8 days in Lisbon, Madrid & Barcelona Itinerary

Built on seven hills, Lisbon has experienced a renaissance in recent years, making it the cultural star of Portugal.

You'll discover tucked-away gems like Park and National Palace of Pena and Bairro Alto. Venture out of the city with trips to Quinta da Regaleira (in Sintra) and Cascais Historic Center (in Cascais). There's lots more to do: meet the residents at Lisbon Oceanarium, take a stroll through Belém Tower, and step into the grandiose world of Castelo de Sao Jorge.

For traveler tips, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, use the Lisbon itinerary planner.

Turin, Italy to Lisbon is an approximately 7.5-hour combination of train, flight, and bus. You can also drive; or take a train. The time zone changes from Central European Time (CET) to Western European Time (WET), which is usually a -1 hour difference. Traveling from Turin in October, expect Lisbon to be a bit warmer, temps between 26°C and 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Tue) so you can fly to Valencia.

Madrid is known for its cultural and artistic heritage, lively nightlife, and a dynamic culinary scene.

When in Madrid, make a side trip to see Catedral Primada in Toledo, approximately 1:25 hours away. There's lots more to do: examine the collection at Museo Nacional del Prado, admire the local landmark of Plaza de Cibeles, admire the landmark architecture of Plaza Mayor, and browse the exhibits of Royal Palace of Madrid.

To find photos, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Madrid trip itinerary maker.

You can fly from Lisbon to Madrid in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or do a combination of bus and train. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Lisbon to Madrid. Traveling from Lisbon in October, Madrid is a bit cooler at night with lows of 12°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Fri) early enough to take a train to Barcelona.

Barcelona, the country’s second-largest city, is a cosmopolitan urban center known for its throbbing youthful energy and stellar architecture.

On the 29th (Sat), see the interesting displays at Casa Milà, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at La Sagrada Familia, then pause for some photo ops at Casa Batlló, and finally admire the local landmark of Magic Fountain (Font Magica). Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: make a trip to Park Güell, admire all the interesting features of Camp Nou, and then take a stroll through El Barri Gòtic.

To see traveler tips, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Barcelona tour planner.

Getting from Madrid to Barcelona by train takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: fly; or drive. Expect somewhat warmer evenings in Barcelona when traveling from Madrid in October, with lows around 18°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Sun) so you can travel back home.