TRAVEL4REAL · CUSTOM EUROPE VACATIONSSupplier: Travel4Real
Park Güell overlooking Barcelona, Spain
Park Güell overlooking Barcelona, Spain · Illustration

T4R-11721

17-Day Northern Spain & Portugal

Barcelona and the Basque Country followed by Porto, Douro vineyards, Coimbra and Lisbon.

Your journey

Your 17-Day Northern Spain & Portugal combines northern Spain with a Portugal journey, from Barcelona and the Basque Country to Porto, the Douro Valley, Coimbra and Lisbon. The longer route connects city guides, architecture, food and countryside stays. Your travel expert will confirm the Spain-to-Portugal connection and the selected services before preparing the final program.

  • Barcelona · 4 nights
  • Bilbao · 1 night
  • San Sebastián · 2 nights
  • Porto · 1 night
  • Douro Valley · 2 nights
  • Coimbra · 2 nights
  • Lisbon · 4 nights

17 days in Europe and 16 hotel nights. Day 1 is your arrival day. International travel before arrival is separate. Your package brings together four-star or higher accommodations, ground transportation and the sightseeing agreed in your written proposal.

Tour reference: T4R-11721. Supplier: Travel4Real. Custom dates. Pricing on request.

Your day-by-day itinerary

This proposed route is tailored to your dates and interests. The written quote confirms which guiding, tickets, meals and transfers are included. Independent-day suggestions are optional.

a view of a city from a tiled roof
Photo: Taisia Karaseva / Unsplash

DAY 1

Arrive in Barcelona

Arrive in Barcelona and meet your driver at the airport, station or other central location confirmed in your travel documents. Continue to your selected four-star or higher accommodation, check in when your room is ready and take time to settle in after the journey.

Keep the remaining hours light. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a gentle introduction to the historic neighborhoods and waterfront or stay close to the hotel for a quiet meal. Organized sightseeing starts after you have had time to rest. International travel before arrival is separate from the hotel-night count shown for this route.

Overnight: Barcelona. Hotel night 1 of 16.

A view of a city at sunset with a mountain in the background
Photo: Boris Hadjur / Unsplash

DAY 2

Barcelona's historic neighborhoods

Meet your local guide for a walk through Barcelona's historic center. The route links older streets and squares with stories about the city's development, giving you a useful introduction before your independent time. Stops and walking distances follow the pace agreed for your party.

Afterward, choose a place for lunch and spend the remaining hours browsing, walking or resting at the hotel. Your proposal confirms any admissions and the length of guiding. The evening stays free so you have room to enjoy Barcelona without another scheduled activity.

Overnight: Barcelona. Hotel night 2 of 16.

Sagrada Familia
Photo: Siyuan / Unsplash

DAY 3

Gaudí's Barcelona

Focus today on the architecture associated with Gaudí, with the sites and admission arrangements selected for your package. The Sagrada Família and Park Güell are options to plan around, rather than visits assumed without reservations. Your travel expert will agree the combination before quotation.

Leave time between major sights for lunch and travel across the city. The final order follows ticket availability and your preferred pace. With a further night in Barcelona, you do not need to combine these visits with a departure, and the evening remains open.

Overnight: Barcelona. Hotel night 3 of 16.

The domed Palau Nacional housing the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya above Montjuïc in Barcelona
The domed Palau Nacional housing the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya above Montjuïc in Barcelona · Photo: Zarateman · CC0 / public domain

DAY 4

A free day in Barcelona

Make the most of a full independent day in Barcelona. Return to a neighborhood you enjoyed, spend time by the waterfront or focus on a museum or food interest. Your travel expert will provide suggestions suited to your hotel location and the season.

Optional visits and experiences are added only when agreed in the proposal. Otherwise, keep the day flexible, with room for lunch, shopping or a slower afternoon. You remain in the same hotel tonight, making this a useful pause before the journey into the Basque Country.

Overnight: Barcelona. Hotel night 4 of 16.

a large building next to a body of water
Photo: David Vives / Unsplash

DAY 5

Barcelona to Bilbao

Check out after breakfast and continue from Barcelona to Bilbao using the connection selected for your dates. Your travel documents confirm the departure point, timing, baggage arrangements and any station or airport transfers. We allow practical time for the journey rather than adding a major sightseeing commitment before check-in.

Settle into your accommodation in Bilbao, then enjoy an independent introduction to the riverfront and modern architecture. Pause for lunch or dinner as the timing allows, and leave room to rest before the next full day of sightseeing. The final proposal confirms the transport and services included on this travel day.

Overnight: Bilbao. Hotel night 5 of 16.

buildings and trees near body of water
Photo: Raúl Cacho Oses / Unsplash

DAY 6

Bilbao to San Sebastián

Check out after breakfast and continue from Bilbao to San Sebastián using the ground transport selected for your package. Your travel documents confirm the departure point, timing, baggage arrangements and any station or airport transfers. We allow practical time for the journey rather than adding a major sightseeing commitment before check-in.

