Program Overview
What better way to spend your summer vacation than by exploring Europe’s spectacular Iberian Peninsula? Spain and Portugal are two of this year’s trendiest travel destinations, and with good reason!
Let Portugal’s vibrant culture and eclectic architecture wow you as you stroll the hillside neighborhood of Alfama in Lisbon. If you listen carefully, you’ll even hear the sounds of traditional fado music being sung as you explore the hidden alleyways and hip boutiques. Take a day trip to the estate town of Sintra, where you’ll visit two hilltop castles with views that extend all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Soak up the sun and sand at Lagos’ world-class beaches as we kayak through hidden grottoes and watch the sunset at the End of the World!
Cross over the border into Spain, where you will wander the quaint cobblestone streets of the Andalusian cities of Seville and Granada before exploring the capital city of Madrid in all its royal glory. You’ll take traditional dance classes in Seville, tour the gardens of the Alhambra Palace! Between ancient cities, gorgeous mountains, and marketplaces beyond your wildest dreams, you’ll see all the ways that these two countries have influenced each other over the centuries.
Our Older Teens trips are specially designed for any teen who wants to gain a global perspective before leaving high school and heading out into the “real world”. Because as you grow, your interests and needs do too. We are all about a hands-on approach to travel, where we go beyond the casual tourist experience, take public transportation, and learn how daily life really is in each place we visit. We provide a unique and carefully crafted itinerary that allows for more challenges and independence. We encourage teens on these trips to learn how to use international public transport, along with other handy travel skills, so that they become confident and able to take on even more of the world in the future.
During this program, you will…
- Try the famous Pasteis de Belem at the original Portuguese bakery where they were invented
- Tour the home of Real Madrid Football Club at the massive soccer stadium where they play
- Take a traditional dance class in the south of Spain with a local teacher
- Kayak through the incredible rock formations of Portugal’s Algarve coast
- Walk in the footsteps of the ancient Moorish kings at the spectacular Alhambra Palace
- Sample delicious tapas in Madrid, plus try paella and churros con chocolate
Want to cross another incredible country off your bucket list? Most travelers choose to extend their trip by joining the extended Europe for Older Teens: Spain, Portugal & Morocco program.
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM NEW YORK (JFK)
DAYS 2-4: LISBON > SINTRA
Our journey begins in Lisbon, Portugal’s vibrant capital city. Here we’ll visit the San Jorge Castle, from which you can see all of Lisbon; eat famous Portuguese pastries in the bakery that invented them (the recipe is still a secret); and explore the best shopping areas and nightlife of the city. We’ll listen to traditional Portuguese fado music as we dine on local specialties that include codfish, potatoes, and chicken. We will also visit the nearby mountain estate town of Sintra, where we visit the Pena Palace for phenomenal views of the landscape and Atlantic ocean, and explore the gardens of a mansion that includes a spiral staircase leading into tunnels and lagoons.
DAYS 5-6: LAGOS
Our next stop is the fun resort town of Lagos in Portugal’s famed Algarve region. Here we’ll spend an afternoon swimming and soaking up the sun on the pristine beaches, as well as take a sea kayaking tour of the grottoes and caves of its stunning coastal cliffs. You can even hike up to the lighthouse!
DAYS 7-8: SEVILLE
We then cross the border to southern Spain and the region of Andalusia. Sunny Seville, a fantastically romantic city rife with history and culture, attracts thousands of study-abroad students a year for good reason – it typifies quintessential southern Spanish life. Visit Columbus’ tomb in the world’s third largest Cathedral and even take traditional Sevillanas dance classes! We’ll also see a spectacular flamenco show and enjoy tapas in a typical Spanish taberna.
DAYS 9-10: GRANADA
Our first stop in Granada will be to explore the majestic Alhambra palace. We will learn about the history of the Moorish people who lived here for several centuries, and how they defended the city of Granada from the “reconquering” Spanish Catholics from this point. You’ll next have the chance to explore the Arab marketplace, where you can find all sorts of treasures, like spices, weavings, ornate lanterns, and carpets. We’ll see the tomb of the Catholic Monarchs who united Spain, enjoy a wonderful tapas dinner at a bodega, and, to top it all off, you can even go for a massage and a soak in a traditional hammam, or Arab bath-house.
DAYS 11-12: MADRID
For our final stop on this trip of a lifetime, we’ll head up to Spain’s bustling capital, where you’ll get a sense of a more metropolitan Spanish lifestyle. We’ll explore the Puerta del Sol (and do some major shopping!), learn about the beheadings in Plaza Mayor, and go to a churrería so good it’s even where the king enjoys his churros! You’ll gaze in awe at the massive Santiago Bernabéu soccer stadium, home to Real Madrid, and relax in the Parque del Retiro, Madrid’s version of Central Park, just as Spaniards do on Sunday afternoons. We’ll see original works by Dalí and Picasso, including his masterpiece Guernica, and feast on a wonderful paella. To top it all off, we’ll go to an upscale Spanish restaurant for a fancy final dinner to reminisce on our journey.
DAY 13: RETURN FLIGHT HOME
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do students like most about the Europe for Older Teens: Spain & Portugal trip?
Students love the incredible variety of activities on the Europe for Older Teens: Spain & Portugal trip, from exploring hidden lagoons in Portuguese estates, snorkeling and sea kayaking in the Algarve, learning about Moorish history in the South of Spain, and shopping in Madrid’s trendiest neighborhoods.
Between the mix of adventure activities and cultural exploration, and our local connections who give us off-the-beaten-path experiences, the Europe for Older Teens: Spain & Portugal program provides unique insider access to the Iberian peninsula.
Students love the incredible variety of activities on the Europe for Older Teens: Spain & Portugal trip, from exploring hidden lagoons in Portuguese estates, snorkeling and sea kayaking in the Algarve, learning about Moorish history in the South of Spain, and shopping in Madrid’s trendiest neighborhoods.
Between the mix of adventure activities and cultural exploration, and our local connections who give us off-the-beaten-path experiences, the Europe for Older Teens: Spain & Portugal program provides unique insider access to the Iberian peninsula.
Where do we stay on the Europe for Older Teens: Spain & Portugal trip?
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Lisbon, we will be staying in a fantastic hostel just off one of the main shopping boulevards. Our Lagos accommodation is a beach resort, just steps from the beach and the bustling town center. In Madrid, we will be staying in a 3-star hotel right in the Puerta del Sol, the very center of Madrid (and of Spain). Metro lines 1, 2, and 3 stop here, as well as numerous buses and taxis. In Granada, we will be staying at a 3-star hotel right in downtown, just a few blocks from the Cathedral and main pedestrian plazas. Our Sevilla hotel is in the city’s oldest neighborhood but is a modern and spacious 4-star hotel with easy access to all of our activities. It’s just behind the Cathedral and Alcazar, and a few blocks from the Flamenco studio. It also has a rooftop pool and a breakfast buffet.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for the program.
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Lisbon, we will be staying in a fantastic hostel just off one of the main shopping boulevards. Our Lagos accommodation is a beach resort, just steps from the beach and the bustling town center. In Madrid, we will be staying in a 3-star hotel right in the Puerta del Sol, the very center of Madrid (and of Spain). Metro lines 1, 2, and 3 stop here, as well as numerous buses and taxis. In Granada, we will be staying at a 3-star hotel right in downtown, just a few blocks from the Cathedral and main pedestrian plazas. Our Sevilla hotel is in the city’s oldest neighborhood but is a modern and spacious 4-star hotel with easy access to all of our activities. It’s just behind the Cathedral and Alcazar, and a few blocks from the Flamenco studio. It also has a rooftop pool and a breakfast buffet.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for the program.
What is included on this program?
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts and dinners.
Not included in the cost (not intended to be an exhaustive list): Airfare, visas and visa application fees, beverages other than filtered water at meals, lunches, activities and admissions not referenced in the itinerary or deemed not program related, such as movies, expenses incurred by the participant that are outside the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters, as well as personal and medical expenses.
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts and dinners.
Not included in the cost (not intended to be an exhaustive list): Airfare, visas and visa application fees, beverages other than filtered water at meals, lunches, activities and admissions not referenced in the itinerary or deemed not program related, such as movies, expenses incurred by the participant that are outside the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels, expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters, as well as personal and medical expenses.
What is the food like in Spain and Portugal?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The Portuguese love their fresh fish and seafood, as well as pork and chicken; Spaniards can’t get enough ham and cheese. Many of the foods might look unfamiliar to you, so we encourage you to be adventurous, step out of your comfort zone, and try something new!
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The Portuguese love their fresh fish and seafood, as well as pork and chicken; Spaniards can’t get enough ham and cheese. Many of the foods might look unfamiliar to you, so we encourage you to be adventurous, step out of your comfort zone, and try something new!