Spain and Portugal Itinerary
Looking to visit Spain and Portugal? This example Spain and Portugal itinerary will take you to the highlights of both countries with time to explore smaller sights as well. Our winter trip through Spain and Portugal unfolded as a family journey through historic cities, small towns, and coastal landscapes. One week in Spain was enough to see only some highlights, but in Portugal, 10 days with a car allowed us to visit a diverse list of destinations. If you’ve been thinking about a Spain and Portugal trip, this plan can serve as a guide to help you create your own Spain and Portugal itinerary for 20 days.
- Barcelona: 3 days
- Madrid: 3 days
- Seville: 2 days
- Algarve: 2 days
- Porto or Coimbra (with day trips): 4-5 days
- Lisbon: 3 days
Total travel time: 20 days
How can I make this Spain and Portugal itinerary shorter? Choose one of these:
- Change Porto or Coimbra to 3 days
- Cut out Seville and the Algarve and stay in Barcelona, Madrid, Porto, and Lisbon for 4 days each. Fly from Madrid to Porto. No rental car needed.
- Focus on just one country
How can I make this Spain and Portugal itinerary longer? Add one or more of these:
- Add an extra day to Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville
- Stay in Porto for 3-5 days and optionally add a 2-day stop in Coimbra
- Add an extra day in the Algarve
Tips for a Spain and Portugal Trip:
- Spain and Portugal are an excellent choice for a winter trip. The weather is much warmer than most of Europe, and the holiday decorations are stunning, especially in Spain. Christmas decorations stay up through January 10.
- Cities in Spain are crowded during the Christmas week. Be ready for crowds of locals and tourists, and consider making dining reservations in Seville to avoid being disappointed when restaurants are full.
- Trains are very efficient in Spain. Book train tickets ahead of time to get the best prices and times. Arrive at the station early since you may have to go through security.
- Roads in Portugal are very well maintained and rarely have many cars. We enjoyed traveling by car through the country.
- Lisbon and Porto are much more expensive than the rest of Portugal. Consider staying in some smaller cities/towns to save on accommodations.
- Madrid and Barcelona are much more expensive than Seville. Our biggest expense was accommodations in Madrid, followed by train tickets in Spain.
Stop 1: Barcelona, Spain (3 Days)
Tips for Barcelona:
- How many days in Barcelona? You will need at least three nights for an introduction to this beautiful city.
- Barcelona is stunning at Christmas, with festive lights strung across the avenues.
- We stayed in the elegant district of L’Eixample in the center of the city. This area is known for its wide, leafy boulevards and modern grid layout.
- Balance some “must-see” attractions with time just for wandering.
- Make reservations well in advance
- Consider using a guided tour for La Sagrada Familia. We used Get Your Guide.
- Gaudí’s work is beautiful but the places are crowded, need reservations, and are not cheap to visit. I recommend visiting one (Casa Battló) or maybe two of his works unless you have more time.
- Gaudí’s Park Guell was ridiculously crowded, so I recommend skipping it.
Base: L’Eixample, just 3 blocks from La Sagrada Família
For us, 3 days was enough for these highlights:
- Guided tour of La Sagrada Família
- Visit to Casa Batlló
- Visit to Park Guell
- Walks through the Gothic Quarter
- Stroll along Las Ramblas in the evening
- Seafood lunch at El Nacional, a beautiful food hall
- Evening walks along Passeig de Gràcia to see architecture and Christmas lights
If you have more time, add:
- Casa Milà (or do this instead of Park Guell)
- Picasso Museum
Stop 2: Madrid, Spain (3 Days)
Arrival: High-speed train from Barcelona that takes less than 3 hours
Base: Near Plaza Mayor
Tips for Madrid:
- How many days in Madrid? You will need at least three nights for an introduction to this grand historic city.
- Madrid has a lot of action at the holiday season. Think Christmas markets, decorations, and lots of people.
- The center of Madrid is easily walkable and felt much smaller than Barcelona.
- At about 2200 ft elevation, Madrid is the second-highest capital city in Europe. In winter, that means it gets colder than most other places you’ll visit, so plan accordingly.
- Madrid was the most expensive place we visited. Book your hotel or vacation rental well in advance.
For us, 3 days was enough to do these highlights:
- Visit Museu Nacional del Prado (make a reservation in advance)
- Walk through Retiro Park
- Explore the Barrio de las Letras (literary quarter)
- Walk from the Prado past the Cibeles Fountain and stroll down Gran Vía
- Tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (soccer fans in the family)
- Visit the town squares including Christmas markets at Plaza Mayor and nearby Plaza de Jacinto Benavente
- Visit Mercado de San Miguel (amazing food but very crowded!)
If you have more time, add:
- The Royal Palace
- Reina Sofia Museum
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Stop 3: Seville, Spain (2 Days)
Arrival: High-speed train from Madrid
Base: Near Plaza Villasis, within walking distance of the main sights
Tips for Seville:
- How many days in Seville? You will need at least three nights.
