Essential France, Spain & Portugal

Arrive at any time. After a welcome briefing, set off with your CEO on a orientation walk to explore Paris at night on the way to an optional dinner out.

Included Experiences

• Paris Orientation Walk by Night: Join your CEO on a short walk through the streets of Paris at night. With the buildings illuminated and the daytime tourist crowds out of the way, you're free to photograph the French capital from her best possible angles. The leisurely nighttime route takes you past Opera Garnier, the Champs Elysees, Les Invalides, and much more.
• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Set off by public transport this morning for a trip to Montmartre, where artists thrive and city views are abundant. Sample a mouth-watering croissant or pain au chocolat, then take to the streets with a CEO-led orientation walk. Once oriented, explore however you wish with a free afternoon - perhaps book onto a river cruise to see the city from a different perspective, visit the colossal Louvre, or get your blood pumping with a walk up the Eiffel Tower.

Included Experiences

• Montmartre Walking Tour: Take in the Abbesses Métro Montmartre Line 12 station and enjoy Hector Guimard's Art Nouveau entrance; one of only three remaining original métro constructions in Paris. Move onward to Picasso's studio, where Cubism was born, and finish up at Toulose Latrec's last address.
• Free Time: There's plenty to see and do; now is your time to explore. Tick the Eiffel Tower off your bucket list, scan the scenery from a boat cruise, or sit at one of the Parisian cafes and watch the world go by.

Optional Experiences

• The Louvre Visit: Examine the massive collection at the Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa and the Winged Venus. While it might take a lifetime to view everything in the museum, one of the largest in the world, make the most of the time you have and try to spend at least a few hours wandering around. (12-16 EUR per person)
• Bateaux Parisiens cruise from Eiffel Tower: Climb aboard and set sail, enjoying the stunning Parisian architecture by water.
• Eiffel Tower Visit: Visit the most famous landmark in France, the Eiffel Tower. Opt to climb the stairs or take an elevator to the top for a stunning view over the city. Hang out at dusk and watch the tower light up.

Enjoy a leisurely morning for any last sightseeing before boarding a local train bound for Lyon. Check into your hotel and then set off to explore some of the city's highlights with a local guide, culminating at the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière for great views over the city. The rest of the evening is free to choose from a breadth of amazing restaurants in the city for dinner. Lyon is considered to be an economic and cultural hub in France and is home to several historical landmarks; ancient Roman theatres, the Medieval-Renaissance District of Old Town, etc. Picture cobblestone streets, secret passage ways called 'Traboules', and picturesque viewpoints.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Take in any last-minute sightseeing in Paris this morning before boarding the train to Lyon.
• Local Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and watch the world go by.
• Lyon Walking Tour: Set out on foot exploring Lyon and take in the historic Roman and Renaissance architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Finish up at the Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière where you can enjoy a beautiful viewpoint.

Take advantage of a free day to explore Lyon. Wander the picturesque streets and visit some of the historic landmarks of the city, take an optional food tour or just relax at one of the many quaint cafes and watch the world go by. Lyon has become famous as a gastronomical capital of not only France, but of the world.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: There's plenty to see and do in Lyon. Now is the time to explore. Sample local flavours with a local food tour, visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, or sit back and enjoy the view on a river cruise. There's something for everyone.

Depart Lyon for the Occitanie region of France and to the city of Nîmes, known as the "French Rome." Drop off your bags at the hotel, then set out on a walking tour of the old part of the city. Marvel at the Roman amphitheater, stroll around the UNESCO World Heritage monument of Maison Carrée and observe the Tour Magne, a vestige of Gallic Nîmes overlooking the Jardins de la Fontaine. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free.

Included Experiences

• Nîmes Old City Tour: Embark on a walking discovery of Dualism: a dialogue between past and present. Explore the Roman ruins, including the Arena of Nîmes, while simultaneously appreciating the thriving street art and architecture scene. A true French experience.
• Local Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and watch the world go by.
• Free Time: There's plenty to see and do in Nîmes; now is the time to explore. Wander through the Jardin de La Fontaine or dive into the culture at the Museum Romanité.

Head out on a drive from Nimes to the magnificent Pont du Gard. Standing at an impressive 49 meters tall, this is the highest Roman aqueduct bridge in the world and is the only example of an ancient three-tier bridge still standing today. Later, stop for a delicious farm-to-table lunch in a small village before returning to Nîmes in time to catch the train to Barcelona.

Included Experiences

• Pont du Gard Visit: Dive into Roman history and engineering as you explore the highest Roman aqueduct ever built, aptly named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take in views of the Gardon River and learn about how this feature once supplied water to the city of Nîmes.
• Farm-to-Table Lunch: Savour a delicious farm-to-table lunch from a traditional French restaurant near the Pont du Gard, prepared from fresh and local ingredients.
• Local Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and watch the world go by.

