Northern Spain: Barcelona to Porto

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.

Explore this vibrant Catalan city on the Mediterranean on a guided walking tour from tree-lined Las Ramblas to the medieval warren of the Gothic Quarter. Drive through Montjuïc to see the 1992 Olympic Stadium, then marvel at the architectural intricacies during an inside visit to a Catalan Modernist landmark. The rest of the day is free. 

Board a train for a scenic ride through the Spanish countryside to Zaragoza, one of Spain's oldest cities, founded by the Romans in 14 BCE. Visit the colossal Basilica del Pilar – one of the largest Baroque churches in Europe – and see Roman ruins, including ancient walls, a forum, thermal baths, and a theater. Stroll past Mudéjar bell towers blending Islamic and Christian styles. After lunch and time at leisure, travel to the Rioja Valley for a two-night stay at your avant-garde hotel designed by Frank Gehry, with dinner at the world-renowned winery tonight.

Start the day with a private tour and tasting at the Marqués de Riscal winery, founded in 1858 and crowned as the best vineyard in the world in 2024. Then, travel to the walled medieval town of Laguardia for lunch on your own and time to explore the quaint capital of Rioja Alavesa, or spend the afternoon enjoying the amenities at your hotel. Join us for dinner in a local restaurant featuring regional fare.

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, the culinary capital of Spain, and inviting with oceanfront views of its world-famous surfing beach and medieval-inspired city center. Have dinner at your elegant Belle-Époque hotel tonight.

Join a knowledgeable local guide this morning for an immersive walking tour along San Sebastián's picturesque Concha Bay, exploring both the charming old town and vibrant new town. Be sure to bring your appetite as lunchtime offers a delightful Pintxos food tour through the historic streets of the old town. Pintxos, a beloved culinary tradition from Spain's Basque Country, resemble tapas but are uniquely served on slices of bread and secured with skewers or toothpicks as the word "pintxos" literally translates to "thorn" or "spike." Following your gastronomic journey, enjoy free time in the afternoon to wander at your leisure, savoring the city's beauty and culture at your own pace.

Drive to the elegant seaside town of Biarritz on France's Basque coast, a fashionable destination where European royalty began visiting in the 1800s. View its grand villas, adorned with Belle Époque and Art Deco details, and see the lighthouse, dating to 1834, for sweeping views of the Atlantic. Continue to the charming fishing village of Saint-Jean-de-Luz for a walking tour and free time to explore its waterfront or relax in the town's inviting atmosphere, pausing for a lunch of French Basque fare before returning to San Sebastián. 

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 this quaint village. Continue to Cangas de Onis, the site of a restored ancient monastery believed to have been founded by King Alfonso I in the 8th century.

Enjoy the natural beauty around your parador before heading out for a cider tasting. Made here since Roman times, sidra is poured from above to enhance its flavor. Savor a family-style lunch as you participate in an espicha, a festive meal marking the opening of the first cider barrels of the season. Drive to your restored monastery parador in León where dinner is at your leisure.

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 in the hills of the Bierzo wine region 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,  your hotel the Parador dos Reis Catolico has welcomed travelers since the 15th century. Dine tonight at your choice of restaurants in the parador.

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. If you wish, you too could walk in the footsteps of pilgrims who have made their way here from around the world for centuries on an optional three mile active hike along the final stretch of the Camino.

After 11 days in Spain, travel south through the scenic Rías Baixas region and into northern Portugal, passing maritime communities and traditional homesteads along the way. Cross the border into Portugal en route to Porto, where you'll spend two nights in a restored wine cellar transformed into a five-star hotel tied to one of the region's most historic Port houses. The remainder of the day and evening are yours to enjoy at leisure. 

Join a local guide for a sightseeing tour of Porto; world famous for its port wine, the city's historic center 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,  where tastings of Portugal's liquid gold are sure to delight.

Tour ends: Porto Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Hotel Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia to Porto Airport is included. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport.