Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon: Spain’s Historical Wonders & Beyond

The Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain

What to expect on this itinerary

History has always been a fascination of humankind as we can learn so much from those that have come and gone before us. Apart from life lessons, history also opens a remarkable window into the culture of the past. From the origins of local food to the style of homes in which inhabitants lived, so much information can be gleaned from stepping into a place’s past and perusing its treasure trove of secrets. This historically based 9-day journey whisks you away to the European gems of Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon, promising one unrivaled immersion into the history of the region.

Countries Visited

Portugal, Spain

Places Visited

Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Montserrat, Girona, Figueres, Sintra

Suggested Duration

9 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Barcelona – Historical Tour with Tapas

When your flight lands in Barcelona and you clear customs, your private driver will meet and escort you to your luxurious accommodations in the city. After you settle in, your private guide will lead you on a historical tour of the city’s highlights with your expert guide. This in-depth exploration will lead you to the city’s most famous locales, including the Passeig de Gracia, La Peddler, and a few of Antoni Gaudi’s architectural wonders. Your final stop will be Old Town Barcelona, where you can stroll through the captivating streets of the Gothic Quarter. Your tour will include several stops at local vendors that sell authentic Spanish tapas.

What's Included:

Tour
Accommodation
Transfer
Day 2

Barcelona – Three Medieval Villages

Day 3

Barcelona – Witness Montserrat Monastery

Day 4

Barcelona – Girona and Figueres

Day 5

Madrid – Attend a Flamenco Show

Day 6

Madrid – Cultural Food Tour

Day 7

Lisbon – Historical Tour of Lisbon

Day 8

Lisbon – Sintra’s Fairytale Locale

Day 9

Lisbon - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Witness the most iconic sites of Madrid before being treated to an incredible Flamenco performance
  • Stroll the lovely streets of Lisbon as you step back in time and hear about its fascinating history from a local and knowledgeable guide
  • Immerse yourself in a trio of medieval villages on a trip of discovery
  • Ascend to the summit of Montserrat Monastery to see where monks used to live and worship among spectacular Spanish landscapes
  • Be swept off of your feet by the whimsy and wonder of Sintra as you wander among its charming town and palaces
  • Indulge in the most delicious tapas as you are provided with a taste of Spanish history and culture in Madrid
  • Witness the Girona and visit Figueres, which is the birthplace of Salvador Dali, on a full-day tour from Barcelona

Detailed Description

When it comes to scenic beauty and options for entertainment and activities, the famed European cities of Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon are all at the top of the list for most travelers. Oddly enough, very few travelers realize what a wealth of historical treasures each of these cosmopolitan enclaves possesses.

This incredible 9-day journey will take you back in time and introduce you to the historical wonders of these spectacular cities. This incredible journey features the most elite and exclusive activities, including ascending to the heights of Montserrat Monastery for a trip to discovering the medieval allure of three Spanish cities on a private tour from Barcelona. You will also be amazed and inspired as you write the next exciting chapter in your own history book.

Your hand-crafted getaway will begin in Barcelona, where you will spend your first evening being led on a private historical tour of the city. As you stroll through its most iconic sites, you will also be able to sample local tapas as no proper tour of Barcelona would be complete without these delicious treats. Your first full day in Europe will have you leaving Barcelona behind to discover the three medieval villages of Besalu, Rupit, and Tavertet with your private guide. The following morning will have you embarking on a journey to the Montserrat Monastery, which is perched on the Spanish mountains just outside of Barcelona. There, you will spend the day being awed and inspired as your private guide regales you with the history of the monastery.

A pair of equally intriguing locales will beckon to you on day four, which is when you will venture to the Spanish havens of Girona and Figueres. On day five, you will depart Barcelona and make your way to Madrid, where you will waste no time in jumping into your first exciting event: a private historical tour of the city’s iconic sites. Following your comprehensive and enlightening tour, you will be treated to a spectacular flamenco performance, which will provide you with a glimpse of Spanish culture that you will surely never forget.

