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

Expand All
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 3452 reviews

Clayton D.
Portugal Trip Review: Douro Wine Region, Algarve Beaches, Benagil Caves, Private Guide, Food Tour, Fado Performance, 10 Nights

The trip was very well organized; Zicasso's travel company listened to our wishes and delivered. We would definitely use you again and would highly recommend. We were very happy with Zicasso's travel designer's communication and quick responses.

See more

Allison L.
Portugal Tour Review: Douro Valley, Lisbon, Porto, Evora, Algarve, Braga, Guimaraes, Pena Palace, Pastry Experience, Food Market, Tile Workshop, Winemaking, 12-Day Trip

My husband and I traveled with our two adult children for 12 days through Portugal. Our trip was absolutely amazing, with every transfer, lodging, and tour detail seemingly tailored especially for us. Zicasso's travel expert was so wonderful to talk with as he planned our trip; he asked great questions to understand what kind of travelers we are and our interests. Our itinerary was perfect as we reviewed it prior to our trip, but as we experienced every transfer guide, tour specialist, and lodging, we could not have asked for a better experience. "Mahalo nui" (thank you so much) for helping us to experience your beautiful country and your even more beautiful and kind people. We can't wait for our trip back.

I wanted to make a special note of recognition about our transfer drivers/guides: they were absolutely amazing; so experienced and warm. We all enjoyed learning from them about Portugal and just felt so very well taken care of as they seamlessly transported us through your beautiful country and made sure we knew where to go and where to meet later. One of our drivers walked us through a local pastry shop to see the pastries being made; without him, we would have surely missed that experience. In Douro, another driver recommended a "locals" restaurant down the hill from our hotel. The owner was so kind he arranged for our server to drive us up the steep and winding hill to our hotel! These "special" experiences so reminded us of our beautiful Hawai'i and the spirit of "aloha" we felt so strongly in Portugal! At our departure, another driver walked us with our luggage into the airport departure terminal and showed us where to go (it was so much larger than any terminal we had been in). We would surely have been lost without his expert guidance.

Your tour guide selections were all simply amazing. We felt each guide's love ("aloha" for us) and attachment to each place we visited. We cannot thank you enough for all your work in planning so that we could truly enjoy and now have lasting memories until we return again.

With much "aloha" and gratitude, our "'ohana."

See more

Peter G.
Spain Tour Review: Baths, Flamenco, Guitar Concert, 10-Day Trip

I dealt with our travel agent to plan our trip for two couples. I knew roughly the locations we wanted to visit, but with her suggestions and recommendations, our visit to several cities in Spain was enhanced and made the trip even more memorable.

Needless to say, all guides and drivers were punctual and the guides were very knowledgeable and flexible to our needs. I would highly recommend Zicasso's travel company.

See more

Derek L.
Portugal Vacation Review: Benagil Caves, Hiking, Boat Tour, 1-Week

My wife and I recently returned from our trip to Portugal, booked with Zicasso's tour operator, and let me say, we could not have been happier. She helped us create an ideal trip in a little over a month, since we decided to book a relatively last-minute getaway.

Our travel expert was a pleasure to work with. We told her what we were looking for and she put together a fantastic itinerary for us. We were beyond happy with the hotels she suggested and booked, as well as every excursion, including private hikes and boat tours. Every part of the trip was well coordinated, including all the private transfers and guides, who were all exceptional themselves. She even met us at the airport when we arrived and even saw us off at the end of our trip, helping guide us around the airport to make that as efficient as possible.

Even on the days we had to ourselves without any planned excursions, she still put together a tentative itinerary, including suggestions of what to explore based on the location we were at.

Our travel expert was very responsive throughout our planning and you can tell she really cares about making her clients' experience the best it can possibly be. We cannot say enough good things about this company and therefore, highly recommend them if you are looking to travel to Portugal. Thank you again!

See more

Robert P.
Spain Tour Review: Barcelona, Scenic Drives, 1-Week Trip

The trip was wonderful. Our driver and tour guides were pleasant, helpful, and knowledgeable.

See more

Amanda B.
Portugal Trip Review: Douro River Valley, Grape Stomping, Dining Experiences, 10 Days

The trip was well planned by Zicasso's tour company, with only one scheduling snafu. The hotels were nice. The travel agents were very communicative and helpful.

See more

Customizable Itinerary

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

29,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews
Zicasso in the News