Family Vacation to Spain & Portugal - 14 Days

Day 2: Lisbon Guided Family Excursion, Free Afternoon

Today is about exploring Lisbon's beautiful and fascinating corners with your family. You'll start with a guided tour, perfect for first-time visitors with young kids. Take your time as you stroll through the winding streets and stop at the city's most important sites. Along the way, your guide will help you discover some hidden treasures, a fun and interactive way to learn more about famous neighborhoods like Baixa, Ribeira, Bica, Bairro Alto, and Chiado. Listen to entertaining stories, ride one of the famous yellow trams, search for city symbols, and more.

Day 3: Sintra for Young Explorers

Sintra will capture the hearts of everyone in your group, and it's the perfect activity to complete your time in Lisbon. With kids in mind, this day trip to Sintra entertains young travelers as they explore nature, history, art, and architecture. You'll start by visiting the historic village, then head to the two palaces, Quinta da Regaleira and the National Palace of Sintra. Along the way, discover the legends and myths that make the area's history entertaining.

Besides stories of royalty, battles, and romance, you'll also learn about how this magical place continues to inspire the arts. Many famous authors and international artists have passed through Sintra, leaving their marks, which you'll find with the help of your guide. In the end, you'll discover Sintra through its stories and pathways, meeting challenges, and completing fun activities and tasks!

There are many other options, too, such as Ponta da Piedade, named by the Huffington Post as the "most beautiful beach in the world." Praia do Camilo is another iconic choice, with golden cliffs and dramatic caves, all protected for safe swimming and with plenty of shade. For more space, the second-largest of the area's beaches is Praia de Porto de Mos, a massive swathe of soft, pristine sand. And because it's further away, it's also less crowded.

Day 5: Catamaran Sailing Cruise to Benagil & Carvoeiro

One of the natural highlights of southern Portugal is the incredible sea caves, many only accessible by water. Today, you and your family will set sail from Portimão, making your way to the world-famous Benagil Caves. The journey is half the fun, as you'll enjoy a soft sea breeze while passing iconic beaches like Praia da Marinha, other caves like Algar Seco, and the Alfanzina Lighthouse. Kids love relaxing on the catamaran's sunbathing nets as you glide over the water and cruise along this coastline. 

Upon reaching the caves, your captain will drop anchor in the coves of João de Arens, where you'll have plenty of time for kid-friendly swimming, paddle boarding, or snorkeling. 

To wrap up the day, say goodbye to your captain and enjoy a hike on the Rota Valencia trail network. You'll enjoy a shorter, kid-approved route, though the trails run for 280 miles (450 km) through the western Alentejo and Algarve. Starting from Bordeira, you'll follow a circular path through pine forests, passing idyllic beaches and vast sand dunes. As the area is home to remarkable biodiversity, keep an eye out for the numerous migratory birds.

Day 8: Kid-Friendly Visit to the Alcázar, Flamenco Experience for Families

Have you ever imagined playing inside a palace with your kids? Let your local guide take your family inside the Royal Alcázar and learn how this architectural gem and gardens evolved in a tour designed to inspire all generations! Through exciting and educational games, you'll discover unique art masterpieces, fascinating interiors, stunning courtyards and gardens, and stories and legends involving various kings and queens throughout the centuries.

Kids love all the excitement of Seville's Royal Alcázar. Still, all the hidden corners (one that unexpectedly plays music and another revealing an underground water source) and the animals on the grounds always seem to be the highlights.

Next, enjoy a flamenco show, a form of music, art, and dance fundamental to the Andalusian culture. With a local guide, you'll start with an introductory lesson on flamenco, so you're not just watching the performance but also participating in it! Discover the rhythm and fun of this famous dance and its history. Then, end the day with a professional flamenco show, grabbing a seat near the back so your kids can have a little fun dancing.

Day 9: Seville to Granada via Ronda

Today you'll make your way from Seville to Granada with a stop in Ronda, one of Andalusia's most famous Pueblos Blancos (White Villages). This area has many historical influences, including Roman, Visigoth, and Berber, so many of these towns have unique elements kids love, such as caves, cave-like homes, and rock paintings. During the Roman times, these villages painted some of the buildings white, a practical solution to stave off the region's hot weather, as white reflects light and heat. Prepare for breathtaking scenery as you pass through some of Andalusia's most enchanting places.

