Day 1 (Barcelona) - Viva España! Our trip begins today in the glorious Spanish city of Barcelona, a perennial favourite of Topdeck crew! We meet at our fantastic accommodation in the heart of the city. Our meeting hostel is Centric Point Hostel,
We enjoy a tour of Barcelona, a vibrant, eclectic city with a strong Mediterranean culture and an architectural style all of its own! We will see such highlights as the Christopher Columbus Monument, Las Ramblas, Montjuic (site of the 1992 Olympics) and the jewel in the crown- the spectacular Sagrada Familia! This inimitable Cathedral is the life’s work of Antoni Gaudi, the famous local architect who gave Barcelona its architectural soul – over 120 years and it’s not even finished yet! Tonight we enjoy an included welcome dinner in a local restaurant, giving you a first opportunity to sample the rich cuisine of Spain!
Day 2 (Valencia) - We have some free time this morning before we depart for Valencia. Our incredible accommodation is situated right in the heart of the city, giving you the perfect base from which to explore Barcelona! You could stroll down the lively Las Ramblas and check out the market stalls; you could lounge in the fairytale Parc Guell, an idyllic testament to Gaudi’s eccentricity; or perhaps you could check out the Camp Nou, home of Barcelona FC, and the other great landmark where the locals come to worship – their local soccer heroes that is!
We then make out way southwest along the coast to the city of Valencia, the third largest city in Spain with a monumental heritage! Tonight, we enjoy an included group dinner.
Day 3 (Valencia) - Start the day with a walking tour of the Old Quarter of Valencia, taking in such highlights as the Plaza Ayuntamento, Silk Exchange, Central Market, Plaza Redona, Plaza de la Reina, the Cathedral of Valencia and the Basilica of Our Lady the Forsaken! The afternoon is ours to explore the rest of this fascinating city… or simply head to the beach and work on the tan! Valencia is a fantastic city which is also famous for its festivals – every March the spectacular Las Fallas is the largest street festival in Europe, so if you fall in love with the place, why not come back on a Topdeck Festival trip to take it in!
This evening we have the opportunity to find some delicious local cuisine – why not find a tapas restaurant and revel in being able to order five different dishes and not feel guilty about it!
Day 4 - 5 (Granada) - We head to the south coast of Spain and the city of Granada, the last Moorish city in Spain to fall to the Christians. Whilst we are here for two nights, we will get the chance to visit the Alhambra – once a fortress, with palaces, gardens and a small city all in one!
Day 6 (Tangier) - Today we head to the southern tip of Spain and across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco! We spend this afternoon exploring Tangier, a very ancient port town that used to guard the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. As the focal point for many of mankind’s greatest civilisations – the Phoenicians, Egytians, Ancient Greeks, Romans to name a few - the name Mediterranean means ‘middle of the land’, as it was thought to be the centre of the known world!
Day 7 (Fez) - Today we travel to Fes, the oldest and largest medieval city in the world, where the first recorded settlement dates back to 789AD!
Day 8 (Fez) - Begin the day with a fascinating tour of the city with a local guide, who will share with us the sights and sounds of this colourful city! Spend the afternoon exploring Fes at your own pace – perhaps honing your bartering skills whilst picking up some souvenirs! In fact the shopping here is varied and provides great value, and exploring the bazaars and market stalls can be an experience in itself!
Day 9 (Fez) - We take a day trip out to the Roman ruins of Volubilis. This ancient site dates back in to 40AD and was once the ruling centre of the Roman province of Mauritania. We also visit the city of Meknes, once capital of Morocco, where the old town is a great example of the distinctive and eye-catching North African architecture, before returning to Fes for an included group dinner.
Day 10 (Seville) - We bid farewell to Africa and head back across the Strait of Gibraltar to Europe! Our destination for tonight is the city of Seville, a city of fantastic architecture and home of the World Expo of 1992 – a big year for Spain, with Barcelona also hosting the Olympic Games!
Day 11 (Seville) - On our tour of Seville we see the beautiful Plaza de Espana, the Cathedral of Seville, the Real Alcazar, and the Barrio de Santa Cruz – best known as the old Jewish quarter.
There will be plenty of free time to explore this great city and soak up the charming atmosphere of southern Spain! This evening we get to find a local restaurant for dinner and if waiting to eat late as the Spanish themselves do is making you a bit too hungry, you can always go ‘bar-hopping’ and snack on some of the most delicious tapas in Spain to tide you over!
Day 12 (Lisbon) - On to the next country on our trip – Portugal! We head to the west of the Iberian Peninsula and Portugal’s cosmopolitan capital, Lisbon. Upon arrival we will see the sights, including Jeronimos Monastery and the Belem Tower, a World Heritage site. Tonight we check out Barrio Alto, one of the oldest districts in Lisbon and the heart of its buzzing nightlife!
Day 13 (Lisbon) - The trip finishes this morning after breakfast, when it will be time to say fond farewells to Topdeck travelling companions! Enjoy the remainder of your stay in Portugal!
