Iberia from end to end

Who it is for

For anyone who wants Portugal and Spain in one trip, with museums, old quarters and bar food.

Not for anyone with less than two weeks, since there are five bases.

The strategy

The trip starts in Lisbon, goes up to Porto, crosses into Spain at Madrid, goes down to Seville and ends in Barcelona. There are five bases, and Porto and Seville are the ones to cut if time runs short.

What you will see

• Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon. Commissioned by Manuel I in 1501 with the tax on pepper and finished almost a century later, it's the masterpiece of the Manueline style and a World Heritage Site since 1983.
• Luís I Bridge, Porto. Opened in 1886, designed by Théophile Seyrig, a former partner of Eiffel: a 172 m arch and two stacked decks.
• Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. One of the largest art museums in the world, opened in 1819 in the neoclassical building Juan de Villanueva designed in 1785.
• Catedral de Sevilha, Seville. The Gothic cathedral was planned in 1401 on the site of the former mosque, already converted into a church, and opened in 1507; rebuilding and extensions continued afterwards.
• Sagrada Família, Barcelona. A basilica begun in 1882 and taken over by Antoni Gaudí in 1883.

Day by day

Lisbon

1. 1
   Day 1: Baixa, Alfama and the castle

   1. 3The miradourosUp to half an hourEssential
   2. 2São Jorge CastleOne to two hoursEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Belém and the river line

   1. 9Belém TowerIf there is time
   2. Padrão dos Descobrimentos and MAATUp to half an hourIf there is time
3. 3
   Day 3: Art, Campo de Ourique and the river

   1. 7National Tile MuseumOne to two hoursWorth a visit
4. 4
   Day 4: Sintra (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Porto

1. 5
   Day 5: Baixa, the Cathedral, and the Ribeira, top to bottom

   1. 2São Bento StationEssential
   2. 9Lello BookshopUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 1Luís I BridgeEssential
2. 6
   Day 6: Gaia, the wine, and the river

   1. Palácio da BolsaIf there is time
3. 7
   Day 7: Boavista, Serralves, the Foz, and Matosinhos · if you have more time

   1. 7Casa da MúsicaWorth a visit
   2. 8Serralves FoundationHalf a day or moreWorth a visit

Madrid

1. 8
   Day 8: Austrias, Sol and the 17th-century core

   1. 6Royal PalaceWorth a visit
   2. Catedral de la AlmudenaWorth a visit
   3. 7Galería de las Colecciones RealesWorth a visit
   4. 4Cava BajaEssential
   5. Plaza Mayor and Puerta del SolIf there is time
   6. Mercado de San MiguelYou can skip it
   7. Chocolatería San GinésWorth a visit
   8. Círculo de Bellas ArtesWorth a visit
2. 9
   Day 9: Paseo del Prado: museums and the Retiro

   1. 1Museo Nacional del PradoEssential
   2. 3Retiro ParkEssential
   3. Palacio de CristalWorth a visit
   4. 5Museo Thyssen-BornemiszaWorth a visit
   5. Palacio de CibelesWorth a visit
   6. 4Cava BajaEssential
3. 10
   Day 10: 20th-century art, the south and the river

   1. 2Museo Reina SofíaEssential
   2. Mercado de San FernandoWorth a visit
   3. Matadero MadridWorth a visit
   4. Passarela de ArganzuelaWorth a visit
   5. 8Temple of DebodWorth a visit
   6. Plaza del Dos de MayoWorth a visit
4. 11
   Day 11: Toledo (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Seville

1. 12
   Day 12: The monumental center

   1. 2Real AlcázarOne to two hoursEssential
   2. 4Archivo General de IndiasUp to half an hourWorth a visit
2. 13
   Day 13: The river, Triana and flamenco

   1. 3Triana: market, Castillo de San Jorge and Calle BetisUp to half an hourEssential
   2. 9Torre del OroUp to half an hourIf there is time
3. 14
   Day 14: North, museums and the Roman world · if you have more time

   1. 8Museum of Fine ArtsUp to half an hourWorth a visit

Barcelona

1. 15
   Day 15: Ciutat Vella, the Born and Barceloneta beach

   1. 7Catedral de Santa Eulàlia and Roman BarcinoWorth a visit
   2. 9Museu PicassoIf there is time
   3. 3Santa Maria del MarUp to half an hourEssential
2. 16
   Day 16: Eixample, Gaudí, and Gràcia

   1. 1Sagrada FamíliaEssential
   2. 6Recinte Modernista de Sant PauWorth a visit
   3. 4Casa Batlló and La PedreraWorth a visit
   4. 2Park GüellEssential
3. 17
   Day 17: Montjuïc, market, and vermouth

   1. 8MontjuïcWorth a visit
4. 18
   Day 18: Montserrat (day trip) · if you have more time