Unforgettable Journey: Traveling to Spain and Portugal on a Two-Week Itinerary

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With the notable exception of Italy, which we’ve visited every single year for the past three years, Spain and Portugal are the two European countries where we’ve spent the most time over the past several years. Our recent explorations of the Iberian Peninsula include a full two months a few years back, a return trip to Spain in the spring of 2024, and a return trip to Portugal slated for early 2025 that we couldn’t be more excited for.

One thing we’re constantly impressed by when we visit the Iberian Peninsula—the landmass Spain and Portugal occupy at Europe’s southwestern corner—is the sheer amount of history here. Over roughly 2,000 years, numerous different empires and kingdoms have controlled vast territories, including the Roman Empire, the Visigoths, and the Islamic Caliphates. In fact, an 800-year conflict was fought between the Islamic kingdoms in southern Spain and Portugal and the Christian kingdoms from northern Spain for control of the peninsula. This extensive history unfolds well before Spain and Portugal become two of the most powerful global empires, undertaking voyages across the world and fundamentally changing the course of history (the Philippines, for example, are named after King Phillip from Spain).

And then there’s the food! Both Spain and Portugal boast rich culinary cultures, with an abundance of incredible ingredients used to create tapas, pintxos, and various alcoholic drinks (cava, port, vermut, and all sorts of wine) that we absolutely adore. As you can probably tell from these opening paragraphs, we love Spain and Portugal, and we believe you will too when Traveling To Spain And Portugal.

In this guide to planning your Spain and Portugal itinerary, we will cover:

Precisely how to plan your 14-day trip to Spain and Portugal, including what stops to make, the best route to take, and all the important logistics we think you need to know.
A guide to what to do, where to stay, and how to get there for each recommended stop.
Options for shorter and longer trips if you have more or less time.

Throughout this guide, we’ll share our favorite discoveries and experiences in Spain and Portugal based on our multiple visits (including two months a few years ago and a more recent trip to Spain in 2024) to help you plan your unforgettable journey Traveling To Spain And Portugal.

Ready to dive in? Let’s get started.

How Many Days Do You Need for Traveling to Spain and Portugal?

Two weeks is an excellent starting point for exploring Spain and Portugal, two countries that are both fascinating and distinctly different from a historical, cultural, and gastronomical perspective. Is it enough time to see absolutely everything? Definitely not. However, roughly a week in each country provides sufficient time to experience some of the main highlights, connect with locals, see their cities and countries through a different lens, enjoy fantastic food and wine, and get a true taste of what makes each country special. It will also help you build your list for places you want to revisit on a future trip!

After several rounds of editing this guide, one crucial observation we have is that adding just two extra days (one dedicated to each country) would significantly reduce the feeling of being rushed. So, if you have 16 days, we think that would offer an ideal balance for traveling through Europe on a budget while seeing these two countries.

Generally, we do not recommend spending less than 2 days in any major city. In fact, we typically advise spending 3-4 days or more. This allows ample time to delve deeper into a city, incorporate a day trip, and spread out visits to major attractions so you aren’t trying to, for instance, see the Vatican and the Colosseum all in the same exhausting day. In this itinerary, we allocate roughly three days to each major city (except Porto, which we believe warrants two given limited time), with a day trip taking up one of those days in every city except Barcelona.

It’s important to note that if you have 10 days or less for traveling to Spain and Portugal, we would strongly consider limiting your trip to just one country. With only 10 days, a significant amount of time would be spent on travel days (at least 2-3 long ones), which would detract from your actual exploration time.

How to Structure Your Spain and Portugal Itinerary

The structure we recommend for your itinerary involves splitting your time roughly into thirds: dedicate one-third of your trip to Portugal and two-thirds to Spain. For this 14-day itinerary, after several iterations trying to include all the Spanish experiences we loved and think you should see, we arrived at five days in Portugal and nine days in Spain. As mentioned, an extra day in each country, totaling 16 days, would be ideal.

While the countries are neighbors, it’s worth glancing at a map to understand the geography; travel back and forth between them isn’t particularly straightforward. The two main Portuguese cities featured – Lisbon and Porto – are on the western coast. Lisbon is roughly in the middle of the coastline, and Porto is further north. The Spanish cities we focus on – Sevilla, Madrid, and Barcelona – are not close to either Portuguese city. Madrid, centrally located in Spain, is the closest.

The train or bus journey between Lisbon and Madrid takes about eight hours, with very limited direct options. Why are we emphasizing this? Because we strongly recommend flying between the two countries. Spend the first half of your trip in one, then fly to start your time in the second country. Within each country, there is an excellent train network of regional and high-speed lines. Sticking to trains for travel within a country will be faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.

Where to Start and End Your Trip

The ideal starting and ending points for your journey traveling to Spain and Portugal can vary significantly based on where you are traveling from.

The short answer is: fly into Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) and fly out of Barcelona’s El Prat Airport (BCN). This offers the best setup in terms of international flight connections and seamless travel between Spain and Portugal within the proposed itinerary structure.

Here’s the slightly longer explanation. For most international destinations, the cities with the best flight options are Lisbon (Portugal) and either Madrid or Barcelona (Spain), which are roughly equal in terms of connectivity. This suggests starting and ending your trip in one of these cities to minimize flight duration on arrival and departure.

HOWEVER, there’s an important caveat: there are very few (if any) direct flights between Porto and Sevilla. But there are many direct flights between Lisbon and Sevilla. Therefore, we recommend starting your Portugal leg in Porto and traveling south to Lisbon. Considering most international travelers will have a connection anyway (typically through London, Paris, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt), we believe this northbound approach in Portugal makes the most sense.

When planning your time in Spain, consider the geography of the three cities: Sevilla (south), Madrid (central), and Barcelona (northeast). Since Madrid is between Sevilla and Barcelona, it’s logical to place Barcelona at the end and fly home from there. This means your Spain leg follows the sequence: Sevilla → Madrid → Barcelona.

Getting Around Spain and Portugal

Let’s discuss transportation during your trip traveling to Spain and Portugal.

First, you absolutely do not need to rent a car for this itinerary. In fact, we advise against it if you’re following the plan below closely, as a car will likely be more of a hindrance than a help in the cities, where you’ll spend most of your time (taking day trips from a city base).

