12 Day North of Spain & Lusitania from Madrid (C-70122)

About this experience

Experience the best of Spain and Portugal on this captivating 12-day coach tour that begins in Madrid and unfolds through the Iberian Peninsula’s most iconic destinations. Discover Zaragoza’s magnificent Basilica del Pilar and Pamplona’s vibrant old town before exploring the Basque Coast with stops in San Sebastián, Bilbao, and Santander. Continue through Cantabria and Asturias, visiting Santillana del Mar, Covadonga, and Oviedo, and then journey into Galicia to admire La Coruña and the sacred city of Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy breathtaking views along the Rías Baixas, taste fresh seafood and local wine in O Grove, and continue to Portugal, where charming towns such as Viana do Castelo and Braga precede your arrival in Porto. Savor a tour and tasting of the region’s world-famous Port wine before traveling south through Coimbra—the birthplace of Fado—and onward to Lisbon. Discover the capital’s highlights, including Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery, with optional excursions to Sintra and Cascais. Conclude your journey via Mérida, home to one of Spain’s most remarkable Roman archaeological sites. Blending culture, history, and scenic beauty, this itinerary offers a complete immersion into the Iberian spirit.

Experience type

Multi day tour

Duration

12 days

Booking in advance

Book at least 1 weeks in advance. Before the tour starts.

Live tour guide

Spanish, English

Categories

Arts and culture · Bus or minivan tour · Bus tour · Multiday

What's included

• Accommodation and daily buffet breakfast. • 1 lunch and 5 dinners. • Transportation by air conditioned coach. • Multi-lingual tour escort. • Sightseeing tour with local guide in Santiago, Porto and Lisbon. • Travel Insurance. • Visit to a wine cellar with a tasting of Porto wine. • Municipal Taxes in Portugal. Accommodation • Pamplona NH Pamplona Iruña Park F • Santander Santemar F • Oviedo Iberik Santo Sunday Plaza F • Santiago Oca Puerta del Camino F • Vigo Hesperia Vigo F Eurostars Mar de Vigo F Los Galeones Affiliated by Meliá F • Porto Rubens Hotels Gaia F Holiday Inn Porto Gaia F • Coimbra Coimbra Aeminium Affiliated by Meliá F • Lisbon Lutecia F Note: On the 12 July departure, overnight accommodations will be in a city near Pamplona

Please note

• Note: On the 12 July departure, overnight accommodations will be in a city near Pamplona • A minimum of 12 passengers is required to operate the tour. In exceptional circumstances, if the number of registered passengers should fall below the required minimum and in order to maintain our commitment to guaranteed departures, the tour may proceed without a guide, accompanied instead by an expert driver/guide. • Not wheelchair accessible • Animals or Pets NOT allowed • Due to coach capacity limitations, each passenger is allowed one suitcase (maximum 20 kg) and one carry-on bag

Itinerary

1. 1
   Day 1

   (Sunday) MADRID-ZARAGOZA-PAMPLONA (500 km)

   Departure from our bus terminal at 7:30 a.m. to Zaragoza. Brief stop and free time to visit the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Patroness of the Hispanic world. We then continue to Pamplona, a city famous for the San Fermín festivities and its charming old quarter. Dinner and accommodations.

   
2. 2
   Day 2

   PAMPLONA-SAN SEBASTIAN-BILBAO-SANTANDER (290 km)

   Breakfast. Departure towards San Sebastian, one of the most elegant cities in northern Spain. Free time to stroll along La Concha Bay or enjoy the old town. We then continue to Bilbao, capital of the province of Biscay, with a brief stop to admire the avant-garde Guggenheim Museum building. The Journey then continues on to Santander. Dinner and accommodations.

   
3. 3
   Day 3

   (Tuesday) SANTANDER-SANTILLANA-COVADONGA-OVIEDO (230 km)

   Breakfast. Departure to Santillana del Mar, recognized as a National Monument. The journey continues through beautiful landscapes to reach Covadonga, where we will have free time to visit the Sanctuary. Arrival in Oviedo. Dinner and accommodations

4. 4
   Day 4

   (Wednesday) OVIEDO-LA CORUÑA-SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (365 km)

   Breakfast. Departure towards Galicia to arrive in the stately city of La Coruña. Brief panoramic tour of the city. We then continue on to Santiago de Compostela, arrival and city tour of this important pilgrimage centre, including the iconic Plaza del Obradoiro and the majestic Cathedral, the spiritual and artistic heart of Santiago. Dinner and accommodations.

