9 days · Spain, Portugal
Spain & Portugal Christmas
From AED 8,700per person, twin share
Christmas in Seville on a nine-day festive tour of Spain and Portugal, with Granada, Lisbon, Porto and Salamanca along the way.
- Duration
- 9 Days / 8 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Madrid
- 2 countries on this tour
- Spain
- Portugal
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A fast-moving coach tour with a hotel change most nights across two countries, guided walking tours and a few hours on your feet most days, but no real hikes
- Accommodation
- 8 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels across Spain and Portugal
- Meals
- 8 breakfasts and 4 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 53
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, plus local guides in several cities
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs in December over Christmas: cool, sometimes wet weather in Madrid and Granada, milder in Andalusia, Lisbon and the Algarve
Tour overview
This nine-day Christmas tour of Spain and Portugal starts in Madrid and passes through the colourful towns of Toledo, Granada and Ronda on the way to a Spanish Christmas in Seville, with tapas along the way. Lisbon, the second capital on the route, comes next, then authentic Port in Porto, and finally Salamanca and Ávila.
Highlights
- Madrid, Spain’s capital city
- Welcome dinner in Madrid
- The ancient city of Toledo
- The delights of Granada
- Ronda and its famous Puente Nuevo
- Seville on a driving tour
- A local dinner in Seville
- The Algarve, Portugal’s southern coast
Show all 16 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- A driving tour of Lisbon
- Óbidos, a medieval fortified town
- A walking and driving tour of Porto
- A taste of Port, Portugal’s most famous drink
- Ciudad Rodrigo’s 12th-century fortifications
- Salamanca at your leisure
- A traditional dinner in Salamanca
- Ávila, home to Romanesque architecture
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Madrid
1 night · Day 1
Sercotel Madrid
Toledo
Day 2 · on the way
Granada
1 night · Day 2
Abades Nevada Palace
Ronda
Day 3 · on the way
Seville
2 nights · Days 3–4
Hotel Porcel Torneo
Algarve
Day 5 · on the way
Lisbon
2 nights · Days 5–6
VIP Executive Art’s Hotel
Óbidos
Day 7 · on the way
Show all 13 stopsShow fewer stops
Porto
1 night · Day 7
Park Hotel Porto Gaia
Ciudad Rodrigo
Day 8 · on the way
Salamanca
1 night · Day 8
Zenit Hall 88 Studios
Ávila
Day 9 · on the way
Madrid
Day 9 · end
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Madrid
Dinner included
The Spain and Portugal Christmas tour begins in Madrid, where your tour leader meets the group at the hotel this morning. A local guide then leads a tour of the city in its festive dress. In the evening, the group sits down for a welcome dinner and a first taste of Spain.
Included
- Festive guided tour of Madrid: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Mercado de San Miguel
- Welcome dinner in Madrid
- Overnight
- Madrid
- Hotel
- Sercotel Madrid
Day 2
Toledo – Granada
Breakfast included
The route south leads to the UNESCO listed town of Toledo, known for its Gothic architecture and cathedral. From there, the drive continues to the Moorish city of Granada for an orientation tour, with a view of the Alhambra among the famous sites it covers. The optional Granada Local Food & Wine Pairing excursion this evening must be booked before the tour begins.
Included
- Stop in Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its Gothic architecture
- Orientation tour of Granada’s Moorish quarter, the Albaicín
Optional extras
- Granada Local Food & Wine Pairing · AED 255 per person
- Travel
- Madrid → Toledo → Granada by coach
- Overnight
- Granada
- Hotel
- Abades Nevada Palace
Day 3
Granada – Ronda – Seville (Christmas Eve)
Breakfast and dinner includedThe morning gives the option to visit the Alhambra Palace & Gardens, which must be booked before the tour sets out. The route then crosses Andalusia to Ronda, with views of the Puente Nuevo bridge and the countryside around it. The day ends in Seville with a driving tour and a local dinner.
