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Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted across Western Europe including Spain and Portugal. We explore Spain and Portugal fairy-tale natural beauty, its ancient Roman heritage, its World Heritage Sites, and world famous cities, all with some truly all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group .
Discover the Iberian peninsula on these fully escorted small and tours, perfect for the single traveller or couple.
Although divided by history and language, these close neighbours once possessed mighty empires bringing them great wealth which they then used to create many of the monuments we admire today.
The is renowned for the spectacular views of its scenery, its red wines of rioja , and exotic food. Our and explores the 's intricate history and incredible art and architecture as we stroll and wander through its streets. These are small group package tours of Spain and Portugal for mature travellers, either couples or singles.
Small group tours and is for senior and mature travellers who seek to learn whilst on a group The itinerary of this spends 24 days exploring the with your . As expected this includes several famous historic destinations rich in Spanish culture on this . Your experienced leads the way assisted by local a for in key places such as , , Bilbao, Segovia, Braga and ensuring you have a .
This spends 24 days exploring several famous destinations. The commences in in , a highlight of which is the colourful Park Guell. As well as . From , the heads to into Rioja and Basque country before reaching the northern industrial city and home to Europe's Guggenheim museum, Bilbao in . We leave Bilbao heading south to spend almost 6 days on a in the Spanish capital, visiting the and other highlights. After the heads to Salamanca, a , and northwest into . We explore the Atlantic coast, and then on to , the nation's historic capital. Leaving , the heads into to and finally concludes in .
This is fully escorted but also makes great use of a local and operator when appropriate whose knowledge enhances the program's highlights and your travel experiences on this group . Highlights include a visit to La Rioja, the mountain kingdom of Navarra, along with neighbouring Basque Country and the astounding Guggenheim Museum. We also take a of Braga , and wander the cobblestone streets of the capital of , . The magnificent left behind by the Moors in and will be another highlight of our .
On this of and , in the evenings you can enjoy wine tasting, food at the tapas bars, and views of the mountains and other wondrous scenery.
Odyssey offers two departures a year, as well as an 11-day short version of the program. You can also combine this with our long stay program in , an in-depth 22-day program exploring the city.
Odyssey's tours to offered each year are popular package tours with travellers and typically operate every year.
You can learn more about both and with our country profiles where all other departures are listed as well. For more details, click the 'Top 5' or 'Itinerary' buttons above! If you're keen to experience this , please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.
The following list of articles are either published by Odyssey Traveller for mature aged and senior travellers or carefully selected articles from external sources to maximise their knowledge and enjoyment of Spain & Portugal when visiting:
‘Queen of the Sea’: A History of Lisbon In 1554, the writer Damião de Góis claimed that out of all the European cities, only Lisbon and her rival Seville ‘could rightfully be called Ladies and…
Ancient Routes, Fresh Eyes: Nine European Pilgrimage Routes for the Modern Traveller The word ‘pilgrimage’ or ‘pilgrim’ comes from the Modern French word pèlerin, which means ‘foreigner, stranger’, highlighting the concept that the faithful is not of…
Atlantic Ocean and How it Shaped Ancient Communities In Europe.
History & European Pilgrim Walks Walking pilgrimages provide solitude and tranquillity in an increasingly busy and fast-paced world. These walking tours follow ancient pilgrimage routes, giving the modern pilgrim the chance not only to meet new…
Lisbon Travel Notes for mature & senior Travellers Travellers, meet Lisbon. Lisbon, Travellers. Hello there. Olá! I am Lisbon, an elegant Portuguese city perched upon the banks of the sparkling River Tagus. Locals call me ‘Lisboa’.…
Enjoy escorted small group tours for mature and senior travellers to Portugal. Designed for couples and solo travellers who like to explore and enjoy learning as they travel to Lisbon, Mafra, Nazare, and Obidos and beyond.
