Northern Spain: Barcelona to Porto

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport or the Barcelona França Train Station to Le Méridien Barcelona on Las Ramblas. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.

Today, walk along the tree-lined pedestrian promenade of Las Ramblas with a local guide who leads you through the cobblestone lanes of Barcelona's 14th-century Gothic quarter, Barri Gòtic, a medieval warren of Roman relics, hidden courtyards, shops, and alfresco cafés, to the Plaça de la Catedral.  City of counts and kings of Aragon, Barcelona boasts many landmark sites that were preserved in the 19th century expansion ("L'Eixample") into today's modern metropolis. Your city tour will also include a drive through hilltop Montjuic, rewarding with panoramic views, and a visit to Gaudí's unfinished basilica, la Sagrada Família, artistically and architecturally unique, and awe-inspiring in every detail. Spend the rest of the day exploring Barcelona as you wish.

Board a high-train for a rail journey through the Spanish countryside to Zaragoza, one of the oldest cities in Spain with a rich history that dates back to the Roman Empire. Enjoy a visit to the expansive Plaza del Pilar and explore Zaragoza's Old Town on a walk with a local guide before free time for lunch. Drive to your Frank-Gehry designed hotel this afternoon in the Rioja Valley for a two-night stay and have dinner in the winery tonight.

Begin your day with a tour and tasting at the Marqués de Riscal winery, founded in 1858. Next, head to Laguardia, a walled medieval town for lunch on your own and time to explore its wealth of historic features, including the Church of Santa María de los Reyes or spend the afternoon enjoying the amenities at your hotel. Join us for dinner in a local restaurant featuring regional fare.

Drive to Pamplona this morning, immortalized in Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises," and walk the famous route followed during the town's annual running of the bulls. After free time for lunch and personal exploration, it's off to coastal San Sebastián, the culinary capital of Spain, and inviting with oceanfront views of its world-famous surfing beach and medieval-inspired city center. Have dinner at your elegant Belle-Époque hotel tonight.

Join a knowledgeable local guide this morning for an immersive walking tour along San Sebastián's picturesque Concha Bay, exploring both the charming old town and vibrant new town. Be sure to bring your appetite as lunchtime offers a delightful Pintxos food tour through the historic streets of the old town. Pintxos, a beloved culinary tradition from Spain's Basque Country, resemble tapas but are uniquely served on slices of bread and secured with skewers or toothpicks as the word "pintxos" literally translates to "thorn" or "spike." Following your gastronomic journey, enjoy free time in the afternoon to wander at your leisure, savoring the city's beauty and culture at your own pace.

Drive to the Biarritz lighthouse, dating back to 1834, admiring the mountainous coast of Spain as you make your way there. Next, continue to the charming village of Saint-Jean-de-Luz for a walking tour and free time for lunch before returning to San Sebastian for an evening spent as you please.

Visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao this morning, a Frank Gehry-designed showcase for large-scale contemporary works by international and Basque artists. Continue to Santillana del Mar, stopping for lunch at the Parador Gil Blas. Continue to Cangas de Onis, the site of a restored ancient monastery believed to have been founded by King Alfonso I in the 8th century.

Spend the morning indulging in the scenic beauty surrounding your rural parador before departing your hotel for a cider tasting experience. Learn about cider production and try your hand at pouring the drink like the locals do from above your head! Lunch family style as you enjoy an "Espicha," a traditional Asturian meal celebrated during harvest time. Drive to your restored monastery parador in León where dinner is at your leisure.

Explore medieval León on a walking tour this morning, seeing a mix of historic and artistic monuments from various periods across the centuries. Stop for lunch in the hills of the Bierzo wine region en route to the world-famous pilgrimage town of Santiago de Compostela before checking in to your hotel late this afternoon, the historic Parador de Santiago de Compostela (also known as Parador de los Reyes Catolicos). Considered to be one of the oldest hotels in the world,  your hotel the Parador dos Reis Catolico has welcomed travelers since the 15th century. Dine tonight at your choice of restaurants in the parador.

When what was believed to be the grave of St. James the Greater was discovered in this region of what is now northern Spain in the ninth century, hundreds of thousands began making the arduous pilgrimage along El Camino de Santiago – the Way of St. James – on foot to visit it. Legend has it that a bright star led a shepherd boy to the forgotten tomb of the apostle; today your local guide leads the way on a guided walking tour of the town's historic quarter and a visit to the world-famous 11th-century Romanesque Cathedral of St. James, home to the relics of the saint. Following lunch at your historic parador, the rest of the day is free to spend as you like. If you wish, you too could walk in the footsteps of pilgrims who have made their way here from around the world for centuries on an optional three mile active hike along the final stretch of the Camino.

Take a boat ride to a mussel farm on the Galician coast, where you will discover how mussels and other shellfish are farmed, enjoying a tasting during your visit. Cross into Portugal as you drive to Porto this afternoon for a two-night stay in a restored 18th-century palace hotel located in the heart of the city. Dine at your leisure tonight.

Join a local guide for a sightseeing tour of Porto; world famous for its port wine, the city's historic center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. Enjoy a boat ride on a traditional rabelo boat as you cruise under the city's iconic bridges on the Douro River, followed by a free afternoon. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner,  where tastings of Portugal's liquid gold are sure to delight.

Tour ends: Porto Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Hotel Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia to Porto Airport is included. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport.