Essential Spain and Portugal
Essential Spain and Portugal
Essential Spain and Portugal
11 Days Starting in Lisbon and ending in Barcelona
Visiting: Lisbon, Lagos, Seville, Granada, Madrid, Barcelona
Tour Overview
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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Lisbon
Location: Lisbon
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
Ola! Welcome to Portugal. Your adventure officially kicks off in Lisbon with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe head to one of the many outdoor cafes and soak up the city’s energy. You could ride on the Gloria cable car – this bright yellow funicular is one of Lisbon’s most photographed images! Explore the trendy neighbourhood of Bairro Alto or try a pastel de nata (a sweet and delicious custard tart and Portugal’s most famous pastry). After your meeting tonight, maybe head out to the Miradouro de Santa Catarina with great views of the city and listen to the street performers play as the sun goes down.
Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Lagos
Location: Lagos
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, you’ll say goodbye to Lisbon and head to Lagos by public transport. Set on the banks of the Rio Bensafrim, Lagos has a temperate Mediterranean climate, many beaches and a rich cultural heritage. When you arrive, take an orientation walk with your leader to get your bearings before heading to the water along the Ponta da Piedade trail. A small section of the popular Fisherman’s Trail, the walk gives you great views of the natural arches, towers, grottoes and caves that have been eroded into this limestone coast. This afternoon you’re free to feast on freshly caught fish at a restaurant overlooking the water or to watch the sunset before throwing yourself into the pumping local nightlife.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Lagos
Location: Lagos
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
Meals Included: breaksfast
You have a free day in Lagos today to take on some fun, optional activities. After breakfast, maybe head out for a kayaking adventure and paddle through the clear water, natural rock archways and gorgeous coastal scenery. You could also take a 1-hour boat tour around the Algarve Caves, sailing along the coast and soaking in the landscape.
Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Seville
Location: Seville
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast, you’ll travel to your first stop in Spain – Seville. If the legends are to be believed, this city was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilisation. Seville is famous for its oranges, tapas and flamenco, all three of which are ingrained in the city’s proud people. When you arrive, you’ll get your bearings with an orientation walk. Then, the rest of the evening is free. Maybe explore shaded Barrio Santa Cruz or San Jacinto – the bustling main street of the Triana quarter.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Seville
Location: Seville
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
Meals Included: dinner
Today is a free day to wander Seville at your own pace. Check out the world's largest Gothic cathedral and maybe climb the adjoining Moorish tower known as La Giralda. While you might have to line up, it's well worth it for the views over the city! Perhaps visit the Alcazar – a complex of palaces used by Moorish and Christian rulers through the ages, now gaining international fame as a shooting location for ‘Game of Thrones’. If you’re a museum buff, maybe head to the Museum of Fine Arts or the Archaeological Museum. As Seville is the tapas capital of Spain, you’ll link back up with your group this evening for a tasting tour with your leader. Sample some of the tasty morsels on offer in one of the city's many tapas bars. After, maybe keep the night going and catch a local flamenco performance.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 6: Granada
Location: Granada
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
Take a local bus to Granada today. Sitting at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Granada is packed with Moorish architecture, great tapas bars and natural beauty. When you arrive, take a walk with your leader to get your bearings. After, you’re free to maybe climb the steep streets up to the Mirador de San Nicolas for sunset views over the famous Alhambra. You may also want to pass by the old Arab quarter of the Albaicin – a labyrinth of alleys, fountains, plazas and whitewashed houses.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Granada
Location: Granada
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
This morning you’ll journey to Monachil, where you’ll set off on a hike through the scenic Los Cahorros trail. This exciting hike features long rope bridges, swimming holes, waterfalls and a few narrow paths that require the use of handles in the rock. After, take the bus back to Granada for a free evening. If you like, you can visit the Alhambra Palace to discover the 11th-century marvel and its red fortress towers and gorgeous gardens. Explore the fountains and pools, centuries-old defensive walls, and the viewpoints overlooking Granada. Tonight, maybe wander down Carrera del Darro or grab some local bites with your group.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 8: Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
Travel to the bus station to start your journey to Madrid – the Spanish capital known for its boulevards, architecture, cuisine and manicured parks. When you arrive, check into your hotel and then head out on an orientation walk tonight with your leader to get your bearings. You’ll stop along the way for some churros (fried doughnuts), a staple snack in Spain and Portugal. Then why not ask your leader the best spot for dinner and head out with your fellow travellers.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Madrid
Location: Madrid
Accommodation: Hostel (multi-share)
Meals Included: breaksfast
Head out on a street art tour today with a local guide. You’ll walk through the streets of Madrid’s Lavapies neighbourhood and explore the district to really experience the art culture like a local. Learn some backstories of local artists and maybe even try your hand at some stencil graffiti too (if you’re lucky)! The afternoon is then free for you to explore how you wish. Maybe hang out in El Retiro Park or explore Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velazquez and other Spanish masters. You might also want to check out the Royal Palace of Madrid – the official residence of the Spanish royal family.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Barcelona
Location: Barcelona
Accommodation: Hotel (multi-share)
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today you’ll head to Barcelona, where Catalan cuisine, an eclectic art scene, Gothic architecture and non-stop nightlife are just some of the many highlights. When you hop off the train, check into your hotel, recharge, then head out to walk the streets with your leader. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to maybe check out the iconic Sagrada Familia – the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. Tonight, why not head out on the town with your group to a local restaurant and toast to a trip well-travelled.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Barcelona
Location: Barcelona
With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to extend your time in Barcelona, and it’s recommended that you do, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
Optional Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Multi-share Hostels and Hotels (10 nights) -
Meals
5 breakfasts, 1 dinners -
Lagos - Walk the Ponta Da Piedade Trail
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Lagos - Orientation Walk
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Seville - Orientation Walk
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Seville - Tapas Tasting
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Granada - Orientation Walk
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Monachil - Los Cahorros Hike
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Madrid - Churros Snack
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Madrid - Orientation Walk
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Madrid - Street Art Tour
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Barcelona - Orientation Walk
Transport
- TRANSPORT IN EUROPE
- Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.
Accommodation
- We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid 18 to 35s style of travel. Our first accommodation choice is always as close to the main attraction of the destination as possible, however, sometimes we are not in the right centre of action, which means you may need to hop on a public transport to get to the city centre. Service and accommodation in Europe may be different to the standards you are used to. Your accommodation will not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges and in particular destinations, rooms may be rather small.
- OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
- ROOMING ALLOCATION
- Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with other travellers of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports.
- CHECK-IN TIME
- Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for your arrival, especially if you're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means you won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, you can store your luggage and go exploring.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
Important Information
- 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.
Check out our Q&As
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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. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions