Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon: Spain’s Historical Wonders & Beyond

The Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain

What to expect on this itinerary

History has always been a fascination of humankind as we can learn so much from those that have come and gone before us. Apart from life lessons, history also opens a remarkable window into the culture of the past. From the origins of local food to the style of homes in which inhabitants lived, so much information can be gleaned from stepping into a place’s past and perusing its treasure trove of secrets. This historically based 9-day journey whisks you away to the European gems of Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon, promising one unrivaled immersion into the history of the region.

Countries Visited

Portugal, Spain

Places Visited

Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Montserrat, Girona, Figueres, Sintra

Suggested Duration

9 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Barcelona – Historical Tour with Tapas

When your flight lands in Barcelona and you clear customs, your private driver will meet and escort you to your luxurious accommodations in the city. After you settle in, your private guide will lead you on a historical tour of the city’s highlights with your expert guide. This in-depth exploration will lead you to the city’s most famous locales, including the Passeig de Gracia, La Peddler, and a few of Antoni Gaudi’s architectural wonders. Your final stop will be Old Town Barcelona, where you can stroll through the captivating streets of the Gothic Quarter. Your tour will include several stops at local vendors that sell authentic Spanish tapas.

What's Included:

Tour
Accommodation
Transfer
Day 2

Barcelona – Three Medieval Villages

Day 3

Barcelona – Witness Montserrat Monastery

Day 4

Barcelona – Girona and Figueres

Day 5

Madrid – Attend a Flamenco Show

Day 6

Madrid – Cultural Food Tour

Day 7

Lisbon – Historical Tour of Lisbon

Day 8

Lisbon – Sintra’s Fairytale Locale

Day 9

Lisbon - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Witness the most iconic sites of Madrid before being treated to an incredible Flamenco performance
  • Stroll the lovely streets of Lisbon as you step back in time and hear about its fascinating history from a local and knowledgeable guide
  • Immerse yourself in a trio of medieval villages on a trip of discovery
  • Ascend to the summit of Montserrat Monastery to see where monks used to live and worship among spectacular Spanish landscapes
  • Be swept off of your feet by the whimsy and wonder of Sintra as you wander among its charming town and palaces
  • Indulge in the most delicious tapas as you are provided with a taste of Spanish history and culture in Madrid
  • Witness the Girona and visit Figueres, which is the birthplace of Salvador Dali, on a full-day tour from Barcelona

Detailed Description

When it comes to scenic beauty and options for entertainment and activities, the famed European cities of Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon are all at the top of the list for most travelers. Oddly enough, very few travelers realize what a wealth of historical treasures each of these cosmopolitan enclaves possesses.

This incredible 9-day journey will take you back in time and introduce you to the historical wonders of these spectacular cities. This incredible journey features the most elite and exclusive activities, including ascending to the heights of Montserrat Monastery for a trip to discovering the medieval allure of three Spanish cities on a private tour from Barcelona. You will also be amazed and inspired as you write the next exciting chapter in your own history book.

Your hand-crafted getaway will begin in Barcelona, where you will spend your first evening being led on a private historical tour of the city. As you stroll through its most iconic sites, you will also be able to sample local tapas as no proper tour of Barcelona would be complete without these delicious treats. Your first full day in Europe will have you leaving Barcelona behind to discover the three medieval villages of Besalu, Rupit, and Tavertet with your private guide. The following morning will have you embarking on a journey to the Montserrat Monastery, which is perched on the Spanish mountains just outside of Barcelona. There, you will spend the day being awed and inspired as your private guide regales you with the history of the monastery.

A pair of equally intriguing locales will beckon to you on day four, which is when you will venture to the Spanish havens of Girona and Figueres. On day five, you will depart Barcelona and make your way to Madrid, where you will waste no time in jumping into your first exciting event: a private historical tour of the city’s iconic sites. Following your comprehensive and enlightening tour, you will be treated to a spectacular flamenco performance, which will provide you with a glimpse of Spanish culture that you will surely never forget.

On the morning of day six, you will embark on a unique historical tour that will be focused on the origins and ramifications of the Spanish Inquisition. Following your informative and intriguing tour, you will spend the rest of the day indulging in a tapas-centered food and cultural tour. Day seven will have you transferring to Lisbon. Here, you will spend your first afternoon and evening on a historical walking tour of the city’s streets before indulging in an al fresco feast. Your final experience in Portugal will lead you to the impressive fairytale world of Sintra, where history is joyfully intertwined with rainbow-colored castles, charming streets, and much more.

During your journey, you will stay in luxurious accommodations and have every detail handled for you, including all private transfers to and from every destination. Nearly everything about his itinerary is customizable, so you can adjust nearly anything and everything to better suit your moods and desires once you are in Europe.

Starting Price

$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 3541 reviews

Patricia H.
Spain Vacation Review: Seville, Barcelona, Cooking Class, Gaudi Experience, Mosaic Workshop, 9-Day Trip

We received excellent customer service from Zicasso's travel company.

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Anna V.
Portugal Trip Review: 9 Days

We had one of the best trips. We never expected so much attention from any travel agency, from the beginning to departure.

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Jane M.
Spain, Portugal Vacation Review: Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville, Lisbon, Porto, 10 Nights

We loved our trip to Spain and Portugal! We enjoyed each of our private tours with our tour guides in the various cities we experienced. They went above and beyond to share their knowledge of the planned sites, plus they added in individual unique sites and information along our walking route.

Zicasso’s tour company took all of our requested activities, venues, and interests to customize a trip that fit us well. They were in communication with us during our trip when a planned site was not available due to construction. Our tour guide provided us with other possible replacement options and let us choose what was of interest to us rather than them making the decision.

We tremendously enjoyed all of the cities, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, and Seville in Spain and Lisbon and Porto in Portugal. Our trip went smoothly and the activities were scheduled at a good pace for us! An extra bonus for us was seeing King Felipe VI by being in the right place at the right time near the opera house in Madrid while we were on our walking tour. We highly recommend Zicasso and the tour company.

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Kitty (.
Spain Trip Review: Madrid, Barcelona, Tapas Tour, Sagrada Familia, Museums, 1 Week

We loved every minute of our trip and were very impressed with the attention to every detail. Each guide was wonderful, extremely well-informed, and fun!

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Charles H.
England, France, Spain Travel Review: Culture, Entertainment, Sport, Cuisine, 13 Nights

A few bumps were encountered along the way, but we were happy with the resolution and the overall experience.

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Mary+Ann R.
Spain Vacation Review: Granada, 2 Weeks

This trip was spectacular and Zicasso’s travel agent was very accommodating and helpful. He made our trip go from good to amazing!!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

29,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews