Whether it’s Spain’s flamenco dance or Portugal’s traditional fado music, new sights and sounds present themselves at every turn. Architect Anton Gaudi’s unfinished La Sagrada Família Cathedral has become the symbol of Barcelona. Lisbon enchants travelers with its white-bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy-going charm. And that’s just two of the five towns we visit.
March 13 – 23, 2025
Package Includes:
Round-trip airfare — Raleigh-Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport (-$100 pp)- Nine nights’ hotel accommodations
- Thirteen meals: nine breakfasts and four dinners
- All sightseeing per itinerary
- All admissions per itinerary
- Professional tour director
- Our State host
- Motor coach transportation
- Hotel transfers
- Baggage handling at hotels
Round-trip airfare — Raleigh-Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport (-$100 pp)
Itinerary Highlights:
- Fado Show in Lisbon
- Flamenco Show in Seville
- Lisbon City Tour
- Bélem Tower
- Evora
- Seville City Tour and the Cathedral of Seville
- Granada Tour and the Alhambra Palace
- Toledo
- Madrid City Tour
- Madrid Royal Palace
- High Speed AVE Train – Madrid to Barcelona
- Barcelona City Tour
- La Sagrada Família Cathedral
- Two-night stays in Lisbon, Seville, Madrid, and Barcelona
Accomodations:
- Two Nights – Marriott or Lutecia Smart Design, Lisbon
- Two Nights – Melia Lebreros or Hotel Hesperia, Seville
- One Night – Macia Real de La Alhambra, Hotel Corona or similar, Granada
- Two Nights – Hotel Miguel Angel, Senator Gran Via 70, Novotel Center Hotel or similar, Madrid
- Two Nights – Abba Sants Hotel, Senator Barcelona
On some dates alternative hotels may be used.
Detailed Itinerary:
Click here to download a copy of the itinerary or scroll down.
DAY 1: OVERNIGHT FLIGHT
Board your overnight flight to Europe.
DAY 2: ARRIVE LISBON PORTUGAL
Arrive in Lisbon and meet your tour director. The capital of Portugal has experienced a renaissance in recent years with a thriving contemporary culture. Lisbon enchants travelers with its white-bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy-going charm that makes it a popular year-round destination. Later, check into your hotel for a two-night stay.
Overnight: Lisbon
DAY 3: LISBON
Today, enjoy a Lisbon City Tour featuring the Moorish Alfama Quarter, Jerónimo’s Monastery (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and the Monument to the Discoveries. Visit the Bélem Tower, another UNESCO World Heritage site. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy Lisbon and its culture at your own pace, or an optional tour will be available. This evening, join your fellow Our State travelers for a Wine and Beer Reception. Next, enjoy an entertaining Fado Show and Welcome Dinner featuring traditional melancholy music with instruments like guitars and mandolins accompanied by singing poetic lyrics. The word fado translates to “fate” and the music roots trace to the early 1800s.
(B,D) Overnight: Lisbon
DAY 4: LISBON – EVORA – SEVILLE
This morning, say good-bye to Lisbon and travel east to visit Evora, Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring a Roman temple and a well-preserved old town center still partially enclosed by a medieval wall. Enjoy the scenery as you journey south and cross into Spain. Later, arrive in wonderful Seville for a two-night stay. Known for its many festivals, Moorish architecture and, of course, flamenco, the capital of Spain’s Andalusia region is a buoyant city whose many cultures are reflected in its cuisine, buildings, art, and history.
(B) Overnight: Seville
DAY 5: SEVILLE
This morning, enjoy a Seville City Tour. Visit the Plaza de España in Maria Luisa Park. Then stroll through the fashionable Santa Cruz Quarter with its attractive wrought-iron balconies laden with flowers. See the well-preserved Alcázar, a Moorish fantasy in stone, set in richly scented gardens. Visit the massive Seville Cathedral, burial place of Christopher Columbus and enriched with the spoils of the New World. You may wish to walk the ramps of the Giralda Tower, the former minaret of the Great Mosque to enjoy panoramic views over the city. This evening, enjoy Spain’s fiery passion as you experience a Flamenco Show and Dinner including wine with a traditional meal and entertainment.
(B,D) Overnight: Seville
DAY 6: SEVILLE – GRANADA
Today, travel to Granada in southern Spain in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Enjoy a Granada Tour highlighted by a visit to the Alhambra Palace and Generalife, Granada’s main attraction, and one of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture with its series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th century.
