On this epic two-week adventure, you’ll see the very best that Spain and Portugal have to offer.
On this epic two-week adventure, you’ll see the very best that Spain and Portugal have to offer. You’ll kayak through caves in Lagos, enjoy the seductive flair of flamenco dancing in Granada, soak up the sun in Porto and indulge in more tapas and sangria that you thought humanly possible. Spain and Portugal will welcome you with open arms, so for all the best sights and experiences of these two beautiful countries, look no further than the Ultimate Iberian Adventure.
We spend 15 days exploring Spain, Portugal. We visit Lisbon, Lagos, Seville, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, Porto.
What Is Included...
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Your legendary Busabout crew
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14 nights’ accommodation
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14 breakfasts
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All coach transport
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Walking tour of Seville with a local guide
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Walking tour of Alhambra palace in Granada with a local guide
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A visit to Sintra
Trip Highlights
- Alhambra Palace and tapas crawl in Granada
- Kayaking and Busabout bar crawl in Lagos
- Explore the nightlife of Malasana in Madrid
Trip Departures
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions in place globally, we will not be running any trips in 2021. Get more information on why this decision was made or see below for similar trips being run by our sister brands, Contiki and CostSaver.
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15 Day Itinerary
Ultimate Iberian Adventure (Lisbon to Lisbon) 15 day full itinerary breakdown and route map
- Day 1 Lisbon to Lagos
- Day 2 Lagos
- Day 3 Lagos to Seville
- Day 4 Seville to Ronda to Granada
- Day 5 Granada
- Day 6 Granada to Valencia
- Day 7 Valencia to Barcelona
- Day 8 Barcelona to Madrid
- Day 9 Madrid
- Day 10 Madrid to Avila to Salamanca
- Day 11 Salamanca to Porto
- Day 12 Porto
- Day 13 Porto to Lisbon
- Day 14 Lisbon
- Day 15 Lisbon
Lisbon to Lagos
Welcome aboard! Your adventure is about to begin, so settle into our stylish coach and get ready as we depart for Lagos this morning, arriving by lunchtime. This ancient maritime town is one of the sunniest and warmest places in Europe, so make sure you have those sunglasses on. It’s the perfect destination to go snorkelling or surfing at stunning beaches and get a glimpse of sea caves and sinkholes along the rough Atlantic coastline. Lagos is also home to a charming and traditional town centre filled with cobblestoned streets, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. When we arrive, you’ll have some free time to relax by the pool or go swimming at Meia Praia beach. This evening we’ll meet back at our accommodation site and walk to the Old Town for an optional dinner at a gourmet burger restaurant, voted among the top 50 in the world! Then it’s time for the Busabout bar crawl through a variety of 4 different bars. - Breakfast included
Lagos
Lagos is yours to explore today! Why not start the day with a swim at one of the many gorgeous beaches, or wander the Old Town? This afternoon you’re welcome to join us for the optional kayaking excursion to explore the stunning sea grottos of the Algarve. Afterwards, we highly recommend hiking to Ponta da Piedade lighthouse where you’ll get the best sunset views over the Atlantic, and the stunning polychrome sandstone cliffs of the Algarve. - Breakfast included
Lagos to Seville
We say farewell to Lagos this morning and drive along the Portuguese coast towards Andalusia, the essence of Spain. Think siestas and fiestas, flamenco, tapas, Moorish architecture and whitewashed houses. We’ll arrive at our destination of Seville in the afternoon, and head out sightseeing. We have an included walking tour with a knowledgeable local guide, who will take us through the back alleys and squares of Seville, from the cobblestoned streets of the Cathedral district through to the Santa Cruz area. Check out the Alcazar Palace, declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. Tonight we’ll have an optional tapas dinner in a traditional restaurant, before heading back to the hostel’s rooftop pool bar overlooking the city’s Old Town. - Breakfast included
Seville to Ronda to Granada
We make tracks from Seville this morning, towards our destination of Granada. But first we’ll stop at Plaza Espana and have a scenic drive through Andalucia’s first national park, Sierra Grazalema. After a couple of hours we’ll have a lunch break in Ronda: a mountaintop set dramatically above a deep gorge (El Tajo). We have some free time here for you to check out the views from Puente Nuevo (a stone bridge spanning the gorge), grab a bite and stroll around the city. Then it’s time to climb back aboard for today’s final stretch of driving to Granada. We’ll check in late afternoon, and then you have free time to go shopping in the quaint old streets of the city's historic quarter! This evening we’ll meet at hostel for an optional tapas dinner––try the sangria, squid, croquettes and patatas bravas. Later tonight we’ll have the highly recommended optional excursion, Flamenco in a cave! A local guide will meet us for a mini walking tour through Sacromonte, and along the way we stop at a viewpoint overlooking the lit-up Alhambra, with the Sierra Nevada backdrop. - Breakfast included
Granada
It’s time to get out and about and take in the incredible sights Granada has to offer. Today we have an included guided walking tour of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens, Spain’s most visited tourist attraction. This is an easy-paced tour which will take us through stunning Islamic architecture along with the gardens, fountains and streams. With your free time you can treat yourself to the ultimate relaxation experience, with the optional excursion to a hammam at a traditional Arabic-style bathhouse. There are 4 different rooms of hot and cold baths in a beautiful, relaxing setting, with aromatherapy massages available as well. Once you’re feeling relaxed and revitalised, use that energy tonight on our Busabout tapas crawl through three different tapas bars! Have a bit of Dutch courage if you need it, because we’ll be hitting up an awesome bar to close out this epic night. - Breakfast included