Second, both Spain and Portugal have robust train networks, which should be your primary mode of transport between cities within each country. We are big fans of train travel, especially high-speed trains. It’s the most efficient way to connect Lisbon and Porto, or Madrid, Sevilla, and Barcelona. However, we found that the official railway websites – Renfe in Spain and Comboios de Portugal in Portugal – sometimes have glitches. We frequently used Omio to book trains in Spain and Portugal, finding it a much smoother experience, conveniently in English.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, you should definitely fly between the two countries to save significant travel time. While we usually champion train and bus travel, it simply doesn’t make sense for crossing the border here, particularly with limited time.

How to Plan a Perfect Two-Week Spain and Portugal Itinerary

Now, let’s detail exactly what to do with two weeks traveling to Spain and Portugal.

A brief note on our travel style: we aren’t avid museum visitors, nor are we interested in entering every single church in a city (there are far too many anyway in these predominantly Catholic countries). We much prefer experiences that connect us with locals who can offer their perspective on the city. This is why our itinerary includes walking and food tours rather than an exhaustive list of religious sites and museums. Different strokes for different folks, but we’d rather spend our time delving deeper into fewer experiences than rushing from one tourist attraction to the next trying to see everything.

Combining all our advice, here is the suggested 14-day itinerary:

Day 0: Arrive in Porto
Day 1: Porto
Day 2: Day Trip to Douro Valley (stay in Porto)
Day 3: Early Morning Travel to Lisbon
Day 4: Lisbon
Day 5: Half Day Trip to Sintra + Lisbon
Day 6: Fly to Sevilla
Day 7: Sevilla
Day 8: Day Trip to Córdoba
Day 9: Travel to Madrid + Explore
Day 10: Madrid
Day 11: Day Trip to Toledo
Day 12: Travel to Barcelona
Day 13: Barcelona
Day 14: Barcelona + Depart

Naturally, depending on flight schedules and prices, you could also reverse this itinerary, starting in Barcelona, traveling through Madrid to Sevilla, and then flying to Lisbon before concluding in Porto.

Days 1-2: Porto & the Douro Valley

Start your journey traveling to Spain and Portugal in Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city after Lisbon. Porto and Lisbon share a friendly rivalry stretching back centuries. One tour guide in Porto humorously pointed out that only one of the cities has the root of the country’s name in its own name… and it’s not Lisbon.

Compared to other second cities in Europe, such as Barcelona in Spain, Porto is relatively small and compact, situated on the northern banks of the Douro River. Climbing the steep hillsides along the river, Porto is a remarkably beautiful city, compact enough to see the highlights in a day and a half. It is particularly famous as the home of port wine, the sweet yet surprisingly complex fortified wine you will certainly become acquainted with during your time there. Technically, this wine is produced in Vila Nova de Gaia, the city on the opposite side of the river.

Ordinarily, we wouldn’t recommend a day trip with only two days in a city. However, we thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Douro Valley – the world’s oldest wine region where port grapes are grown in stunning terraced vineyards – and believe it is well worth dedicating a day of your precious time to this experience.

Getting to Porto

As the starting point of your trip traveling to Spain and Portugal, you will fly into Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO). The airport is conveniently located just 11 km north of the city, making the journey into the center quick and easy. The metro is the simplest and cheapest way to reach the city from the airport, and the method we recommend. Buses and taxis are also available and offer slightly more convenience if you are traveling with heavy luggage.

By Metro: Line E (purple) of the Porto Metro operates between the airport and city center every 20-30 minutes from 6:00 am to midnight. The trip takes about 25 minutes to reach Trindade station. A single ticket costs €2, plus a refundable card fee of €0.60.
By Bus: A direct airport shuttle is run by GetBus. The bus takes 25 minutes to reach the center and costs €2.80. However, GetBus runs only six times a day, requiring careful timing. STCP operates more regular public buses, but these are much slower and routes/timetables can be confusing, so we don’t recommend them.
By Taxi: You can book an Uber or take a taxi from outside arrivals. A taxi to central Porto takes just 20 minutes and should cost around €25. Taxis are the best option for early morning or late-night arrivals.

What to Do in Porto (and the Douro Valley)

Porto is a compact, charming city. While having three days in Porto (including the Douro Valley day trip, which was our #1 highlight on a three-month European adventure) would be ideal, two days are sufficient. At a high level, three main highlights shouldn’t be missed: viewpoints, port wine, and the iconic blue and white Azulejo tiles adorning various churches.

Here’s a slightly deeper look at these aspects. Plenty of other things to do and see in Porto exist (we highly recommend this walking tour, which we did and loved). For more details, read our 3 day Porto itinerary or our guide to spending one day in Porto.

See All the Miradouros

Porto is essentially a city built on hills overlooking the Douro River, with Porto on one side and Vila Nova de Gaia (where most port houses are located) on the other. This geography results in numerous spectacular viewpoints, known as “Miradouros”. Our favorites, in order of preference, are Miradouro da Vitória (offering a great eastern view towards the church on the hill), Miradouro da Serra do Pilar (providing an excellent view back at Porto from the other side of the river), and the view from the top deck of Ponte Luís I, the iconic two-level bridge crossing the river.

Explore the World of Port Wine

Technically, this involves crossing the river from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia, but it’s a short walk or ferry ride away. Exploring port wine is essential in Porto, and the best way to do it is at a winery or “lodge” where knowledgeable staff can guide you through its history and a tasting, creating a much more enriching experience. There are countless port houses to choose from, but we highly recommend the tour and tasting at Graham’s.

It’s also worth stopping at the garden bar at Churchill’s while you’re in the area for a refreshing port tonic with a view.

See Some Azulejos

Porto is dotted with countless churches and buildings adorned with the iconic blue and white Azulejo tiles. In our opinion, the best places to admire them are Igreja do Carmo (here on Google Maps) with its expansive tile-covered walls, Igreja Paroquial de Santo Ildefonso (here on Google Maps), and, perhaps unexpectedly, São Bento Station (the main train station in central Porto).

Eating and Drinking in Porto

Generally speaking, the best way to experience a place’s food culture is with a knowledgeable local guide. However, one of us (Matt) has Celiac Disease, and many food tours in Portugal weren’t suitable for gluten-free requirements. This shouldn’t stop you from taking one, though! My mom and her friend took this highly-rated food tour in Porto and highly recommended it.

If a full tour isn’t for you, two essential local dishes to try are the bifana (a traditional sandwich with marinated pork slices on a soft roll, often with mustard and piri-piri sauce – try it at Conga, recommended by a walking tour guide and enjoyed by my brother) and the francesinha (an indulgent sandwich filled with various meats, covered in a beer-based sauce).

Planning Your Day Trip to the Douro Valley

It’s no exaggeration to say that our day trip to the Douro Valley was the highlight of our three months exploring Europe. Between the unique terraced vineyards lining the steep hillsides and the winding Douro River, it’s one of the most beautiful wine regions we’ve ever visited. We tell everyone who is traveling to Spain and Portugal, particularly Portugal, about it immediately because it is absolutely worth dedicating a day to, even with limited time.

While you could do this as a self-guided trip, it presents a couple of challenges. You either need to rent a car (which is inconvenient in the valley and means you can’t fully enjoy the wine) or take the train (which means missing many viewpoints and wineries accessible only by car). We considered both, but ultimately chose this full-day tour, loved it, and have since sent multiple friends and family members on the exact same tour.

Here are the highlights:

Includes pickup in central Porto, eliminating the need to figure out transport yourself (it’s a 1.5-2 hour journey).
Features multiple wine tastings – a guided port tasting, plenty of wine with lunch, and a port tonic during the boat ride.
Provides a substantial lunch, with various non-port wines to sample, in a small town where one of the owner’s parents grew up. It’s truly generous – we initially thought the first course was the meal and were incredibly full by the end.
Offers a boat ride on the Douro River, allowing you to see the terraced vineyards from a unique perspective.

While certainly not the cheapest way to see the Douro Valley, we felt it offered excellent value and thoroughly enjoyed the experience from start to finish. And that’s not even mentioning the friendly guides who provide insights into life in Porto, recommendations for dining and drinking, and the chance to meet other like-minded travelers.

Click here to check prices and availability for this Douro Valley tour.

Where to Stay in Porto

Compared to the larger cities on this itinerary like Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona, Porto is relatively compact. This means the specific area you choose to stay in matters slightly less, as many areas offer good access. We have a dedicated guide to finding the perfect place to stay in Porto that provides much more detail.

Broadly, the two main neighborhoods we recommend in Porto form the central axis of the city, which is built along the Douro River banks and extends north up the hillside.

The first neighborhood, Ribeira, is located right on the riverfront and is arguably the best location in Porto.

From Ribeira’s streets, you get beautiful views of the river and Vila Nova de Gaia across the water, home to most of the port lodges. Downsides include it being constantly busy and noisy, packed with tourists enjoying the river views and often mediocre food/drink options. You also pay a premium for this prime location. However, the convenience of being within five to ten minutes of the river, top viewpoints, and the main train station is undeniable.

Our top pick in Ribeira is the surprisingly budget-friendly Rio da Vila, which boasts a superb central location, across from the Palácio da Bolsa and just three minutes from the riverfront. If you prefer a serviced apartment with more space, we have Mouzinho 160 saved for a future trip. It’s near Rio da Vila but offers spacious apartments, ideal for groups or families (a two-bedroom apartment is often better value for four people than two separate hotel rooms).

The second neighborhood we highly regard is what we call “Baixa,” referring to the areas surrounding Avenida dos Aliados, which leads up to Porto’s Town Hall. We stayed here and absolutely loved it. While you’re further from the river (but closer to some stunning tiled churches), we prefer this location for its access to some of the best food and drinks in Porto. Specifically, the area west of the Town Hall and Avenida dos Aliados is where we found ourselves returning repeatedly.

We stayed in an apartment at Look at Me, which offered an excellent base for exploring the city with great facilities to relax in after a long day. For budget-conscious travelers, the Poet’s Inn is one of Porto’s best value options. It’s a charming guesthouse with a shared kitchen, includes breakfast, and offers various room sizes and types to suit different budgets and groups, including rooms with shared or private bathrooms.

Days 3-5: Lisbon & Sintra

Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, is significantly larger and more sprawling than Porto, offering greater diversity. Yet, it retains its charm with areas like Alfama featuring narrow, winding cobblestone streets. The first thing to understand about Lisbon is that it’s built on hills, much like our former city of San Francisco. The city lies on the Tagus River (not the ocean) and even has a red suspension bridge reminiscent of the Golden Gate. This hilly terrain provides fantastic viewpoints if you’re willing to climb a bit.

Over the past five years, Lisbon has navigated the challenge of welcoming increasing numbers of tourists, crucial for Portugal’s economy, while minimizing the negative impacts on local residents. This challenge isn’t unique to Lisbon but is a more recent development in Portugal, which has seen a dramatic rise in visitors. Despite these growing pains, Lisbon is a wonderful city to spend a few days soaking up the sunshine, discovering incredible views from its many hilltops, and exploring its rich history, culture, and food scene.

Getting to Lisbon

As previously mentioned, the train is the best option for traveling between Lisbon and Porto. You’ll depart from Porto’s Campanha Station, which is a short metro or regional train ride east of Porto’s city center (accessible from São Bento station downtown).

From Porto, the train journey to Lisbon takes about three and a half hours, arriving at Lisbon’s Santa Apolónia station. This is the preferred station if you are staying in central Lisbon. Oriente is the city’s other main station, but it’s further out and requires a metro connection to reach most central areas.

For trains, you have two main options:

Express Trains (Alfa Pendular or AP): These are the fastest, taking around two hours and forty-five minutes, and are the most expensive but comfortable.
Intercity Trains (Intercidades or IC): These are cheaper and take a little longer, about three and a half hours. We took multiple IC trains and found them perfectly comfortable and very affordable, especially when booking tickets in advance.

When booking, look for “AP” or “IC” in the train number to identify the type of service. Regional routes are also available but take around five hours and are not recommended for this itinerary.

What to Do in Lisbon

Lisbon is a large city with plenty to see and do, more than you can fit into the allocated time in this itinerary. You will need to prioritize with two full days in the city itself (the third day is for the Sintra trip). Here are our recommendations for how to spend your time.

Take an Introductory Walking Tour

We always begin our time in a new city with a walking tour, and Lisbon was no exception. It’s an excellent way to gain historical and cultural context for the city, along with valuable tips for your stay. Since we were a group of three, we took this private walking tour with WithLocals, which has quickly become one of our favorite tour providers. You can choose your guide, and they customize the tour based on your interests and their expertise. We had a wonderful afternoon with Isabel (highly recommended!) exploring from Chiado across to Alfama.

Explore Alfama

Alfama, situated on one of Lisbon’s many hills, is the oldest part of the city, characterized by a labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets cascading down from the Castelo de São Jorge at the top. We enjoy starting at the castle (which offers fantastic views over Lisbon) and working our way down towards the Baixa district, winding through these ancient streets in the late afternoon. Here’s a map showing one version of that route. Don’t miss a stop at Miss Can for some canned fish, one of our favorite culinary discoveries in Portugal.

Soak in the Views

Similar to San Francisco, where we lived and met, Lisbon is a city built on hills, offering spectacular views from their summits. Two particular viewpoints should not be missed. The first is from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (here on Google Maps), which requires a bit of a climb but is well worth it for sweeping views over the river, with the Castle and the rest of Lisbon laid out below you.

The second is the view from Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (here on Google Maps), looking east towards the castle and the higher hills (where the first viewpoint is located), with the Baixa district in the valley between.

Head Out to Belém

Belém was once a separate city from Lisbon. As Lisbon expanded, it absorbed the riverfront town, and it’s now a distinct district. It’s a short tram ride from central Lisbon (take route 15E from Praça do Comércio to Mosteiro Jerónimos). This area is ideal for a pleasant walk. Start at the furthest point, the Torre de Belém (no need to go inside, it’s better admired from the exterior), and walk back along the water to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a towering monument to Portuguese explorers. Conclude your visit with the stunning Jerónimos Monastery and, of course, a pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém, the bakery credited as the pastry’s birthplace (more on that in the food section below). Here’s another map outlining this walk.

Take a Food Tour

Lisbon is a fantastic food city, and you certainly won’t be hungry in the Portuguese capital. If you’re serious about exploring Lisbon’s culinary scene, we highly recommend joining a food tour led by a local. They can provide cultural context and historical insights relating to the city’s food and take you to hidden gems you’d likely never find independently. As Matt has Celiac Disease, food tours can be challenging and don’t always make sense for us (we do enjoy cooking classes, however!). But if we were to do a food tour, we’d choose this highly-rated tour. In fact, my mom took this tour on her recent trip to Portugal and absolutely loved it.

Devour Pastéis de Nata

The quintessential food item you must try in Lisbon is the world-famous Pastéis de Nata. This egg custard tart is the city’s signature sweet treat. Several major bakeries produce thousands daily. We gathered recommendations from various locals and conducted our own Pastéis “throwdown” to compare the top suggestions. The three places we visited were Manteigaria (recommended by our walking tour guide and the clear winner for us), Pastéis de Belém (the alleged origin point, which took second place), and Aloma (a distant third, possibly due to the pastéis not being warm when we tried them, though recommended by two different local guides).

We encourage you to embark on your own hunt for the best pastel de nata in Lisbon (there might be an incredible spot we haven’t even heard of!). It’s also worth noting they are typically not gluten-free, so Matt had to watch Alysha and his two brothers enjoy them with abandon, which was unfortunate.

We have numerous comprehensive guides for Lisbon you should definitely read for more detailed information on our favorite things to do, see, eat, and drink, and how to combine them efficiently. Consider this as part of your planning for portugal travel itinerary 7 days.

Planning Your Day Trip to Sintra

Sintra is an excellent day trip from Lisbon, and it’s also the most popular day trip, so expect crowds. The main attraction here is Pena Palace, located high on a hill. Take a bus or taxi from the train station to reach it; it should be your first stop in Sintra. From there, you can work your way back down the hill.

Pena Palace served as a summer residence, built in the Sintra Mountains for King Ferdinand II. It was originally a monastery destroyed in the 1755 earthquake and left in ruins for years. Ferdinand then decided it would be a perfect escape from the hot Lisbon summers, a place on a hill with nice views and a cool coastal breeze. Twelve years later, the palace was completed. There are many other attractions in Sintra besides Pena Palace, but you won’t be able to see them all in one day. Focus on 2-3 key sites (our detailed guide linked below offers suggestions for these) and leave some time to explore the town of Sintra at the base of the hill.

Rather than detailing everything here in this already extensive guide, we recommend consulting our specific guide for planning a day trip to Sintra, which provides all the necessary information, including logistics, what to see, and how to plan your itinerary.

Where to Stay in Lisbon

Lisbon is a larger city than Porto, so your choice of accommodation location will have a greater impact on your trip. Again, we have a very detailed guide dedicated to the best places to stay in Lisbon that offers much more information than this section.

Broadly, Lisbon can be divided into two areas: the lowlands and the hills. Generally, our favorite places to stay in Lisbon are located on the hills. They offer fantastic views, unparalleled food and drink options, and a better overall vibe. The trade-off, of course, is the need to walk up and down hills frequently, which might be a consideration depending on your mobility.

Our top recommendation for a very central location on a hill is Chiado. We believe it’s the best area to stay in Lisbon because it’s within a 15-minute walk of most attractions, and trams run directly through the neighborhood.

Casa do Barao is our number one recommendation here. It’s a bit of a splurge, but the property is stunning, and the spacious rooms with terraces overlooking the pool are dream-like.

If you prefer staying in the lowlands, which are convenient for public transport connections, Baixa is where you should look. It has a grid layout, a more modern urban planning approach compared to the rest of the city, and is slightly less charming than other Lisbon areas.

Consider the area around Rossio Square, which provides an excellent location for your day trip to Sintra and is our favorite part of this neighborhood. There are two solid midrange hotels here: My Story Hotel Figueira and My Story Hotel Rossio. Either would be a good option.

Days 7-8: Sevilla & Córdoba

One of the most fascinating aspects of spending a month in Spain was learning about the interactions between the three major religions on the Iberian Peninsula—Islam, Christianity, and Judaism—over centuries. A key lesson, particularly in southern Spain (Andalucía), is how much of what we perceive as traditionally “Spanish” is influenced by the period when Islam was the dominant religion. Even the name Andalucía is rooted in Arabic.