Drive through olive groves, lavender fields, rolling meadows, cork forests, and mountainous terrain before stopping in Ronda, where you'll have three hours to explore this beautiful city. Built atop a river gorge carved out by the Río Guadalevín, Ronda shares its dramatic history with tales of outlaws, bandits, warriors, rebels, romantics, artists, and writers. Kid-friendly activities include visiting the bullfighting ring and museum, stopping at the lookouts along the cliffs, crossing all three bridges (Puente Nuevo, Puente Viejo, and Puente Romano), and walking down into the gorge on the paved trail.

Day 10: Visit the Alhambra & Generalife Gardens, Self-Guided Walk in Granada

Granada was once the last bastion of Al-Andalus (the name of the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim rule). You can see examples of this history at Granada's most famous landmark, the Alhambra.

In the morning, enjoy a family-friendly tour of this site. Constructed in the ninth century, this famous palace/fortress complex was home to rulers of the Moorish/Muslim Nasrid Dynasty and the Royal Court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Your local expert guide will explain all you need to know about the Alhambra in a fun and energetic way, keeping the little ones entertained as you move from room to room. The charming Generalife Gardens, filled with colorful flowers and fountains, highlight the tour.

After the tour, enjoy free time to explore Granada at your own pace. You can walk around the labyrinthine streets of the Albayzin and Sacromonte quarters, the well-preserved historic neighborhoods of the city, or grab something to eat at Plaza de Bib-Rambla, lined with family-friendly eateries, trees, and bubbling fountains. Kids also love visiting the Granada Cathedral, walking through the colorful Alcaicería (old silk market) filled with goodies, and playing at the park along Carrera del Darro near Fuente del Paseo de los Triste—complete with a fountain, river, Alhambra views, and a playground.

For dinner, grab some tapas along Calle de las Teterias, then wander this famous street lined with colorful clothes, rugs, and glassware. Stop in one of the many tea houses for unique spiced coffees and churros con chocolate, then find one of the lookout points to watch the sunset paired with amazing views of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

Toward the end of the route, you'll make your second food stop at one of the city's most famous spots for piping hot churros and chocolate. When it's time to say goodbye to your guide, your children will leave with a new understanding of Madrid—a memory they'll remember for years to come!

Day 12: Cable Car Ride Over Madrid, Self-Guided Walk in Madrid

Start your day with an exciting ride on Madrid's cable car, El Teleférico, created to give travelers a bird's-eye-view of Madrid as they fly over the city. In about 15 minutes, you and your crew will travel approximately 1.5 miles (2.5 km) between the two stations, sailing over 130 feet (40 m) above the city. If you're using a stroller, you can easily bring it on board.

Watch your kids light up as they observe legendary buildings and iconic sights such as Plaza de España, the Royal Palace, and the Almudena Cathedral. (See if they can recognize any sites they saw during yesterday's city tour!) In addition to offering unbeatable views, the cable car is a fast and sustainable transport to reach the heart of Casa de Campo, one of the city's green lungs and the perfect place to run around. 

After this adventure, you'll have a free afternoon to explore Madrid on your own. One idea is to visit Retiro Park, where you can rent a rowboat and paddle around the park's lake, see the tiny house known as Casita del Pescador, and check out the Crystal Palace, a structure made almost entirely of glass with free art exhibitions. When hungry, head to San Miguel Market, where you can buy various kid-adored-and-approved tapas from the many stalls. 

Day 13: Family Day Trip to Toledo

A half-hour train ride south of Madrid lies Toledo, a historic city once Spain's capital in the 16th century. It enjoys a scenic location atop a gorge overlooking the Río Tajo, an impressive sight for even the youngest travelers. 

In the Middle Ages, Toledo was the "city of the three cultures," a place where—legend has it—Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities peacefully coexisted. You can see remnants of this in the old Arab, Muslim, and Christian monuments that still stand. These include the 15th-century Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the former Roman palace Alcázar de Toledo, and the Moorish Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, which dates to the 12th century.

Enjoy visiting these historic landmarks and more in this incredible city that many describe as an open-air museum—perfect for curious kids—and listening to exciting stories and tales of Toledo's history. Then, take part in two kid-friendly activities. You'll first explore the world of Toledo steel and visit a foundry where ancient blacksmiths forged unique swords. Lastly, visit a cigarral, a manor estate, to learn how to make the city's famed (and perfectly sweet) marzipan.

Day 14: Depart Spain

When ready, check out of your hotel in Madrid and head to the airport, as it's time to say farewell to Spain. Safe travels!