21 Day Colours Of Spain With Douro Discovery

On arrival at the airport in Barcelona, be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner tonight.

Explore Barcelona’s famous landmarks on a city tour today. Drive to the famous hill of Montjuic, stop at the Catalunya National Art Museum and continue down to Placa d’Espanya on your way to the iconic Sagrada Familia. On foot, your guide will take you through the Old Town and show you the wonders of this beautiful city.

Today, travel by train to Madrid, Spain’s lively capital. On arrival, enjoy free time to explore before sitting down to a tasty tapas dinner at a local restaurant.

On a guided tour this morning, visit Palacio Real, residence of the Spanish Royal Family, then see a selection of Madrid’s best-loved attractions. With the rest of your day at leisure, perhaps wander the lawns of Parque del Retiro or browse the Prado Museum.

Today, travel to Toledo for a guided tour. Explore the Old Town’s winding cobbled streets and its majestic 13th-century cathedral before continuing to Cordoba.

Enjoy a guided tour of Cordoba, during which you’ll admire the Mezquita of Cordoba, a medieval mosque converted to a cathedral. Continue to Granada, where you’ll pay a visit to the magnificent Alhambra Palace.

Insider Experience: Tonight you’ll experience a revival of grand Spanish hospitality at Hotel Alhambra Palace.

Take a guided tour of Granada. Then enjoy a picturesque drive to Marbella, stopping along the way for your authentic Insider Experience.

Insider Experience: Stop to savour a lovingly home-cooked meal with a local Spanish family, surrounded by olive groves and charming villages.

Today, journey to the British overseas territory of Gibraltar for a guided tour. Here, you’ll marvel at the famous Rock of Gibraltar and discover its fascinating history.

This morning after breakfast, travel to Ronda and see the Puente Nuevo and the Plaza de Toros. Then, continue to Seville.

Today, experience the beauty of Seville with a local guide. This city is filled with gorgeous sites, from palaces to churches and magnificent Moorish buildings. Then, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Enter Portugal and stop to admire the architecture of World Heritage-listed Evora before arriving in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

Today after breakfast, head out to explore Lisbon’s Alfama district and marvel at the World Heritage-listed Jeronimos Monastery. Afterwards, visit the gorgeous Belem Tower and see the Castelo de Sao Jorge.

Enjoy a full day at leisure. Perhaps enhance your journey with an optional visit to nearby Sintra.

After breakfast, travel by coach to Vila Nova de Gaia and board the MS Douro Serenity.

Today as you cruise, you’ll take part in a morning Portuguese language lesson, during which you’ll learn some essential phrases of this beautiful language. Disembark your ship in Regua and join an excursion by coach to the splendid Gardens and Palace of Mateus. Afterwards, travel by coach to Pinhao.

Insider Experience: In Pinhao, enjoy a sumptuous dinner of traditional dishes and dessert at a picturesque local quinta, a Portuguese winery.

Today, cruise across the border into Vega de Terron in Spain. Enjoy some time at leisure before joining an excursion to Castelo Rodrigo. This tiny village sits atop a hill overlooking both Spain and Portugal, and features a number of well-preserved ruins, an impressive castle and a magnificent stone statue of Santiago Matamoros. After exploring this charming little town, you’ll board a coach and return to your ship.

Today you’ll disembark and board a coach to set off for the glorious Spanish city of Salamanca. This gorgeous city is arguably one of the most beautiful in Spain, and boasts sunlit sandstone buildings along with a majestic city square and an ancient university. After your Insider Experience, return by coach back over the border to Barca d’Alva, the last Portuguese village along the Douro, where your ship awaits. Back on board this evening, enjoy a traditional Portuguese BBQ dinner.

Insider Experience: In Salamanca, enjoy a Flamenco show and lunch. Be entranced by captivating Flamenco dancers as they astound you with their stomping feet in a fiery performance.

This morning after breakfast, enjoy a Portuguese cooking demonstration on board as your ship cruises past Pinhao to Regua. After your Insider Experience, board a coach and take a scenic drive past swathes of expansive vineyards. You’ll visit the picturesque village of Lamego and the elaborately decorated baroque cathedral, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies, an important Portuguese place of pilgrimage. While in Lamego, visit one of Portugal’s best museums.

Insider Experience: On arrival, head to a local quinta, which boasts outstanding views over the Douro Valley. Here, you’ll enjoy a tasting of local port wine, Portugal’s most famous tipple.

This morning, enjoy free time to explore Regua — you may like to wander along the riverfront, or venture into the lovely Old Town. Afterwards, continue on to the riverside town of Entre-os-Rios. On arrival, enjoy free time to explore this gorgeous, vibrant town as you please. Tonight, be treated to an energetic performance of traditional Portuguese folk music back on board at a special Captain’s Dinner.

After breakfast, cruise back to the enchanting city of Vila Nova de Gaia. On arrival, join a tour of nearby Porto, which sits just across the river. Here, you’ll be led past a collection of the city’s most famous attractions, and visit a local port winery for a tour and tasting. This afternoon, there’s ample time for you to step back out to explore Porto at leisure. Alternatively, you might choose to take an optional excursion to the World Heritage-listed city of Guimaraes. This evening back on board your ship, enjoy a final Farewell Dinner with your fellow guests.

Be transferred to Porto Airport for your flight.