Sintra is a sight to behold, full of colourful whimsy, history and heritage. A post shared by (@sergiopayan_oficial) on May 11, 2020 at 1:12pm PDT. I also really enjoyed Segovia and think it deserves at least a day trip from Madrid. On this 10 Night Spain Intensive sailing, the ship will visit a total of 10 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. Experience the Catalan culture of Barcelona and see some of the highlights of the city: Explore the Gothic neighborhood of Barcelona Visit the Sagrada Familia Go to Park Gell to see more of Gaudis work I started trawling through all of the forums and thought it would be simpler to just throw this out there. We have 21 nights to spend on the Iberian peninsula, flying in and out of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? But its the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mezquita, a mosque turned into cathedral, which will linger in your memory for decades to come. Accommodation at the hotel. These rusharound trips always worry me and train travel is not for us - we tend to explore the local area to our (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? It is once again a beach destination that attracts sun worshippers every year. Then certainly a big city like Madrid and its surounding towns could fill 4-5 Web10 Night Spain Intensive from Lisbon, Portugal The September 11, 2024 cruise on the Azamara Quest departs from Lisbon, Portugal. The Moorish palace and castle sits on a hill above the town, and though its the primary reason for most visits, the surrounding city is full of life as well. Take a wine tour of the Douro River Valley in northern Portugal. Driving through this magnificent landscape we will arrive to La Toja Island, universally known for its spa. Day 1: Arrive in San Sebastin. Consider an open jaw air ticket flying into either Madrid or Lisbon then flying out the other. In the north, you can visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and discover the religious (and foodie) heritage of San Sebastian. 3. And note that many things in Spain are closed for part of Sunday, all of Monday, and a long mid-day break on every day. 7 Day Portugal and Spain Tours & Trips. We also recommend LAntic Bocoi del Gotic if you want to try a Barcelona fish speciality. Climb to the top of the fortress for a magnificent view of the city. It would then be: Day 1: Arrive in Paris. Somebody else may have caught this already, but how are you planning on traveling from place to place? Porto is wonderful, we spent three days there (loved the B&B called The InPatio Guesthouse- book early). Free time to explore Oviedo, many of their streets are pedestrian, where you will be able to see World Heritage sites like The Cathedral, a splendid example of gothic Asturian architecture. Step on this historic lift, which takes you from the Baixa neighbourhood to Bairro Alto. I have been to Seville/Lisbon prior, thus the weighting towards Porto/Madrid. UNESCO World Heritage. This Portuguese city is an unmissable part of any Spain and Portugal itinerary. This drive will take between 6 and 7 hours to cover the 275 miles and will cross the international border. If you fancy a steak, dont miss Casa Lucio its been sizzling since 1974. The Camino de Santiago The Camino Primitivo A Million Steps, by Kurt Koontz Extra Mile Thursdays Related Episodes 376 Holly Worton ~ Long Distance Walks: Time and Space to Think and Reflect (now with downloadable transcript!) I spent Christmas solo in Madrid a couple of years ago. Yes I have been to Granada and enjoyed it. Alternatively, Prados website suggests three itineraries that can help you find your way. 21 day cultural, religious and historic sites tour through Madrid, Porto, Ftima and 17 other destinations in 4 different countries. Crossing the scenic Rias Bajas region well view two of Europes oldest universities in Salamanca and Coimbra. How did you pick December January? Copyright 2018 SpainTours.biz a Division of, Guided visits in Madrid, San Sebastian, Santiago, Porto, Lisbon, Crdoba, Seville, Granada (Alhambra & Generalife gardens), Valencia and Barcelona, Panoramic sightseeing tours of San Sebastian, Bilbao and La Corua, Modern private coach transportation with AC, 4th Day (Thu.) The old town and aqueduct are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Don't need a full day at Obidos, it is a must see town with ancient Roman wall, but 3-4 hours are enough. Accommodation. As parking is scarce, we will take a train to Sintra from Lisbon and rent a Twizzy car. Cadiz in southwestern Spain is one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions of Europe. Cadiz, Spain 8. In 2001, Aranjuezwas named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After several months of research, we developed this Spain and Portugal Itinerary for 25 Days that is round trip from Madrid. As in most cities, the city centre is the best place to stay, and you have some fabulous hotels here that seem to be the smaller copies of the palaces in town the Boutique Hotel Casa del Poeta and the Hotel Gravina51, for example. It also benefits from laidback coastal atmosphere and stunning ocean views. Top Brochure of 21 Day Portugal & Spain 2018 Itinerary. 