Stay in historic paradores and pousadas as you make your way from Lisbon to Madrid, exploring cities brimming with history and contemporary culture, ancient Roman sites, and the Moorish strongholds and whitewashed hill towns of Andalusia.
Treasures of Southern Spain and Portugal
Featuring Historic Paradores and Pousadas
15 days from $5,874 | includes airfare, taxes and all fees
Stay in historic paradores and pousadas as you make your way from Lisbon to Madrid, exploring cities brimming with history and contemporary culture, ancient Roman sites, and the Moorish strongholds and whitewashed hill towns of Andalusia.
Tour Details
TOUR BROCHURE
brochureWHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
- Joyce M.Portugal and Southern Spain are not to be missed by Smithsonian Journey's travelers. This is a bucket list trip that will encourage you to visit these lovely countries. The tour director is fabulous and goes above and beyond to make the trip so special.
JOURNEYS DISPATCHES
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Corinthia Hotel Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal
Situated a short distance from the historic city center, the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon overlooks Monsanto National Park. The 518-room hotel features two restaurants and an indoor/outdoor lounge, indoor swimming pool, gym, spa with massage treatments, complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access, solarium, jewelry shop, and laundry and dry cleaning services. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, mini-bar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, in-room safe, TV, and phone.
Pousada de Estremoz (March 25 and May 6, 2024 departures only)
Evora, Portugal
Once a magnificent 13th-century palace that King Dom Diniz built for his wife, Queen Santa Isabel, the Pousada Castelo Estremoz was restored and converted into a hotel in the 1960s with much of its 17th- and 18th-century artwork and furnishings preserved. Guests can enjoy sweeping views of Estremoz and the Alentejana lowlands from the gardens and outdoor swimming pool; other amenities include a restaurant, bar, game room with a pool table, laundry service (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, minibar, in-room safe, TV, and phone.
Pousada dos Loios
Evora, Portugal
A former 15th-century convent lovingly converted into a hotel, this building features fine architectural details including decorative arches, a marble staircase, a cloistered garden, and frescoed walls and ceilings. Small but comfortable guest rooms have been converted from a monastic cell, but you won't need to sacrifice your comfort to enjoy it, because your room is fully equipped with modern amenities, including air conditioning and private bath with hair dryer. The pousada has no elevators.
Parador de Carmona
Carmona, Spain
Converted from a 14th-century Moorish castle and overlooking the scenic plains of Carmona, this hotel features an Andalusian Courtyard with Moorish columns and a fountain, a stone vaulted restaurant, swimming pool, and garden. Your room is equipped with a private bath with hair dryer, air conditioning, mini-bar, TV, and phone.
Parador de Ronda
Ronda, Spain
Originally a medieval town hall, this parador boasts a stunning location on a cliff overlooking a dramatic gorge. It features gardens with footpaths and sweeping vistas of the gorge and surrounding mountains. Your room is equipped with air conditioning, private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, mini-bar, TV, and phone.
Parador de Ubeda
Ubeda, Spain
Located in the main square in historic Úbeda, this parador is a former 16th-century Renaissance palace that has been converted to an intimate and lovely lodging. A beautiful inner courtyard highlights the parador's public rooms; other amenities include a restaurant featuring Andalusian specialties and a bar. High-ceilinged guestrooms have air conditioning, private bath with hair dryer, mini-bar, TV, and phone.
Wellington Hotel
Madrid, Spain
This old-world style hotel is located in Salamanca neighborhood, near several of Madrid’s most prestigious boutiques. The hotel features a swimming pool with terrace; Internet access; laundry and dry cleaning services; wellness center with sauna and massage; hair salon; snack bar; and two restaurants, including a Michelín-rated Japanese restaurant and a grille room. Fully air-conditioned guest rooms feature private bath with hair dryer, safe, mini-bar, TV, and phone.
Expectations: One of our Classic Land Journeys, this is a comprehensive tour that is well paced and finely tuned. Expectations include longer touring days with many full-day motor coach excursions and stays in seven different hotels. Many hotels are historic buildings that have been restored or renovated as hotels; although modern in most amenities, they can sometimes require additional walking to get to guest rooms (and several do not have an elevator).
Expect many full-day excursions lasting from four to six hours, with seven afternoons at leisure; standing and walking for long periods of time during city tours, museum visits, and outdoor activities; daily walks of up to three miles over sometimes difficult terrain that includes cobblestones and city hills, uneven pavement (especially archaeological sites), stairs without handrails, and absence of elevators; longer walks to get to city centers where coaches are prohibited. There are three longer coach rides of approximately four hours duration.
Please note that dinners are typically served later in the evening in Spain. The majority of the dinners on this tour will take place at approximately 8:30 pm.
Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit and comfortable with longer days of touring (both walking tours and coach time).
Barcelona Post-Program Option — 4 Days, 3 Nights
Enjoy this bustling seaport, Spain's cultural and commercial capital, with its medieval Gothic Quarter and popular Ramblas waterfront promenade. This optional excursion allows you the freedom to explore this exciting city on your own. Your tour price includes:
- Air transportation Madrid/Barcelona inclusive of airline taxes and departure fees
- 3 nights accommodations at Hotel Avenida Palace (Superior First Class)
- 3 meals: 3 breakfasts
- Transfers to/from airport
Hotel Avenida Palace
Built in 1952, Hotel Avenida Palace stands in the heart of Barcelona and offers a good location from which to explore. The 151-room hotel is just minutes from La Ramblas, the Picasso Museum, and the museum housing the works of modern architect Antoni Gaudi. The hotel features a restaurant and bar and laundry and dry cleaning services. Air-conditioned guest rooms offer private bath with hair dryer, complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access, in-room safe, mini-bar, TV, and phone. A Note about Air Conditioning: Hotels in Spain generally adhere to guidelines issued by the government regarding the availability of air conditioning. Many lodgings provide air conditioning in guest rooms only from late April or May until late September/early October.
WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
- Joyce M.Portugal and Southern Spain are not to be missed by Smithsonian Journey's travelers. This is a bucket list trip that will encourage you to visit these lovely countries. The tour director is fabulous and goes above and beyond to make the trip so special.
Highly Recommended
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For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.
In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.
To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.