Places to Visit in Spain & Portugal

Spain and Portugal have many places worth a visit, most of them in cities, historic towns and along the coasts. The easiest way to plan is to group places by city or region, then give each base a few days. Moving every night takes time that you could spend sightseeing. The sections below cover the main places named in our research, with what each is known for.

How should you group these places?

Think of the trip in three parts. Spain's cities include Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada, Valencia and Bilbao. Portugal's cities and towns include Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Cascais, Coimbra and Évora. The coasts and islands include the Algarve, the Costa del Sol, the Balearic Islands, Madeira and the Azores. Trains link many main cities, so you can move between bases by train where a route allows.

Barcelona

Barcelona is known for Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gothic Quarter. All three sit in one city, so a few days cover them at a relaxed pace. Our Spain Highlights 7N package uses Barcelona as its first base for four nights.

Madrid

Madrid is known for the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace. It is a good second base for a Spain trip, and our Spain Highlights 7N package uses it for three nights after a train from Barcelona.

Seville

Seville is known for the Alcázar, its cathedral and flamenco. Two major sights and an evening show give a full city stay. Seville Airport (SVQ) is one of the gateways in our research. Our Spain Portugal 10N package uses Seville as its second base for five nights.

Granada

Granada is known for the Alhambra, which makes it a strong historic highlight for a Spain trip. Our research does not give travel times to Granada, so confirm the route and timing with your planner before you add it to a trip.

Valencia and Bilbao

Valencia is known for the City of Arts and Sciences, and Bilbao is known for the Guggenheim Museum. Both suit a longer Spain trip. Our research does not give travel times to either city, so ask your planner to confirm them before you add either one.

Lisbon

Lisbon is Portugal's main international gateway, and its top attractions include Alfama and Belém, tram rides and city viewpoints. Walk the historic neighbourhoods and take a tram for a different view of the city. Our Spain Portugal 10N package uses Lisbon as its first base for five nights.

Porto and the Douro

Porto sits on the Douro waterfront, and its St. John celebrations are a major draw. The Douro Valley wine region is one of Portugal's major attractions as well. Porto is the other main city in the north, and Porto Airport (OPO) is sometimes used for trips to the region.

Sintra, Cascais, Coimbra and Évora

Sintra and its palaces, Cascais, Coimbra and Évora are all named among Portugal's top attractions. A day out to Sintra suits a trip based in Lisbon. For the other three, ask your planner for the right route and timing from your base, because our research does not give travel times for them.

The Algarve, Madeira and the Azores

The Algarve is known for its beaches. Madeira and the Azores are island destinations in Portugal. Our research covers the islands only as names, so confirm travel times, flights and the season with your planner before you add an island to a trip.

Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands

The Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands are Spain's main beach destinations. Málaga Airport (AGP) and Palma de Mallorca (PMI) are gateways in our research. For beach time, May to September is the main window in Spain, and the summer months are the busiest.

How many days do you need?

Our packages use two bases per trip. Seven nights covers Barcelona and Madrid, and ten nights covers Lisbon and Seville. Add nights for more places, and keep one base for several days so you are not repacking every day. Each extra city adds travel time, so group the places and keep the moves to a minimum.

Plan your places with a planner

Use the Spain Highlights 7N and Spain Portugal 10N packages as a starting point, then ask a planner to adjust the cities to your interests. Our Spain and Portugal tour packages page shows each option. For season and cost, read the best time to visit and trip cost guides.

How was this guide compiled?

This guide is compiled from published tourism, weather and transport information. It was last checked on 2 November 2026. Opening times, entry rules and transport timetables change, so confirm them before you travel.

Where to go next

• Spain and Portugal travel guide
• Best time to visit Spain and Portugal
• Things to do in Spain and Portugal
• Trip cost for Spain and Portugal
• How to reach Spain and Portugal
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