16 Day Spain & Portugal Tour
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Luxury Vehicles
Your 16-Day Tour of Spain & Portugal
Want to combine the best of Spain and Portugal in one seamless 16-day private tour? Here at Guided Spain and Portugal, we have enlisted the help of our tour planning specialists to put together the best of these two Iberian jewels into one succinct tour.
Of course, no tour can suit the needs of all our clients, which is why we will always work with you to customize every aspect possible to ensure the greatest tour experience possible for you on your 16 days in Spain and Portugal vacation.
Day 1 & 2: Guided Tours of Madrid
Where better to begin this comprehensive itinerary of Spain and Portugal than in the Capital and royal city of Spain, Madrid.
Your guide will take you on a journey from the medieval and imperial glory all the way up to modern life in Madrid as you visit some iconic sites & discover timeless traditions in between.
Sites Included On Your Madrid Guided Tours:
- Royal Palace
- Neptune Fountain
- Plaza Mayor
- San Miguel Market
In the evening of your second night, you can take a stroll around the La Latina neighborhood and enjoy a drink in a rooftop bar watching the sunset before you are transported back to your central Madrid hotel for the evening.
Day 3: Madrid - Toledo - Bailén
Your driver-guide will arrive promptly in the morning to pack your luggage into our luxury vehicle as you make the short one-hour drive to Toledo.
Toledo was previously the Capital of Spain and now with your private guide, you can discover Medieval heritage, and UNESCO-listed sites, and have those historic legends brought to life as your guide reveals the secrets held within the sacred walls of the monuments you will visit here.
Enjoy skip-the-line access for a private tour of the famous 13th Century medieval Cathedral, resplendent in ornate high Gothic style.
Alongside the Christian presence, the Jewish influence is strong in Toledo with two synagogues: Synagogue El Tránsito and the Synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca. The former houses a small Sephardic museum and the latter has some of Spain’s most beautiful Mudéjar arches.
In the early evening, your driver-guide will deliver you to the town of Bailen. An important site that served as a turning point during the Battle of the Peninsular War in 1808 when the Spanish defeated the Napoleonic Army.
Enjoy a walking tour of the city at night before retiring to your central Bailen hotel for the night.
Day 4: Bailen to Granada
After collection from your chauffeur and driver-guide in the morning, you will be in Granada in just one and a half hours, reveling in one of the most gorgeous and historically rich cities in all of Spain.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Granada retains an old-world charm that is disappearing from a lot of Spain. Indeed, here the tradition of free Tapas in local bars and restaurants is alive and well, whereas this pastime died out in the rest of Spain long ago.
Granada is home to incredible Moorish architecture and your first evening will be spent on a private walking tour with your guide around the old Arab quarter of the Albaicin.
Day 5: Granada - Alhambra
The crown jewel of Granada, and perhaps of Andalucia entirely is the Alhambra, and today you will enjoy a skip-the-line access tour to this absolutely majestic Moorish palace.
The original construction began over 1,000 years ago, and the Alhambra palace is one of the most spectacular sites to visit for ancient art and architecture. Moorish poets described it as “a pearl set in emeralds”. Simply a must-see when visiting Granada Spain.
Granada is also the birthplace of the Flamenco dance, and your evening will be spent enjoying the art form in one of the traditional Flamenco caves – not the name of a club, the venue is actually set in a mountain cave!
Day 6: Granada - Malaga
Just a brisk one-and-a-half-hour drive from Granada, your driver will arrive at the birthplace of Picasso, Malaga!
Naturally, we will want to pay homage to the city’s most famous son, so our first stop will be a private guided tour of the Picasso Museum, where you will find some of his most famous work, including Olga Kokhlova with Mantilla, Mother and Child, and Portrait of Paulo with white hat.
Perhaps Malaga’s most famous monument, however, is the 11th Century fortress built by the Moors, The Alcazaba. Alongside exploring the courtyards, patios, fountains, and sumptuous gardens, The Alcazaba offers some of the most stunning sea views to be found in Malaga.
In the evening we would suggest sampling some of the fresh seafood on offer in the local bars before retiring to your Malaga Hotel for the night.
Day 7: Malaga - Seville
Before setting off with your driver-guide again, we will enjoy the sunrise in Malaga while we savor a simple Spanish breakfast to get us prepared for the two-and-a-half-hour drive to sunny Seville!
Seville is a beautiful, historic river city and the capital of southern Andalucia. Enjoy an eclectic mix of Moorish, medieval, renaissance, and gothic architecture.
On your guided tour of Seville you can explore:
- The Royal Alcazar
- Seville Cathedral
- Plaza de Espana
- La Giralda
- Torre del Oro
Day 8: Seville - Lagos
This morning you and your driver-guide will cross the border into Portugal and the sunny Algarve coast. While we may be crossing into a different country, Seville is just a 2hrs 50-minute drive from your destination in beautiful Lagos.
The Algarve is known for the rugged natural beauty of its coastal cliffs, coves, and beaches. It is awash in the sunshine for nearly 3,000 hours each year. And with cool Atlantic waters lapping at the region’s shores and an eastern mountain border blocking out hot, dry winds from the north, growing conditions for fresh, flavorful fruits, vegetables, and herbs are excellent.
The Algarve is all about relaxation so our suggested activities are at a nice leisurely pace!