Sevilla is a perfect place to begin exploring this blend of cultures cultivated over almost a millennium. Between the Royal Alcázar (note the Arabic influence in the Spanish word “Alcázar”) and Sevilla’s main cathedral, which houses Christopher Columbus’s tomb and was built on the site of a mosque (evident in the prayer tower now used as a bell tower), you’ll get a powerful introduction to Andalucía’s beauty, rich culture, and history.

Córdoba, an easy 45-minute day trip by train from Sevilla, is another essential place to delve into this unique history and culture. As the former seat of power for the Caliphate that ruled the peninsula, its highlight is undoubtedly the stunning Mosque-Cathedral (more on this day trip below).

Getting to Sevilla

Part of the logic behind this itinerary structure is to facilitate travel from Portugal to Spain, which requires a flight. Lisbon is the best city in Portugal from which to catch a flight to Spain. We recommend taking the earliest possible flight to maximize your time in Sevilla. We also strongly suggest splurging on a direct flight for the same reason; this likely means flying TAP Airlines (Portugal’s national carrier). The flight is just over an hour. You can check prices and schedules here (filtered for nonstop flights).

What to Do in Sevilla

Here are some absolute must-do experiences while you are in Sevilla. For more details, we encourage you to read our 2 day Sevilla itinerary, which covers all our favorite things to do, see, eat, and drink.

The Royal Alcázar of Sevilla

Our favorite attraction in Sevilla, the Royal Alcázar, was originally built as a fort or castle (a military installation) and later repurposed as a royal palace after the Reconquista. This history is significant, as many current elements date back to that period, notably the enclosing walls that hide the lush gardens within from external view. The conversion to a palace included remodeling the existing Gothic palace to incorporate the Mudéjar style, which was fashionable at the time.

We initially thought, like the Alhambra, the design was purely a relic of the Islamic Caliphate’s rule, but this isn’t entirely accurate (much of that original structure no longer exists). If you only do one tour in Sevilla, make it Jose’s Royal Alcázar tour. We did this on our first day and loved how it provided a deeper understanding of the city’s history and culture for the rest of our trip. If a tour isn’t feasible or within your budget, purchase tickets in advance here.

The Catedral de Sevilla

Sevilla’s cathedral was originally—and this might surprise you—a mosque! You can recognize this by the unusually tall bell tower, La Giralda, which once served as the minaret for the call to prayer before the building became a Christian cathedral. Climbing to the top of La Giralda (there are ramps instead of stairs) is highly recommended for stunning views over Sevilla. The cathedral is also notable as the burial place of Christopher Columbus. Or, at least, some portion of his remains are here; it’s unclear exactly how much, as he was originally buried in the Caribbean, and they may have kept a souvenir. Regardless of the historical debate surrounding Columbus, the cathedral itself is incredibly impressive and well worth visiting. Purchase tickets here, deciding beforehand if you want to include the tower climb.

Plaza de España

Fans of Star Wars might recognize this beautiful plaza from scenes on Naboo in Attack of the Clones (just before the famous “I hate sand” line). In reality, its purpose was to showcase Spain’s industry and technology for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. That year wasn’t the ideal time for a major economic forum, but the plaza remains arguably the most beautiful in all of Spain, with its canals, bridges, and elaborate tile work depicting different Spanish provinces. Definitely visit in the early morning for a less crowded experience, especially on a Sunday.

Tapas!

Sevilla takes Spanish culture—late dining, tapas, etc.—to the next level. Dinner typically doesn’t begin until late, sometimes near 11 pm (we’re exaggerating slightly, but not by much!). Trying tapas is an essential Sevilla experience, and it differs slightly from other regions like Madrid, featuring different ingredients and drinks reflecting local traditions.

To make the most of your limited time, dedicate an evening to a tapas tour. This can be guided (we recommend this one from a locally run company, although food tours aren’t always ideal for Matt due to Celiac Disease) or self-guided using local recommendations. A great starting point is Mercado de Triana, an indoor food market across the river with stalls selling produce, meats, cheeses, and ready-to-eat tapas.

Pro-tip: People in Sevilla generally don’t eat paella or drink sangria. However, they do eat churros and drink vino de naranja (orange wine), vermouth, and sherry.

Planning Your Day Trip to Córdoba

While planning a different guide focused on a shorter timeframe in Spain (our 7 day Spain itinerary), we had to select just one day trip from Spain’s major cities (Sevilla, Madrid, Barcelona). Córdoba immediately came to mind. We actually spent three full days there a few years ago and placed it right at the top of the potential day trip list.

Córdoba is historically significant, having been the capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba, which ruled the Iberian Peninsula for several centuries before fragmenting into smaller kingdoms. Plus, it’s a quick and easy 45-minute high-speed train ride from Sevilla, making it an ideal day trip destination.

For us, there are three unmissable sights in Córdoba, along with several other points of interest. The three must-sees are the spectacular Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba, a cathedral built within a massive mosque constructed by the Caliphate to rival others in the Muslim world; the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (specifically its gardens); and the charming patios (there are many beautiful ones to discover).

Instead of listing everything here, we direct you to our guide for planning a day trip from Sevilla to Córdoba, which includes all our recommendations for what to do, see, eat, and drink based on our experiences.

Where to Stay in Sevilla

Compared to other large cities in this itinerary, Sevilla is relatively compact. We recommend staying somewhere central, between the Alcázar (south) and the Setas (north). Barrio Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter with its narrow cobblestone streets, is a fantastic option, just minutes from most major attractions.

We stayed at Casa de las Especias, which offers serviced apartments (a hybrid of hotel and apartment complex) in the heart of the old town. If you’re looking for an apartment, we recommend it. They also have properties in Arenal (near the river) and on the edge of Santa Cruz.

If you prefer a boutique hostel – a mix of private, hotel-style rooms and the social atmosphere of a hostel – consider TOC Hostel. We enjoyed our stay at TOC in Barcelona and they are known for providing a great experience.

Days 9-11: Madrid & Toledo

Spoiler alert: Madrid is our favorite city in Spain. After my last trip in the spring of 2024, I might even place it in my top 3 favorite European cities. Given its current status as Spain’s capital, you might assume Madrid has a long and illustrious history dating back to Roman times. Cities like Cadiz and Barcelona (and nearby Tarragona) were indeed very important during the Roman Empire.

