Packing 2 weeks in to Spain and Portugal is not an easy task but it is doable. There is so much to experience in both countries that it can be hard to pick and choose what to see and where to visit. If this is your first time visiting Spain and Portugal then this two week itinerary will give you a wide variety of things to do and places to see and will definitely spark your interest to come back for more.
Notes on the Itinerary
- You can visit Portugal and then Spain or vice versa. I visited Spain first but don’t feel like you need to stick to this
- I used a combination of trains and buses in Spain. A website like Trainline can show you the best, cheapest and fastest options between cities. Sometimes they are buses than trains
- Most of these 2 weeks will be spent in Spain than Portugal, but I will show you alternatives below
- I have linked individual posts outlining details for each city. Click these to read more about each place!
Spain
This 2 week itinerary spends about 9 days in Spain and the rest in Portugal. If you want to cut out a city in Spain and spend more time in Portugal then cut out Madrid. Madrid is a big European city in my opinion. The real beating heart of Spain is in Andalucía and you will visit 3 cities in Andalucía on this itinerary.
Days 1-3 – Barcelona
If you are a frequent reader, you know my heart is always in small cities and villages than big cities. However, Barcelona is an exception. Barcelona is a popular city in Europe and there is a reason for that. It is colorful and vibrant and offers something for everyone. I found 3 days to be the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of Barcelona.
Places Not to Miss
- Picasso Museum
- Palau de la Música Catalana
- La Rambla
- Mercado de La Boqueria
- Gaudí sites
- Barcelona Cathedral
- Gothic Quarter
- Sagrada Familia
- Park Güell
Read a detailed itinerary on how to spend 3 days in Barcelona HERE
Days 4-5 Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain and is a thriving big city. Madrid has a lot to offer from art museums to food markets. If you are spending time in Madrid, you need at least 2 days to enjoy its highlights.
Places Not to Miss
- Puerta del Sol
- Royal Palace
- Cathedral de la Almundena
- Plaza Major
- San Miguel Market
- Temple of Debod
- Parque del Buen Retiro
- The Prado
- Reina Sofia
Click HERE for a detailed day by day itinerary for Madrid.
Day 6 – Cordoba
This small and compact city packs a punch. Córdoba was once an important Roman city and then an Moorish stronghold in the middle ages. Today, the biggest attraction is the Mezquita. Cordoba’s colorful patios also attracts people from all over. You can easily visit Cordoba in a day or two. The post I have linked below covers things to do in 24 hours.
Places Not to Miss
- The Mezquita
- Calleja de las Flores
- Roman Bridge
- Alcázar of the Christian Kings
- Patios Cordobeses
- Palacio de Viana
See more details on what to see and do in Cordoba HERE
Day 7 – Granada
I was so glad I was able to visit Granada on this 2 weeks in Spain and Portugal itinerary, even if it was only for 1 night. The main attraction in Granada is the Alhambra and trust me you don’t want to miss this. Getting tickets to the Alhambra can be a challenge sometimes as they sell out. This is why you should definitely read my post on Granada that I have linked below. I go over what to do if you cannot get tickets via the official website.
Places Not to Miss
- Alhambra
- Granada Cathedral
- Royal Chapel
- Albaicín
- Plaza de San Nicolas
- Basilica de San Juan de Dios
- Monasterio de San Jerónimo
- The Alcaiceria
Check out this comprehensive guide on how to visit Granada in one day. Including how to get tickets to Alhambra.
Days 8-9 Sevilla
Colorful and lively Sevilla is a must visit city in this 2 weeks in Spain and Portugal itinerary. I really felt the Andalusian culture at full force in Sevilla. From the colorful Plaza de España to the flamboyant flamenco dancers on the streets, Sevilla was a favorite for me!
Places Not to Miss
- The Real Alcázar of Seville
- Plaza De España
- Cathedral and Giralda
- Flamenco
- Triana
- Barrio Santa Cruz
- Iglesia del Salvador
- Avenida de la Constitucion
Read my detailed post on how to spend 2 days in Seville HERE
Portugal
With just 6 days in Portugal, you need to either select the North or the South to visit along with Lisbon. Unfortunately you won’t have time for both. It can be a tough decision to figure out what you want to cut out. I’ll provide some hopefully helpful insights below. If you decide to cut out Madrid, then you can squeeze in the North and the South as you will have 8 days.
First of all, let me tell you what I mean by North and South. North is Porto and South is Algarve. If you are visiting during the summer and love beaches, then Algarve is probably better than Porto. If you love port wine, then Porto is great regardless of time of year.
How to Get to Portugal from Seville, Spain
- If going to Algarve – there is a bus to Lagos that takes less than 5 hours
- If going to Porto – then you will have to fly (to save time)
You also can spend the days right after Seville in Lisbon instead of Porto and then fly back home from Porto. The most efficient way to get from Seville to Lisbon is to fly. Whether you decide to stick to my itinerary or switch will depend on where you are going after Portugal and if Lisbon or Porto is the better departure airport for you based on this.
Days 10-11 – Porto
Porto is like a mini Lisbon but also has its own flair and flavor. If you love port wine, then you must visit Porto and take a day trip to the Douro Valley. With just 2 days in this region, you can spend 1 day exploring Porto and the 2nd day in the Douro Valley. If you are thinking of winery hopping in the Douro Valley, then you need to either hire a car or take an organized tour like one of the tours below. If you are doing this on your own, don’t forget to make reservations at the wineries beforehand.
Places Not to Miss
- Ribeira district
- Dom Luís I Bridge
- Vila Nova de Gaia
- São Bento Train Station
- Churches with tiled facades (see my link below to a list with names)
- Porto Cathedral
Check out these tours of the Douro Valley from Porto
From Porto, you can take a direct train to Lisbon.
See what to do in Porto HERE
If you decide to visit the south instead of the North OR if have time to visit both then check out my must see sites in Algarve HERE
Days 12-14 – Lisbon
Lisbon is one of my favoirte places in the world! I’ve visisted Lison twice now and it’s deifnitely a city I know I will keep visiting. I had very little expectations coming from cities like Barcelona and Seville in Spain to Lisbon. Spain was awesome and I wasn’t convienced anything could top it but boy did Lisbon blow me away! I have said it may times on this blog and I will say it again, Lisbon truly is one of the most underrated cities in the world!
Places Not to Miss
- Rossio Square
- Alfama
- Belèm
- Many lookout points
- Santa Justa Lift and other funiculars
- Carmo Convent
Check out this day by day guide for Lisbon HERE
Day 15 – Sintra
Ok, I know I said this is a 2 week itinerary but I kind of rounded it down! Don’t worry though, you can easily fit in Sintra as a day trip from Lisbon. To do this simply reduce your 3 days in Lisbon to 2. This is especially doable in the summer when there is more daylight. Start your days early. You also have the night from the Sintra day trip to see any sights you missed in Lisbon the first 2 days.
Ok, now let’s talk about Sintra! I definitely saved the best for last! Sintra is hands down one of my favorite day trips from a major city. It is easy to get to from Lisbon and there is a lot to do once you are there. Sintra is a must visit on this 2 weeks in Spain and Portugal itinerary.
Places Not to Miss
- Pena Palace
- Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle)
- Quinta da Regaleira
- Sintra National Palace
- Cabo da Roca
This post has everything you need to know about visiting Sintra
Check out this itinerary if you have more than 2 weeks for this trip or have 10 days to spend in Portugal alone.
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