17 Days | Uncover the local delicacies and the local character of Northern Spain and Portugal.





Explore the sights, sounds and tastes of northern Spain and Portugal on this food-led adventure. Immerse yourself in culture, history and cuisine as you taste local produce at Santa Catarina Market, whip up Catalan specialties in a cooking class and wander the stunning Gothic Quarter. Enjoy the wealth of tapas bars in Logrono, explore the medieval streets and underground wine caves of Laguardia. Venture north to one of Spain’s most celebrated cities, San Sebastian, where beautiful beaches, historic buildings and a thriving food and arts scene bask together under a beaming sun. Experience a traditional Asturian sidreria (cider house) near Oviedo, taste tapas in Santiago de Compostela, capital of Spain's Galicia region and famous for marking the end of the Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail. Discover the proud fish-mongering heritage of the port city of Vigo. Then step across the border to uncover the flavours of Portugal, featuring African, Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern influences. Sip your way around the Douro Valley, a stunning region responsible for introducing the world to port wine, and enjoy a home cooked dinner and a farm stay in the Alentejo region - fast gaining a reputation as a hotspot for Portuguese gastronomy. Finish up with glass of Ginjinha (wild cherry liqueur) in the charming city of Lisbon.
Trip overview

- Start
- Barcelona, Spain
- Finish
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Theme
- Food
- Destinations
- Spain, Portugal
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- ZMZLC
- Be surrounded by the culture of Catalan cooking (and by jamon hanging from the ceiling) in Barcelona’s many delis
- Local, fresh produce is at the heart of Catalan food – get a chef’s insight into the best ingredients at Santa Caterina market
- Sip a glass of famous Rioja in the unique surrounds of Laguardia – in the centuries old cellars beneath the medieval walled town
- Uncover the local specialties of Asturia and Galicia, sampling true Asturian cider poured in the traditional style, and eating fresh Galician mussels straight from the sea in A Coruna
- Few places know how to do a farmers market better than Potes – it’s been happening here in the same spot since the 1200s
- Cook up a Galician feast using Vigo's finest seafood
- Sip world-class wines in the spectacular Douro Valley wine region
- Discover why Alentejo is Portugal’s best kept foodie secret on a farmstay
- Stand around with the Lisbon locals and enjoy a tipple of cherry liqueur
- The cuisine of Spain and Portugal includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Spain and Portugal which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
- There’s some transferring to-and-from different forms of transport on this trip. You'll need to carry your own luggage on and off transport, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information.
- In order to see (and eat!) as much we can, this trip features some long travel days (up to 5 hours). These are a great chance to soak in the Portuguese scenery and get to know your fellow travellers a little better.
- Summer temperatures in the areas visited can be very high (up to 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners
Public Bus, Taxi, Train, Private Vehicle, Ferry
Hotel (15 nights), Farmstay (1 night)
- Barcelona - Cava or Vermouth tasting
- Barcelona - Santa Caterina Market Tour
- Barcelona - Catalan cooking demonstration and lunch
- Logrono - Tapas Crawl
- Laguardia - Wine cellar visit and tasting
- San Sebastian - Basque cooking class
- San Sebastian - Market tour
- Picos de Europa - Cocido Lebaniego dinner
- Potes - Market visit and brunch
- Arenas de Cabrales - Cheese tasting
- Oviedo - Asturian cider house visit and tasting
- Picos de Europa - National Park Visit
- Oviedo - Guided walk and market tour
- A Coruna - Fish market visit and seafood lunch
- Santiago de Compostela - City night walk
- Vigo - Fish Market Tour and Cooking Class
- Porto - City Tasting Tour
- Douro Valley - Guided Day Trip with Wine Tasting
- Alentejo - Farm-cooked Meal
- Evora - Day Trip
- Lisbon - Fado Show & Dinner
- Picos de Europa - Fuente De funicular - EUR20
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 14 Farmstay) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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