3 Weeks in Spain, Portugal & Morocco - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Cultural Highlights of Portugal, Spain & Morocco

First-time visitors to Portugal, Spain, and Morocco looking to discover each country's cultural highlights and iconic sites will delight in this well-rounded three-week itinerary. Get to know the bustling cities of Lisbon, Barcelona, and Madrid on guided walking tours, and venture to the countryside to find colorful castles and charming wine regions. Then, end your trip traveling from Tangier to Marrakesh, wandering ancient medinas and bustling souks. 

Welcome to Portugal! Your three-week cultural highlights trip begins in Lisbon, shrugging off jet lag while zipping through the city on a tuk-tuk and delighting your imagination during a tour of Sintra's colorful castles. Head north next, where a guided walking tour, a relaxing afternoon at Praia de Matosinhos, and a day trip to the famous wine region of the Douro Valley reveal the laid-back vibe of Porto and its surroundings. Then, switch gears and discover Barcelona's lively streets through a tapas tour and a bike excursion from the Gothic Quarter to Barceloneta Beach before catching a train to Madrid.

After a day trip to Toledo, hop on a train to Seville and spend your last days in Spain biking along the Guadalquivir Riverfront and attending a flamenco experience. Cross the Strait of Gibraltar by ferry next, and enjoy an evening exploring Tangier's medina (walled old town) and the Ville Nouvelle (New Town) before beginning your exploration south. With six days left until it's time to catch your flight home, you'll have plenty of time to admire Chefchaouen's blue buildings, cherish two days navigating souks in Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid, and roam the ancient mosques in Marrakesh. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Culture & Adventure in Spain, Portugal & Morocco

Indulge in the perfect blend of active adventures and cultural excursions on this trip to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. With about a week in each country, you'll have plenty of time to kayak near Segovia, e-bike through the Sierra Nevada mountains, hike the iconic Caminito del Rey, and soar above Marrakesh in a hot-air balloon. Top that with cooking classes and guided city tours for a great introduction to European and African culture.

Begin your three-week adventure in Madrid, experiencing the city's culinary delights on a gourmet tapas tour and joining a thrilling rooftop walking adventure. After a day trip to the medieval city of Segovia, it's off to Granada, where three days will soar by as you tour the impressive Alhambra, pedal under the towering peak of Mulhacén on a Sierra Nevada e-bike tour, and delight in a day trip to Las Alpujarras. Continue to Málaga the following day, stopping to hike the renowned Caminito del Rey on the way; then, bask in dramatic coastal views while hiking the Maro Cliffs until it's time to fly to Portugal.

Your first Portuguese destination is Porto, and during your stay, you'll soak up the city's rich history and natural beauty while exploring on an e-bike and hiking in Peneda-Gerês National Park. Then, squeeze in a tuk-tuk tour of Lisbon and a day trip to Sintra-Cascais Natural Park before hopping on a plane bound for Marrakesh. After savoring the rich flavors of Morocco on a food tour and taking to the sky on a hot-air balloon ride, you'll spend the next days exploring the ancient city of Boumalne Dades and roaming the Sahara Desert until it's time to return to Marrakesh to catch your onward flight. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Culinary & Cultural Discovery of Spain, Portugal & Morocco

Food enthusiasts will delight in this culinary tour of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, complete with cooking classes, street food tours, and wine excursions. Starting in Spain, you'll taste your way around Madrid on a tapas tour and sip wine in the lush Txakoli region, then spend a week exploring markets and learning to cook traditional Portuguese cuisine in Porto and Lisbon before ending your foodie adventure in Morocco.

Hopefully, you've arrived hungry, as your three-week culinary adventure begins with a tapas tour in Madrid, followed by a day trip to Ávila to try your hand at making traditional sweets. Next, catch a train to San Sebastián and soak up Parte Vieja's tastes and smells on a foodie tour; then, savor a day sipping wine in the Txakoli region before enjoying a leisurely transfer along the coast to Bilbao. With just two nights here, visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum and delight your senses at the Mercado de la Ribera until it's time to board a flight bound for Portugal. 