1. See also our fun guide on unusual things to do in Porto. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-83947399', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lisbon is very tight, you would have 2 full days only, and no time for nearby Sintra, so I would not talk about covering Portugal with your plan. Aurora. Toledo is one of the most visited UNESCO World Heritage sitesin Spain. Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden. Best Place For Family/Kids Holiday on July, August? You can wander off on your own and imagine it's the Middle Ages. Optional Gipsy Flamenco show at Sacromonte quarter. When you book with an account, you will be able to track your payment status, track the confirmation and you can also rate the tour after you finished the tour. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187493-i384-k10462756-BennyMalaga_s_Tips_for_Salamanca-Salamanca_Province_of_Salamanca_Castile_and_Leon.html Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Click To view other tours:All Tours,Guided ,Private,By Region Contact usHere. Today we have a 3.5 hour 208 mile drive. WebWhether you are looking for a 7-day tour plan for Spain, 10 days, 2 weeks, or even more, our extensive list of itineraries provides the perfect inspiration for your tour of Spain. It is the first destination on your 14-day itinerary, and you have 3 days to explore its attractions and surroundings. This is the place from where many Portuguese explorers set sail to other parts of the world, returning with incredible riches. Accommodation. The rest train or bus (whichever is cheapest). how best to spend 21 days in Spain & Portugal, Re: how best to spend 21 days in Spain & Portugal, Get answers to your questions about Spain. This afternoon at your leisure to catch the nostalgic corners of Alfama Quarter, the old city gathered next to its Castle, with old buildings nested in narrow twisting Ruas full of color housing the genuine tabernas where Fado sounds as a missing past. Its the perfect place to sip on a lemonade or tinto de verano and watch a flamenco performance on one of the lively terraces. You will immediately recognise its impressive exterior covered in the popular blue and white azulejos depicting different religious episodes like the death of Saint Francis of Assisi or the martyrdom of Saint Catherine. All visits to Seville find themselves in front of the Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede, or simply the Seville Cathedral. After the Moors captured Crdoba in 711, what had previously been a Visigoth Christian church was split in two. The ultimate journey through two of Europes most fascinating & diverse countries has to offer! An enchanting world of Moorish charm awaits us as we travel off the beaten path to the picturesque Pueblos Blancos (White Villages) of Andalusia. WebThe Iberian Union in 1598, under Philip II, King of Spain and Portugal The Spanish and Austrian Habsburg European lands, ca 1700 Charles formally became the sole monarch of Spain upon the death of his imprisoned mother Queen Joan in 1555. (The trip from Granada to Barcelona concerns me, as I don't want to lose a day on trains.). See this Alhambra quote Do not weep like a woman, Beach lovers should head to Malaga for a relaxing day in the sun. You left off Sintra, vora and Barcelona. Tasty and well-heeled, this much loved madrileo market sells fresh produce and tasty snacks, everything from pastry to charcuterie, Venezuelan corn, and vermouth. Tomar was the last Templar town to be commissioned for construction. Lisbon 4 > Obidos .5 > Coimbra 2.5 > Porto 3 > Seville 3> Cordoba 1.5 > Madrid - Toledo/Segovia (day trips) 8.5. Your 14-Day Spain & Portugal Itinerary Madrid 3 Days Porto 2 Days Lisbon 3 Days Seville 2 Days Barcelona 3 Days More Ideas for Your Spain and Toll Free : 1-800-770-7148. It has a huge historic area, some lovely mudejar buildings and a great cathedral. 10 Day Portugal Tour. In the afternoon, departure to Oviedo, where you will see on a series of hills the beauty of Saint Maria de Naranco Church, Jewel of the pre Roman Asturian architecture. Barcelona and Gaudi are two inseparable entities. By the way, Toledo is overrated on this forum. 