Included
- Stop at the Puente Nuevo in Ronda, above the El Tajo gorge
- Driving tour of Seville’s history, culture and architecture
- Christmas Eve dinner at a local restaurant in Seville
Optional extras
- Alhambra Palace & Gardens · AED 365 per person
- Travel
- Granada → Ronda → Seville by coach
- Overnight
- Seville
- Hotel
- Hotel Porcel Torneo
Day 4
Seville (Christmas Day): Free Day
Breakfast included
Feliz Navidad: the day opens with a local guide leading a tour of the old town. The optional excursion, which must be booked before the tour starts, visits the Gothic Mudejar Casa de Pilatos, includes a three course lunch, and takes in Las Setas, a striking architectural complex. In the evening, there is the option of a Flamenco Show & Dinner.
Included
- Guided walking tour of Seville’s old town with a local guide, on Christmas morning
Optional extras
- Christmas in Seville: Heritage & Modernity · AED 595 per person
- Seville Flamenco Show & Dinner · AED 365 per person
- Overnight
- Seville
- Hotel
- Hotel Porcel Torneo
Day 5
Algarve – Lisbon
Breakfast and dinner includedThe border crossing into Portugal brings a stop along the Algarve, the country’s southern coastal region. A driving tour on arrival in Lisbon covers the capital, including the Tagus River, the Belém Tower and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument. Some spots are worth noting for the free day to follow tomorrow.
Included
- Scenic stop along the Algarve, Portugal’s southern coast
- Driving tour of Lisbon: the Tagus riverfront, Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries
- Dinner in Lisbon
- Travel
- Seville → Algarve → Lisbon by coach
- Overnight
- Lisbon
- Hotel
- VIP Executive Art’s Hotel
Day 6
Lisbon: Free Day
Breakfast included
Lisbon is free to explore at your leisure today. An optional excursion visits Sintra, Portugal’s capital of Romanticism, taking in mountains, palaces, parks and the Pena Palace, explored at your own pace, or there is the option of the Fatima Sanctuary and Coin Caves instead. Local dishes worth trying include Pasteis de nata and a Bifana, a pork or beef sandwich.
Included
- Free day in Lisbon to explore at your own pace
Optional extras
- Colours of Sintra: The Essence of Pena Palace · AED 250 per person
- Fátima Sanctuary & Coin Caves · AED 235 per person
- Overnight
- Lisbon
- Hotel
- VIP Executive Art’s Hotel
Day 7
Óbidos – Porto
Breakfast included
On the way to Porto, Óbidos offers a stop at a fortified town of cobbled streets, houses and a hilltop castle. A locally guided tour in Porto covers top sights including the Cathedral, the Clérigos Tower and the Luis I bridge, followed by a Port wine tasting. In the evening, the optional Fado show comes with dinner along the Douro River.
Included
- Stop in Óbidos, a fortified medieval town
- Guided tour of Porto: the cathedral, Clérigos Tower and Ponte Dom Luís
- Port wine tasting in Porto
Optional extras
- Fado & Feast by the Douro · AED 300 per person
- Travel
- Lisbon → Óbidos → Porto by coach
- Overnight
- Porto
- Hotel
- Park Hotel Porto Gaia
Day 8
Ciudad Rodrigo – Salamanca
Breakfast and dinner included
Crossing back into Spain, the route stops in Ciudad Rodrigo, a fortified cathedral city dating from the 12th century. The afternoon brings arrival in Salamanca, and after a chance to settle in at the hotel, a locally guided tour of Spain’s “Golden City” follows. In the evening, a three course farewell dinner features dishes from the province of Salamanca.
Included
- Stop in Ciudad Rodrigo, within its 12th-century walls
- Guided tour of Salamanca: Casa Lis, the two cathedrals and the historic university
- Farewell dinner of Salamanca specialities
- Travel
- Porto → Ciudad Rodrigo → Salamanca by coach
- Overnight
- Salamanca
- Hotel
- Zenit Hall 88 Studios
Day 9
Ávila – Madrid
Breakfast includedOn the last day of the Spain & Portugal Christmas tour, the route travels from Salamanca to Ávila, an ancient town known for its centuries-old, well preserved city walls. The tour continues to Madrid, where it concludes in the afternoon.