Before leaving Bilbao, allow time for the riverfront and the Guggenheim setting. Any museum entry is confirmed in your proposal. Continue to San Sebastián and settle in near the bay or historic center. The final proposal confirms the transport and services included on this travel day.

Overnight: San Sebastián. Hotel night 6 of 16.

a sandy beach with people walking on it
Photo: David Vives / Unsplash

DAY 7

San Sebastián, La Concha and local food

Enjoy a full day in San Sebastián, beginning with the bay and the streets of the historic center. Follow the waterfront at your own pace or meet the guide selected for your program. Time for local food is a central part of enjoying the city.

Keep the afternoon open for a slower walk, viewpoints or a break at the hotel. A guided pintxos experience is an option to confirm before quotation, with tastings and drinks defined in the proposal. The day does not assume restaurant meals are included.

Overnight: San Sebastián. Hotel night 7 of 16.

Porto, Portugal
Photo: Nick Karvounis / Unsplash

DAY 8

San Sebastián to Porto

Check out after breakfast and continue from San Sebastián to Porto using the air connection and local transfers selected for your dates. Your travel documents confirm the departure point, timing, baggage arrangements and any station or airport transfers. We allow practical time for the journey rather than adding a major sightseeing commitment before check-in.

Settle into your accommodation in Porto, then enjoy an independent introduction to the historic streets and Douro riverfront. Pause for lunch or dinner as the timing allows, and leave room to rest before the next full day of sightseeing. The final proposal confirms the transport and services included on this travel day.

Overnight: Porto. Hotel night 8 of 16.

Douro Valley - Quinta de la Rosa. Pinhão, Portugal
Photo: Rach Sam / Unsplash

DAY 9

Porto to Douro Valley

Check out after breakfast and continue from Porto to Douro Valley using your selected road transport. Your travel documents confirm the departure point, timing, baggage arrangements and any station or airport transfers. We allow practical time for the journey rather than adding a major sightseeing commitment before check-in.

Settle into your accommodation in Douro Valley, then enjoy an independent introduction to the river scenery and wine-country setting. Pause for lunch or dinner as the timing allows, and leave room to rest before the next full day of sightseeing. The final proposal confirms the transport and services included on this travel day.

Overnight: Douro Valley. Hotel night 9 of 16.

A scenic view of a valley with a river running through it
Photo: Thomas Gabernig / Unsplash

DAY 10

A slower day in the Douro Valley

Enjoy a full day based in the Douro Valley, with room to appreciate the countryside beyond a brief day trip. Start with a relaxed breakfast, follow the estate or village suggestions selected for your stay and leave time for lunch with a view.

Your travel expert will confirm any additional winery visit, guided walk or river service before booking. Without an added arrangement, the day stays independent. Transport between rural locations needs planning, so the proposal identifies how you will reach the places included in the final program.

Overnight: Douro Valley. Hotel night 10 of 16.

La luz de Coimbra
Photo: José Francisco García Cuenca / Unsplash

DAY 11

Douro Valley to Coimbra

Check out after breakfast and continue from Douro Valley to Coimbra using your selected road transport. Your travel documents confirm the departure point, timing, baggage arrangements and any station or airport transfers. We allow practical time for the journey rather than adding a major sightseeing commitment before check-in.

Settle into your accommodation in Coimbra, then enjoy an independent introduction to the historic center and university setting. Pause for lunch or dinner as the timing allows, and leave room to rest before the next full day of sightseeing. The final proposal confirms the transport and services included on this travel day.

Overnight: Coimbra. Hotel night 11 of 16.

a large white building with a clock tower
Photo: Miriam Pereira / Unsplash

DAY 12

Coimbra university heritage and old town

Spend the day in Coimbra, exploring the historic center and the university setting selected for your visit. The older streets rise above the river, so we consider slopes and walking distances when agreeing the route. Leave enough time to appreciate the city without rushing through.

Your proposal confirms any university admissions and guiding, with access arrangements checked for your dates. After lunch, enjoy an independent afternoon or return to your hotel for a break. A further cultural visit or evening experience remains optional until included in the program.

Overnight: Coimbra. Hotel night 12 of 16.

Looking out over Alfama, Lisbon
Photo: Liam McKay / Unsplash

DAY 13

Coimbra to Lisbon

Check out after breakfast and continue from Coimbra to Lisbon using the rail or road connection selected for your dates. Your travel documents confirm the departure point, timing, baggage arrangements and any station or airport transfers. We allow practical time for the journey rather than adding a major sightseeing commitment before check-in.

Settle into your accommodation in Lisbon, then enjoy an independent introduction to the historic neighborhoods and waterfront. Pause for lunch or dinner as the timing allows, and leave room to rest before the next full day of sightseeing. The final proposal confirms the transport and services included on this travel day.

