Spain and Portugal Itinerary: 10 Days of Culture, Sun & Comfort

Why Combine Spain and Portugal

Combining Spain and Portugal in one trip works exceptionally well because both countries share the Iberian Peninsula, have strong rail and air links, and offer complementary travel experiences. Portugal provides compact historic cities and Atlantic coastline, while Spain adds larger cultural capitals, museums, and nightlife.

Both countries are also well connected to North America, with frequent direct flights to Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, and Porto, making an open-jaw itinerary practical for premium travelers. For a short transatlantic journey, flying in Business Class Flights or First Class Flights significantly improves arrival comfort and reduces jet lag.

Explore the main gateways here:
Business Class to Lisbon
Business Class to Porto
Business Class to Madrid
Business Class to Barcelona

Sample 10-Day Itinerary

A Spain-Portugal itinerary of 10 days is best structured from west to east, starting in Portugal and ending in Spain. This classic route allows you to combine Lisbon and Porto with major Spanish cities such as Madrid and Barcelona without excessive backtracking. A well-planned 10 day Portugal itinerary and Spain highlights efficient rail and air connections between the two countries. This structure keeps travel time short and maximizes sightseeing across the Iberian Peninsula.

Lisbon - Porto - Madrid - Barcelona

A typical breakdown:

• Lisbon (2–3 days): Lisbon is built on seven hills along the Tagus River and combines medieval neighborhoods with maritime history from the Age of Discoveries. The Belém district contains UNESCO-listed monuments such as Jerónimos Monastery, while Alfama preserves the city’s oldest streets and traditional fado music culture. Two to three days allows time for viewpoints, historic trams, and nearby coastal areas.
• Porto (2 days): Porto developed as a major trading port on the Douro River and is the center of Portugal’s port wine industry. The Ribeira district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia offer tastings and river views. Two days is sufficient for the historic center, bridges, and a short Douro cruise.
• Madrid (2–3 days): Madrid is Spain’s capital and home to the Golden Triangle of Art, including the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen museums. The Royal Palace is one of the largest in Europe, and Retiro Park provides a central green space for walking and relaxation. Two to three days allows coverage of major museums, historic squares, and neighborhoods.
• Barcelona (2–3 days): Barcelona combines Roman foundations with modernist architecture, most notably Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, still under construction after more than 140 years. The Gothic Quarter preserves medieval streets, while the waterfront and beaches add a coastal dimension to the city. Two to three days balances architecture, museums, and seaside walking.

Travel between Lisbon and Porto is best by high-speed train (about 3 hours). Porto to Madrid is usually fastest by short flight TAP Portugal (about 1 hour 15 minutes). Madrid to Barcelona is connected by high-speed AVE train in 2 hours 30 minutes.

This route minimizes backtracking and keeps travel time efficient.

Top Sights in Each City briefly

• Lisbon: Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, historic tram routes, viewpoints over the Tagus River.
• Porto: Dom Luís I Bridge, Douro Valley wine lodges, riverfront old town.
• Madrid: Prado Museum, Reina Sofía, Royal Palace, Gran Vía.
• Barcelona: Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Mediterranean waterfront.

All four cities have compact historic centers and reliable metro systems, allowing most sightseeing to be done on foot or by short transit rides.

Flight Routes and Open-Jaw Business Class Options

Spain and Portugal are among the best-connected European countries to North America, with frequent direct business class flights to Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, and Porto from major US and Canadian hubs. Open-jaw itineraries:flying into Lisbon and returning from Madrid or Barcelona, are widely supported by airlines such as TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, Delta, and American. This flexibility makes multi-city Iberian trips efficient and well suited for premium travel.

Direct Routes from the USA & Canada

Common nonstop routes include:

• New York - Lisbon : TAP Air Portugal, United
• Boston - Lisbon : TAP Air Portugal, Delta (seasonal)
• New York - Porto : TAP Air Portugal (seasonal)
• New York - Madrid : Iberia, American, Delta
• Chicago - Madrid : Iberia, American
• New York - Barcelona : Iberia, American, Delta
• Toronto / Montreal - Lisbon & Madrid : Air Canada

Important airline patterns:

• TAP Air Portugal flies from the US primarily to Portugal, making Lisbon the main gateway.
• Iberia flies from the US mainly to Spain, especially Madrid and Barcelona.
• US carriers such as Delta and American operate to multiple European countries.

