Iberian Peninsula in 12 Days

Portugal · Spain

Overview

This route sweeps across the Iberian Peninsula: Lisbon and Porto's riverside old towns, Madrid's museums, and Andalusia's Moorish heritage in Seville and Granada. High-speed AVE trains cover the Spanish legs; a short flight bridges Porto to Madrid.

Duration: 12 days
Pace: Fast-paced
Transport: Mixed
Estimated budget (comfortable): €1,250–€1,550

Route

1. Lisbon2. Porto3. Madrid4. Seville5. Granada6. Madrid

Highlights

The Alhambra in Granada at sunset
Porto's Ribeira district and port wine cellars
Seville's Real Alcázar and flamenco
Lisbon's Belém district and a Sintra day trip

Worth knowing

Fast pace across five cities in 12 days
Alhambra tickets sell out — book weeks in advance
Summer heat in Seville regularly exceeds 40°C

Day by day

Day 1

Lisbon

Main activities

Arrive
Alfama district

Overnight: Lisbon

Day 2

Lisbon

Main activities

Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery
Sintra day trip

Overnight: Lisbon

Day 3

Lisbon → Porto

Main activities

Train to Porto (~3h)
Ribeira district evening

~3 hoursOvernight: Porto

Day 4

Porto

Main activities

Port wine cellar tour
Livraria Lello and old town

Overnight: Porto

Day 5

Porto → Madrid

Main activities

Flight to Madrid (~1.5h)
Retiro Park

~1.5 hours flightOvernight: Madrid

Day 6

Madrid

Main activities

Prado Museum
Royal Palace

Optional additions

Reina Sofía museum

Overnight: Madrid

Day 7

Madrid → Seville

Main activities

AVE high-speed train (~2.5h)
Old town evening walk

~2.5 hoursOvernight: Seville

Day 8

Seville

Main activities

Real Alcázar and Cathedral
Plaza de España

Optional additions

Flamenco show

Overnight: Seville

Day 9

Seville → Granada

Main activities

Train or bus to Granada (~3h)
Albaicín old quarter

~3 hoursOvernight: Granada

Day 10

Granada

Main activities

The Alhambra and Generalife gardens

Overnight: Granada

Day 11

Granada → Madrid

Main activities

Train back to Madrid (~4.5h)

~4.5 hoursOvernight: Madrid

Day 12

Madrid

Main activities

Departure

Overnight: Madrid

Alternatives

Shorter version · 8 days

Drop Granada and Porto, keeping Lisbon, Madrid and Seville only.

Longer extension · 16 days

Add Barcelona as a 3–4 day extension by train from Madrid.

Related destinations

Portugal

Atlantic coastline, tiled cities and port wine, priced noticeably lower than Spain or Italy.

7–12 daysFrom €40 / day

Spain

Everything from Gaudí's Barcelona to Andalusian palaces and Mediterranean beaches, in one large, varied country.

7–14 daysFrom €45 / day