Portugal vs. Spain: Which Iberian destination is right for your next trip to Europe?
Deciding between Spain or Portugal for your next trip to Europe? Here’s expert advice on how to pick between these two powerhouse destinations.
Travelers often ask: Should I visit Spain or Portugal on my next trip to Europe? It’s a great question to ask—Spain has long been a beloved travel destination, while a recent surge in popularity has turned Portugal into one of the world’s newer tourism hotspots. If you’re trying to decide whether a trip to Spain or a Portugal tour is right for you, you’re likely finding that travel to Spain and Portugal is defined by a lot of similar experiences: great food, rich history, fascinating culture, and inspiring nature. But if you dig a little deeper, you might learn that one country is better suited to your interests.
Curious to learn the difference between Spain and Portugal before planning your next trip with us? Read on to find out whether you should opt for one of our Portugal tours, or whether our Spain tours are more up your alley.
What you need to know about how to visit Portugal or Spain
Before we break down the differences between Spain and Portugal, let’s go over the basics. Because these countries share the Iberian Peninsula—the westernmost region of continental Europe—it’s quite easy to reach them from the U.S. Cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Porto are air travel hubs that connect to countless important capitals, making a trip to Portugal or Spain fairly accessible no matter where you are in the world.
Portugal vs. Spain travel: When’s the best time to go?
Both countries are in southern Europe, which means weather in Spain and Portugal typically features hot summers and mild (occasionally rainy) winters. Add gorgeous shoulder-season conditions of sunny, warm days plus cool nights, and you’ve got two destinations that you can really visit any time of year. Now, let’s dig into our destination battle: Portugal vs. Spain.
Pick Spain if you love admiring art and getting lost in museums
While there’s always local art to explore and experience no matter where you go, traveling to Spain is a dream for art lovers. Spain is home to some of history’s most famous artists and some of the world’s most important museums.
A trip to Barcelona, for instance, wouldn’t be complete without discovering the works of Antoni Gaudí. The sightseeing tour on our Barcelona: The City Experience tour features guided visits to some of Gaudí’s most important works, including the yet-to-be-finished Sagrada Familia. On our Grand Tour of Spain, you’ll enjoy some time to explore the Prado in Madrid, which is home to the private art collection of the Spanish monarchy. It’s full of masterpieces by Goya and Velásquez, just to name a couple.
Book a trip to Portugal if you love being by the water
When it comes to seaside allure, the Spain vs. Portugal battle isn’t an easy one to call. After all, Spain is much bigger and therefore has more coastline—our Spain’s Balearic Islands: Menorca & Mallorca tour is dedicated entirely to its islands. But because Portugal isn’t very big, you’re never far from the ocean no matter where you are. Thanks to the country’s history of seafaring explorers, Portuguese culture has long been defined by the water. Our Portugal tours will bring this maritime history to life as you explore the mainland and visit the stunning Portuguese islands.
Start in Porto on our Grand Tour of Portugal: From Porto to Lisbon, where you’ll learn about how the Douro River helped create one of the most iconic wine industries on the planet. Then, in the center of the country, you can opt for an excursion to Nazare to see amazing waves (some of the tallest imaginable) and the brave surfers eager to conquer them. You’ll also head to the southern tip of the country for a coastal adventure in the Algarve, where some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches and caves await. Northern Europeans have been traveling to this region of Portugal for years thanks to warm, sunny weather and stunning, relaxing beaches. Enjoying its coastline remains one of our top tips when visiting Portugal.
Spain or Portugal: Which one excels at fine dining? We pick Spain!
When it comes to food, comparing Portugal and Spain can be tricky because so much of it comes down to taste. Make no mistake: A visit to Portugal or Spain will include countless delicious meals. However, what puts Spain slightly ahead in this category is the fine-dining scene. There are over 200 Michelin-starred restaurants spread across the country, which means that memorable meals await no matter which region you visit on your Spain tour. It’s not just that—some of the most exciting examples of molecular gastronomy come from Spanish chefs, like Ferran Adrià.
