What flight do we catch?<\/h3>\n
Emirate – From Singapore Madrid and transit a few hours in Dubai Airport.<\/a><\/p>\n We flew to Madrid and fly off from Barcelona.\u00a0 From Madrid to Barcelona, we have the same coach bus touring all the cities below in both Spain & Portugal.<\/span><\/p>\n We first arrived in Madrid and was shocked at the elegant boulevards and expansive buildings. It is the capital of Spain. Our bus did a city tour which is a good thing as you get to see most of the beautiful buildings in Madrid, including the famous spot- Puerta del Sol.<\/p>\n Some facts about Madrid, it is the capital of Spain, elegant boulevards, deluxe shopping, museum exhibition, and green parks.\u00a0 The name Madrid comes from the Arabic \u201cmagerit\u201d which means places of many streams. It is the third-largest city in the Eu, after London and Berlin.<\/p>\n The huge sherry bottle (Sherry winery) which resembles a human wearing a wide-brimmed hat and short bullfighter jacket, and is holding a guitar is the popular sign in Madrid Puerta del Sol.<\/p>\n The largest building in Madrid, the capital of Spain, is the Royal Palace of Madrid. There are so many historical and grand buildings surrounding Madrid<\/a> but the Royal Palace Madrid look the most beautiful.<\/p>\n The Royal Palace of Madrid is no doubt grand and full of treasure.\u00a0 There are two things which make the Royal Palace of Madrid stands out from the rest of the palaces that I have visited.\u00a0 The number of clocks in this palace and the world’s most expensive Stradivarius String Instrument.<\/p>\n If you are in Madrid and love designer stuff, then coming to Las Rozas Village would be the right choice for you.\u00a0 This is a paradise for shoppers and great savings too.\u00a0 Do remember to inform the shop that you need to do a tax refund, they will help you to input your details from your passport into their computer and then give you the document to hand in the airport.<\/p>\n At the airport, I usually like to get cashback rather than asking the tax refund to be charged back to my credit card. The instant cashback would be slightly lesser but at least I am sure I have gotten my money on hand before I fly out of this country. The charging back to my credit card does have some risk of not getting my tax refund back in case something went wrong and there is very little that I can do as I am already at the other end of the world.<\/p>\n If you check the meaning of Tapas, it is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine, usually in a small portion. However, the real meaning of Tapas is actually something that you do. Tapas can be anything, it is a way of doing thing, bar hopping and interacting with people.<\/p>\n Hotel Senator Castellana<\/a> is where we stayed in Madrid for two nights. It is about half an hour to the \u201cCentro\u201d city center of Madrid such as Gran Via, Calle de Alcala, Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de Espana. The hotel is located in the financial and commercial heart of Madrid so you see big buildings after just 2 mins walk from the hotel. There are also few supermarkets, restaurants and the metro located nearby.<\/p>\n Toledo is an optional tour from our tour package, we have to pay additional to visit this ancient city that is about an hour bus journey. I highly recommend visiting Toledo if you are in Madrid. Do a day tour.<\/p>\n The ancient city of Toledo is just an hour away by bus from Madrid<\/a>. I highly recommend you to visit Toledo if you are in Madrid. One of the unique characteristics in Toledo is the cultural influences of Christians, Muslims and Jews reflected here.<\/p>\n If you are exploring Madrid and want to visit the nearby cities, Segovia is a great location for a day trip. This city attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to check out the grand Aqueduct tower which is majestically above the streets and monuments of Segovia.<\/p>\n You can also find\u00a0cochinillo, the Spain style of roast suckling pig near Madrid but Segovia is the \u201cplace\u201d for this suckling pig cuisine.\u00a0\u00a0Crispy on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside which melts in your mouth, similar to the Chinese roast suckling pig.\u00a0 If you love meat, this would be a wonderful dish for you and do remember to pair it with a glass of wine.<\/p>\n Salamanca city is in western Spain and one of the most important things to see is the University. Let me give you a rough idea where is the location of Salamanca city, it is about 200 km away from Madrid and quite near the Portuguese border, about 80 km. The city was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1988 so you will expect a lot to see and to do in this city too.<\/p>\n I love the hotel<\/a> old fashion decoration and enjoyed most of the paintings and artwork & old antique furniture in the hallway and hotel room.<\/p>\n A trip to Portugal would be incomplete without visiting Fatima, an important pilgrim center for Catholics around the world. The place was unlike any religious place because it was very so massive and the entire town of Fatima revolved around the religious history of the town.<\/p>\n Centro Commercial Fatima is a good stop for tourists who would like to dine and shop for religious souvenirs.\u00a0 The shopping on the first floor is huge and many of the religious statues from small to big are made locally.<\/p>\n We stayed in Lux Fatima in Portugal<\/a> during our spiritual tour in Fatima. I have to say Lux Hotel is a perfect location as it is just within walking distance (5 mins) to check the Church of Lady of Fatima.<\/p>\n I have to say the highlight of Tomar city has to be the Tomar Castle and Convent of Christ which was located at the hilltop and built in the 12th century. The Convent of Christ is inside the Tomar Castle.\u00a0 Interesting right?\u00a0 You got to visit the Church & the Castle, killing two birds with one stone.<\/p>\n Cabo da Roca is about an hour’s drive from Lisbon, half an hour from Sintra and 2 hours from Fatima<\/a>.\u00a0 If you are traveling to Sintra, you should stop by Cabo da Roca to step foot on the westernmost of the Europe continent.\u00a0 A good half an hour to an hour is good to explore this place.<\/p>\n I love Sintra because it is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal, it is only about 28 km away from Lisbon. Many choose to have one day trip in Sintra and still staying in Lisbon. The town of Sintra itself boasts the medieval Sintra National Palace and several 19th-century estates, photo opportunities everywhere.\u00a0 Check out the top 16 things you need to know before visiting Sintra Portugal.<\/p>\n Belem Tower is one of the iconic landmarks in Belem Neighborhood of Lisbon. You will learn about the powerful sea cultures in the early day here.\u00a0 Do also check out the giant monument to the discoveries, one of the proudest things for the Portuguese.<\/p>\n Pasteis de Belem is located in Bele Neighborhood and very near to the historical sites, so I highly recommend anyone to go in and check out the ambiance and the whole experience.\u00a0 Always long queue but worth it.<\/p>\n Jeronimos Monastery is the most stunning masterpiece of Portuguese architecture from the 16th century. Make sure you look at all the details of the architecture which is Manueline style.<\/p>\n The Manueline refer to the Portuguese late Gothic style of architecture which consists of many elements from the maritime. You will notice many of the ornaments are representations of the discoveries brought from the voyages by Portuguese famous explorer Vasco da Gama. The ornaments are anchors, elements from the seashells, pearls, and string of seaweed.\u00a0 This tells us the power and knowledge of the Portuguese sailors and the Portuguese empire during that period.<\/p>\n Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and it is one of the beautiful cities in the world. Even Madonna, the super pop star once lived here. She loves Lisbon so much that she moved her whole family including all her children to Lisbon for several years.<\/p>\n The Fantastic World Of The Portuguese Sardine store is one of the most eccentric stores in town. The music and the circus vibes are just a bizarre experience. Step into this store to enjoy the funky atmosphere, even if you don\u2019t buy tin sardines from here, it is totally fine.<\/p>\n If you wonder how’s the Chinese food in Lisbon, check this out.\u00a0 Olives serve a good appetizer. I was just a little surprised to find olive on the Chinese table menu.<\/p>\n The Vasco da Gama Bridge is located in Lisbon, capital of Portugal. It is the longest bridge in Europe with a total length of 17.2 km. We spent about 15 mins to drive across this bridge which is seemingly endless.\u00a0 It is quite an impressive sight how it spans the river.<\/p>\n VIP Executive Santa Iria Hotel<\/a> is located 15 mins drive from Lisbon center, the location is great especially if you are driving with your own rental car. The hotel is hidden in an industrial area, look casual and modern and it is an only 8-minute walk from Santa Iria train station.<\/p>\n Today we traveled from Lisbon Portugal and going to cross the border to enter Spain to reach our end destination at Seville. Portugal and Spain are both parts of the European Union, so we are free to travel from one to the other. We don\u2019t have to come down for passport stamping at all. Portuguese roads are generally good, we experience good highways and toll roads.\u00a0 In this post you also read about the rest area and what kind of snacks and souvenirs you can get from there.<\/p>\n The Plaza de Espa\u00f1a is one of the top highlights in Seville. Many movies used this Plaza for filming and one of them is Star Wars. I feel like Queen Amidala of Star Wars walking through the semi-circular gallery of the Plaza de Espana. In Seville, you can experience a film-based journey.<\/p>\n Because of the intrinsic charm, beauty and atmosphere of the area, the Santa Cruz is a mecca for tourists. The best way to explore is by foot and get lost in the maze of these narrow alleys.<\/p>\n Casa de Pilatos is a stunning mansion with one of the largest azulejo collection in the world. You can spend the whole day looking at the details from the floor, tiles and the ceiling. And feel dizzy.<\/p>\n Christopher Columbus, colorful azulejo tiles, tapas<\/a>, horse carriage, flamenco & orange trees are the things that I can relate to when I think of Seville city in Spain.<\/p>\n Alc\u00e1zar of Seville & General Archive of the Indies both located near Seville Cathedral<\/a>.<\/p>\n Seville Cathedral is said to be the third-largest church in the world. What made it stands out is the tall minaret but turned Bell Tower now.<\/p>\n During our visit to Seville<\/a>, we stayed in Silken Al-Andalus Palace<\/a>, a 4-star hotel, elegant, grand and suitable for couples, families or big groups of friends. The hotel is conveniently located in Heliopolis district, just 10 mins drive from Seville\u2019s historic center.\u00a0 Al Andalus Palace is one of the best hotels for my Spain tour.\u00a0 A wide selection of choices for breakfast and dinner.<\/p>\n Ronda is a good stop between Granda and Seville, this small little town will amaze you.<\/p>\n Ronda is really a nice stop between Seville and Granada. The jaw-dropping scenery from the iconic bridge Puenta Nuevo and oldest bullring -The Plaza de Toros are some of the must-do while in Ronda city. The city is small and easy to explore the old and new town on foot.<\/p>\n And yes, don\u2019t forget to do some shopping as things here are quite cheap compared to other parts of Spain.<\/p>\n Ronda Bullring is one of the oldest in Spain.\u00a0 You get to learn about bullring and bullfights in Spain which is the National Heritage here.<\/p>\n Ronda is a city located in a mountaintop in Malaga province, Andalucia. The city is built to the edge of beige stone cliffs which attracts visitors from all over the world. They come for the new Bridge name Ronda is a city located in a mountaintop in Malaga province, Andalucia. The city is built to the edge of beige stone cliffs which attracts visitors from all over the world. They come for the new Bridge name Puente Nuevo, the most famous landmark., the most famous landmark.<\/p>\n Granada sits in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, it has a lot of Moorish medieval architectures. You will also learn about Gypsies here.<\/p>\n Alhambra<\/a> is a must-visit when you come to Granada, the water system amazed you and create a calming effect and music to your ears.\u00a0 It also cools down the whole palace during the summertime. Learn the things before you visit this site.<\/p>\n Granada is also known as one of the birthplaces of flamenco which was named as a World Heritage Treasure in 2010.\u00a0 The best experience is to see it in a cave, the sounds work better and the vibes are great.<\/p>\nCities that we visited in Spain<\/h3>\n
\n
Cities that we visited in Portugal<\/h3>\n
\n
In this itinerary, you will find:<\/h3>\n
\n
Madrid<\/h1>\n
1. Top 20 things to do in Madrid<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181221_140400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Royal Palace of Madrid<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181221_104040.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Las Rozas Village – designer shopping outlet<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181222_113004.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Tapas all day in Madrid<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181221_185833.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Where to stay in Madrid? Hotel Senator Castellana<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181221_083324.jpg\")
<\/p>\nToledo<\/h1>\n
6. The sword city of Toledo – Top 16 things to know before you go<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181221_171925.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSegovia<\/h1>\n
7. The Aqueduct of Segovia – National engineering in Spain<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181222_132810.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. Sucking pig in Segovia<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sucklingpig.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSalamanca<\/h1>\n
9. Salamanca – top 17 things to know<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181222_182234.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n10. Where to stay in Salamanca – Alameda Palace Hotel<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181223_083827.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPortugal<\/h1>\n
11. Fatima<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181223_145725.jpg\")
<\/p>\n12. Centro Commercial Fatima<\/a> – restaurant & factory souvenirs shopping<\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181223_123222.jpg\")
<\/p>\n13. Where to stay in Fatima? Lux Fatima Hotel<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_081748.jpg\")
<\/p>\n14. Tomar City<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181223_161601.jpg\")
<\/p>\n15. Cabo da Roca – the westernmost of Europe Continent<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_103227.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSintra<\/h1>\n
16. Top 16 things you need to know before visiting Portuguese Fairy tale city – Sintra<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_132414.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLisbon<\/h1>\n
17. Belem Neighborhood<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_153808.jpg\")
<\/p>\n18. Past\u00e9is de Bel\u00e9m egg tart\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_145930.jpg\")
<\/p>\n19. Jeronimos Monastery – Most visited site in Lisbon<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_145719.jpg\")
<\/p>\n20. Top 30 things to do in Lisbon<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_163223.jpg\")
<\/p>\n21. The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_172306.jpg\")
<\/p>\n22. Restaurante Wok Mundo in Lisbon – Chinese Restaurant in Lisbon<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181224_180417.jpg\")
<\/p>\n23. Vasco da Gama Bridge-Longest in Europe<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_084115_003.jpg\")
<\/p>\n24. Where to stay in Lisbon? VIP Executive Santa Iria Hotel <\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_082148.jpg\")
<\/p>\n25. Portugal and Spain Cross Border Road trip<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_104242.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSeville<\/h1>\n
26. The Plaza de Espa\u00f1a<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_175539.jpg\")
<\/p>\n27. Walking in Santa Cruz neighborhood<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_173114.jpg\")
<\/p>\n28. Casa de Pilatos, the colorful Mansion<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_162713.jpg\")
<\/p>\n29. Top 18 things to learn about Seville\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/20181225_175343.jpg\")
<\/p>\n30. Alc\u00e1zar of Seville & General Archive<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_171458.jpg\")
<\/p>\n31. Seville Cathedral U Giralda Tower<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_170740.jpg\")
<\/p>\n32. Where to stay in Seville – Al Andalus Palace Hotel<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181225_183050.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRonda<\/h1>\n
33. Top things to do in Ronda<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181226_120857.jpg\")
<\/p>\n34. Ronda Bullring -oldest!<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181226_112952.jpg\")
<\/p>\n35. Ronda – most famous bridge Puente Nuevo<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181226_114024.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGranada<\/h1>\n
36. Alhambra – Top 10 things to know<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"What](\"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20181226_172134.jpg\")
<\/p>\n37. Flamenco Dance in Cave House Review<\/a><\/h3>\n