branca53

Hi all,
My fiance and I are headed off to Spain and Portugal for our honeymoon. I was hoping someone might have some thoughts about our rough plan--we're curious if it looks like a good amount of time and a good order to do everything in. We are very into art and history, eating, and if time permits would love to catch a wave in the ocean. Neither of us speaks Spanish or Portuguese, which makes me anxious but not really her. We fly into Barcelona and out of Lisbon, and have a place to stay book already for Barcelona. Thanks so much for any help or ideas.

Barcelona
Tues, July 12 (arrive 9:05 AM, jet lag day)
Wed, July 13
Thur, July 14
Fri, July 15

Madrid (schedule El Prado, Reina Sofia, Thyssen)
Sat, July 16
Sun, July 17
Mon, July 18
Tues, July 19 (stay in Toledo?)

Granada
Wed, July 20
Thur, July 21

Sevilla (schedule Bellas Artes)
Fri, July 22
Sat, July 23

Lagos
Sun, July 24
Mon, July 25
Tues, July 26

Lisbon
Wed, July 27
Thur, July 28

Fri, July 29 (leave 10:25)

Whathello

In Barcelona and Lisbon and Madrid English is more than ok.
Not been tithe other places but everybody in tourist industry speaksenglish.

IMDonehere

I assume you have already made you flight arrangements.

Take the high speed AVE from Barcelona to Madrid and then south, that will save some time.

Usually there is a steep drop off charge when returning a rental car from Spain to Portugal or vice versa.

Language should be a minor problem, if any, considering where you are going and what you are doing.

kimhe

Excellent route for diverse art, history and great eating! Just have to give you a couple of tips:

The out of this world and cutting edge flamenco dancer Rocío Molina dances in Madrid on July 19th as part of the Veranos de la Villa (Summer in the city) festival. At 9pm in the Crystal Pavillion in the Casa del Campo park. Free entrance. This is going to be spectacular! (have seen her some 15 times and going again to Sevilla in October...) http://www.veranosdelavilla.com/es/e...o-storyboard-p

Portrait of Rocío Molina in The Guardian, "Flamenco and beyond": https://www.theguardian.com/stage/20...-bosque-ardora
Clip from earlier this year in Jerez: https://vimeo.com/156994048

The Bellas Artes in Sevilla is excellent. Also lots of other art museums and galleries in town: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevi...tgalleries.htm

If you are into chilling paintings and Sevilla golden-age history, go and see the Hospital de la Caridad, it might give you the ultimate Sevilla experience. The 17th century repenting founder Miguel Mañara was - according to himself - "the most evil man that ever lived". All the paintings he commisioned from some of the most famous golden-age arists for the hospital and it's adjoining church dealt with the theme of death and redemption. The hospital, the church, the paintings and Mañara's grave are all in Calle Temprado, 3.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/seville/sights/411842

I go to Barcelona for fabulous art, culture and eating all the time. Also great beaches here:
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...d-culture.html
http://www.whatbarcelona.com/barcelona-food.html
http://www.barcelonayellow.com/bcn-b...s-in-barcelona

branca53

Thank you so much for the tips everyone.

Kimberly, we are debating doing one day less in Madrid, one day more in Seville, so now you have us thinking.

thursdaysd

You really need longer in Lisbon, too. Maybe take a day from Lagos?

Don't worry about language.