Barcelona is one of the cultural highlights of Europe. Situated on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the Catalan capital is famous for its distinctive architecture and its world-renowned food and wine.
n the heart of Basque Country, 11km from the Bay of Biscay, you will find Bilbao, one of northern Spain’s greatest treasures. Renowned for its famous Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao’s architectural wonders are surrounded by a…
Burgos, Spain Burgos in northern Spain is the country’s original heartland, initially known as Castilla la Vieja – the old part of the kingdom of Castile. The city of Burgos, founded in 884, was the…
On Catalonia’s Costa Brava, 45 minutes from Girona, lies the small town of Figueres, the birthplace of surrealist artist Salvador Dali and home to the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dali. Apart from the Dali museum, Figueres…
Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain’s southernmost region of Andalucia, Granada was the last stronghold of the Spanish Moors and the brilliance of Moorish spirit and culture endures in the city…
Learn about Madrid and its history on a small group package tour for mature and senior travellers for couples and single travellers. Odyssey offers a range of tours that take the traveller to Madrid in its collection of Spain tours.
Seville is a lively and disarming city, and a popular tourist destination in Spain.
An hour outside of Barcelona is the impressive multi-peaked mountain range known as Montserrat. Within its dramatic, rocky mountain tops hides the Benedictine Monestir de Montserrat, a monastery popular with visitors from all over the…
Pilgrimage routes and walking tours Several pilgrimage tracks remain intact and active centuries after they were first established. Many Odyssey tours trace their routes, walking in the footsteps of people […]
Pamplona, Spain Pamplona, the capital of Navarre in northern Spain, is famous worldwide for the running of the bulls during the San Fermin fiesta, and for being one of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite cities. Hemingway visited…
Escorted small group tours for mature and senior travellers to Spain. Designed for couples and solo travellers who like to explore and enjoy learning as they travel to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilboa, Burgos, Figueres, Zaragoza and so much more.
Just over an hour by train from Barcelona is the magnificent port city of Tarragona. Located on the Costa Daurada, Tarragona is home to sparkling beaches and a wealth of Roman ruins. Once a major…
La Sagrada Familia The Sagrada Familia, still under construction A small group guided tour of La Sagrada Familia, perhaps one of the world’s most iconic buildings, including the Basilicai Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia…
An hour south of Madrid, sitting atop a gorge overlooking the Tagus River, is the magnificent city of Toledo. Often called 'Imperial City' because it was the main venue of the court of Charles V,…
Braga is Portugal's third-largest city and its most important religious centre. With almost four dozen places of worship, Braga is something of an ecclesiastical destination, particularly around Easter. However, a large student population also means…
The Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo) in Tomar, Portugal is a former Roman Catholic convent that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the 12th century, it was originally the Convent of the…
Discover the beautifully-preserved medieval town of Evora with fantastic Roman ruins to explore, Moorish architecture and Gothic churches
A tiny, charming town with over 3000 inhabitants, Obidos is an hour from Lisbon and feels like stepping back in time. The medieval village's historic centre features picturesque cobbled streets and traditional white houses, surrounded…
A forty-minute drive from Lisbon, you will find the town of Mafra near the west coast of Portugal. The town is known for the landmark that dominates it, the opulent Palácio Nacional de Mafra (Mafra…
An ancient fishing village turned popular seaside resort, Nazare is only an hour and a half from Lisbon but it feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The town became world-famous…
Successfully breaking the Venetian monopoly on spices and also cornering the African market made Portugal cash-rich. Pepper, which the Portuguese bought for two cruzados (gold coin) a sack in Cochin, India, was sold for 30…
Overview: Upon arrival in Barcelona, we will come to the hotel individually. Our Spain tour begins with an orientation and welcome dinner. (D)
Accommodation: 3 nights at Amister Hotel or similar.
Overview: Today, we enjoy a full day tour around Barcelona, visiting the Miró Foundation, the National Museum of Catalan Art and Park Guell, a World Heritage Site since 1984 and located in the gothic quarter. The evening is free to relax or to discover one of the many local restaurants for dinner. (B).
