- Tour code
ESPPRTADV01
- Start
Madrid
- End
Seville
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Classic
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
Two countries, five cities and nine days on the Iberian Peninsula. This trip moves at a steady pace, giving each stop a clear focus, while your Soca Islands Host takes care of the road days so you arrive ready to explore rather than tired from logistics.
After a first night in Madrid, you break the long drive west with lunch in Salamanca before reaching Porto, where riverside streets lead down to the Douro and an evening in a Port wine cellar. Lisbon follows, with a free day (Sintra is within easy reach) and a traditional dinner set to live Fado.
Heading back toward Spain, you stop in the walled town of Évora for its bone-lined chapel and Roman temple, then drop down to the fishing town of Olhão on the Algarve coast. The last stretch is Seville, with a full day among Moorish palaces and an evening of flamenco together.
A small group of 6 to 16 travelers, twin-share hotels in central locations and a mix of guided walks and free time mean you get structure where it helps and space where you want it.
Why This Journey
Spain and Portugal share a border and a long history, yet they feel distinctly different, and the best way to understand that is to cross between them by road. This route links university Salamanca, port-wine Porto, hilly Lisbon, Roman Évora and Moorish Seville in one considered loop, so the shifts in language, food, music and architecture unfold day by day rather than through airport lounges.
It suits travelers who want to see a lot without planning a lot: the long drives, border crossing and hotel changes are handled for you, the evenings of Port, Fado and flamenco are booked, and free days in Lisbon and Seville leave room to follow your own curiosity.
Where You'll Stay
Madrid (1 night): H10 Villa de la Reina, on Gran Vía. Porto (2 nights): PortoBay Teatro, near São Bento and the Ribeira. Lisbon (2 nights): Hotel Real Palácio, near Marquês de Pombal. Évora (1 night): M'AR De AR Muralhas, inside the old town walls. Seville (2 nights): Hotel Inglaterra, on Plaza Nueva. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. The trip starts in Madrid, where Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) is the arrival airport, and ends in Seville after breakfast on Day 9; arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Madrid, Porto and Lisbon: markets, old streets and river views
Port tasting in Porto and dinner with live Fado in Lisbon
Évora's Chapel of Bones, Olhão on the coast and Seville flamenco
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities, including the Sintra excursion and the Douro boat trip
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Arrive in Madrid when it suits you and transfer to the hotel on Gran Vía. If you land early, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor are a short walk away.
In the evening, meet your Soca Islands Host and the rest of the group, put names to faces and hear how the coming days fit together.
A long but scenic road day heads west across the Castilian plateau into Portugal. Around halfway you stop in Salamanca, the honey-colored university city, with time for lunch and a look at the Plaza Mayor and the old university streets.
You reach Porto around early evening. The rest of the evening is free to unpack and get a first taste of Portugal, perhaps with a walk down toward the river.
Your Host leads a morning walk through Porto's main sights, from the steep, tiled streets of the upper town down to the Ribeira on the Douro riverfront. The afternoon is unscheduled; one option is a boat trip on the river under the city's bridges.
Later the group visits a Port wine cellar to learn how the fortified wine is made and aged, and to taste a few different styles.
Today you travel south to Lisbon, Portugal's capital. A walk with your Host introduces its hills, tiled facades and landmark squares, so you can find your way around on your own for the next two days.
The whole day is yours. Stay in Lisbon to explore neighborhoods such as Alfama and Chiado and the viewpoints between them, or take the optional excursion to Sintra and its palaces and gardens in the hills.
In the evening the group sits down to a traditional Portuguese dinner in one of the older quarters, with a Fado singer performing as you eat.
You head inland across the cork oaks and wheat fields of the Alentejo to the walled town of Évora. The included visit takes you into the Capela dos Ossos, a chapel whose walls are lined with human bones and skulls.
A few steps away stand the granite columns of the Roman Temple of Diana, still upright after nearly two thousand years. The evening is free to find dinner in the old town.
Next you swing south toward Portugal's southern shore and the fishing town of Olhão in the Algarve. Browse its busy fish market, walk the waterfront and wander the whitewashed lanes.
From there you cross back into Spain and reach Seville, where your Host leads a short orientation walk.
Seville is a city layered with Moorish and Christian history, and today you have time to see it. The Santa Cruz quarter and the Real Alcázar are both good places to start, and the Cathedral and its Giralda tower are close by.
In the evening the group goes together to a flamenco performance, an intense and memorable way to spend your last night.
After breakfast the trip ends. Leave whenever you need to, or stay on in Seville and keep exploring at your own pace.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
H10 Villa de la Reina
A boutique hotel in a historic early-20th-century building on Gran Vía, in the centre of Madrid. Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Barrio de las Letras are within walking distance, and the Royal Palace and the Prado are an easy walk or short metro ride away.
Breakfast is served in the Las Infantas restaurant, with an early option from 6:00 in the lobby, and La Villa bar in the lobby serves light dishes and cocktails.
Rooms are 31 m² (334 ft²).
Hotel website
PortoBay Teatro
A theatre-themed boutique hotel in central Porto, walking distance from São Bento station, Aliados and the Ribeira. You'll stay in a Tribune Room of 27 m² with a king bed or two twin beds.
Hotel website
Hotel Real Palácio
A classic hotel near Marquês de Pombal and the top of Avenida da Liberdade, close to the metro for Baixa, Chiado and Belém. You'll stay in a Superior Double or Twin Room of 27 m² with a double bed or two twin beds.
Hotel websiteM'AR De AR Muralhas
A 91-room hotel on Travessa da Palmeira, set just inside Évora's medieval walls and a short walk from Praça do Giraldo, the Roman Temple and the Chapel of Bones. Despite the central position it feels quiet, with a garden and an outdoor pool behind the walls.
Rooms mix modern comforts with Alentejo textiles, many with balconies or terraces, and breakfast is served on site.
Hotel website
Hotel Inglaterra
A long-established hotel on Plaza Nueva in the centre of Seville, a short walk from the Cathedral, the Real Alcázar, the Santa Cruz quarter and the bridge to Triana, with coach access at the door.
There is a rooftop terrace, a restaurant and tapas bar, a buffet breakfast and 24-hour reception.
Rooms are 20–30 m² (215–323 ft²).
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$735 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 11, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) and out of Seville Airport (SVQ).
Proposed accommodation is H10 Villa de la Reina in Madrid, PortoBay Teatro in Porto, Hotel Real Palácio in Lisbon, M'AR De AR Muralhas in Évora and Hotel Inglaterra in Seville (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
8 breakfasts (Days 2 to 9) and 1 dinner: the traditional Portuguese dinner with Fado in Lisbon on Day 5. Lunches and other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Classic Spain & Portugal trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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