Ultimate Spain & Portugal

Your trip to Spain begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Madrid.

Welcome to Madrid, where your trip of a lifetime begins! If you purchased airline tickets through YMT Vacations, a friendly representative will welcome you at the airport and transport you to the hotel. The evening is yours to enjoy until guests are invited to sit down for a delicious dinner at the hotel. Get acquainted with your traveling companions and learn about the exciting days ahead. (D)

Today, we will take you on a panoramic tour of Madrid that includes photo stops at many of the city’s most historic and iconic sights. See Plaza de España, Plaza de Colon and Plaza de la Independencia, as well as Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, and Retiro Park, plus the upscale Salamanca neighborhood. The evening will be at your leisure to enjoy a delicious meal and the many museums, cafes and pristine parks of this cultural hotspot. (B)

On the way from Madrid to Seville, travel to Córdoba in the history-rich region of Andalusia. Enjoy a walking tour of Córdoba’s Jewish quarter, Calleja de las Flores, or flower street, and La Mezquita, an eighth century mosque turned into a Catholic Cathedral. Tour the breathtaking Mosque Cathedral, known as one of Europe’s greatest works of Islamic architecture. You will be entranced by the detailed Moorish archways that line the prayer hall made of rich jasper, onyx, and marble. (B, D)

Meet your guide in the charming city of Seville this morning! Spend the day on a panoramic tour of Andalusia’s capital where Gothic architecture, medieval history, and Arabian culture combine to create a truly unique setting. From the comfort of your coach, see Plaza de España, the Gothic Seville Cathedral, and the medieval Alcázar de Seville castle complex. You’ll also take a short walking tour of Santa Cruz, Seville’s medieval Jewish quarter. Spend the evening at your leisure or join us on one of our unforgettable optional tours. (B)

Enjoy a day off from driving to explore this fantastic and vibrant city at your leisure, or consider joining one of our optional tours! (B, D)

This morning you’ll take a scenic drive from Seville to Granada, where you will enjoy a walking tour. See Granada’s Royal Chapel, the old silk market, and Corral de Carbón, as well as the picturesque Plaza Bib-Rambla, a gorgeous city square that buzzes with energy. If you wish to reserve tickets to visit the famous Alhambra complex of Granada, you will have plenty of free time in the afternoon to visit (please make sure to have made advance reservations). In the evening, enjoy a delicious meal at your hotel in Granada. (B, D)

Take a scenic journey to Valencia, with a lovely stop in Alicante for lunch on your own. Alicante is a perfect little beach town, and its fresh seafood is not to be missed. Look up to Mount Benacantil to see the sand-colored remains of Santa Bárbara Castle, the imposing fortress that protected Alicante dating back to the 9th century. Spend the evening in Valencia, where you can relax or find an outdoor cafe that serves Paella right here in the town where the famous dish was created! (B, D)

Start your day with breakfast and a tour of Valencia; this former Roman colony is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Spain due to its appealing combination of culture and history. Your panoramic tour includes Plaza de Toros, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, L’Oceanogràfic aquarium. Take a walking tour of Old Town, and of the towering Cathedral of Valencia. Continue to Barcelona, your home for the next two nights. (B)

Today, you’ll head to Barcelona. The seaside city boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, fabulous food, and terrific shopping. Take a city tour where you will see Montjuic, Sagrada Familia (entrance included), and Passeig De Gracia, a major avenue lined with buildings designed by the famous Antoni Gaudí. You’ll also visit Port Olympic and the Arc de Triomf. Your night ends with a farewell dinner. (B, D)

After an included inter-tour flight, arrive in Lisbon, the largest city and capital of Portugal. The evening is yours to enjoy until guests are invited to sit down for a delicious dinner at the hotel. Get acquainted with your traveling companions and learn about the exciting days ahead. (B, D)

After breakfast, set off for Sintra. Enjoy a guided city tour of this charming town, located in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains. The town is well known for its pastel buildings and lush terrain. You’ll then head to Fátima for a self-guided tour of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, the location of a 1917 miracle. (B)