Set off on foot with a local guide on a walking tour of Barcelona, enjoying the sights and sounds of this iconic and vibrant Spanish metropolis. The rest of the day is free for individual exploration of the city's many museums, parks and plazas before regrouping in the evening for an optional dinner out.

Included Experiences

• Barcelona Walking Tour: Discover the enchanting Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, a maze of narrow, winding streets filled with medieval architecture, hidden plazas, and ancient Roman remnants. Stroll past the majestic Barcelona Cathedral, charming shops, and cozy tapas bars, while soaking in the history that dates back over 2,000 years. A captivating journey through the city's oldest and most atmospheric neighbourhood.
• Free Time: There's plenty to see and do in Barcelona; now is your chance to explore. Check out the iconic Sagraga Familia, Parque Güell, or wander down Las Ramblas.

Optional Experiences

• Montjuïc Visit: Climb to the top of Montjuïc hill for fantastic city views and a visit to a 17th-century fortress, once used as a prison and execution site.
• Las Ramblas Visit: See and be seen on Las Ramblas, a large tree-lined pedestrian boulevard perfect for people watching and window shopping that ends at the harbourfront facing the Mediterranean Sea.
• La Sagrada Família Visit: Visit Gaudí’s most famous life work, the cathedral of La Sagrada Familia, an inspiring, yet, bizarre testament to the artist’s unique vision. (17-37 EUR per person)
• Parque Güell Visit: Get away from it all with a visit to the imaginative Parque Guell. The fantastical works of Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) are scattered throughout Barcelona, a grouping of these including Parque Guell, Casa Mila, and the Crypt of La Sagrada Familia were established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Stroll the tree-lined paths and admire Gaudi’s creative genius at play.

All aboard! Settle in and watch the world go by on a train ride from Barcelona to Madrid. Enjoy free time to explore the city upon arrival.

Included Experiences

• Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Free Time: There's plenty to see and do in this cultural hub; now is your time to explore.

Optional Experiences

• Plaza Mayor Visit: Enjoy some spectacular people watching with a visit to the Plaza Mayor, the true heart of the city. Enjoy a coffee in one of the plaza’s many cafes and watch the world go by.
• Gran Vía Visit: Shop, stroll, and people watch on the capital's most exciting street, Gran Via. Go early or late, the street stays awake all hours.
• Reina Sofia Museum: The Reina Sofia is Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, and currently boasts an art collection of over 21,000 works.

Today is yours to explore however you wish. Check out some of local museums and art galleries, explore how the nobles lived, or spend time people watching and sampling local flavours at one of the countless restaurants and cafes.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Madrid is a vibrant city known for rich culture and history, a vibrant art scene, and world class tapas. Now is your time to explore.

Optional Experiences

• Museo Nacional Del Prado Visit: Take in some culture with a trip to the Museo del Prado, one of the greatest art galleries in the world, and a definite highlight of any Madrid trip. Be inspired by its collections and exhibitions: the museum's main emphasis is 15th to 19th century Spanish, Flemish, and Italian art, but there is plenty of Goya and a wealth of paintings by Diego Velázquez.
• Gran Vía Visit: Shop, stroll, and people watch on the capital's most exciting street, Gran Via. Go early or late, the street stays awake all hours.
• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum displays an overview of art from the 13th century to the late 20th century.
• Royal Palace (Palacio Real) Visit: See how kings and queens live, with a visit to the Palacio Real, the official (and uninhabited) palace of the King of Spain. Wander the rooms to take in some of the most elaborately decorated and furnished rooms you'll ever see.

Get ready for a full travel day. Journey to Porto, including a quick lunch stop in charming Salamanca. Arrive in Porto by the early evening.

Included Experiences

• Local Train: Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.

Enjoy an orientation walk of Porto with the rest of the day free to explore. Opt take a cruise down the Douro River. In the evening, visit a port wine cellar and raise a glass to the day. Head down Allies Avenue to see the French-inspired buildings. Bargain at the Bolhão Market. Wander the city's World Heritage-listed Ribeira district, visit São Francisco church, the palatial former 19th-century stock market Palácio de Bolsa or head to the Clerigos Tower for a panoramic view of the city.

Included Experiences

• Orientation With CEO: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
• Free Time: Take the day to explore this picturesque coastal town.
• Port Wine Cellar Visit: Finish off the day with a tour of the cellars of the region's famed export - Port wine. Learn about the art of Port making and the processes that render its rich taste. Indulge in a tasting and raise a glass to a day well spent. Saúde!