Overnight: Lisbon. Hotel night 13 of 16.

Walking around in Lisbon.
Photo: Diego García / Unsplash

DAY 14

Lisbon neighborhoods and food

Meet your local guide for an introduction to Lisbon, following the neighborhoods and food stops selected for your package. The city's hills make a practical route important, with time for views, stories and breaks rather than a continuous climb between sights.

Your proposal confirms the guiding, transport, admissions and any tastings included. After the organized portion, enjoy an independent afternoon, perhaps returning to an area you would like to see in more detail. Dinner and the rest of the evening stay flexible.

Overnight: Lisbon. Hotel night 14 of 16.

Pena palace in Sintra, Portugal
Photo: Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson / Unsplash

DAY 15

Sintra and Cascais

Leave Lisbon for the planned Sintra and Cascais excursion. Focus on the palace or garden visit selected for your program, then contrast the wooded hills with time near the coast. The day balances driving, sightseeing and lunch rather than attempting every major attraction.

Your travel expert will confirm the chosen admission, vehicle, guiding and exact stops. Palace ticket availability and local access arrangements determine the final order. Return to Lisbon after the excursion, with the evening free and no onward hotel transfer to fit around the visit.

Overnight: Lisbon. Hotel night 15 of 16.

Miradouro Nossa Senhora do Monte
Photo: FABIO VILHENA / Unsplash

DAY 16

A free day in Lisbon

Keep a full day open in Lisbon for your own interests. Follow a waterfront walk, return to the historic neighborhoods or spend longer in a museum. Your travel expert will suggest a manageable plan from your hotel, considering slopes, transport and your preferred walking pace.

Additional tours, admissions and evening experiences remain optional until agreed in the proposal. Otherwise, enjoy lunch and a flexible afternoon without a fixed group schedule. Staying in the same hotel gives you time to explore without packing again before every new visit.

Overnight: Lisbon. Hotel night 16 of 16.

Beautiful View in Lisbon
Photo: Filiz Elaerts / Unsplash

DAY 17

Depart from Lisbon

Enjoy breakfast as your departure time allows, check out and meet your driver at the location confirmed in your travel documents. Continue to the airport, station or onward connection specified in your proposal, leaving appropriate time for check-in and departure procedures.

Your stay ends after the hotel nights listed for this route. If you prefer a later departure, extra night or extension, discuss the arrangements before booking so we plan the accommodation and transfers together. International flights, meals after check-out and additional services are separate unless expressly included in your written quote.

Departure day. No additional hotel night included.

Your complete package

Your written proposal confirms the hotels and services selected for your dates. The daily itinerary describes the planned experience, with optional additions identified separately.

Planned package

  • 16 nights in selected four-star or higher accommodations.
  • Arrival and departure arrangements at the locations agreed in your proposal.
  • Intercity travel and local ground transfers listed in the confirmed program.
  • Selected guided visits, sightseeing and admissions as quoted.
  • Travel4Real planning and coordination of the confirmed itinerary.
  • Meals, tastings, ferries and domestic flights only where expressly listed in the quote.

Separate unless listed

  • International airfare and travel insurance.
  • Local hotel and visitor taxes payable at the destination.
  • Meals, drinks, gratuities and personal purchases.
  • Optional activities and unlisted admissions or transfers.
  • Rental-car fuel, parking, insurance and excess charges unless the selected rental terms include them.

Hotels, transport and pace

We confirm hotel names, room categories and transport before booking. Tell us about mobility needs, luggage and preferred walking distances during planning. Seasonal boats, mountain services and weather-dependent activities require date-specific checks.

Planning your trip

Is this a scheduled group departure?

This is a customized package with dates and services agreed for your party. Your proposal specifies whether individual activities use a private guide, a shared tour or independent time. No fixed group size or guaranteed departure is implied.

What does the price depend on?

Your travel dates, party size, room requirements, hotel choices and confirmed services determine the quote. Pricing is on request. We do not present historical client costs as current rates.

When should we contact you?

Contact us at least two months before departure. Six to eight months gives more choice for accommodation and popular experiences. We arrange complete packages of at least seven nights rather than individual services.

Are museums, cruises and special visits guaranteed?

Tickets and seasonal services depend on availability. We confirm the chosen visits and transport before booking, and agree alternatives when a service does not operate on your dates.

Where do we meet our guides and drivers?

Meeting points are your hotel lobby, the arrival terminal, station or a central location specified in your final travel documents. Exact meeting details follow the confirmed arrangements.

Read our trip-planning FAQs for the planning process, payments, travel insurance and cancellation information.

Plan your 17-Day Northern Spain & Portugal

Share your preferred dates, number of travelers, room needs and any changes you would like. Please include reference T4R-11721 so our team matches your request to this route.