5 years ago. Day 2: Explore Paris. A day trip from Madrid even better. Panoramic driver in Bilbao and free time on the esplanade where The Guggenheim Museum is located in order to admire this modern architectural building. A 3-day Lisbon itinerary is the right amount of time to explore the city itself and take a road trip to one of the nearby cities. Sveavgen 46, 111 34 Stockholm. SAN SEBASTIAN BILBAO CASTRO URDIALES SANTANDER, 9th Day (Tue.) It is definitely beautiful. a) work out when you are travelling and when Christmas falls. In the afternoon we will continue to San Sebastian, where they hold the International Film Festival. Throughout the early medieval period, Avila alternated between Moorish and Christian rule until the Reconquest by Alfonso VI in 1085. Trip customizable. City tour where we will see the main square called Obradoiro and also the Cathedral (entrance included) dedicated to the Apostle Santiago. From my investigations, it seems like we could do a circuit of Barcelona (3 nights), Madrid (3 nights), Salamanca or Leon (3 nights), Lisbon (3 nights), Sevilla (3 nights), Cordoba en route to Granada (2 nights), Valencia (2 nights) and then back to Barcelona (2 nights). We'll be self-guided, relying on the train network. Is Coimbra enjoyable? I would highly recommend booking a guide to help you understand and focus. Very near Madrid is Segovia - fantastic ancient Roman aqueduct, and a lively social town. My work is closed from Christmas through New years day. Malaga is also the birthplace of Picasso, with a museum dedicated to the artist, and an extremely lively town offering tapas and nightlife galore. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Don't forget that many, if not most, places will be closed for much, if not all, of the 24th and 25th. It has a rich history and the city packed with innumerable monuments. Inspired by the Beaux-Arts style, it has a large vestibule covered in almost 20,000 tiles that depict scenes of daily life in Northern Portugal. It was established around the time Philip II of Spain moved the capital from Toledo to Madrid. When the city was reclaimed by Christians in 1236, the mosque was converted into a church. Destination/Cruise ID. It combines the Romanesque style with Baroque and Gothic influences and is designed more like a fortress with massive walls. Learn More. Some people race through both countries in seven days but that is a push and you will feel rushed. Center of the Christian Faith and World Pilgrimage Sanctuary with its impressive Basilica and the Cova da Iria place where the Virgin Mary appeared. But if you're in the mood for something more festive, you'll have to plan ahead. 2. Accommodation at the hotel. Accommodation. Faro, Portugal 6. It requires a car for the first 18 days as we travel through the country exploring the many cities and towns. Accommodation. The Centro and La Latina areas are close to everything, including tapas bars and restaurants, and its easy to find a good stay here. There are several daily InterCity trains between Lisbon and Faro that take about 3.5 hours. Save. On your second day in Porto, cruise along the Douro River and visit the Douro Valley, the region famous for producing grapes for the Porto wine. If you want a 5-star hotel, book a room at the Avenida Palace, or go for Hotel Santa Justa for something more mid-range. Valencia seems out off route logistically, it would be better to go there after Barcelona before Madrid, train connection between Granada and Valencia is very tricky. The ultimate journey through two of Europes most fascinating & diverse countries has to offer! Visit the Jeronimo Monastery (another UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Belem Tower and stop at the Pastis de Belm, the place where the delicious Portuguese egg tarts were invented. We did a super Douro River cruise that I highly recommend. Accommodation at the hotel. You can take a tour of the stadium and then visit the museum inside. Instead, try to connect to the general vibe. But I know that it can seem overwhelming when youre sitting down to plan out an itinerary for the first time. A visit here will take you through the history of medicine in Barcelona whilst you admire an outstanding architectural piece. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Visit the highlights of Madrid, like the El Prado Museum. Filter for departure dates and price to find the right 7 day Portugal and Spain tour with TourRadar. How Many Days Do You Need for a Spain & Portugal Trip? Klarna Bank AB (publ). It will take several hours to see it all, along with the small museum inside, so try to be there early in the morning to avoid the crowds. You can add some about text, or any other kind of widget content. The balance of the day at your leisure. Lisbon 3 > Obidos 1 > Coimbra 2 > Porto 4 > Seville 3 > Cordoba 3 > Madrid 4 > Toledo 1 > Madrid 1. Seville and Toledo are MUST SEE for Spain. It combines the Gothic, Italian Renaissance, and Mudjar styles in an architectural masterpiece decorated with marble columns, azulejos, and flowers. Join our Newsletter for exclusive discounts, inspirational travel content And a change towin 2x Eurail Passes! And a beautiful one it is too. Below, weve