Spain and Portugal Tour: Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon & Sintra

Embark on a full-day private tour exploring the visionary works of Antoni Gaudí. Wander along the elegant Paseo de Gracia, stopping at Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, two of Gaudí’s most iconic creations. Continue to the breathtaking Sagrada Família, where intricate designs and towering spires leave a lasting impression.

Explore Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, admire the Roman walls, and stroll along the famous Las Ramblas. The day ends with a visit to Park Güell, where Gaudí’s colorful mosaics and imaginative structures overlook the city.

In the evening, the Eixample, a short taxi ride away, offers one of southern Europe’s most established LGBTQ+ neighborhoods for those who want to extend the day.

Leave the city behind and journey into the Catalan countryside for a half-day visit to Montserrat, a sacred mountaintop monastery that has been a place of pilgrimage for nearly 1,000 years, its jagged peaks visible from Barcelona on a clear day.

Explore the Renaissance Basilica and view the twelfth-century carving of the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalunya, still visited by pilgrims who climb a narrow staircase behind the altar to touch the relic.

Take in sweeping views over the rugged landscape, where the mountain’s serrated silhouette gives Montserrat its name, before returning to Barcelona for an evening at leisure.

Board a high-speed train for a seamless journey to Madrid, arriving in just 2.5 hours. A private driver will take you to Hotel Atlántico, a refined hotel on Madrid’s famous Gran Vía.

In the afternoon, explore Madrid’s historic quarters on foot, uncovering the legacy of the Habsburg and Bourbon dynasties. Visit Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and the impressive Royal Palace, the largest in Western Europe.

Wander through medieval alleyways, discovering historic taverns and architectural gems before ending the day in the grand Plaza de Oriente, a short walk from Chueca, the city’s LGBTQ+ hub since the years following Spain’s transition to democracy.

Travel to Toledo, Spain’s medieval capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, perched above a bend in the Tagus River that once made it nearly impregnable.

With a private guide, explore the city’s labyrinthine streets, visiting the stunning Toledo Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic churches in the world, the Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue, and the formidable Alcázar of Toledo.

Learn about Toledo’s rich history as a melting pot of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures, a coexistence known as convivencia, while admiring the city’s Gothic and Moorish architecture side by side.

Return to Madrid in the afternoon for an evening at leisure.

Meet your private driver for an airport transfer and board a direct flight to Lisbon, crossing from Castile into a country with its own distinct rhythm and language.

Upon arrival, an English-speaking assistant will be waiting outside customs to greet you and accompany you to your hotel, Hotel Britania, a refined Art Deco-style retreat built during Lisbon’s 1940s heyday, in the heart of the city.

Receive a welcome package with relevant documents and tickets before settling in for the evening, perhaps with a glass of port to properly mark your arrival into Portugal.

Enjoy a scenic drive along Portugal’s stunning coastline, stopping at hidden sandy beaches and historic fortresses built to guard the mouth of the Tagus. Visit the elegant resort town of Estoril, once a haven for exiled European royalty and wartime spies during the Second World War, and stroll along the Tamariz Beach promenade.

Continue to Cascais, a vibrant fishing village turned luxury retreat, before heading to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, where the Atlantic stretches uninterrupted toward the horizon.

In Sintra, wander through the old town’s charming boutiques and pastry shops before ascending to the magnificent Pena Palace, a whimsical fusion of Gothic, Moorish, and Manueline styles perched atop the hills in a fog that gives the town its particular, otherworldly character.