Optional Experiences

• Sao Bento Railway Station: The blue painted tiles on the inside of São Bento railway station makes it one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. See for yourself.
• Lello Bookstore: Take a wander around this incredible, and beautifully ornate bookstore built in 1906.
• Ribeira Square: Take some time to walk around this charming square and get in with the local hustle and bustle.
• Porto Ribeira Cruise: Board a boat down Portugal's Douro River, or "river of gold". Float along this ancient route used for centuries as a port wine shipper's route.
• Palacio da Bolsa: Join a half-hour guided tour of this neoclassical monument.

Journey to Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, and take in your surroundings on an orientation walk.

Included Experiences

• Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Lisbon Orientation Walk: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
• Free Time: Get out and explore.

Optional Experiences

• Praça da Figueira Market: Take a wander through this traditional open-air market, established in 1755.
• Alfama District Visit: Explore Lisbon’s past in Alfama, one of the city’s oldest quarters. Wander along narrow medieval streets lined with typical tile-covered façades and take a step back in time; the area largely survived the great earthquake of 1755, and still retains much of its original layout. Listen for Portugal's traditional music, fado, gracing the streets at night.
• Sao Jorge Castle: Climb up to this Moorish castle for a wander around the impressive grounds on a guided tour, and a great view over Lisbon and Tagus River.
• Belém District Visit: Discover Belém, a western suburb that's linked to Portugal’s Golden Age of Discoveries – it was the site where famous navigators once set sail to discover the world. While there, take some time to tour nearby must-see attractions: the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, the Tropical Botanical Garden, and the Berardo Museum of contemporary art. Please note: most attractions in Belém are closed on Mondays.

Free day to explore Lisbon. Opt for a day trip to nearby Sintra. In the evening enjoy a Fado night and traditional Portuguese dinner in one of Lisbon's oldest neighbourhoods. Opt to take a day trip into the foothills of the surrounding mountains to Sintra. Get lost in the city's winding streets lined with pastel coloured houses, palaces, majestic gardens and lush forests. It doesn't get more postcard-worthy than this.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Opt to explore the town or take a day trip to nearby Sintra.
• Fado Night with Traditional Portuguese Meal: Sit down to a traditional meal and lend your ears to the sound of a performance by Portuguese folk music artists.

Optional Experiences

• Rossio Square: Stop in this lively square to get a taste of the local hustle and bustle.
• Praça da Figueira Market: Take a wander through this traditional open-air market, established in 1755.
• Visit to Sintra: Take a break from reality to visit the fairytale-like town of Sintra. Get lost exploring the colourful manors, medieval palaces, and lush gardens of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
• National Coach Museum: Loacted in the lively Belém district, find dozens of ornately decorated horse-drawn carriages (fit for the kings and queens they used to carry) at the National Coach Museum. Housed in an old riding school, it's one of the most popular museums in Lisbon today.
• Santa Justa Lift: Take a ride up 147ft from the lowest to highest points of Portugal. Sit back and enjoy the views.
• Calouste Gulbenkian Museum: Visit one of Europe's most impressive private art collections at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. With an eclectic mix of Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Islamic, Armenian, and Far Eastern art, it's beloved by art critics and locals for a reason.
• Sao Jorge Castle: Climb up to this Moorish castle for a wander around the impressive grounds on a guided tour, and a great view over Lisbon and Tagus River.
• Tuk Tuk Tour of Lisbon: While tuk-tuks aren't a traditional mode of transport in Portugal, they're the perfect vehicle to explore the hilly streets of Lisbon in. There are lots of operators to choose from, with tours that visit popular sites and back alleys alike. Most use electric tuk-tuks, an eco-friendly way of sightseeing. (100-250 EUR per person)
• Alfama District Visit: Explore Lisbon’s past in Alfama, one of the city’s oldest quarters. Wander along narrow medieval streets lined with typical tile-covered façades and take a step back in time; the area largely survived the great earthquake of 1755, and still retains much of its original layout. Listen for Portugal's traditional music, fado, gracing the streets at night.
• Belém Tower : Take a trip to the coastline to see this charming fort, built to protect Lisbon from raiders invading from the sea. Climb up the tower for great views of the ocean and surrounding city.
• Lisbon Food Tour: Explore the undiscovered side of Lisbon most tourists don’t venture out to see. Still very central, this area of Lisbon is rich in culture and history and hosts some of the best restaurants Lisbon has to offer. Wander up and down the tile-filled streets with us in two local neighborhoods – Baixa, which translates to “downtown” followed by Mouraria, which is the old Muslim neighborhood. Our food tour takes you away from the tourist traps to the traditional and trending restaurants that are loved and frequented by the locals of Lisbon. Explore and really get to know the city through its amazing food and drinks. Not only will you try typical Portuguese food and drinks, but you’ll also learn about the international influences in Lisbon and discover some beautiful street art. Get away from the crowds and join us for an unforgettable day of eating, drinking, making new friends, and – above all – having fun!