On the morning of day six, you will embark on a unique historical tour that will be focused on the origins and ramifications of the Spanish Inquisition. Following your informative and intriguing tour, you will spend the rest of the day indulging in a tapas-centered food and cultural tour. Day seven will have you transferring to Lisbon. Here, you will spend your first afternoon and evening on a historical walking tour of the city’s streets before indulging in an al fresco feast. Your final experience in Portugal will lead you to the impressive fairytale world of Sintra, where history is joyfully intertwined with rainbow-colored castles, charming streets, and much more.

During your journey, you will stay in luxurious accommodations and have every detail handled for you, including all private transfers to and from every destination. Nearly everything about his itinerary is customizable, so you can adjust nearly anything and everything to better suit your moods and desires once you are in Europe.

Starting Price

$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1891 reviews

Spain, Portugal Vacation Review: Penedes, Sagrada Familia, Wine Tour, Mosaic Experience, 5 Nights

Zicasso’s travel specialist was great, with great communication skills and great ideas. I recommend her highly to anyone going to Spain or Portugal. We had some really unique experiences with real expert guides, including a wine tour in Penedès, a tapas and history tour, a visit to Sagrada Família, and a lovely evening with a local artist making mosaics.

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Portugal Trip Review: Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Guimaraes, Sintra, Monserrate Palace, Joanina Library, Fado Museum, Archaeological Museum, Filigree Workshop, Cathedrals, 9 Days

There was a front of bad weather for more than four weeks in Portugal before we arrived. As a result, some of our plans had to be changed. Zicasso’s travel specialists were in communication with us the whole trip, letting us know about new possibilities. All worked like clockwork. The drivers arrived on time and the cars were in mint condition. The half-day guides in Lisbon and Porto were fantastic. The travel specialists were available for our suggestions and changes. The hotels they chose for us were what we wanted, boutique luxury, in good locations, near all the sites and restaurants. The rooms were small, but that comes with the choice.

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Spain Tour Review: Madrid, Seville, 12 Nights

We had a great trip, with knowledgeable guides who were very well organized. The one hiccup we encountered, the cancellation of all train service to the south due to a horrific train accident, was proactively and smoothly handled. A car service was arranged for us, as no flights were available. The hotels selected were well located in the historic areas, so we could explore some hidden gems on our own. The Madrid and Seville hotels were both historic and so fun to stay at. Overall, an excellent trip.

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Portugal Travel Review: Sintra, Nazare, Ericeira, Arrabida National Park, Lisbon, Hiking, Sailing, 1 Week

My trip to Portugal was absolutely amazing. Zicasso’s travel company went above and beyond my expectations. The itinerary was amazing and all the guides were incredible. Everything was on time, the accommodations they booked were five-star and in great locations, and enough time was built in for me to be able to explore on my own. I feel the cost was well worth the value. Should I ever go back to Portugal, I would certainly use this travel company again, and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to have a great experience on a Portugal vacation.

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Portugal Vacation Review: Alentejo, Lisbon, Sintra, History, Scenery, 1 Week

Zicasso’s tour company did a fabulous job in providing us with an exceptional Portugal vacation over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. They provided us the 24/7 coverage they promised over the holidays without a glitch, including addressing our weather-delayed arrival and multiple itinerary updates that this required without missing a step. We will be using this travel company again and recommend them without reservation.

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Morocco, Spain Travel Review: Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, Alhambra Tour, Prado Tour, 10-Day Trip

Our family had an amazing time on our 10-day trip to Morocco and Southern Spain! The itinerary that was crafted for us was wonderful, where we saw multiple cities, with simple transfers.

The tour guides in each city were wonderful, with incredible knowledge of each city and site that we toured.

The hotels in Spain that were chosen for us were also great in quality and location—ideally situated in each city. In particular, our hotel in Córdoba was beautiful, located in an historic building.

All of the transportation services used had professional drivers in modern, clean vans.

In the event that we had an issue, question, or needed a recommendation, Zicasso’s tour company was very responsive and really helpful. We really were happy with our experience in the planning and execution of our family trip!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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