5. 5
   Day 5

   (Thursday) SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

   Breakfast. Free day with the possibility of joining one of our optional excursions, such as the visit to Finisterre. Dinner and accommodations.

6. 6
   Day 6

   (Friday) SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA-RIAS BAJAS-VIGO (160 km)

   Breakfast and departure for the area of the Spanish Fjords (Rias Bajas), through splendid landscapes: with a brief stop at La Toja Island. Stop at O Grove to take an optional catamaran tour to see an oyster and mussel farms, including a tasting of mussels and Ribeiro wine. We then continue to Vigo. Free time. Optional excursion to Santa Tecla. Accommodations.

7. 7
   Day 7

   (Saturday) VIGO-VIANA DO CASTELO-BRAGA-PORTO (220 km)

   Breakfast. Crossing the Portuguese border we arrive to Viana do Castelo, city located between the mouth of the river Miño and Porto. Free time to visit the old town with cobbled streets and emblazoned buildings. We continue to Braga known as the city of the archbishops and the third most populated city in Portugal. Free time. Departure for Porto. Accommodations.

8. 8
   Day 8

   (Sunday) PORTO

   Breakfast. Porto is considered as World Heritage city. Panoramic tour to admire the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange building, St. Clara church... we will finalize at a local winecellar to enjoy a tasting of the famous “Port wine”. Accommodations.

   
9. 9
   Day 9

   (Monday) PORTO-COIMBRA (120 km)

   Breakfast. Departure to Coimbra, site of one of the oldest universities in Europe and birthplace of the Fado, the music of Portugal. Lunch. Time at leisure. Accommodations

10. 10
    Day 10

    (Tuesday) COIMBRA-FATIMA-LISBON (222 km)

    Breakfast. Departure to Fatima, important pilgrimage centre. Free time to visit the Shrine and afterwards continuation to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal located at the mouth of the river Tagus. Accommodations. Optional night tour to attend a show of Fado, typical Portuguese songs and music.

11. 11
    Day 11

    (Wednesday) LISBON

    Breakfast and accommodations. Morning panoramic sightseeing tour of this beautiful city, located at the mouth of the Tagus River: Edward VII Park’s hilltop viewpoint, Rossio Square, Liberdade Avenue, Madragoa District (where Fado, the traditional Portugues music was born). We will continue to the Belem District, with its famous Tower, Monument to the Navigators, and Los Jeronimos Monastery. Free afternoon. Optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais, Estoril.

    
12. 12
    Day 12

    (Thursday) LISBON-MERIDA-MADRID (635 km)

    Breakfast. Departure towards the Spanish border to arrive in Mérida. Free time to explore its impressive archaeological complex, featuring the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre, both declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Lunch at leisure. Afterwards, we continue our journey to Madrid. Arrival and end of our services.

Meeting point

VPT Tours & Activities Calle de Ferraz 3, 28008, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, ES

Pick up

Pickup is not provided.

Cancellation policy · Twin room

VPT 2025 -27

• Cancellation 0–24 hours before departure: 100% cancellation fee.
• Cancellation 24–48 hours before departure: 40% cancellation fee.
• Cancellation 48–216 hours before departure: 35% cancellation fee.
• Cancellation 216–336 hours before departure: 25% cancellation fee.
• Cancellation 336–600 hours before departure: 15% cancellation fee.

Cancellation policy · Single Room

VPT 2025 -27

• Cancellation 0–24 hours before departure: 100% cancellation fee.
• Cancellation 24–48 hours before departure: 40% cancellation fee.
• Cancellation 48–216 hours before departure: 35% cancellation fee.
• Cancellation 216–336 hours before departure: 25% cancellation fee.
• Cancellation 336–600 hours before departure: 15% cancellation fee.

Good to know

Operated by VPT Tours and sold by AGORA. Your voucher and booking reference arrive by email straight after payment.