Madrid to Lisbon
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Today we’ll shack up in the land of siestas and sangria & start unravelling the real Madrid. At 4pm the crew will meet, greet, & share the buzz of the 12-days ahead. By evening we can start our city shimmy, hanging somewhere local like a special roof top bar.
With pretty 1920’s architecture and an unassuming charm, it won’t take long to feel smitten by the Spanish capital. Those keen to kick it beyond the city skirts can venture to the medieval walled city of Toledo. More locally you could kill time café hoping in the hip hub of the Malasaña district or catch some reflection rainbows at the Crystal Palace of Buen Retiro Park.
Our last full day in Madrid is a license to eat way too many tapas & sample churros like they’re going out of fashion. You can then choose to ease the guilt by hitting the city on pushbike, taking to hidden streets & deciphering Madrid’s distinct map of neighb...
With Madrid’s many great nooks now done & dusted, we’ll gather up our goods & hit the road for Portugal. Out of Madrid we’ll float through sunflower fields and pass ancient towns like Avila before taking a border hop & heading towards Porto. Pulling up in...
With both waterways and walkways on the menu for exploring, there’s not much of Porto we can’t see today. In our downtime you could laze at a local café, visit a cool local or visit on of the many Art Museums.
Today we can tap into Porto’s heritage, tasting the sweet nectar that is port wine & riding the old wooden tram. You could then shop macramés & cork bags from the markets & have a last stroll of the UNESCO stamped alleys of Ribeira.
Feeling more than impressed by our introduction to Portugal, we’ll carry on our venture by moving south. On the journey from Porto to Algarve we’ll cruise past little towns of Juliet balconies and fields of olive groves. Spotting Santarem and its Roman heritage will ...
Today marks our biggest scene change as we head beachside to the pebbled Portuguese bays otherwise known as heaven on earth. At some point in the day we suggest sampling a fresh catch of seafood in an alfresco café; wine soaked mussels should hit the spot. By night th...
Still riding the wave of yesterday’s salt water induced bliss, we’ll be keen to jump in a boat and see the idyllic beaches from a different view. Tomorrow we’ll be moving on to the big smoke, so we best make the most of this time by the ocean.
No journey to Portugal would be complete without a bout in the much adored capital of Lisbon. Brimming with quirks & an undefinable charisma, this city will woo us within an hour. Cruising north with the Oceano Atlântico somewhere to the left, we’ll pass through P...
A mountain of castles & secret gardens can be found today in Sintra, the place that many locals call the cultural heart of the country. Here we’ll roam through markets, admire local street artists & ogle at the sprawling vistas seen from ancient monuments. Bac...
In no mood for winding down, we’ll tap into the banquet of possibilities available in this sweet European city. Speaking of sweet, it’ll be time for more pastel de natas, as the devastation of leaving Portugal unfathomably good baked treats starts to sink in. We can also take a mosey around Bairro Alto, where boutiques, bookshops & cafes sit by the lanes of the antique tram.
Today we’ll wake to the heartbreaking reality that our days on tour have come to an end. Feeling completely at home in the cities we’ve been to, we’ll wrap up our trip desperate for more culturally immersive travel.
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Contiki Reviews & Ratings
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Jas Singh
Apr 2024
European Horizon
Excellent tour manager, amazing fellow travellers, beautiful destinations!
Neil Pilger
Apr 2024
Japan Unrivalled
The tour was an absolute blast!
Juvenal Magana Martinez Jr
Apr 2024
Solo traveler best experience!
The trip was great! Although the trip is condensed, our tour guid Yuj made the best of it. From the locations to visit to the food, everything he recommended was bet...
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We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.
No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world. We have a number of options to choose from to create a vacation that’s perfect for you, from budget to accommodation style.
We're all about exploring the world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds, to celebrate being young, spirited and curious. You can expect to join a group of 18-53 awesome people from around the world on our Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand trips, and in Asia and Latin America it's all about small group adventures with up to 25 travellers. Don't worry if you're not traveling as a couple or with a friend from home – though there are plenty of pairs, 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you'll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.
With over 270 trips around the world and plenty of departure dates to work into your schedule, you'll never be short of options on where to go for your next great adventure.
About the company:
Contiki are the world leaders in social youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?
Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our core values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re about people’. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘Travel.Together.’ which means to travel with one another, the destinations we visit, the cultures we enjoy and the environment, too.
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