Savor the spirit of Iberia — from Lisbon’s sunlit hills and the still beauty of the Douro Valley to Madrid’s pulse, the Basque coast, and Rioja’s quiet vineyards.
This is a journey for travelers who want to taste, feel, and truly experience Europe — one meal, one road, one glass at a time.
Lisbon – Color, Music & Flavor
Your journey begins in Lisbon, a city that hums with light, rhythm, and charm.
Yellow trams climb steep cobbled hills, laundry flutters between pastel façades, and the sound of fado drifts through open windows.
Wander the narrow lanes of Alfama, sip vinho verde on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Tagus, and end your evenings with fresh grilled fish and the melancholy beauty of Portuguese song.
After three nights of color and culture, it’s time to chase the open road.
Pick up your pre-booked rental car at the airport — the start of your own Portuguese adventure. Driving in Portugal is easy and scenic, with smooth roads, open countryside, and endless views that unfold as you head north toward the Douro Valley.
Douro Valley – Wine, River & Stillness
Four hours from Lisbon, the landscape transforms.
Terraced vineyards rise steeply from the riverbanks, carved into the hillsides like ancient art. The Douro Valley is one of Europe’s oldest wine regions, and it feels timeless — a place where mornings are wrapped in mist and evenings smell of grapes, olive trees, and warm earth.
Stay at a vineyard estate, where breakfasts are served on sunlit terraces and the days move at the pace of the river below.
Take a cruise on the Douro, visit family-run wineries, and taste port straight from the barrel. As night falls, dine under the stars with a glass of the valley’s deep red in hand — slow, quiet, and unforgettable.
When it’s time to move on, drive west along the river toward Porto, through villages where wine, laughter, and history are part of daily life.
Porto – Character & Charm
In Porto, return your rental car and trade the countryside’s calm for a city of energy and soul.
Steep streets climb from the riverbank, where colorful houses lean over the Douro and life spills onto the cobblestones.
Cross to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the world’s port wines age in cool, wooden cellars. Learn the difference between tawny and ruby, hear the stories behind each house, and sip the flavors of a region that has shaped Portugal’s identity for centuries.
Porto invites you to slow down, to wander aimlessly, and to let the rhythm of the river carry you.
Madrid – Art, Energy & Tapas Nights
A short flight brings you to Madrid — vibrant, elegant, and full of life.
Here, grand boulevards meet lively neighborhoods, and art and food share equal billing.
Spend your days at the Prado and Reina Sofía, stroll through Retiro Park, and your nights hopping between tapas bars — where the best tables are often the smallest.
In Madrid, the energy is contagious, the wine always flowing, and every meal feels like a celebration. Two nights here offer the perfect contrast before the journey continues north.
Bilbao – Art, Flavor & Open Roads
From Madrid, fly to Bilbao — the gateway to northern Spain’s green hills and coastal roads.
Here begins the next chapter of your adventure, and the freedom of the open road returns.
Pick up your rental car at the airport and set out toward the Basque coast, where every curve reveals a new view.
Bilbao is a city of transformation — industrial past meets cultural revival.
Visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum, stroll along the river, and dine in Casco Viejo, where pintxos are small masterpieces of flavor: grilled prawns, local cheese, roasted peppers, and crisp white txakoli.
Stay two nights to soak in the art, the architecture, and the unmistakable Basque pride.
San Sebastián – Where Sea Meets Cuisine
An hour’s drive along winding coastal roads brings you to San Sebastián — a city that lives and breathes food.
Set on one of Europe’s most beautiful bays, it’s a place where the line between beach and fine dining blurs.
Spend your days swimming at La Concha Beach, exploring the Old Town’s maze of pintxos bars, and indulging in Michelin-starred dinners that redefine the word “tasting.”
Here, food is art, the sea is ever-present, and life moves to the rhythm of the waves.
Rioja – Wine, Roads & Serenity
From the coast, drive south into the heart of wine country — Rioja.
The road itself is part of the magic: rolling vineyards, medieval towns, and endless sunshine.
Stay at a vineyard near Laguardia, a walled hilltop village that seems untouched by time.
Here, the pace slows once more. Visit bodegas in Haro, taste bold tempranillo wines, and dine on local dishes under the soft glow of the Spanish evening.
Driving in Rioja is pure joy — smooth roads, open skies, and a sense of freedom that turns each mile into a memory.
When the journey draws to a close, drive back to Bilbao, returning your car at the airport before one final evening in the city.
Bilbao – A Perfect Ending
End your journey where art meets the Atlantic.
Sip a glass of Rioja by the river, watch the sunset reflect off Guggenheim’s titanium curves, and relive the flavors, sounds, and views that defined your journey.
This isn’t just a trip through Portugal and Spain — it’s a journey through light, taste, and time.
Trip Summary
From Lisbon’s golden rooftops to the vineyards of Douro, from Madrid’s art-filled avenues to the coastal flavors of the Basque Country and the peaceful fields of Rioja — this journey is a celebration of Europe’s most delicious corners.
It’s for travelers who crave not just to see, but to savor — to follow the road, the wine, and the whispers of old Europe.
Practical Information
Best time to travel:
April to October, when the weather is warm, vineyards are in bloom, and outdoor dining is at its best.
Getting around:
- Between Lisbon and the Douro Valley, the easiest and most flexible option is by rental car (about 4 hours).
The roads are well-maintained and scenic, winding through small villages and open countryside. - Douro to Porto: 2 hours by car or train.
- Porto to Madrid: short flight (1h 20m).
- Madrid to Bilbao: flight (1h).
- Bilbao to San Sebastián, Rioja, and back: 1–2 hours between each stop, best done by car or private driver.
Car rental:
- In Portugal, pick up your car in Lisbon (airport) and drop it off in Porto before flying to Spain.
- In Spain, pick up a new rental car at Bilbao Airport for your drives through the Basque Country and Rioja, then return it in Bilbao before your flight home.
A package tour and a linked arrangement offer travellers different booking processes but provide the same protection under the Package Travel Act, ensuring customer rights and peace of mind during the trip.
