8-Day Highlights of Spain and Portugal

Itinerary

Day 1: Barcelona to Madrid

Stop At: Plaza de Espana, Western End of the Gran Via, 28008 Madrid Spain
Once we arrive is Madrid we will stretch our legs on an orientation walk through the main squares of the city: Plaza de Espana, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Calle Manuela Malasana 20, 28004 Madrid Spain
Later we'll relax and get to know each other better with a tasty dinner and some drinks in Malasana, the most hip district of Madrid!
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Central Madrid Hostel

Day 2: Madrid

Stop At: Madrid Metro, Madrid Spain
The day is yours to explore Madrid, so have a chat to your awesome guide to sign up for any optional excursions! If you’d rather just have a wander at your own pace, we highly recommend you visit the Golden Triangle of Art - that’s the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the massive Royal Palace. If that doesn’t entice you, then go for a stroll at the Botanical Gardens and enjoy the outdoors! If you’re keen to explore further, sign up for an optional walking tour around the city.
Later this evening you can sign up for an authentic and exciting flamenco show, or if you’re a bit tired from all the wandering today, then perhaps a relaxing hammam and massage experience would be more up your alley.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Central Madrid Hostel

Day 3: Madrid to Avila to Salamanca

Pass By: Valley of the Fallen, Carretere de Guadarrama, 28209 San Lorenzo de El Escorial Spain
Shortly after we leave Madrid, we’ll be driving through the Valley of the Fallen, the battlefield of the Spanish Civil War.
Next stop is the city of Avila, known as the Town of Stones and Saints, claiming that it's one of the towns with the highest number of Romanesque and Gothic churches per capita in Spain.

Stop At: Ciudad Vieja de Salamanca, Salamanca Spain
Join the guide for a orientation tour of Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage site! Home to the oldest university in Spain. This is one of the most lively cities in the country due to the big population of students.
This evening we’ll head out to a tapas crawl, followed by a few drinks in one of the city’s local student bars!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Central Salamanca Hotel

Day 4: Salamanca to Porto

Stop At: Ponte de Dom Luis I, Porto Portugal
This afternoon we’ll make our departure and head towards Porto! This charming city is known for its architecture, Douro River, Port wine valley, and “azulejos” - the local form of street art on hand-painted tiles.
Once we arrive mid-afternoon you’ll have some time to freshen up before we head out on our orientation walk. We’ll explore the Douro River, check out the local cuisine and head out to sample the famous Port wines of the region.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Central Hostel

Day 5: Porto

Stop At: Teleferico de Gaia, Vila Nova de Gaia Portugal
You have the entire day to spend wandering the beautiful streets of Porto. For any Harry Potter fans in the group, head to the Livraria Lello Porto, one of the bookshops which inspired the Hogwarts library. If you feel like checking out the scenery from the water, meander to the Douro River for a cruise.
Later this evening we’ll meet back at the hostel and take a ride on the Teleferico de Gaia cable car, before heading out for a sunset picnic dinner at one of the city’s viewpoints.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Central Porto Hostel

Day 6: Porto to Lisbon

Stop At: Centro Historico de Sintra, Sintra 2710-616 Portugal
Time to say farewell to Porto as we head south towards Lisbon. Around midday we’ll make a stop in the UNESCO-listed Sintra! We stop here for a couple of hours, giving you time to visit the Pena Palace, or hike up to the Moorish Castle. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views over the Sintra-Cascais National Park.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Park and National Palace of Pena, Estrada da Pena, Sintra 2710-609 Portugal
Explore the incredible Pena Palace at your own pace!
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Castelo dos Mouros, Estrada da Pena Parque de Monserrate, Sintra 2710-609 Portugal
Hike up to the Moorish Castles for stunning views over the Sintra-Cascais National Park!
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Bairro Alto, Lisbon 1200-109 Portugal
After you’ve stretched your legs, we continue onwards to our destination of Lisbon arriving mid-afternoon. Take some time to check in before we go for a stroll through the Old Town of Lisbon, Bairro Alto! Tonight we’ll go for an optional dinner in a traditional Portuguese restaurant to sample the local dishes.
Save some energy for later as we’ll explore the nightlife and grab a few drinks in Bairro Alto and the infamous Pink Street.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Central Lisbon Hostel

Day 7: Lisbon

Stop At: Alfama, Lisbon Portugal
It’s your final full day, so get your comfy shoes on and get exploring! We highly recommend signing up to the optional walking tour of Lisbon’s most picturesque and oldest quarter, Alfama. The tour lasts about 3 hours, and will cover the history of Lisbon’s rise to the title of Europe’s capital of espionage, the haunting traditional music, and the towering walls of Sao Jorge Castle.
To celebrate our last night together, we’ll get some drinks at a rooftop bar overlooking Lisbon’s Old Town and reflect on the trip of a lifetime!

Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Central Lisbon Hostel

Day 8: Lisbon

Pass By: Bairro Alto, Lisbon 1200-109 Portugal
The tour ends after breakfast. We hope to see you again soon!

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.