(B) Overnight: Granada
DAY 7: GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID
Today, travel north to visit Toledo, the capital of Spain until 1560, and one of the most important centers of European medieval history. Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage and historical coexistence of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures. Visit the Toledo Cathedral, one of the three 13th-century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain. Later, arrive in Madrid for a two-night stay in one of Europe’s great capital cities and a center of art, finance, culture, and history.
(B) Overnight: Madrid
DAY 8: MADRID
The capital since 1561, Madrid is a perfect blend of modern and Old World. Today, enjoy a Madrid City Tour including the Puerta del sol, Plaza España, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, elegant Calle Alcalá, and Paseo de Castellana. Later, visit the Royal Palace, home to the Kings of Spain from Charles III to Alfonso XIII. The Royal Palace takes you on a journey through the history of Spain, and though it is no longer the royal family’s home, it continues to be their official residence. This afternoon is at leisure to explore Madrid on your own. Tonight, enjoy dinner featuring a traditional Spanish meal and wine at a local restaurant in Madrid.
(B,D) Overnight: Madrid
DAY 9: MADRID – BARCELONA
This morning, board the *High Speed AVE Train to travel from Madrid to Barcelona. The Spanish AVE system is the longest High Speed Rail network in Europe. Arrive in Barcelona, located on the Mediterranean Sea featuring progressive and art nouveau buildings. Enjoy a Barcelona City Tour to see Las Ramblas Boulevard, a beautiful tree-lined pedestrian mall; Casa Mila, a building designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí; the Columbus Monument; and Parc Montjuic. Continue to see Gaudí’s unfinished La Sagrada Família Cathedral, the symbol of Barcelona. This evening is on your own to maybe visit a local restaurant on Las Ramblas.
(B) Overnight: Barcelona
DAY 10: BARCELONA AT LEISURE
Today is at leisure to experience Barcelona at your own pace. Perhaps visit a museum, explore Gaudí’s famous Parc Guell, and/or enjoy a paella meal. An optional tour will be available to visit the Montserrat Monastery.
Enjoy a Farewell Dinner this evening.
(B,D) Overnight: Barcelona
DAY 11: BARCELONA – FLIGHT HOME
Transfer to the airport today for your flight home filled with wonderful memories of Spain and Portugal.
Tour Rates:
Booking Discount*: $5,749 per person based on double occupancy
Regular Rate: $5,849 per person based on double occupancy
Single supplement: $1,350
*Make your final payment by check prior to the final payment due date and receive a $200 per couple or $100 per single booking discount. Ask about the no risk deposit.
For reservations and more information:
Premier World Discovery
Melissa Grant
(877) 953-8687, ext. 238 (Pacific Time)
mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com
Additional Information:
What to expect on an Our State trip:
Traveling with a group of Our State readers is an enriching, enjoyable, and safe way to experience new cultures, people, and places. In addition to the informative narration from the tour director and local guides, an Our State host will be available to assist in making your trip successful.
We usually fly to our destination, then travel by a comfortable motor coach with anywhere from 35 to 50 people who appreciate learning about new regions. Your entire trip will be guided, planned, and arranged for your upmost enjoyment. Many activities are things you can only do because you are traveling with Our State. There is some free time built in for you to explore on your own.
You can also choose not to attend an activity if you prefer something different. Please let your tour director know if you are not coming on a scheduled day.
Many meals are included. Where you have meals on your own, suggestions will be provided.
Most of the motor coaches have restrooms but every effort will be made to make regular rest stops.
One of the best parts of traveling with Our State is that you will meet new people, many of whom you will already have much in common with since most travelers read the magazine. Many guests often develop friendships that go on long after the tour is finished. Our State trips are generally filled with dynamic and friendly people.
Physical requirements:
Our tours are physically active but not meant to be strenuous.
Please be aware you will be on your feet, walking and standing for much of the day, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions and terrains. There will also be extended time on the motor coach when we travel from place to place. If there are any mobility issues you will need to have an able-bodied traveling companion to accompany and assist you.
Most days are moderately paced with approximately two to three total miles of walking, possibly including some hills and stairs.
We regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Trip Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.
If you have additional questions, please call Our State’s Travel Director Amy Wood Pasquini at 336-286-0600, or email apasquini@ourstate.com.