However, until about 500 years ago, Madrid barely existed – it was hardly worth marking on a map. The regional seat of power was Toledo, located about 45 minutes south by train. Toledo, a beautiful walled city perched on a hill beside a river, was a far more strategically sensible location for a major power center than Madrid, which is essentially in the middle of nowhere.

Toledo was the seat of power for both the Catholic church and the state, meaning the Archbishop of Toledo wielded considerable influence. King Phillip II was not keen on this lack of autonomy, so he moved his court to Madrid. This marked the beginning of Madrid’s transformation from a small village centered around an old Caliphate-era fort (400 years before the move) into Spain’s largest city today. The fact that it wasn’t developed until the 16th century also resulted in a more modern city layout, facilitating easier expansion over time.

Today, we believe Madrid is the most livable city in Spain, offering a more relaxed atmosphere than Barcelona, a pleasanter climate than Sevilla, and an abundance of cultural and historical attractions (not to mention the food!). Madrid is often overshadowed by Spain’s more “sexy” destinations, but we believe it is absolutely worth your time. We encourage you to spend a couple of days exploring the city itself, followed by a day trip to Toledo, which is our second favorite day trip from Spain’s major cities.

Getting to Madrid

The best way to travel from Sevilla to Madrid is by train. Multiple direct high-speed trains run daily between Sevilla’s Santa Justa station and Madrid’s Puerta de Atocha – these are the stations you need. Book one of the “AVE” trains, Spain’s high-speed service, for the fastest and most comfortable journey. The trip takes approximately three hours and starts around 30 Euros per person, becoming more expensive closer to your travel date. One useful tip: the best way to get from Atocha Station to the city center is via the regional train system (“Cercanías”). Your long-distance train ticket includes a transfer to this system. You’ll need to scan your ticket at a special machine – ask a staff member if you need help. More information is available here.

What to Do in Madrid

Here are some things we believe are essential experiences during your time in Madrid. For more detailed recommendations, see our 2 day Madrid itinerary, covering all our favorite activities, sights, food, and drink in the Spanish capital.

Lexi’s Walking Tour

On nearly every trip we take, there is one single experience that stands out as the highlight. For the Spain portion of my latest trip, this was it. By the time I took Lexi’s walking tour, it was my last day in Madrid, and I had already been on three other walking tours across my two visits. This tour, led by Lexi, a historian specializing in Spanish history, weaves a compelling narrative about what makes Madrid unique. You’ll learn fascinating history, get a list of incredible local food and drink spots you’d never find otherwise, and gain deep insights into Spain and Madrid. Do this on your first morning in Madrid – you won’t regret it. Click here to check prices, reviews, and availability.

The Museo del Prado

The Prado Museum is the jewel in the crown of Madrid’s museum scene and might be our favorite museum in Europe. It feels more focused than massive institutions like the Louvre, which can be overwhelming. The Prado offers a diverse collection of works by Spanish, Italian, and Flemish artists (the Flemish section is my favorite!), making for a captivating journey through art history. I have visited the Prado twice and taken a guided tour both times. For a comprehensive three-hour exploration of the museum, we recommend Jaime’s tour. Jaime is an art historian born and raised in Madrid and is the single person most responsible for helping me fall in love with the city. Three hours isn’t enough to see everything, but it provides ample time for the highlights. For a more unique experience (the Prado is typically very crowded), I also took the VIP Early Access Tour with Walks, one of my favorite European tour companies. With this tour, you are literally at the front door as the museum opens, and we were the only visitors inside besides security staff. It’s shorter (90 minutes) and fast-paced, but it ends inside the museum, allowing your guide to help you prioritize what else to see.

Tapas on Calle Cava Baja

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. In Madrid’s case, this means enjoying tapas! Calle Cava Baja in the Barrio La Latina is a very famous street lined with countless tapas bars. Several places consistently recommended include Taberna Tempranillo, Taberna La Concha, and Casa Lucas. Other nearby tapas options are Casa Ciriaco (near the Royal Palace on Calle Mayor) and La Lina (which has gluten-free options for Celiacs – I’ve eaten there!).

Planning Your Day Trip to Toledo

Among the many possible day trips from Madrid, we consider Toledo the most historically and culturally significant. Until Phillip II moved the capital to Madrid in the 16th Century to escape an overbearing archbishop, Toledo was the regional seat of power. Frankly, Toledo makes much more sense as a capital; it occupies a strong defensive position on a hill, is situated on a river (the Tagus), and was better connected to surrounding areas.

Toledo shares a similar history with other places on this itinerary. It began as an Iberian settlement, was captured by the Romans, became a Visigothic city, was taken by the Umayyad Caliphate, and was reconquered in the 11th Century. The result was a city where three large religious groups—Muslims, Jews, and Christians—coexisted. And that, in our opinion, is why it’s still worth visiting today. You’ll find religious sites from all three traditions, including a stunning synagogue, a relatively modest mosque, and a massive cathedral (Catholics are big proponents of the “bigger is better” philosophy!) and monastery.

Add to this its proximity to Madrid (~45 minutes by high-speed train), its beauty perched on a hill overlooking a valley and the river, and an excellent military museum, and you have ample reasons to spend a day of your valuable trip here. Rather than listing everything to see and do, we’ve compiled a separate guide with all the information you need to plan an outstanding day trip to Toledo (from Madrid) – this guide is currently in progress!

Where to Stay in Madrid

Madrid is comfortably the largest city by population on this itinerary, making your choice of where to stay particularly important. However, Madrid is also relatively compact, and staying within the main city center generally means you’ll either be within walking distance of most destinations or a short ride away on Madrid’s excellent metro system. When we refer to “Madrid’s City Center,” we mean the area between the Royal Palace (west) and Parque El Retiro (east), bounded roughly by Calle de José Abascal (north) and Puerta de Toledo and Puerta de Atocha station (south). This section helps you understand which areas fit this description.

Again, we have a comprehensive guide dedicated to helping you figure out where to stay in Madrid. Consult that for far more detailed information than provided here.

Overall, we recommend two areas in Madrid, straddling Calle Gran Vía, a major street running east-west through the city center.