You’ll enjoy a self-guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Monastery of Batalha. One of Portugal’s most beloved historic monuments, it was commissioned in the 14th century by King John I. Continue to Coimbra, one of the country’s loveliest college towns. Enjoy lunch on your own and visit the Universidad de Coimbra (entrance included), originally founded in 1290. The university is dazzling, and you can visit many of its most impressive sites, including the Great Hall, Baroque Library, and Natural History Collection. (B)

Porto is one of Portugal’s oldest cities. First settled around 300 BC, it has since been captured by the Romans, the Moors, and even Napoleon. The historic center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a spectacular place to spend the day. Enjoy a city tour with admission to the 19th century Stock Exchange Palace (included), complete with a port wine tasting. Spend the evening relaxing in Porto. (B)

Today, you’ll proceed towards Evora with a stop at Belmonte. Enjoy lunch on your own in Belmonte, followed by an olive oil tasting and admission to the Belmonte Jewish Museum (included). Dinner is provided at your hotel in Evora. (B, D)

After breakfast, take a guided tour of the Cortiçarte cork factory, a fascinating facility where cork is produced using traditional methods that haven’t changed for hundreds of years. See the trees whose bark is sustainably harvested every nine years, to the boiling vats where the cork is sterilized, to the gift shop selling a wide variety of gorgeous products.Next, travel back to Evora, one of Europe’s finest medieval towns. For something even older, there are the 14 easy-to-spot surviving columns of the Roman Temple of Diana, built around the 1st century A.D. Enjoy free time for lunch and shopping, then taste some local wines on a winery tour (included). (B, D)

Start the day with an enjoyable tour of the Leiveira-Azulejos de Azeitão ceramic factory. Portugal’s Azulejo tiles are tiny, often remarkably detailed pieces of art glazed in a striking blue. They’re one of the country’s most beloved cultural signatures. You’ll learn about their 13th century roots, and how they’re now made for modern needs and trends. After a stunning photo stop at Serra de Arrabida, enjoy free time on your own with a leisurely afternoon in Lisbon. (B)

Spend the final day of your tour in Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly coastal capital watched over by 7 picturesque hills. The peaks’ view of Lisbon’s historic cobblestoned streets and stately ruins, mixed seamlessly with the modern world that grew up around them, is one of Europe’s prettiest. Take a guided tour of the city’s highlights, including admission to the Jerónimos Monastery, a dazzling monument built in the 1500s as a potent symbol of Portugal’s immense wealth and power at the peak of their global navigation period. Enjoy lunch on your own and an afternoon at your leisure before ending your tour with a delicious farewell feast. (B, D)

Your trip to Spain begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Madrid.

Welcome to Madrid, where your trip of a lifetime begins! If you purchased airline tickets through YMT Vacations, a friendly representative will welcome you at the airport and transport you to the hotel. The evening is yours to enjoy until guests are invited to sit down for a delicious dinner at the hotel. Get acquainted with your traveling companions and learn about the exciting days ahead. (D)

Wake up in Madrid, the capital city of Spain. Today we will take you on a panoramic tour including photo stops at some of Madrid’s most historic and iconic sights. See Plaza de España, Plaza de Colon, Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza Mayor, the Old City Center, Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Retiro Park, and the upscale Salamanca neighborhood. Enjoy a walking tour of Toledo Old Town including admission to the stunning Toledo Cathedral, considered by many to be the greatest example of Gothic architecture in the world, and is just one of three 13th-century High Gothic cathedrals in all of Spain. The evening will be at your leisure to enjoy a delicious meal and the many museums, cafes, and pristine parks of this cultural hotspot. (B)

On the way from Madrid to Seville, travel to Córdoba in the history-rich region of Andalusia. Enjoy a walking tour of Córdoba’s Jewish quarter, Calleja de las Flores, or flower street, and La Mezquita, an 8th century Mosque turned gorgeous Catholic Cathedral. Tour the breathtaking Mosque Cathedral, known as one of Europe’s greatest works of Islamic architecture. You will be entranced by the detailed Moorish archways that line the prayer hall made of rich jasper, onyx, and marble. (B, D)

Note: If you’re going on this tour in 2025, this day you’ll spend the night in Seville instead of Cordoba (Palma de Rio).