Included
- Free time in Ávila among its medieval walls and Romanesque churches
- Travel
- Salamanca → Ávila → Madrid by coach
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
Tue 22 Dec – Wed 30 Dec 2026
Available
AED 8,700
Single room +AED 3,055
What’s included
Included
- 8 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
- A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
- 8 breakfasts and 4 dinners, with a vegetarian option at every meal on request
- A modern coach with air conditioning, reclining seats and a toilet
- Public transport the tour uses, except on free days
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Granada Local Food & Wine Pairing
Day 2AED 255per personFour courses pairing wine and food at a Granada gastro bar, with tapas and local cheeses matched to wines from Granada and other Spanish regions, hosted by an English-speaking food guide. €60. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 2 in the itineraryAlhambra Palace & Gardens
Day 3AED 365per personA guided visit to the Alhambra, Granada’s Moorish palace and fortress complex, taking in the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens and the Palace of Charles V. €85. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 3 in the itineraryChristmas in Seville: Heritage & Modernity
Day 4AED 595per personA Christmas Day outing in Seville: Casa de Pilatos, a Gothic-Mudéjar palace from the 15th and 16th centuries, a Christmas lunch of three courses at a local restaurant, and a visit to Las Setas, with an audio guide, a film and a light show over the city. €140. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 4 in the itinerarySeville Flamenco Show & Dinner
Day 4AED 365per personIn Seville, a three-course Spanish dinner paired with a live Flamenco show, covering styles from bulerías to sevillanas. €85, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 4 in the itineraryColours of Sintra: The Essence of Pena Palace
Day 6AED 250per personA visit to Sintra’s Pena Palace, set on a hilltop within this UNESCO World Heritage town, with time to explore the palace, its park and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla at your own pace, plus coach transfers and a local sweet treat. €58. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
See day 6 in the itineraryFátima Sanctuary & Coin Caves
Day 6AED 235per personA visit to Fátima, Portugal’s main religious pilgrimage site: the Coin Caves, a limestone cave system, explored with a local guide, then free time to explore the Sanctuary of Fátima and its basilicas, with coach transport from Lisbon included. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 6 in the itineraryFado & Feast by the Douro
Day 7AED 300per personAn evening of Fado, Portugal’s expressive, melancholic style of song, followed by a three-course dinner of regional dishes at a restaurant overlooking the Douro in Porto. €70, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 7 in the itinerary
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Spain and Portugal are both in the Schengen area, so one Schengen visa covers this entire trip.
UAE passport holders don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180, but will need the EU’s new ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts: we can tell you where it stands when you book. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a Schengen visa, applied for up to six months before you travel; Dubai appointments fill up quickly before Christmas, so start early.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave Spain or Portugal and have been issued within the last ten years, with two blank pages, and your UAE residence visa must be valid for at least three months after you return. Our visa team handles Schengen applications: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from Madrid aren’t included.
Day 1 starts at the hotel in Madrid, with check-in from 10:00 and the tour leaving soon after. The tour ends back in Madrid on day 9, with no onward transport included.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
Breakfast is included every day, plus four dinners: the welcome dinner in Madrid on day 1, Christmas Eve dinner in Seville on day 3, dinner in Lisbon on day 5 and the farewell dinner in Salamanca on day 8. Vegetarian options are available for all meals on request. Lunches are not included, so you can choose where to eat.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
Spain and Portugal both use the euro, so you only need to think about one currency for this whole trip. Cards are widely accepted in cities, though smaller towns can be cash-only, so carry some euros for cafés, tips and small purchases.
Optional extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
The tour runs in December. Expect cool, sometimes wet weather in Madrid, Granada and northern Spain, milder but still variable weather in Andalusia and Lisbon, and the Algarve staying the mildest of all.
Pack layers, a warm jacket for evenings, a rain jacket and comfortable shoes: the itinerary includes several walking tours and cobbled old towns, and you carry your own bags, sometimes up hotel stairs.
Christmas on this tour
This departure runs over the festive season: day 3 is Christmas Eve in Seville, and day 4 is Christmas Day, which starts with a guided tour of the old town before free time to spend as you choose.
Some shops and smaller restaurants in Spain and Portugal close or reduce their hours on 25 December, so it is worth planning meals with your tour leader on that day. Madrid’s Christmas market, visited on day 1, sets the festive tone at the start of the tour.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
One Schengen visa covers the Schengen countries on this route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Madrid and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. Up to 53 people share this tour, and most know each other’s names within a few days.
What are the hotels like?
Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day. Others sell in advance and must be bought before the tour starts: to add one of those, mention it in your booking notes and we confirm it with your seats. Each extra in the Optional extras section says which way it is booked.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Spain & Portugal Christmas?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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