Learn more about:
Business Class Flights
First Class Flights

Best Open-Jaw Strategy

The most efficient routing is:

• **Fly into Lisbon-**Lisbon is the main gateway to Portugal with multiple direct transatlantic routes, making it an efficient starting point for the itinerary. Arriving here allows you to begin in western Iberia and move steadily east without reversing direction.
• Travel overland and by short flights-High-speed trains connect Lisbon to Porto and Madrid, while short flights efficiently bridge longer gaps such as Porto to Madrid. This mix of rail and air keeps travel times short and reduces fatigue between cities.
• **Fly out of Barcelona or Madrid-**Both cities have extensive nonstop service to North America and multiple daily departures. Departing from Spain avoids returning to Portugal and saves one full day of backtracking and transit.

This avoids backtracking and saves one long transfer day.

Typical Business Class Pricing by Season

In general:

• Peak summer (June-August): Highest demand, limited discounts
• Shoulder season (April-May, September-October): Best balance of price and availability
• Winter (except holidays): Lowest demand, strongest upgrade potential

Real examples from recent seasons show:

• Shoulder season: TAP Air Portugal or Iberia business class from New York to Lisbon or Madrid around USD 2,400-3,800 round-trip
• Peak summer: The same routes often rise into the USD 4,000-5,000+ range

With Business Skies negotiated fares, travelers can often save 15-40%, bringing many business class tickets into the USD 1,300-2,500 range, depending on route and season.

Explore offers here:
Business Class Flights
First Class Flights

Best Time to Visit Spain & Portugal

• Spring (April-June): Spring offers some of the best conditions for travel, with daytime temperatures between 15–25°C (60–77°F) and low humidity. Cities are comfortable for walking, and coastal areas begin their beach season before summer crowds arrive. This is one of the most popular periods for combined Spain–Portugal itineraries.

• Summer (July-August): Summer brings very hot weather in inland Spain, often reaching 30-38°C (86-100°F), especially in Madrid and Andalusia. Barcelona and Lisbon experience heavy tourism during school holidays, and prices for hotels and flights are at their highest. Coastal regions and evening sightseeing are more comfortable than midday touring.

• Fall (September-October): Fall features mild temperatures around 18-26°C (65-79°F) and a noticeable drop in visitor numbers after August. This is the main wine harvest season in Portugal and northern Spain, making it ideal for food and wine travel. The weather remains warm enough for both cities and coastlines.

• Winter (November-March): Winter is cooler, with average temperatures between 8-15°C (46-59°F) in most cities and occasional rain. Visitor numbers and prices are lowest outside the Christmas and New Year period, and museums and historic sites are less crowded. This season is best for city-focused itineraries rather than beach travel.

For a 10-day combined trip, May, June, September, and early October are the best time to visit Spain and Portugal, which offer the best balance of weather, crowd levels, and flight availability.

How to Plan a Comfortable 10-Day Route

• Start in Portugal, end in **Spain:**Beginning in Portugal and finishing in Spain follows a natural west-to-east flow across the Iberian Peninsula and avoids unnecessary backtracking. Lisbon and Porto are compact entry points with strong transatlantic connectivity, while Madrid and Barcelona offer more nonstop return flights to North America.
• Use trains for short distances, flights for longer gaps:High-speed trains such as CP Alfa Pendular (Lisbon-Porto, around 3 hours) and Renfe AVE (Madrid-Barcelona, around 2h30) are fast, reliable, and city-center to city-center. For longer gaps like Porto to Madrid, short flights of about 1 hour 15 minutes save several hours compared to overland travel.
• Limit to 4 cities to avoid packing and transit fatigue:Changing cities more than every two or three days increases time spent packing, checking out, and commuting rather than sightseeing. Four well-chosen cities allow at least two nights per stop, which is the minimum needed to explore a historic center efficiently.
• Choose central hotels to reduce daily commuting time:Staying in central districts places most attractions within walking distance or a short metro ride, often reducing daily transit to under 20-30 minutes. This increases productive sightseeing time and minimizes reliance on rush-hour public transport.

This structure keeps travel efficient and maximizes sightseeing time.

Conclusion

A Spain and Portugal itinerary of 10 days offers an ideal mix of history, cuisine, coastal scenery, and world-class cities. With strong direct flight access from North America, flexible open-jaw routing, and frequent premium cabin availability, this is one of the most practical short multi-country trips in Europe.

Plan your route carefully, choose the right season, and start with the right flight.
The Iberian Peninsula is best experienced comfortably, efficiently, and well connected.