Europe Essence

Upon arrival in Lisbon airport, meet by our representative and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

In the morning, pick up for a sightseeing tour with a local guide. Visit the traditional neighborhoods, which take in the Belem district, the birthplace of the great Portuguese navigators who sailed the oceans in the Fifteenth Century. We will look around the Monument to the Discoveries, Belem Tower, and the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore the city independently.
In the late afternoon, transfer to the Restauradores Square, a public square with restaurants and cafes. We suggest you ride the Elevador Da Gloria funicular that takes you to the viewpoint of San Pedro with beautiful views over Lisbon and the Bairro Alto. Return to the hotel.

Today we travel to the north of Portugal and visit Fatima, an important sanctuary (a pilgrimage site). We
will continue our way through the green lands of the centre, passing into Spain, and over grasslands we cross the North of Extremadura. Lunch included enroute in a regional food restaurant. Continuing to Madrid, arriving at the end of the day. Then we include transportation to Plaza Mayor where you can enjoy some typical taverns.

The morning starts with a comprehensive tour through the centre of Madrid including Paseo del Prado, Cibeles,
Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then visit Retiro Park, an oasis in the city centre, where we will see the lake and the Glass Palace. A visit to Las Ventas Bullring (admission included) is next, this is one of the most famous bullrings in the world where we will learn about the tradition of “corridas” in the Bullfighting Museum. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
At sunset we provide a transfer to Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace, an elegant and bustling area with many restaurants serving different cuisines such as local Spanish food, international, and Chinese. Enjoy a pleasant dinner of your choice, then return to the hotel together.

In the morning, we leave for Aragón over the lands of Castile. In ZARAGOZA we stop briefly to see the Pilar Basilica. We continue to the Monastery of Poblet, surrounded by its walls in a beautiful site that is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world (entrance included). We then proceed to the Monastery of Montserrat where you will go up the mountain on a rack train to see its fantastic scenery. Following this we will continue to BARCELONA, arriving in the late afternoon. Note: In some cases, depending on the timetable of the rack railway, the ascent to Montserrat can be made on our coach. From November to March, due to the shorter duration of the days, we will neither be ascending nor stopping in Montserrat.

After breakfast, explore Barcelona, an impressive city right on the Medi¬terranean Sea. Starting by an informative city tour with a local expert (note: If the group has fewer than fifteen people, explanations can be given by our guide.) We will also visit the city’s historic central area with its Gothic neighborhood dating back to the Middle Ages. We will visit the area where the Olympic Games took place. We will also get the chance to see La Sagrada Familia Basilica, the masterpiece designed by the architect Gaudí.Following this, we include the entry ticket to visit ‘Poble Espanyol’ (meaning ‘Spanish Village’). This open-air architectural museum is situated in one of the most emblematic areas of Barcelona.

Enjoy the Spanish craftsmanship and discover the architectural styles, traditions and folklore of the different regions that make up Spain. You will then have some free time to explore the city at your own leisure.In the evening, we include transportation and will attend the show of The Magic Fountain of Montjuïch, with its combination of lights, colors, water and music. You will have time to dine in this area. Note: in case of having the transfer to the Magic Fountain a day that for maintenance or any other reason the show is not performed, the night transfer will be given to the Maremagnum, avant-garde leisure center with restaurants by the sea and to the Plaza Colón. return to the hotel in the late evening.

After breakfast, transfer to the train station for high-speed train to Paris. In just over 6 hours you will reach your destination on the comfortable train. Upon arrival at the destination, we will provide a new transfer to the hotel. Your guide will contact you at the end of the day or you can consult the information placed at the reception of your hotel.

Early in the morning, we will leave for Versailles, the immense palace of the kings of France. After that, we will return to Paris at lunch time where we provide a transfer to the Montmartre district. We will ascend by funicular to the hill and admire the spectacular view of Paris from the top. This neighborhood is known for its painters, artists, and its cabarets… Sit down for lunch and enjoy a magical atmosphere. Then, a scenic guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of Paris will take place. Return to hotel. Optionally you can attend a variety show.

Today, we go to the center of Paris, starting by the Eiffel Tower area. You will have the opportunity to go up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument (ticket included). Then, we will enjoy a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore as you choose. In good time, transfer to airport for your evening homebound flight.

B – Breakfast          L – Lunch