eSIM
Saily
Saily's Europe regional plan covers Spain and Portugal on a single eSIM — handy for the AVE → Lisbon hop without juggling SIMs.
Check Saily
All itineraries
14 days · 2 countries Updated Apr 2026
Iberian Loop
Madrid → Seville → Lisbon → Porto
"Two of Europe's warmest, most food-obsessed countries — done as one easy loop."
Spain and Portugal share a peninsula but feel like different planets — and that's exactly the point. High-speed rail, a single short flight, and you've covered four world-class cities, two coastlines and arguably the best eating in Europe. A trip that flatters first-timers and rewards repeat visitors.
Best season
April–June or September–October (avoid August heat)
Budget
€120–180 per person per day, mid-range
Pace
Balanced — two cities you can sleep in, two you should slow down for
Best for
First-time Europe trippers, food-led travellers, couples
Highlights
Headline experiences
- Tapas crawl through Madrid's La Latina at 10pm
- Sunset on the Alcázar rooftops in Seville
- Tram 28 and an Alfama fado night in Lisbon
- Port lodge tasting flight overlooking the Douro
Gallery
A taste of the route
Day by day
Days 1–4
Madrid & Toledo
Acclimatise in the capital — the Prado, Retiro picnics, late tapas in La Latina. Day-trip to Toledo by 30-minute AVE for a hilltop time-warp.
Days 5–7
Seville
AVE south in 2.5 hours. Cathedral, Alcázar, late dinners in Triana. A flamenco tablao on your last night, no matter what anyone says about tourist traps.
Side trip
Granada & the Alhambra
Three hours by bus from Seville (or a stop on the way south). Book Alhambra tickets six weeks ahead — the Nasrid Palaces sell out daily. Stay one night in the Albaicín for sunset views from Mirador de San Nicolás.
Days 8–10
Lisbon
Cross to Portugal by short flight (or scenic Alsa bus via Faro). Alfama walks, custard tarts at Belém, a night of fado in a basement on Rua dos Remédios.
Days 11–14
Porto & Douro Valley
Train north along the Atlantic. Port lodge crawl in Vila Nova de Gaia, river cruise into the terraced Douro vineyards, a francesinha you'll regret on the way home.
Connectivity
The eSIM + VPN combo for this trip
VPN
NordVPN
Iberian café and hotel Wi-Fi is fast but unsecured. NordVPN keeps banking and email safe across the loop.
Check NordVPN
