Portugal

To Fátima via Toledo

Departure at 7 a.m. from Torrevieja bus station and at 8 a.m. from Alicante bus station. Along the way: viewpoints over the museum city of Toledo, plus restroom and coffee stops.

Fátima

By evening we reach Fátima, known as the altar of the world. In 1917, three young shepherd children said the Virgin Mary appeared to them, and your group leader will tell you their story. The neo-Baroque Basilica, with a bell tower almost 70 metres high, rises above a square twice the size of St Peter's Square in Rome. On one of the evenings, you'll join your group leader to watch the candlelight procession from the Chapel of the Apparitions. Dinner at the hotel with Portuguese wine.

Peniche, Óbidos and Nazaré: off to the ocean

After breakfast, it's the Atlantic. Peniche is a fishing town with boats at the quay and a stroll along the waterfront. Óbidos offers cobbled lanes, fortress walls, white houses draped in flowers and little shops selling local sweets.

Nazaré

The capital of big-wave surfing: the highest waves on the planet are recorded off Praia do Norte. We'll climb up to the lighthouse for panoramic views. Your group leader will explain why Nazaré became a legend among surfers, where scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed, and why local women wear skirts with seven layers. If you'd like the women of Nazaré to show you their skirts, it's customary to buy something from them.

Lunch, port and fado

We head back to the hotel for lunch (included) and a rest. In the afternoon, there's an optional port tasting at a port house with live fado for an extra charge: €22 per person, with a minimum of 25 participants. In the evening, a traditional dinner and free time.

Lisbon: city of light, trams and discovery

On the way, your group leader shares the city's history, its legends and the lives of its great navigators. Belém Tower, the “I Love Lisbon” sign and a waterfront walk to the Monument to the Discoveries. At the Jerónimos Monastery, you have free time to go inside, ride a little yellow tram or try a pastel de nata.

City tour and the centre

In the afternoon, a panoramic coach tour with stops at viewpoints, followed by a walk: the Santa Justa Lift, Restauradores Square, Avenida da Liberdade and Commerce Square on the banks of the Tagus. Free time here for bacalhau, seafood or a Bola de Berlim, with the Cathedral just nearby. In the evening, back to the hotel in Fátima for dinner.

Sintra, Cascais, Estoril and Cabo da Roca

Early breakfast and departure at 7:30. We plan to reach Sintra around 9:30–10:00, leaving about 3 hours of free time. Take your pick: the Sintra National Palace (close to the bus drop-off), Quinta da Regaleira with its towers and underground passages, the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. You buy palace tickets yourself; they are not included in the tour price. Pena Palace has several ticket types: grounds only, or a combined park + palace ticket. Tourist buses No. 434 and No. 435 run between the palaces, or you can take a taxi. Don't miss the Queijadas de Sintra.

The Lisbon Riviera and the edge of Europe

At 13:00 we set off for the Riviera: the Cascais waterfront, Estoril with its casino, villas and World War II spy stories, and photos at the Boca do Inferno cliffs. The day ends at Cabo da Roca, Europe's westernmost point, where for a symbolic fee you can get an “I was at the edge of Europe” certificate. Back to the hotel in Fátima for dinner.

Coimbra and Porto: optional excursion

After breakfast, an optional trip to Coimbra and Porto (€50 per person). Coimbra was Portugal's first capital, and since 2013 part of its historic centre has been a UNESCO site. The university has occupied the former royal palace since 1537. This is where Pedro and Inês lived, Portugal's own Romeo and Juliet. In the lower town, enjoy coffee with traditional sweets.

Porto

About an hour later, we're in Porto: the Cathedral, São Bento station with its tiled panels, free time for lunch (try a francesinha) and a walk across the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro. On the far bank is the Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine, where the tins are marked with years from 1926 to the present day. The programme includes a river trip on a rabelo boat, the kind now used for “6 Bridges” cruises. Back to Fátima for dinner and a rest.

Mérida and the journey home

After breakfast we leave at 7:00. We cross the border and arrive in Mérida, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a walk along the longest surviving Roman bridge in Spain and inside the city walls, with time for photos and a snack at a café.

Then it's the road back, with stops for rest, restrooms, short walks and coffee.