Days 12-14: Barcelona

To be entirely honest, we have mixed feelings about Barcelona. On one hand, it’s a beautiful city in a stunning location with great food, drinks, and a more modern energy than, say, Sevilla. On the other hand, its status as a bucket-list destination means it can be unpleasantly crowded to downright impossible to navigate, particularly in the Ciutat Vella (Old City), home to the Gothic Quarter with its winding, narrow alleys.

Let us reiterate something important here. The following paragraphs might sound a little negative, but we feel it’s crucial to set expectations. Managing expectations is key to having a great travel experience in places like Barcelona. We want to help you prepare for Barcelona’s realities to maximize your enjoyment of both the good and the challenging aspects.

The balance between the role and importance of tourism and the needs of the local population is a struggle cities like Lisbon and Amsterdam are also facing, but Barcelona has become a poster child for over-tourism in recent years (Venice is another example). After visiting this spring, we understand why. The city is becoming less livable for residents; apartments are being converted from long-term rentals to more lucrative tourist rentals, massive cruise ship groups of 50+ people fill the Gothic Quarter’s alleys wall-to-wall, and local businesses serving residents are being pushed out in favor of those catering exclusively to tourists.

What does this mean for you? Two things. First, be prepared for crowds unlike anything you’ve likely seen elsewhere on this itinerary. Second, be respectful of locals and make an effort to support local businesses – bars, restaurants, hotels, tour companies – throughout your visit.

With that somewhat somber preamble, we want to emphasize again that Barcelona is a lovely city. It feels more cosmopolitan and international than the other cities on this itinerary (with both pros and cons). It also has the most progressive food and drink scene among these locations (again, pros and cons) and is a beautiful coastal city. Gaudí’s sites offer a completely unique architectural style you won’t find elsewhere in Spain (or likely the world). Its coastal location means you can enjoy fantastic seafood in addition to your tapas diet. As long as you arrive in Barcelona prepared for potential crowds, you are going to love it.

Getting to Barcelona

As previously covered, the best way to travel within Spain is by train. It’s generally cheaper and faster than flying between cities, and we find it more comfortable and pleasant. Given this is likely the most popular train route in Spain, there are multiple direct high-speed trains daily between Madrid’s Puerta de Atocha and Barcelona Sants – these are the stations you’ll use. The journey takes about three hours and starts around 40 Euros per person, increasing closer to your travel date.

What to Do in Barcelona

There is a significant amount to see, do, eat, and drink in Barcelona, which is why we’ve allocated a bit more time here than in other cities on this itinerary. Here are some things we think you absolutely shouldn’t miss while you’re in Barcelona. For more comprehensive recommendations, refer to our 4 day Barcelona itinerary (designed for first-time visitors), which details all our favorite experiences in the city.

The Sagrada Familia

While we aren’t typically people who go inside every church, I will absolutely make an exception for this masterpiece in Barcelona. I have now seen it three times and will definitely return on my next visit. What we love about the Sagrada Familia, the basilica (it’s a basilica because it’s been blessed by the Pope, not a cathedral as it’s not a bishop’s seat) that Gaudí dedicated decades to bringing to life, is the meticulous thought given to every single detail. My favorite aspect is its orientation: the “Life” facade faces the sunrise, and the “Death” facade faces the sunset, mirroring the life of Jesus, beginning with dawn and concluding with dusk.

The best way to experience it is on a guided tour. We recommend this two-hour tour from a company we’ve taken many tours with across Europe, including an abbreviated Sagrada Familia visit on a Barcelona tour. If a guided tour isn’t within your budget, definitely get the audioguide, which provides the information needed to fully appreciate all the subtle details that make this such a special piece of art. Book tickets well in advance here.

Other Gaudí Sites

Barcelona features four other notable Gaudí sites worth considering. The first two are the private residences he worked on located along Passeig de Gràcia, the wide, upscale street connecting the Ciutat Vella (Old Town) to the former town, now neighborhood, of Gràcia. Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (also known as “La Pedrera”) are a few blocks apart and are both worth visiting if you have the time and interest. Our advice is to choose one (we’d pick Casa Batlló if we had to choose just one) and visit at the earliest possible time slot (or book this early entry tour), as they become incredibly crowded with long lines.

The third site is his first private residence, Casa Vicens. Honestly, this would be our top choice among the three residences mentioned because it’s slightly off the beaten path and therefore much less busy, while still being fascinating, especially considering it was an early work in his career.

Finally, and certainly not least, is Park Güell. Situated on a hill, it was originally intended to be a neighborhood for wealthy residents but the concept didn’t gain traction. Today, the only houses there belong to Gaudí and his personal lawyer. All these attractions are extremely popular, so you’ll need to book tickets well in advance, and the earlier the time slot, the better.

Learn to Make Paella

We have personally taken this paella cooking class in Barcelona and cannot recommend it highly enough. It’s a delightful afternoon spent in a shaded garden oasis, meeting a Barcelona local and fellow food-loving travelers while learning to cook paella. While paella isn’t truly native to Barcelona (it originates from Valencia, a couple of hours away), it’s a fun and rewarding experience nonetheless.

Explore a Local Market

One aspect we particularly love about Spain is how each neighborhood in its large cities typically has its own covered market. These markets serve dual purposes: a place to buy groceries from stalls selling meat, cheese, and produce, and a place to grab ready-to-eat food from various vendors. In Barcelona, we recommend skipping the crowded La Boqueria on La Rambla and heading instead to either Barceloneta Market (one of the most authentic examples, here on Google Maps) or Mercado de Santa Caterina (here on Google Maps). Go hungry and plan to stop at two or three different food stalls to sample a variety of small plates.

Cava, Vermouth, and Tapas

Barcelona has its own distinct tapas culture, setting it apart from other Spanish cities you’ve visited on this trip, primarily driven by the local ingredients available. It revolves around cava, a sparkling wine produced in Catalonia; vermouth (which you might have encountered elsewhere, but you should visit Las Vermudas to try again); and tapas featuring more seafood. Examples include grilled sardines and bombas (similar to croquettes, a must-try at La Cova Fumada in Barceloneta).

For what it’s worth, I (Matt) joined some friends for tapas at Quimet & Quimet and La Perikete. While I couldn’t eat due to Celiac Disease, my friends thoroughly enjoyed the food, and I believe experiencing this aspect of Barcelona’s food scene is pretty essential (many other places offer similar experiences).