Spend your week in Portugal taste-testing your way around Porto and Lisbon, relaxing in the Dão and Bairrada wine regions, admiring the playful castles in Sintra, and learning the art of Portuguese cooking alongside a top chef. Catch a flight to Marrakesh next and enjoy a mouthwatering week, taking a deep dive into Moroccan cuisine. Start with a street food tour in Jemaa el-Fna Square, join cooking classes in Essaouira and Amal Center, and fuel your appetite during walking tours of Rabat and Chefchaouen. Then, enjoy dinner with locals in Casablanca before catching your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Journey Through History: Portugal, Spain & Morocco

Travel through 2,000 years of history on this tour of Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, with visits to ancient Roman ruins, storied walled cities, and awe-inspiring fortresses. Crafted especially for history buffs, you'll discover Lisbon, Mérida, Seville, and more through the eyes of a historian while on walking and food tours. Then, end your trip with a week in Morocco, roaming Marrakesh's lively medina and discovering Rabat's unique Islamic and French influence.

Your history-filled adventure starts in the UNESCO-listed city of Porto, indulging in centuries-old cuisine on a food tour and admiring Ribeira Quay and Foz do Douro during a scenic boat excursion. Next, spend a day learning the storied past of Guimarães and Braga before continuing to Lisbon, where a lively tuk-tuk ride and a trip to Sintra's colorful castles highlight the eccentric past of the region. Settled into life on the road, bid farewell to Portugal and transfer to Mérida, Spain, where you'll immediately find yourself in the age of the Roman Empire while admiring the ancient Roman Theatre, Alcazaba, and Circo Romano.

With an additional six days in Spain, split your time between Seville, Granada, and Toledo. Start on a walking tour of Seville's highlights, including the Seville Cathedral and La Giralda, spend a morning strolling through the magnificent Alhambra, and embark on a historic sword-making tour in Toledo before flying south to Morocco. A highlight of your trip will undoubtedly be a tour of Marrakesh's bustling medina, but with a day trip to the 11th-century Aït Benhaddou and three days based in Rabat exploring Roman ruins, you'll catch your flight home with a camera full of historical wonders. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Epic Coastal Tour of Portugal, Spain & Morocco

If your ideal vacation is all about the sun and the sea, this coastal tour of Portugal, Spain, and Morocco will transport you to your personal paradise. Between a cruise along the Algarve coast, a hike to a hidden cove, and an afternoon snorkeling in the Mediterranean, you'll have plenty of time to unwind and relax. Then, end your trip traveling down Morocco's west coast, stopping in history-filled coastal cities and touring the highlights of Marrakesh and Tangier.

Upon your arrival in Lisbon, get straight to exploring with a guided tuk-tuk tour and coastal hike in Sintra-Cascais Natural Park; then, pick up your rental car and drive to the Algarve coast for three epic days of ocean-inspired adventures. Take in the region's dramatic cliffs while on board a catamaran, snorkel near Burgau, and peddle through Ria Formosa Natural Park before returning the rental car and transferring to Cádiz. After an evening indulging in tapas at the Mercado Central de Abastos, board a train to Seville and spend the following evening at a captivating flamenco experience.

Next, visit Granada for a day exploring the Alhambra before continuing along the coast. Your destination is Málaga, where you'll enjoy uninterrupted time on La Malagueta Beach and hike along the Maro Cliffs until it's time to switch gears and catch a flight to Morocco. Over the following eight days, make your way down the west coast, from Tangier to Marrakesh, stopping for nights in Rabat, Safi, and Essaouira. You'll also have time to wander Chefchaouen and embark on a scenic drive over the Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass to the desert city of Ouarzazate before catching your onward flight. Learn more

More Great Portugal Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Portugal? Check out these other Portugal itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.