Travel to Evora in the heart of the Alentejo region. Enjoy an included tour to the haunting, but mesmerizing Chapel of Bones. Opt to visit Diana's Temple, one of the best preserved Roman temples in the Iberian Peninsula.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Take a wander around this historic town.
• Chapel of Bones Visit: Visit the most famous sight in Évora, the Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones. Take care if squeamish – built in the 1500s by a Franciscan monk, the walls are covered with human skeletons as a reminder to fellow monks that life is fleeting.

Optional Experiences

• Diana Roman Temple: Take a visit to the best preserved Roman structure on the Iberian Peninsula, assumed to have been constructed in 1 AD.
• Évora Museum: The Évora Museum houses art and archaeological artefacts first collected by Portuguese friars in the early 20th century.
• Évora Cathedral and Roman Temple: Visit the neighbouring Évora Cathedral and Roman temple to see two remarkable buildings built more than 1000 years apart.

Journey to the Algarve coast to the small fishing village of Olhão. Explore its bustling fish market, active waterfront and white washed laneways. Continue to Seville and enjoy an orientation walk on arrival.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Take the morning to wander around this quaint town.
• Orientation With CEO: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Optional Experiences

• Olhão Fish Market: Olhão is the busiest fishing point on the Algarve, and has a vibrant fish market to match. Take a wander!

Spend a day enjoying this city and its Moorish influence. Opt to explore the district of Santa Cruz and the Alcazar Palace before joining the group in the evening for a dramatic flamenco performance. Take the time to see all this great city has to offer. Opt to explore the interiors and gardens of the Alcázar, a magnificent palace dating from Moorish times, or the true heart of Seville, the Santa Cruz quarter— a charming area with winding alleys, picturesque lime-washed houses, flowery patios, and small squares. Seville is home to the world’s largest gothic cathedral — climb the adjoining tower for great views of the city. Other attractions include the Museo Arqueológico, the Casa de Pilates and the Parque de María Luisa, which has a maze of paths, garden beds, pretty little patios, fountains, and shaded lawns.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend time in Seville exploring Moorish monuments, parks, and gardens, getting a feel for Seville's energetic pulse. Opt to savour some tapas at the city's many bars and cafés.
• Flamenco Show: Enjoy a flamenco performance in the city known for the energetic dance. Be swept away by the flamenco's passion, fire, and grit!

Optional Experiences

• The Golden Tower (Torre del Oro): Dating to 1220, the Golden Tower is the last major building constructed by Seville's historic Muslim population.
• Casa de Pilatos: Take a visit to marvel at one of the grandest mansions in Seville. The home is still inhabited by the Medinaceli family, but remains open to visitor tours during operating hours. (10-12 EUR per person)
• Santa Cruz Quarter Visit: Visit the true heart of Seville, the Santa Cruz quarter. A charming area with winding alleys, picturesque lime-washed houses, flowery patios, and small squares, you can wander, shop, or just soak in the neighbourhood's quaint atmosphere while enjoying a refreshing drink (sangria, perhaps) at one of the local restaurants.
• Ronda Day trip: Described by Ernest Hemingway as the most romantic town in Spain, Ronda is a quaint city 2 hours outside of Seville. Take a day trip to tour highlights such as a traditional Spanish bullfighting ring, incredible views of the El Tajo River gorge, and the wine museum. (100-150 EUR per person)
• Santa Paula Convent: Take a visit to this beautiful historic convent. Established in 1475, this convent is still home to the Jerónimas nuns. Infrequent tours in Spanish are run here, but visitors are welcome to the modest museum displaying 16th-18th century ecclesiastical art and sculpture.
• Alcázar Palace Visit: Explore the wonderful interiors and gardens of the Alcázar, a royal palace that was originally a Moorish fort. Arrive during the evening in the summer months (until mid-September) and enjoy a series of concerts in the beautiful setting of the Reales Alcázares.
• La Giralda Visit: Climb the tower known as La Giralda, adjacent to the world's largest Gothic cathedral, for spectacular views and a walk among historic walls. The 76m (249 ft) Giralda was constructed by the Moors as a mosque between 1184 and 1197. In 1568, after the reconquest, Christians fit the minaret with its bell tower.

Depart at any time.

Included Experiences

• Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.