Where to Stay in Barcelona

While not as large as Madrid, Barcelona is more spread out geographically in terms of tourist attractions. This makes choosing the right place to stay just as important to avoid long commutes. Generally, it’s not feasible to walk everywhere in Barcelona due to its size, so plan on using the city’s efficient metro and bus network to travel around.

We recommend staying relatively central and avoiding the old city area near the famous La Rambla. This street is easily the least authentic and most overrated part of the city (and possibly the entire country). Once again, we have a comprehensive guide dedicated to helping you decide where to stay in Barcelona, offering much more detail than provided here.

My room at Casa Bonay in Barcelona.

What to Do With More Time Traveling to Spain and Portugal

If you have additional time for traveling to Spain and Portugal, here are our recommendations for what to add to your itinerary, in order of preference.

Granada (+2 Days)

We absolutely loved Granada and wouldn’t hesitate to return for even a second. It’s a beautiful city with a rich history and is definitely our top suggestion for an addition to your itinerary. While planning this guide, we couldn’t figure out how to seamlessly fit it into the main itinerary above, although we seriously considered swapping Barcelona for Granada. That’s how much we enjoyed it.

Granada was one of our favorite stops in Spain for a couple of key reasons. First, the Alhambra is an incredibly impressive architectural feat, and spending half a day exploring the former fort turned palace on the hilltop is well worth it. The gardens of Generalife, the Nasrid family’s former summer palace, and particularly the Nasrid Palaces themselves are stunning. However, Granada offers more than just the Alhambra, which is why we recommend spending a couple of days here rather than a quick in-and-out visit.

Granada was the last Muslim stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula, falling to the Christian monarchs in 1492 after many centuries under a Muslim caliphate. The influence of those centuries of a strong Muslim community is immediately evident as you walk through Granada’s streets, especially in the Albaicín, the historic Muslim Quarter. From mosques converted into churches that still retain unique architectural elements to countless tea houses (Alysha’s favorite!), Granada is a city worth exploring beyond just the Alhambra to understand how different cultures have intertwined over centuries. For more details on Granada, be sure to check out our guide to 2 days in Granada, which provides everything you need to plan a couple of days there, including how to visit the Alhambra.

An Extra Day in Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon (+3 Days)

Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon are all massive cities with a huge amount to see and do. As this itinerary is written, you’ll have roughly two and a half days in each, which is a bit fast-paced for our liking (we prefer somewhere between 3-4 days). Adding an extra day to each city would allow you to spread things out, explore at a more relaxed pace, and delve deeper into what makes each of these unique cities special.

The Algarve (+3-5 Days)

If you’re looking to spend some time relaxing on the beach during your trip, head south to Portugal’s lovely Algarve coast. This region is essentially a string of sandy beaches stretching from the Spanish border all the way to Sagres at the southwestern tip of mainland Europe. We spent about a week on the Algarve to conclude our time in Portugal and really enjoyed it. However, it’s important to note we were there in early December, which offers a very different experience than visiting in, say, July or August when it will be significantly busier.

Nonetheless, it is undeniably beautiful. There’s a reason it’s one of the world’s most famous surfing destinations. Between the sandy beaches and the windswept cliffs rising hundreds of feet from the sea, the landscape will leave you in awe, even if you’ve lived in coastal California for a significant period, like us. We think you should spend a minimum of three days on the Algarve to justify the travel time, and perhaps five days maximum, given all the other incredible places to see when traveling to Spain and Portugal.

Whatever you do, don’t miss hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail while you’re on the Algarve. We have a complete Algarve road trip itinerary we wrote to help you plan your trip there. Consider this for your planning on warm travel destinations in november or cheap places to travel for college students.

What to Do with Less Time Traveling to Spain and Portugal

To be honest, with 10 days or less, we strongly (yes, all caps) recommend sticking to either Spain OR Portugal. 10 days simply isn’t enough time to cover the ground in both countries effectively. You’ll spend too much time moving around, which prevents you from having the deeper experiences that come with spending 2-3 days or more in a single city.

Fortunately, we have ideas for planning those trips too. See our guide to 10 days in Portugal (and our newer guide to spending one week in Portugal), and our guide to planning a 7 day Spain itinerary.

But what if you have somewhere between 11 and 13 days? We recommend keeping the Portugal portion intact (it’s already quite condensed) and choosing between the Sevilla to Madrid leg (our preference) or the Madrid to Barcelona leg, essentially sacrificing one of the three Spanish cities.

Here’s what those versions look like:

OUR RECOMMENDATION: Portugal and Spain in 12 Days (Sevilla + Madrid)

Here’s the structure if you choose to focus on Sevilla and Madrid in Spain, which is our personal preference and recommendation. While Barcelona is great, we believe Sevilla and Madrid offer more historical and cultural depth that many visitors haven’t encountered before, providing truly eye-opening experiences. This trip involves traveling through Europe on a budget.

Day 0: Arrive in Porto
Day 1: Porto
Day 2: Day Trip to Douro Valley (stay in Porto)
Day 3: Early Morning Travel to Lisbon
Day 4: Lisbon
Day 5: Half Day Trip to Sintra + Lisbon
Day 6: Fly to Sevilla
Day 7: Sevilla
Day 8: Day Trip to Córdoba
Day 9: Travel to Madrid + Explore
Day 10: Madrid
Day 11: Day Trip to Toledo
Day 12: Madrid + Fly Home

In this scenario, you’d fly from Lisbon to Sevilla, train from Sevilla to Madrid, and fly home from Madrid. This can be a great option for cheap places to travel in october.

Portugal and Spain in 12 Days (Madrid + Barcelona)

Here’s the structure if you opt for Madrid and Barcelona in Spain instead.

Day 0: Arrive in Porto
Day 1: Porto
Day 2: Day Trip to Douro Valley (stay in Porto)
Day 3: Early Morning Travel to Lisbon
Day 4: Lisbon
Day 5: Half Day Trip to Sintra + Lisbon
Day 6: Fly to Madrid
Day 7: Madrid
Day 8: Day Trip to Toledo
Day 9: Train to Barcelona
Day 10: Barcelona
Day 11: Barcelona
Day 12: Barcelona + Fly Home

In this scenario, you’d fly from Lisbon to Madrid, train from Madrid to Barcelona, and fly home from Barcelona.