will be the El Escorial (entrance not included). To commemorate the battle “San Quintin” and to locate the remains of his dead father the emperor Charles V, Philip II ordered the construction of this monastery, considered as a temple, austere royal residence, and pantheon for kings, the monastery is a real symbol of Spanish power from the XVI century. The construction was focussing sense, symmetry and balance, keeping in all cases the exposure for the Renacentist style. The pictorial and sculptural importance is also great. It is also possible to visit: The Austrians Palace, Pantheons for Kings and Infants, Chapters rooms and basilica. Continue to Valle de los Caidos (entrance not included).
  • Return to Madrid Airport.