Spain and Portugal: A Tailor-Made Journey from Lisbon to Madrid

Arrive in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, and meet your private driver for the transfer to your hotel. Set on seven hills at the edges of an estuary, Lisbon is a city of grand squares and intimate cobblestoned neighborhoods that descend steeply toward the waterfront. Take the afternoon to get acclimated, then head to a local restaurant for a special dinner accompanied by a live performance of fado, Portugal's melancholy traditional music. (D)

Set out this morning with your private guide on a half-day tour city tour, exploring  from the grand riverfront Praça do Comércio to the heights of the historic Alfama district. In the afternoon, embark on a sunset cruise on the River Tagus. Relaxing aboard your private sailing boat, take in unforgettable views of the city and Belém, just like the legendary explorers that once set sail here, and savor wine and traditional snacks. (B)

Meet your private driver this morning and venture outside of Lisbon to Sintra, a town of misty forests and lavish palaces that tells the story of Portugal’s past. Once inhabited by the ancient Celts, who found it to be a place of spiritual power, Sintra bears traces of its Moorish occupation and its days as a 19th-century resort that enchanted the likes of Lord Byron. Explore the sites of the town as you wish today: some of your options include the ornate Quinta da Regaleira, steeped with mysticism and surrounded with hidden grottos and lush gardens; the historic National Palace; or whimsical Peña Palace, a confection of Romanticist architecture high in the hills above the town. You might also opt to hike to the ruins of the Moorish castle where you can climb the ramparts for a view all the way to the coast. (B)

Travel by high speed train to Seville where your driver will be waiting at the train station to transfer you to your Seville hotel. This afternoon, explore the highlights of Seville on a walking tour around the historical heart of the city. Departing from your hotel with your guide, the tour will take in the city’s stunning Alcázar as well as the towering gothic Seville Cathedral. There will also be time to explore the narrow historic lanes of the Santa Cruz district, the city’s former Jewish quarter which abuts the squares around the cathedral and Alcázar. (B)

Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore more of of Seville’s highlights, before joining a small group for a tapas tour of the city.  Led by a local guide with insider knowledge of the best tapas bars in Seville, you'll move throughout the city, stopping in different venues to sample a variety of tapas, each paired with a local wine or sherry. This evening you'll visit Seville’s excellent Flamenco Museum, set up by the celebrated Seville dancer, Cristina Hoyos, where you’ll see an hour-long performance by resident dancers. (B,L)

Set out with a private drive on a day trip through southern Spain to Ronda, set dramatically above plunging gorges. Visit its Roman bridge and its historic center before continuing east to Granada. Nestled at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada was the last stronghold of the Moors, finally retaken by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. Check in to your hotel here and take in views of the stunning Alhambra fortress-palace as it lights up at night. (B)

Today your private driver will escort you to the train station for your onward high-speed rail journey to Granada. Upon arrival in Granada, you will again be transported to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours at leisure. (B)

Witness the majesty and artistry of the Alhambra up close as you explore its courtyards and chambers on a private guided tour.  Enjoy lunch on the palace grounds and then descend into the city center with your guide, exploring its highlights from the baroque cathedral to the whitewashed lanes of the old Muslim quarter of Albaicín. (B,L)

Today your private driver will escort you to the train station for your onward journey on high-speed rail to Madrid. Upon arrival in Madrid, you will again be transported to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours at leisure. (B)

Explore the highlights of Madrid today on a walking tour through the city. As well as visiting key sights such as the Plaza Mayor and bustling Puerta del Sol area your guide will take you off the beaten track to explore some of the city’s most interesting corners.As part of your tour, your guide will also take you to visit the grand Royal Palace, the Palacio Real. At almost twice the size of Buckingham Palace or Versailles, the Palacio Real sits proudly among trimmed gardens, ornamental ponds and plazas. A seat of royalty since the emir Muhammad I built a castle here in the 9th century, the palace in its current guise is a legacy of Felipe V, who commissioned it after the original building burned down in 1734. (B)

Make your way to the airport today to catch your onward flight. (B)