Once part of the Aragonese Empire, Catalonia is now an autonomous Spanish province, proud of its distinctive language and culture. Stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees, it was here that the Romans first landed on the Iberian peninsula and founded a new “colonnia” on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement, the area now forming Barcelona’s “Barri Gotic.” Catalonian heritage is a mixture of old and new as ancient churches and monuments vie for attention with the Modernist school of Gaudi and Dali. The Catalonian capital reflects this contrast with architecture ranging from its Gothic cathedral to Gaudi’s modernist Sagrada Familia.
Accommodation: Amister Hotel or similar.
Overview: Today, we continue exploring this wonderful city with our local tour guide. We walk along the Paseo de Gracia and through the Barrio Gothic (gothic quarter) and then visit the Maritim Museum. There will be some free time for lunch at our own arrangements. Later we continue with our tour, with a guided visit of Palau de La Musica Catalana. We then enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent, though still unfinished, Sagrada Familia. Dinner tonight is at own arrangements.
(B)
Accommodation: Amister Hotel or similar.
Overview: After breakfast, we have a morning visit to the Picasso Museum. Thereafter, we head to the train station to catch the high speed AVE train to Zaragoza. The journey takes around 2 hours, and on arrival we’ll be transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore the surrounding area. Dinner this evening is at our hotel.
(B,D)
Accommodation: 1 night at Parador de Calahorra or similar.
Overview: This morning we will travel to Pamplona, a city made famous by its annual bull runs. We will meet our local guide for a tour of the city, exploring its rise from an army camp for the Roman general Pompey to the capital of the semi-autonomous Navarre region. After lunch at own arrangements, we carry on to Bilbao, (Basque country)where will have dinner at our hotel.
(B,D)
Accommodation: 1 night Silken Indautxu or similar.
Overview: This morning the group starts with a tour of the city of Bilbao, including a visit to the magnificent Guggenheim museum where we spend 2 to 3h viewing the collection of contemporary works of art. We will stop at Mercado de Ribera to get some lunch (own arrangements) before continuing on to Burgos. Most of this section of the tour today runs parallel to the Camino de Santiago, the Catherdral in Burgos is an important stop for those making the pilgrimage. We arrive at our hotel in Burgos in time for dinner.
(B,D)
Accommodation: 1 night at Meson del Cid or similar.
Overview: We check out of our hotel this morning bound for the Spanish capital, Madrid. Before leaving Burgos, we meet our local tour guide for a walking tour this morning of the city’s highlights, including entrance to the cathedral. En route to Madridwe pause to stretch our legs and grab some lunch (at own arrangements). In Santo Domingo de la Calzada, we stop to view the spectacular Roman aqueduct. We arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon.
(B)
Accommodation: 4 nights at Quatro Puerta Del Sol or similar
Overview: This morning we meet our local tour guide for a full-day viewing and exploring the highlights of the Madrid, including entrance to the Royal Palace and “Museo Reina Sofia”; which is is Spain’s national museum of 20th-century art. In the evening, we meet up with a local guide who takes on a Tapas tour of the capital, where we will sample local cuisine across a series of bars. After a post-dinner walk to Mercado San Miguel, we return to our hotel.
(B,D)
Accommodation: Quatro Puerta Del Sol or similar
Overview: Today we join our local guide again in exploring the nearby city of Toledo on a walking tour. We will visit the Synagogue de Santa Maria la Blanca, Sante Tome Church, the cathedral and view the exterior of the Alcazar, before we return to Madrid for dinner at a local restaurant.
(B,D)
Accommodation: Quatro Puerta Del Sol or similar
Overview: This morning, we visit the Prado Museum with our local guide. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the city at leisure.
(B)
Accommodation: Quatro Puerta Del Sol or similar
Overview: This morning we check out of our hotel bound for Salamanca. We pause first in El Escorial, where we visit the Royal Monastery. We continue on and pause to view the medieval walls in Avila before arriving at our hotel in Salamanca. Salamanca is probably best known for having the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. This university is still what gives a charming ambiance to the town. Hundreds of students pass through the narrow streets and enjoy the numerous and beautifully decorated cafes until late at night. This charming town is unrivalled in its architectural purity. In central areas all recent buildings are built in Salamanca’s best tradition. The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We have dinner at a local restaurant tonight.