Granada to Valencia
Fill up on breakfast and make yourself comfy on the coach this morning as we head towards Valencia. This stunning city is rich in cultural heritage, unique festivals, and home to the paella. A true foodie’s paradise! After we check-in, we’ll go for a stroll along the cobbled streets of Ciutat Vella, the historical Old Town. During the walk, we’ll tick off some of the main sights like the Plaza Ayuntamiento, the Cathedral, and––most importantly––the food market. Here we’ll sample the local dishes of paella and horchata. The nightlife in Valencia is truly unique, so get ready to hit the town tonight as we get the party going in the hip district of Ruzafa! - Breakfast included
Valencia to Barcelona
Feel free to tick off any last minute sightseeing this morning on an optional bike tour through the Turia Gardens to the futuristic City of Art and Sciences. We leave Valencia in the afternoon so settle in and get some rest on the drive along the Mediterranean coast before we arrive into the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona! This spectacular city has many beautiful sights on offer. Home of Gaudi’s masterpiece La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona is a city breathing life. We have some free time upon arrival, so you can go for a stroll in the Gothic Quarter, and learn everything about Spanish cuisine at the famous La Boqueria food market! Later, we’ll meet back at the hostel and head out for a walk with your Busabout guide down the city’s main avenue, Las Ramblas. We’re sure you’ll be hungry after all this exploring, so it’s a good thing we’re ending with a tasty optional tapas dinner! - Breakfast included
Barcelona to Madrid
Make yourself comfortable as we cruise our way along a scenic route through the Spanish countryside and the region of Castilla-La Mancha. Keep your eyes open for the Osbourne billboards, now used as the national emblem of Spain. Our destination is the bustling capital city of Madrid! Home to aristocratic palaces, incredible museums such as the Reina Sofia (where you can see Picasso’s Guernica), and bustling nightlife. Once we arrive, we’ll stretch our legs on an orientation walk through the main squares of Madrid: Plaza España, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor. When we get hungry later on, we’ll go for an optional dinner and check out the hippest district of Madrid, filled with alternative bars. Let’s raise our glasses to the start of an awesome adventure!
Madrid
Today, you have the entire day to spend as you please, so wander the city or sign up to an optional walking tour! We recommend visiting the Golden Triangle of Art and Prado Museum, as well as the massive Royal Palace. If you’d rather be out in the fresh air, or check out the botanical gardens or sign up for a walking tour. Join us later this evening to explore some more of Madrid’s eclectic bars. - Breakfast included
Madrid to Avila to Salamanca
Time to hit the road and drive onwards to Salamanca. We’ll have a stop en route at the city of Avila, known as the Town of Stones and Saints with the highest number of Romanesque and Gothic churches per capita in Spain. We stop here for a couple of hours to stretch and get some epic photos. Early afternoon we’ll make our arrival into Salamanca, home to the oldest university in Spain. You’ll be able to tell from the lively population that this is a student city! We’ll have an orientation walk past the Cathedral (try to spot the frog or the astronaut here) and Plaza Mayor. Tonight, get those taste buds tingling as we chow down on some of the delicious local cuisine of Salamanca, followed by a few drinks in one of the city’s local student bars. - Breakfast included
Salamanca to Porto
Rise and shine, this morning after breakfast we’ll be heading to Porto. This is the city known for its charming architecture, azulejos (the local form of street art on hand painted tiles), the Douro River and Port wine valley. We’ll arrive early afternoon, and you’ll have some time to freshen up and get settled. Then get ready to explore, as we wander out on an orientation walk along the Douro River! For those who’re game, we’ll head out to try the local cuisine and famous Port wines of the region. - Breakfast included
Porto
You have a free day to explore Porto to your heart’s content! Harry Potter fans should head to the Livraria Lello Porto, the bookshop which inspired J.K. Rowling’s imaginings of the Hogwarts library. To see parts of the city from the waters, hop on a cruise along the Douro River! This evening, meet us back at the hostel and we’ll venture out to enjoy a sunset picnic dinner at one of the city’s viewpoints overlooking the medieval Ribeira district. - Breakfast included
Porto to Lisbon
We depart this morning and drive to our first stop for the day, UNESCO-listed Sintra to enjoy stunning views of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Then we climb back aboard our coach for the rest of the journey, arriving in Lisbon in the afternoon. After we check-in we’ll take a stroll through Bairro Alto, the Old Town of Lisbon and one of the city’s most famous quarters. This neighbourhood dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and is now a popular spot for students. Tonight is an optional dinner at the Time Out Food Market. We hope you still have some energy, because later we’ll explore the nightlife in Bairro Alto, and the famous pink street! - Breakfast included
Lisbon
There’s a lot to see and do in Lisbon, and you can choose exactly how you want to spend the day. We recommend signing up for the optional walking tour of Lisbon’s most picturesque and oldest quarter, Alfama. The tour will last three hours and teach you all about the history of Lisbon’s rise to the title of Europe’s capital of espionage. If you’re looking to sample the best pastel de nata in Lisbon, head to the Belem area and visit the original Pasteis de Belem factory! For your last evening on this epic 2 week adventure we’ll head out to sample some local dishes followed by drinks at a rooftop bar overlooking Lisbon’s Old Town. - Breakfast included
Lisbon
What an incredible two weeks it’s been! Say farewell to your Busabout family, as the tour ends after breakfast. We hope to see you again soon! - Breakfast included