- Seville has the most beautiful Christmas light displays I have ever seen.
- The streets near the main attractions in the evening were packed with locals, Spanish travelers, and foreign travelers.
- During the week between Christmas and New Year, it was very crowded. Restaurants were packed, so you may want to visit at less busy times or make reservations when possible.
- The Seville Cathedral and Real Alcázar are not to be missed!
For us, 2 days was enough to do these highlights:
- Visit Seville Cathedral (reservations recommended)
- Climb La Giralda
- Tour the Real Alcázar of Seville (reservations recommended)
- Walk through the historic center to the riverfront
- Visit Plaza de España
- Experience spectacular Christmas lights on pedestrian streets
If you have more time, add:
- More time for exploring the Barrio Santa Cruz
- More time to indulge in the city’s restaurants (if you visit during peak season, consider making reservations)
- See a flamenco show
How to Get from Spain to Portugal
Unlike other European countries, Spain and Portugal do not have good train connections between the two countries. How to get from Spain to Portugal depends on your location and your destination.
If you’re in Barcelona or other cities on the eastern side of Spain, you can take a quick flight to Lisbon, Porto, or Faro in Portugal. Just be aware of luggage limits.
If you’re in Madrid, you can travel by car through western Spain and into eastern Portugal. The roads in both countries are good, and there are plenty of places to stop along the way. Depending on which route you take, these stops may include Salamanca on the way to Porto or Évora on the way to Lisbon.
If you’re in Seville, you can travel by bus from Seville to the Algarve on one of several buses that run every day. We traveled from Spain to Portugal this way and booked our bus seats ahead of time to be sure we would be able to travel on the exact day that we needed.
Spain and Portugal Itinerary: Portugal
Stop 4: Tavira & Algarve, Portugal (2 Days)
The next part of our Spain and Portugal itinerary took us from Spain into southern Portugal where we spent New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day on the Algarve coast.
Arrival: Bus from Seville, which takes 2 hours and runs frequently. If you’re picking up a rental car, take the bus to Faro.
Base: Riverside house in Tavira in the eastern Algarve
Tips for the Algarve:
- How many days in the Algarve? You will need at least two nights to get an introduction to this region.
- Tavira is on the eastern edge of the Algarve. If you want to be more central, consider Lagos or another town that’s more central.
- Locals did not recommend Faro or Albufeira due to their larger size.
- Tavira is an easy bus ride from Seville and is a lovely, small town near the sea.
- You can get around the Algarve easily with a rental car. Consider renting a car at the Faro Airport.
- In the winter, the weather here can be rainy and windy, and the weather may not be good for visiting the beautiful beaches.
- We found lodging and food to be much less than in Spain and in Lisbon and Porto.
For us, 2 days was enough for these highlights:
- Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Tavira with fireworks over the river
- Walk the historic streets of Tavira
- Day trip along the Algarve:
- Lagos
- Salema
Stop 5: Porto or Coimbra, Portugal (4-5 Days with Day Trips)
The rest of our Spain and Portugal itinerary was done mostly by car with a home base in Coimbra in central Portugal and then a few days in Lisbon. We opted to stay in Coimbra instead of Porto because we were looking for areas in that region to possibly relocate.
Unless you’re particularly interested in Coimbra and the surrounding region, I would recommend staying in Porto but adding at least two day trips to Coimbra and Conímbriga, Braga and Guimarães, and Aveiro.
Arrival: Rental car from Faro
En Route Stop:
- Tomar – visit Convent of Christ (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
The Convent of Christ in Tomar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with significant historical and architectural value. Originally built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar, the convent played an important role in Portugal’s history. You can spend at least a couple of hours exploring the church and cloisters. Keep an eye out for the detailed Manueline-style architecture.
Base: Coimbra
Tips for Coimbra:
- The city is very hilly!
- The university has a lot to see. We spent the bulk of one day on the campus visiting the famous library, Cabinet of Curiosities, science museums, chapel, and more.
- The Biblioteca Joanina (the Baroque library) requires reservations, which can be made in advance or when you arrive on your cell phone.
- Eat lunch at Italianino, a small Italian restaurant just a few minutes’ walk from the campus. The owners are lovely!
- Look for hand-painted ceramics from Coimbra. The intricate designs date from the 16th century.
For us, 5 days was enough time for two full days in Coimbra with these highlights:
- Visit University of Coimbra
- Famous library & Cabinet of Curiosities
- Hilltop views over city and river
- Explore the old town
- Visit old and new cathedrals
- Walk through the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra
- See the Roman aqueduct that passes through town
- Do the following 3 day trips
Day Trips:
1. Porto highlights
- Explore Porto Cathedral and climb the tower
- Walk through the old center and see the beautiful architecture
- Walk along the Douro River and across the bridge
- Visit São Bento Railway Station to see Portuguese history through the tiles (azulejos)
- Lunch at a traditional Portuguese restaurant
Most visitors to Portugal will plan to spend 2-3 days in Porto. It is a beautiful city with a lot of interesting details, from the colorful architecture and tiled buildings, to the waterfront and impressive cathedrals. We did it as a day trip because we stayed in Coimbra, but I can easily imagine spending a few days there.