Prepare for the tastiest vacation ever on our Food & Wine: A Taste of Spain tour. Upon arrival in Barcelona, the culinary celebrations begin with a tasting of regional wines. After sightseeing and trips to the market for some chocolate-dipped churros, we suggest spending your free time tucking into a platter of paella by the beach. In Basque Country, sample Idiazabal cheese and a traditional pintxo called the gilda—a small bite made with olives, peppers, anchovies, and olive oil.
Or, you can savor a more hands-on adventure on our Food & Wine: Barcelona & Northern Spain with America’s Test Kitchen tour. Designed in partnership with the food-obsessed experts of America’s Test Kitchen, this trip features a cooking class in Barcelona, a dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant in La Rioja, a pintxos crawl in San Sebastian, and much more. One thing’s for sure: Your next trip to Spain will be full of amazing meals, so don’t forget to brush up on your Spain dining tips.
Head to Portugal if you’re into wine
Wine is another one of those categories that make it difficult to confidently pick a winner in the Spain vs. Portugal debate. We know that Spain makes some fantastic wine, from rich tempranillo to dazzling Cava. But what makes Portugal’s wine scene special is the Douro Valley. Did you know that the Douro is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world? It was officially named a wine region in 1756.
On our Food & Wine: A Taste of Portugal tour, we devote two full days to exploring the Douro Valley so that you can fully immerse yourself in its unique beauty. Your itinerary includes sailing down the Douro River aboard a traditional rabelo, a flat-bottomed boat. You’ll get to see the valley’s spellbinding allure as you marvel at terraced vineyards sloping down toward the rushing waters of the Douro. It’s one of the most picturesque wine countries in the world. See even more of the best things to do, eat, and see in Porto.
Wine lovers should also consider our A Week in Portugal: Porto, Evora & Lisbon tour, during which you’ll sip delicious Port in the namesake city of Porto and discover some of the boldest wines coming out of Alentejo when you stop in the historic city of Evora. Lisbon’s wine-making region is smaller than the Douro and Alentejo, but the Portuguese capital is also home to some of the best wine bars in the country. Wine lovers should definitely add a wine bar crawl to their list of Lisbon must-dos.
Between Portugal or Spain, we choose Spain for its big cities
From Madrid to Barcelona to Valencia, Spain has the edge if you love the hustle and bustle of a major European urban center. Add Seville, Malaga, and Bilbao to that lineup and you’ve got a country that’s perfect for city lovers. Spain’s largest cities are full of everything travelers adore about this country: great historical sites, fantastic restaurants, fun shopping, and exciting energy. No wonder our top-rated Spain tours often highlight these destinations!
If you’re hitting the road without a travel buddy, take a tip from our solo traveler’s guide to Spain and make the country’s beloved cities the focus of your trip. On our Spain for Solo Travelers: Barcelona, Madrid & Seville tour, you’ll get to stroll around the atmospheric Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, take a day trip to Toledo while in Madrid, and see a sensual flamenco performance in Seville. Or you can take a dedicated trip to the great cities of the south on our Journey through Andalusia: Seville, Granada & Malaga tour, where you’ll learn about Spain’s rich Moorish legacy.
Travel to Portugal for under-the-radar, small-town charm
Europe is known for its heartwarming, historic villages, and our Portugal tours are designed to show off the small-but-mighty destinations throughout the country. In fact, if you want to see all 15 stunning places in Portugal that you can visit on one trip, we have the perfect tour for you. Our Grand Tour of Portugal: From Porto to Lisbon balances visits to big cities like Lisbon with stops in lesser-known towns dripping with history and charm. This includes the opportunity to explore Guimaraes and Braga in the north—two of the oldest towns in the country. (Fun fact: Guimaraes is known as the cradle of Portugal.) You’ll also stop in sacred Fatima and the seafaring village of Sagres—both are important to Portuguese history.
If you want to extend your trip, we have an insider tip: the Azores is Europe’s best-kept travel secret. The island of Sao Miguel, located in the middle of the northern Atlantic Ocean some 900 miles from Lisbon, has recently gained more popularity. Travelers from all over are starting to become familiar with this lush island’s serene waterfalls, thermal springs, hydrangea-lined hills, and mysterious twin lakes of different colors. On your next trip to Portugal, you can discover all of these for yourself.
Book your next Portugal or Spain trip or go for our Grand Tour of Portugal & Spain: Porto to Barcelona tour to explore both countries in one trip.