(B,D).
Accommodation: 2 nights at Hotel Grand Coronal Sol or similar
Overview: We meet our local guide this morning and have a field trip taking in Salamanca’s main sights. We visit the old and new Cathedrals, the House of Shells (Casa de las Conchas) and the University. We have a free afternoon to continue to explore Salamanca at our own pace.
(B)
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Coronal Sol or similar.
Overview: We check out of our hotel and depart for Portugal this morning. En route to Braga, we pause to explore Zamora. We arrive in Braga and check in to our hotel. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.
(B,D)
Accommodation: 2 nights at Mercure Braga Centro or similar.
Overview: This morning, we meet our local guide for a full-day tour introducing us to Porto. We visit the cathedral and the Church of São Francisco. We stop in a local port lodge for a guided tour and tasting of port. En route back to Braga we pause to view the main sights of Guimarães. Dinner tonight is at leisure.
(B)
Accommodation: Mercure Braga Centro or similar.
Overview: We check out of our hotel this morning bound for the Portuguese capital. On the way we pause to explore Coimbra and arrive at Lisbon in time for dinner at a local restaurant.
(B,D)
Accommodation: 3 nights at Hotel Florida or similar.
Overview: This morning we meet our local guide for a half-day tour of Lisbon including entrance to the Royal Carriage Museum. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore the city at leisure.
(B)
Accommodation: Hotel Florida or similar.
Overview: Today we explore the coastal areas surrounding Lisbon. We travel first to Estoril and then on to Cascais. We pause in Cabo de Roca, to view Europe’s westernmost point, and also stop in Sintra where we pause for lunch (own arrangements). We carry on to Queluz to visit the Royal Palace and gardens before returning to Lisbon. Tonight we have dinner at a local restaurant where we are exposed to the traditional Portuguese art-form of the fado in an evening performance.
(B,D)
Accommodation: Hotel Florida or similar.
Overview: We leave the Portuguese capital today as we travel to Mérida. En route we pause in Badajoz. Upon our arrival in Mérida, we meet our local guide and have a city tour during which we visit the Roman theatre, the amphitheatre, the Casa del Mitreo, and the National Museum of Roman Art. We have dinner at our hotel tonight.
(B,D)
Accommodation: 1 night at Hotel Velada Merida or similar.
Overview: We depart Mérida for Seville this morning. We pause in Aracena with time to explore the town at our own pace and get some lunch (own arrangements). We arrive in Seville late afternoon.
(B)
Accommodation: 3 nights at Hotel Sevilla Macarena or similar.
Overview: This morning, we meet our local guide for a tour that takes in the highlights of Seville. On our tour, we will visit the Alcazar, the cathedral, the Treasury and Giralda. We will also walk through the Barrio de Santa Cruz. This afternoon is free for us to explore at leisure, and in the evening we will attend a flamenco show with a tapas dinner.
(B,D)
Accommodation: Hotel Sevilla Macarena or similar.
Overview: Today we explore Jerez de la Fronterra on foot, where we will visit a sherry bodega for a tour and tasting. We then continue to Cadiz to view the city on our own, before returning to Seville.
(B)
Accommodation: Hotel Sevilla Macarena or similar.
Overview: We check out of our hotel this morning bound for Granada. En route we meet a local guide in Cordoba where we are introduced to the highlights of the city. Our guide will take us to the Mezquita and Tower, the beautiful Mosque of Córdoba, before we continue on to Granada.
(B)
Accommodation: 2 nights at Barcelo Carmen Hotel or similar.
Overview: We meet our local guide this morning and begin our exploration of Granada. We view the main sights of the city and visit the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real). We then enter the magnificent Alhambra Palace and the Generalife Gardens. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore Granada at leisure. We come together this evening for our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
(B,D)
Accommodation: Barcelo Carmen Hotel or similar.
Overview: After breakfast, the tour will end today in Granada. (B)
What’s included in our Tour
What’s not included in our Tour
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