Enjoy a leisurely departure from your hotel in Cordoba (Palma de Rio) in the morning after a delicious breakfast to meet your guide in the charming city of Seville! Spend the day on a panoramic tour of Andalusia’s capital where Gothic architecture, medieval history, and Arabian culture combine to create a truly unique setting. From the comfort of your coach, see Plaza de España, the Gothic Seville Cathedral, and the medieval Alcázar de Seville castle complex. Take a short walking tour of Santa Cruz, Seville’s medieval Jewish quarter. Spend the evening at your leisure or join us on one of our unforgettable optional tours. (B)

Note: If you’re going on this tour in 2025, this day you’ll already be in Seville.

Enjoy a day off from driving to explore this fantastic and vibrant city at your leisure, or consider joining one of our optional tours! (B, D)

Take a scenic journey to Valencia, with a lovely stop in Alicante for lunch on your own. Alicante is a perfect little beach town, and its fresh seafood is not to be missed. Look up to Mount Benacantil to see the sand-colored remains of Santa Bárbara Castle, the imposing fortress that protected Alicante dating back to the 9th century. Spend the evening in Valencia, where you can relax or find an outdoor cafe that serves Paella right here in the town where the famous dish was created! (B, D)

Start your day with breakfast and a tour of Valencia; this former Roman colony is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Spain due to its appealing combination of culture and history. Your panoramic tour includes Plaza de Toros, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, L’Oceanogràfic aquarium. Take a walking tour of Old Town, and of the towering Cathedral of Valencia. Continue to Barcelona, your home for the next two nights. (B)

The city of Barcelona boasts 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, not to mention a long, sandy coastline, fabulous food, and terrific shopping. Take a city tour where you will see Montjuic, Sagrada Familia, Passeig De Gracia with Gaudí buildings, Port Olympic, and the Arc de Triomf. Finally take an included funicular ride up to the site of the Sanctuary of Montserrat Mountain, and enjoy an included visit to the 11th century Benedictine monastery hidden in the towering Montserrat range. Your night ends with an included dinner. (B, D)

After an included inter-tour flight, arrive in Lisbon, the largest city and capital of Portugal. The evening is yours to enjoy until guests are invited to sit down for a delicious dinner at the hotel. Get acquainted with your traveling companions and learn about the exciting days ahead. (B, D)

After an included breakfast, set off for Sintra. Enjoy a guided city tour of this charming town, located in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains, and famous for its pastel buildings and lush terrain. Next, continue to Óbidos for a short walking tour, where guests can explore Óbidos Castle on their own. You’ll have some free time for lunch and photos before we head to Fátima for a self-guided tour of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, the location of a 1917 miracle. (B)

Enjoy a self-guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Monastery of Batalha, commissioned in the 14th century by King John I and among Portugal’s most beloved historic monuments. Continue to Coimbra, one of Portugal’s loveliest college towns. Enjoy lunch on your own and perhaps visit the library and grounds of Universidad de Coimbra, originally founded in 1290. The university is dazzling, and you can visit many of its most impressive sites, including the Great Hall, Baroque Library, and Natural History Collection. (B)

Start your active day in Viseu, where during free time you will have the opportunity to walk around the birthplace of Alfonso I The Conqueror, Portugal’s first king. Next, enjoy lunch on your own in Belmonte, plus an included olive oil tasting and admission to the Belmonte Jewish Museum. Dinner is included at your hotel in Evora. (B, D)

Spend the final day of your tour in Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly coastal capital watched over by 7 picturesque hills. The peaks’ view of Lisbon’s historic cobblestoned streets and stately ruins, mixed seamlessly with the modern world that grew up around them, is one of Europe’s prettiest. Take a guided tour of the city’s highlights, including admission to the Jerónimos Monastery, a dazzling monument built in the 1500s as a potent symbol of Portugal’s immense wealth and power at the peak of their global navigation period. Enjoy lunch on your own and an afternoon at your leisure before ending your tour with a delicious farewell feast. (B, D)