Southern Spain & Portugal Itinerary: 10 Day Guide (+Map)
This ten day guide is one of our favorite itineraries we’ve put together, and would do the trip over and over again if we could! Both Spain and Portugal have so much to offer, it’s hard to know just where to start. This itinerary will run through a roadtrip that focuses on some highlights we don’t want you to miss in the southern regions of each country, as well as a stopover in one of Portugal’s famous island getaways.
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10 Day Itinerary Through Southern Spain and Portugal
As an overview of the trip as a whole, we will mostly be following the southwest coast from Ronda up through Lisbon, then ending with a short flight over to Madeira! All of the cities in this itinerary are close together, so there shouldn’t be any wasted days where you’re stuck in a car all day.
If preferred, this itinerary can also be done through public transportation! We personally chose to rent a car to allow ourselves the freedom of coming & going when we pleased.
Stop One: Ronda, Spain
To start your trip, we recommend flying into the Málaga airport (AGP), then renting a car that you will pick up in Málaga and eventually drop off in Lisbon, Portugal. The drive from Málaga to Ronda is only about an hour and a half, but remember to build in some extra time at the airport to get your car when you’re estimating your departure time from the city.
- Duration of Stay: 2 Nights
- Travel Time: 1 hour & 20 minutes by car from Málaga Airport
- Where To Stay: Hotel Don Miguel (Central Ronda), Hotel Ronda (Old Town), Catalonia Reina Victoria (New Town)
There really is no better way to kick off your trip than a visit to Ronda, Spain. This is one of our all time favorite destinations, as it is slightly more off the beaten path than other major cities in Spain, but still has so much to offer! For a complete guide of what to do in Ronda, we’ve linked our primary guide below:
Stop Two: Seville, Spain
The next stop is a must see – quite literally! The major highways to get from southern Spain to Portugal all will take you through Seville, so you might as well stop by and explore! This city manages to somehow be both lively and serene. We find a way to include it on every Spain itinerary we make and are sure you’re love it! The full guide for what to do while in Seville is linked below.
- Duration of Stay: 1 Night
- Travel Time: 1 hour & 40 minutes by car from Ronda
- Where To Stay: The Black Swan Hostel Sevilla (Hostel), The Eurostars Torre Sevilla (Hotel)
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for something fun to do along your drive from Ronda to Seville, check out the Cueva de la Pileta or the Caminito del Rey guided hike! Neither add much time to the travel for the day, and are fun ways to see the rural areas of Spain!
Stop Three: Lagos, Portugal
From Seville, you’ll drive across the border from Spain into Portugal on your way to Lagos. This is a small beach town known for its stunning cliffside beaches and gorgeous sea views. There are ample hiking trails along the Algarve if you would like to break up your drive, but I think it is just as enjoyable to hike along the cliffs once you get there as well! Completely up to your preference, there’s no way to go wrong 🙂
- Duration of Stay: 1 Night
- Travel Time: 2 hours & 40 minutes by car from Seville
- Where To Stay: Orange3 Hostel (Hostel), Hotel Marina Rio (Hotel), Boutique Hotel Vivenda Mirenda (Resort)
Stop Four: Lisbon, Portugal
For the next stop on your trip, you’ll drive north along the coast to Portugal’s capital: Lisbon! This lively city on the water is a popular destination for those looking to relocate from abroad, as it seems that once people visit they just don’t want to leave! Our complete guide for what to do during your day in Lisbon is linked below.
While you can likely see most of Lisbon itself in just one day, we recommend staying two nights so that you can pop over to the famous Pena Palace in Sintra as well! Due to parking restraints, it is generally easier to book this day trip through a guided tour.
- Duration of Stay: 2 Nights
- Travel Time: 2 hours & 50 minutes by car from Lagos
- Where To Stay: Nicola Rossio Hotel (Hotel), Living Lounge Hostel (Hostel)
Pro Tip: If you’re looking to break up the drive up the coast on your way to Lisbon, and relax on a local beach that is less touristed than Lagos, check out Vila Nova de Milfontes along your drive!
Stop Five: Madeira, Portugal
Saving the best for last, Portugal is famous for a couple of its tropical islands in the Atlantic: Madeira and the Azores. Under a two hour flight from Lisbon, we highly recommend building at least one of these islands into your itinerary!
- Duration of Stay: 3 Nights
- Travel Time: 1 hour & 45 minutes flight from Lisbon
- Where To Stay: Jaca Hostel Funchal (Hostel), Good Memories Lodge (Apartment), Barceló Funchal Oldtown (Luxury)
We ultimately chose to stay in Madeira (nicknamed the Hawaii of Europe), but if you’re looking to get some extra hiking in you can definitely add a night in the Azores as well while you’re in the area!
Our full itinerary for how to make the most of your getaway in Madeira is linked below.
Once you’re done in Madeira, you can fly back to Lisbon (LIS) and use it as your connecting airport to fly home! We hope you have an amazing vacation, please let us know what your favorite part of your trip was in the comments below!
About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
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Wow, this is #robust. Looks like a trip I need to go on!
haha trying to make it as easy as possible to follow! thanks for reading 🙂