created a 10-day itinerary that takes in Portugals main cities, historical sites, and idyllic beaches at a modest pace. Spend one day walking the neighborhoods of the historic Lisbon Center, one day in the Belam area, and one day in Sintra. After several months of research, we developed this Spain and Portugal Itinerary for 25 Days that is round trip from Madrid. It has an overall bohemian vibe and used to be a meeting point for poets and artists at the end of the 19th century. A huge art hub, the Prado houses over 8,600 paintings, so whatever you do, dont plan on seeing them all. After arriving in Madrid, we will pick up our rental car and head west to Salamanca. Afternoon at leisure for you to discover exclusive views, specific flavors of this active full of light city. Stop by the Lisbon Cathedral to see where St Anthony was baptised. This historic university still gives it a youthful charm, and the medieval buildings make it one of Portugals most architecturally beautiful destinations. SLEEPN Atocha and Petit Palace Triball come highly recommended. So many potential places in Spain, and youve got some fantastic places listed. The star is the Baroque loggia, lovely decorated with azulejos. All the big towns in Spain and Portugal are connected through direct flights that are shorter than 1 hour and 30 minutes, so if you want to travel fast, it might be worth adding in some flights. Flamenco dancing, tapas bars, Roman ruins, a massive cathedral, the Alczar palace complex and river views combine to make it an impressive stopover. The center of Spain is 1 hour ahead of Portugal. PLEASE NOTE: Spain may span multiple time zones. We are using the Europe/Madrid time zone. For more accuracy, choose specific cities for each location. For example, compare Portugal to Madrid, Spain with Portugal to Las Palmas, Spain. I'll be at hostels over Xmas/NYE so I'm hoping it should be fine socially (usually is). However, you can see the main cities and taste a bit of the local culture in about 14 days. Probably the only plane is from Porto > Seville. This is what actually tells the stories of the confluence of these cultures which resulted from repeated conquests. But at such a distance, with limited opportunities to repeat, it sounds like you got the absolute best out of it, side trips included, and saw one hell of a lot. Barcelona, Spain Barcelona is a great place to start your Spain and Portugal itinerary. Mixture of plane/train/bus. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-87151574', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');villa minutely! This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Many describe Spain and Portugal as some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. AARP SAVE $100 on select vacations. Tomar was especially important in the 15th century when it was a center of Portuguese overseas expansion under Henry the Navigator, the Grand Master of theOrder of Christ, successor organization to the Templars in Portugal. Sintra is a picturesque town that boasts extravagant palaces, ancient castles and stunning scenery and lies only 25km from Lisbon. Morning sightseeing tour of the ancient Olissippo, drive through its main squares and avenues, Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Coach Museum, Monument to the Discoverers, Marquis of Pombal Square, Liberty Avenue. Barcelona has a wonderful beach, but Costs Brava is an entire coast of beaches, with inland mountains, volcanic craters and more. Highlights. Free time. I seem to be the only person on the planet who was underwhelmed by Ronda, but I'd definitely vote for Granada. As you can see, this Portugal and Spain itinerary takes in a lot in two weeks. Accommodation. Seville, Spain 7. I lived in Spain for years and frequently crossed the border into Portugal. You can visit the Cristo de la Luz Mosque, El Transito Synagogue, and the Toledo Cathedral to see how cultures crossed in this city that attracted Goya and Picasso. Porto is a beautiful vibrant city set on the banks of the Douro River. The Madrid part of my trip is quite large now. Only 73 km from Madrid, Toledo is the former capital and something of a museum city reflecting the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian heritage of the people who built it. Please try again later. You'll be treated with several stately bridges, a medieval district packed with winding streets and quaint houses, beautiful parks, an abundance of Port wine and a vibrant artistic scene and nightlife. You can spend a full day driving around the coast, stopping to visit the medieval city of Girona, zipping off to Michelin starred museums and taking in the surreal nature of the Dali Museum. Our ideal itinerary is Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Maderia Island and Lisbon. But if you have less time, you can skip Sintra or Cascais and head directly to Seville.