- Discover murals in the historic city center
- Boat trip to the caves
- A long beach walk on Meia Praia
- Sunset at Porto de Mós
- Eat fresh fish in one of the many restaurants
Day 9: Lagos Beach Day
We have designed day 7 of our 16 days combined Spain and Portugal itinerary to be free to allow you the maximum rejuvenation time and to freely enjoy the warm waters of the Med lapping up to your feet as you bliss out on Lagos’ white sandy beaches. For activities, you may wish to purchase ice cream!
In all seriousness, should you wish to go scuba diving or explore caves, scuttling across the rocks at the waterfront, simply let us know in advance and we will ensure everything is arranged and booked for you.
Day 10 & 11: Lisbon
Lovely Lisbon is a scenic 3-hour journey from Lagos. Brimming with historic charms and an alluring combo of glorious architecture, deep-rooted traditions, kind locals, and thoroughly modern flair, Lisbon has gained a reputation as one of our guests’ favorite destinations in Iberia
Famously built on seven hills, Lisbon’s terra-cotta-roofed homes, turreted castles, cathedrals, and gleaming white basilicas appear to tumble down the cobbled slopes towards the glimmering River Tagus. Besides walking, you can explore Lisbon on antique, rattling streetcars, modern tuk-tuks, and Segways.
We have planned 2 days for you in Lisbon with your private guide to enable you to visit:
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Monument to the Discoveries
- Belém Tower
- Rossio Square
- Santa Justa Lift
- Rua Augusta
- Commerce Square
- The Alfama District
- Castle of St. George
Day 12: Lisbon to Coimbra to Porto
Your private driver-guide will collect you in the morning to make your way to Porto – the country’s second-largest city. This is a long drive, so we will stop for lunch in the fascinating town of Coimbra, the medieval capital.
In Coimbra, you can:
- Visit the Old Cathedral and Almedina Arch
- Explore The Centuries-Old University of Coimbra
- View the Joanina Library
- Enjoy a classic Coimbra lunch of Lamb Stew
We will arrive in Porto in the early evening and your guide will take you to your luxury accommodation before dropping you off for a well-earned 5-star dining experience in the city center to round off the day.
Day 13: Porto
Porto sits on the Atlantic and the Douro River. It is relatively unspoiled, retaining a jumble of historic architecture in its undulating old town. But it is also a city of parks and gardens and the occasional flash of ultra-modern architecture. Porto is synonymous with the port wine trade, which has been dominated by the British. Hence an architectural peculiarity of Porto.
Truly exploring Porto in one day is a tough task, but all things permitting, your private guide will endeavor to take you to visit:
- Cais da Ribeira
- Livraria Lello
- Carmo and Carmelitas Churches
- The Azulejos
- Dom Luis Bridge
- Palácio da Bolsa
- Praça da Liberdade
- Casa da Musica
- Foz do Duro
- Porto Cathedral
- Clerigos Tower
- Sao Bento Train Station
- Church of Sao Francisco
Day 14: Evora day trip from Porto
Overlooking the Altenejan plains, the city of Evora was once the home of ancient Portuguese kings. The whitewashed façades of its old houses, the marble fountain in the centric Giraldo square, its cobbled narrow streets, the vestiges of the old wall, the Cathedral or Diana’s Temple, the remains of its old Jewish quarter or São Francisco church are examples of the wonderful historic heritage of the city. In addition, in Évora we can also taste Alentejan traditional convent sweets.
Throughout our exploration of this marvelous town, we can also see in its streets, churches, and corners, the traditional Portuguese tile. In many cases, the processes of this recognizable and delicate craft haven’t changed since the 16th century.
After walking across the most significant sites of beautiful Évora, we will end the experience in the best possible way: by visiting a local bodega that produces splendid Alentejan wines (a winner of an important blind tasting contest among them), paired with local petiscos. The perfect ending to a unique morning in this Portuguese setting: captivating, charming, and delicious.
Day 15 & 16: Barcelona
This morning we will say farewell both to Portugal and to your driver-guide, as we are taking a short two-hour flight from Porto to the cultural heart of Spain – Barcelona!
Upon landing we will arrange for a guide to collect you as you commence a tour of old Barcelona, to truly get a feel for the history and origins of this flamboyant, proud, and storied city. Choose to explore:
- The Roman City Wall from the time Barcelona was named Barcino
- The Jewish quarter – home to one of Europe’s oldest Synagogues
- Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar – A remarkable example of Catalan Gothic architecture
- The Royal Palace – The Palau Reial de Pedralbes former residence for the Spanish Royal Family
Your second day in Barcelona will be spent understanding how Gaudi’s unique, flowing and distinctly Catalan Modernism encapsulates the spirit of Barcelona through his architecture.
Sites visited on your final day in Barcelona include:
- Sagrada Familia
- UNESCO World Heritage Site Casa Batllo
- El Drac de Gaudi: The Dragon Gate at The Guell Pavilions
- Casa Mila – The last completed work of Gaudi before devoting himself to the Sagrada Cathedral
- the Monumento al Calvario, originally designed to be a chapel
Meet Your Personal Tour Planner!
Say Ola to Emily, your personal tour planner at Guided Spain Tours. Get in touch by filling in the form below and requesting your complimentary itinerary!
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Let us know your questions!
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US: +1 (240) 332-1519
Contact Us About Your 16-Day Tour of Spain & Portugal
All our tours are completely customizable and tailor-made to suit you and your group’s needs.
Even if you don’t know where you want to start and would like some inspiration, fill in your contact details below and your personal tour expert will be in touch to help you plan your perfect vacation in Spain & Portugal.
Email us
Let us know your questions!
Call our team
US: +1 (240) 332-1519
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