Essential Spain and Portugal

11 Days | Dive into the highlights of Portugal and Spain, from mountain ranges to thriving city nightlife

18 to 35s
From
EUR €1,364
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This trip is for 18 to 35 year olds

This 11-day adventure from Lisbon to Barcelona is the perfect introduction to two countries packed with natural scenery, cultural city life and delicious cuisine. Soak up the rocky coastlines along the Algarve, head out for some optional kayaking or boat rides, then dive into Spain for tapas, churros and hiking. Enjoy the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains on a hike, see some street art and dive into the local culture of Seville, Granada, Madrid and Barcelona. This trip has heaps of free time to choose your own adventure, making sure you see all the iconic sights on your list, with a handy local leader to show you the way.

Trip overview

Map of Essential Spain And Portugal including Portugal and Spain
Start
Lisbon, Portugal
Finish
Barcelona, Spain
Theme
18 to 35s
Destinations
Spain, Portugal
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 18 - Max 35
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
ZMYP
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.
Bucket list destinations

Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences

Great value

Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time

Meaningful experiences

Connect to the places you go and the communities at the heart of every Intrepid experience


Why you'll love this trip
  • Take a day trip out to Monachil in Spain and hike the Los Cahorros trail near the Sierra Nevada mountains. You’ll walk along suspension bridges, through waterfalls and soak up the beautiful natural landscape.
  • Feast on the delicious food in two countries known for their cuisine, with a tapas tasting of local favourites in Seville and a churros sampling in Madrid (don’t forget to eat countless pastel de natas during your time in Lisbon!).
  • Wander the colourful streets of the multicultural Lavapies neighbourhood in Madrid during a street art tour with a local guide and graffiti enthusiast. This company supports sustainable tourism and promotes social projects within the local community.
  • See the incredible views from the Ponta da Piedade trail in Lagos – this stretch of endless coastline boasts beautiful natural scenery, rock caves, grottoes, and crystal-clear waters.
  • Carve your own adventure with tonnes of free time for activities you want to do – maybe go kayaking in Lagos, see the sites in Barcelona, or simply chill out on the beach in the Algarve.

Is this trip right for you?
  • It’s bunking season! As accommodation on this trip is multi-share, solo travellers will share a room with other travellers of the same gender, an excellent opportunity to get to know other like-minded people. Travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to the single gender dormitories.
  • Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Please keep in mind that many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air-conditioning. In Winter, warm layers will be needed as snow can be expected in some regions. Carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
  • We recommend packing light for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations, buses and hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs, and across cobblestones. A travel towel can come in handy too when staying in European hostels. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the ‘Essential trip information’ section.

Itinerary

Map of Essential Spain And Portugal including Portugal and Spain

Inclusions

Meals

5 breakfasts, 1 dinner

Transport

Train, metro, public bus

Accommodation

Multi-share Hostels and Hotels (10 nights)

Activities
  • Lagos - Walk the Ponta Da Piedade Trail
  • Lagos - Orientation Walk
  • Seville - Orientation Walk
  • Seville - Tapas Tasting
  • Granada - Orientation Walk
  • Monachil - Los Cahorros Hike
  • Madrid - Churros Snack
  • Madrid - Orientation Walk
  • Madrid - Street Art Tour
  • Barcelona - Orientation Walk
Add on activities
  • Lisbon - Gulbenkian Museum - EUR10
  • Lisbon - National Art Museum - EUR6
  • Lisbon - Belem Tower and Monastery - EUR20
  • Sintra - Day Trip - EUR10
  • Lisbon - Ginginha Tasting - EUR2
  • Lisbon - Naval Museum - EUR7
  • Lisbon - Oceanarium - EUR25
  • Lisbon - Experience Lisbon Walk Urban Adventure - EUR45
  • Lisbon - Folk Art Museum - EUR5
  • Lisbon - Puppet Museum - EUR5
  • Lagos - Algarve Caves Boat Tour - EUR20
  • Lagos - Kayak Tour - EUR35
  • Seville - Museum of Art & Popular Customs - EUR2
  • Seville - Andalusian Contemporary Art Centre - EUR3
  • Seville - Cathedral & Giralda Tower - EUR12
  • Seville - Flamenco Show (from) - EUR25
  • Seville - Casa de Pilatos - EUR10
  • Seville - Archaeological Museum - Free
  • Seville - Torre del Oro - EUR3
  • Seville - Royal Alcazar of Seville - EUR14
  • Seville - Santa Paula Convent - EUR3
  • Seville - Museum of Fine Arts - EUR2
  • Seville - Indias Archive - Free
  • Granada - Alhambra Visit - EUR20
  • Granada - Mirador de San Nicolas - Free
  • Granada - Catedral de Granada - EUR6
  • Granada - Capilla Real - EUR6
  • Madrid - Royal Palace - EUR14
  • Madrid - Tapas Urban Adventure - EUR99
  • Madrid - Museo Reina Sofia - EUR10
  • Madrid - Museo del Prado - EUR15
  • Madrid - Real Jardín Botánico - EUR6
  • Madrid - Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza - EUR13
  • Barcelona - National Art Museum of Catalonia - EUR12
  • Barcelona - Museum of City History - EUR7
  • Barcelona - Old Santa Creu Hospital - EUR16
  • Barcelona - Museum of Gaudi - EUR6
  • Barcelona - Ethnological and World Cultures - EUR5
  • Barcelona - Guell Palace (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR12
  • Barcelona - Contemporary Art Museum - EUR12
  • Barcelona - Cable car to Montjuic (one way) - EUR10
  • Barcelona - Picasso Museum - EUR15
  • Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR26
  • Barcelona - Casa Batllo (advance booking required) - EUR29
  • Barcelona - Barcelona Cathedral - EUR11
  • Barcelona - Tapas Tour in El Raval Urban Adventure - EUR99

Dates and availability

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Important notes

A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 4, 5, 6 & 7 (multi-share hostels) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

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Essential Spain and Portugal
From
EUR €1,364