However, if you have just one day (and a lot of energy!), you can get a good idea of the city. It is easy to reach Porto by train or car, and driving in the center and finding parking in a garage was not difficult. Skip the famous Livraria Lello, which we found too expensive and very crowded.
2. Conímbriga
- Explore Conímbriga’s Roman ruins
- Walk nearby trail along the Camino de Santiago
The tiny town of Conímbriga, located in the countryside outside of Coimbra, is the site of one of the most impressive ancient Roman sites in Europe! First, visit the small but good museum and then walk to the ruins where you will see well-preserved mosaics, parts of old houses, baths, fountains, and original city walls. The site contains items from the Bronze Age (around 1000 B.C.) and later the Phoenicians, who predated the Romans. The Roman city was founded around 130 B.C.
While you are here, you can walk down the hill behind the ruins (you’ll see signage) and hike part of the Camino Portugués, the Portuguese stretch of the Camino de Santiago.
3. Aveiro & Coast
- Visit the town of Aveiro and nearby Costa Nova beach
- Drive along the coast to Figueira da Foz
Aveiro is a charming coastal city known for its colorful canals, traditional moliceiro boats, and relaxed atmosphere. Take a few hours to stroll through the historic center, see the Art Nouveau architecture, try the traditional ovos moles pastries, pop into the small shops, and enjoy fresh seafood. Here are ideas for what to do in Aveiro.
Just a short drive away is Costa Nova with beautiful beaches and the iconic striped beach houses. You can continue down the road to the south — this relaxing drive will take you past villages along the coast to Figueira da Foz, another small coastal city that, in my opinion, was not worth the stop.
Drive to Lisbon:
En Route Stops:
- Nazaré – beach town and big waves
- Óbidos – medieval town with castle walls
Nazaré combines dramatic ocean scenery, traditional Portuguese culture, and a relaxed beach-town atmosphere in one compact place. Stop at the famous Praia do Norte to see the location of the world’s biggest surfing waves. If you’re here in the winter, you may see the waves for yourself. To do this, visit the 16th-century São Miguel Arcanjo Fort, which you can enter for a small fee. From the fort you can see the beach to one side and the town to the other, and stop in the Big Wave Museum.
After looking for the big waves, explore the streets of the lower town near the beach and have a traditional seafood lunch before taking the funicular up to the neighborhood of Sítio.
Óbidos is possibly Portugal’s most charming medieval town, located in the beautiful hills about an hour north of Lisbon. Known for its whitewashed houses, narrow cobblestone streets, and castle walls that you can walk along, the town is small enough to explore in just a couple of hours. Try the local cherry liqueur, ginjinha, which is often served in a tiny chocolate cup.
Stop 6: Lisbon, Portugal (3 Nights)
Arrival: Drive from Porto/Coimbra (rental car drop-off at airport)
Base: Below São Jorge Castle
Tips for Lisbon:
- How many days in Lisbon? You will need at least three days, more if you want to do day trips to Cascais or Sintra.
- Lisbon is the most expensive place in Portugal, so expect higher costs for accommodations and restaurants. Learn more in this article How much does a trip to Lisbon cost?
- Lisbon has an excellent aquarium, a great activity to do if you’re traveling with kids.
- The airport is an easy taxi or Uber ride from the city.
- Lisbon is hilly and much of the city’s charm is found just by walking its streets.
There are plenty of things to do in Lisbon for 3 days, especially if you like walking! Here are some highlights:
- Explore neighborhoods:
- Alfama
- Baixa
- Praça do Comércio
- Chiado
- Visit Time Out Market Lisboa
- Enjoy restaurants, cafés, wine bars, and ceramics workshops
- Take in panoramic views over Lisbon
- Castelo de São Jorge (St. George Castle)
- Belém: The Monastery of Jerónimos and Tower of Belém
Overall Notes on Spain and Portugal Itinerary
- Excellent mix of major cities, smaller towns, and coastal scenery
- Winter timing added festive Christmas lights and, in early January, fewer crowds
- High-speed trains in Spain were efficient and convenient
- Portugal benefited from having a rental car for flexibility except in Lisbon
- Ideal pacing overall, though we would have loved more time in the cities
Looking back, this Spain and Portugal itinerary felt like a perfect blend of vibrant cities, historic landmarks, and slower moments—walking through medieval streets, watching NYE fireworks in a small town, and trying lots of local food. Spain offered grand art and architecture as well as fantastic cuisine, while Portugal charmed us with its landscapes, history, and relaxed pace.
What questions or tips do you have about a Spain and Portugal itinerary?
