Stand beneath the soaring towers of La Sagrada Familia Cathedral and then wander the gilded halls of Spain’s royal palace. Follow in the footsteps of celebrated Portuguese explorers and then traverse the narrow cobbled lanes of an ancient Moorish neighborhood. Your customizable tour will encompass the highlights of Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon and immerse you in natural beauty, diverse culture, and unrestrained history. Bask in the beautiful sounds of Portuguese Fado and indulge...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Barcelona – Arrive in the Captivating Mediterranean Atmosphere of Barcelona
Barcelona is a sunny mixture the Mediterranean climate with boundless architecture and endless movement that sweeps through the wide boulevards and narrow Gothic lanes. The sunlight soaks the golden sand beaches and highlights the backdrop of cyclists, joggers, and handholding-couples that stroll along the coastline. The hilltop of Montjuïc shimmers with blossoming flowers, elegant sculptures, and a stunning panoramic view of the city below. Your flight will land at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, where your private transfer will greet you upon arrival.
The city will grip you with its exciting and intoxicating atmosphere the moment you step off of the plane. Trees shade the walkways along the grand boulevard of Passeig de Gracia at the heart of town as shops decorate their windows with graceful and grandiose displays to charm passersby. Colorful mosaics adorn the pedestrian street of Las Ramblas, with red, blue, white, and yellow tiles as the scent of garlic, stewed tomatoes, and fresh oranges emanates from the aisles of La Boqueria Market, whose origins date back to the 13th century. Your private transfer will escort you to the comforts of your gorgeous accommodation near the center of the city and allow you the remainder of the day to get acquainted with the unimaginable splendor of Barcelona.
What's Included:
Day 2
Barcelona – Explore the Highlights of Barcelona on a Private Guided Tour
Day 3
Barcelona – Relish a Day in Barcelona and the Surroundings at your Leisure
Day 4
Madrid – Transfer by Scenic High-Speed Train to Spain’s Capital, Madrid
Day 5
Madrid – Discover the Monuments and Sites of Madrid on a Guided Tour
Day 6
Madrid – Stroll through Madrid to Find History and Culture at your Leisure
Day 7
Lisbon – Fly from Spain’s Capital to Lisbon, the Capital of Portugal
Day 8
Lisbon – Relish a Sightseeing Excursion around Historic and Cultural Lisbon
Day 9
Lisbon – Delight in an Adventurous or Relaxing Day in Lisbon at Leisure
Day 10
Lisbon – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Witness the surreal and majestic spectacle of Antonin Gaudi’s architecture that decorates the streets and skyline of Barcelona
- Trace the evolution of Pablo Picasso’s career through a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter and Picasso Museum
- Indulge in the spirit of Portugal during an enticing dinner accompanied by the sounds of Fado, the national music
- Witness the opulence and grandeur of Spain’s regal history during a private tour of the Royal Palace, which rivals Versailles in size and embellishments
- Discover the enchanting medieval towns outside of Madrid during a private tour of the preserved hillside town of Pedraza de la Sierra
- View the tomb of Vasco da Gama located inside the marvelous Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Lisbon
- Embrace the Catalan culture and pace while traversing the walkways of Las Ramblas and the aisles of La Boqueria Market
- Bask in the ultimate panorama of Lisbon from atop the National Pantheon in the ancient quarter of Alfama
Detailed Description
The highlights of Spain and Portugal bring the thrill of discovery, the charms of local culture, the context of history, and the enticing flavors of the cuisine. Your 10-day adventure will begin with your arrival at Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Your private transfer will greet you at customs and escort you to the comforts of your gorgeous hotel in the heart of the city. The remainder of the day will be yours to explore the narrow lanes of the Gothic Quarter or wander along the mosaic tiles of Las Ramblas at your desired pace. Wake the next day, and your guide will greet you in the hotel lobby and lead you on a remarkable tour of the city’s old neighborhoods and iconic architecture. Witness the preserved facades created by Antonin Gaudi and traverse the elegance of Passeig de Grácia.
The next day will be yours to enjoy the magnificence of Barcelona at your leisure. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Montjuïc or spend time wandering through hidden tapas bars on a food tour of the city. You could also visit the Gothic Quarter to view the Picasso Museum. The next day, your private transfer will escort you to the train station to board your first-class car on the high-speed train to Madrid. After settling into the luxury of your centrally located hotel, you will have the remainder of the day to discover the fast-pace streets of Spain’s capital city. Find the statue dedicated to the author of Don Quixote or wander the greenery of El Retiro Park.
Continue as your guide will take you on a historical tour of the city beginning with the celebrated art of the Prado Museum. Visit Plaza de España and the ornate Royal Palace before viewing the neoclassical Puerta de Alcalá. The next day is yours to view Madrid as you desire, from visiting the church of San Francisco el Grande to spending the day in the medieval cities of Toledo, Siguenza, and Pedraza de la Sierra. Transfer to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid the following day for your brief flight to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Your private transfer will escort you to your luxurious hotel at the center of the historical district, providing easy access to the monuments of the city that started to Age of Exploration. In the evening, you will enjoy an introduction to Portuguese music and cuisine with a dinner and Fado performance.
Your guide will greet you in your hotel lobby the next morning ready to take you on a grand tour of the former imperial capital. Traverse the Moorish district of Alfama and the walkways along Avenida da Liberdade before viewing Vasco da Gama’s tomb inside the extravagant Jerónimos Monastery. The next day is once again at your leisure to discover the wonders of the capital city and its surroundings. Visit the Museum of the Orient or enjoy the unique boutique shops for which the city is famous. You could also venture to the Atlantic coast to view the charming town of Cascais. Conclude as your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Lisbon Portela Airport for your flight home.
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
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.94 stars based on 536 reviews.
We had an excellent trip! We loved the tours and how the Zicasso travel company was accessible during the duration of the trip. We encountered one issue, but the team responded and worked with us to resolve it.
Reviewed By Nicole M.
The planning experience was wonderful overall. From the initial conversation about what my family was looking for to the final touches to the itinerary, Zicasso's travel expert was engaging, responsive, and helpful.
The accommodations he selected for us exceeded expectations; they were spacious, beautiful, and well-located. The tours/activities suggested were really fun and gave us a sense of the locale in a unique and memorable way that fit our family well. Once we were in-country, communications were easy and helpful. We felt very well cared for.
Payment to our travel company was easy and it was a real pleasure once we were in-country to have all the identified items already paid for. I would definitely book a trip with them again.
Reviewed By Olivia L.
Zicasso's travel specialists were absolutely fantastic! They had everything organized perfectly and they were there to help us out all the time!
Reviewed By Michael D.
We had a great trip! We had a few glitches, but they were taken care of quickly! We would definitely use Zicasso's travel company again!
Thanks!
You did a great job!
Reviewed By Diwya R.
The trip itinerary and guides provided in Barcelona, Porto, the Duoro Valley, and Madrid were excellent. They were very knowledgeable, professional and personable, and spoke excellent English.
Most of the drivers were very good, but we were surprised that some of them did not provide bottled water for half-day tours (we had to ask and stop to buy it). This was a minor nuisance, but given the price of tours and previous experiences, a simple expectation, as well as having the car cooled down and AC on during hot days when being picked up.
The tour manager did an outstanding job overall, but could have improved on some specific requests that seemed to be either forgotten or missed regarding an electric scooter/wheelchair we rented that caused some issues during pick-up and drop-off. Otherwise, working with her was a very good experience.
Reviewed By Boguslaw P.
We enjoyed the trip. The guides were good, although our guide in Lisbon provided a little bit too much history. But he was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed his tours. The communication with the Zicasso company through WhatsApp was very good and they were very accommodating to upgrading our transport vehicle because our luggage was large. The food tours were good. We enjoyed all the sites that we saw. Barcelona, especially, was great.
We stayed at four hotels. Only the hotel in Porto was a disappointment. The other hotels were good and we were very comfortable. The breakfast that was served at the various accommodations varied in quality, but the breakfast buffet in Lisbon was extremely good. The hotel in Porto was definitely not a four-star facility. The local airline definitely does not have its act together. When we left Barcelona to come home, the line for the airline was about five or six times the length of every other line. I would have definitely been willing to pay a higher amount for a business class seat in order to use the very short line in the Porto airport.
Reviewed By Mark W.