From Lisbon Airport, take the Red Line Metro toward São Sebastião, changing at São Sebastião for the Blue Line to Baixa-Chiado; the journey is usually about 35–45 minutes and the airport station is clearly signed. A taxi or rideshare takes roughly 20–30 minutes outside rush hour, but confirm the meter or app fare before leaving. Drop your luggage at your accommodation, then walk downhill toward the river—Lisbon’s center is compact, though the polished cobblestones can be slippery, so comfortable shoes help.
Start at Praça do Comércio, the vast yellow arcaded square facing the Tagus River. Give yourself about 30 minutes to take in the riverfront and the archways, then continue along pedestrian Rua Augusta, where tiled façades, traditional shops, and street performers make this one of the easiest places to get your first feel for Lisbon. If it is open, climb Arco da Rua Augusta for the best compact panorama of the square and river; the paid viewpoint generally operates until evening, but hours can vary seasonally, so check at the entrance. Allow about an hour including the walk and viewpoint.
Continue a few minutes north to Elevador de Santa Justa. The lift itself can attract a long queue, and a single-use ride is relatively expensive for such a short journey, so consider viewing its ironwork from below and walking to the upper level via Largo do Carmo instead. Either way, allow around 30 minutes for the structure and surrounding views. From Baixa, Rossio is an easy five-minute walk, making this a relaxed first outing rather than a day of constant transit.
Finish at Casa do Alentejo, a beautifully decorated former palace near Rossio, where the Moorish-style courtyard and tiled rooms are part of the experience. Order regional dishes such as açorda, migas, or pork with clams; expect roughly €15–25 per person before drinks. Dinner service is typically in the evening, but March 2022 opening hours and seating policies may differ, so check ahead or arrive early. Afterward, keep the evening gentle—wander through Rossio and back toward Baixa-Chiado, or return to your accommodation to recover from the journey.
Start in Belém with coffee and warm custard tarts at Pastéis de Belém. Arrive around 8:30–9:00, before the tour groups; allow about 45 minutes and roughly €5–10 per person. From central Lisbon, take tram 15E from Praça da Figueira or Cais do Sodré, or use the suburban train to Belém—both take around 25–35 minutes. Afterward, walk a few minutes to Jerónimos Monastery, which normally opens at 10:00 (closed Mondays); plan about 1½ hours and check the official ticket schedule, as entry is commonly around €10. The cloisters are the highlight, so take your time rather than rushing through the church.
Continue on foot through the gardens toward Padrão dos Descobrimentos, about 10 minutes away along the river. Spend roughly 45 minutes with the exhibits and, if the viewing platform is open, the excellent panorama over the Tagus and Belém Tower. From the monument, follow the waterfront promenade west to the tower—about 15 minutes. The tower is best appreciated from outside if queues are long; interior access is usually limited and ticketed, with uneven spiral stairs, so allow around 45 minutes. In March, bring a light waterproof layer: the riverfront can feel surprisingly windy.
Take tram 15E or a short taxi/rideshare east to LX Factory in Alcântara—roughly 10–15 minutes, depending on traffic. Browse the converted warehouses, murals, independent shops, and cafés for about 1½ hours; Sunday markets and individual shop hours vary, so treat this as an easy wandering stop rather than a fixed shopping plan. Finish at Time Out Market Lisboa in Cais do Sodré, reached by tram or taxi in about 10 minutes. Arrive before 19:30 for a better chance of finding communal seating, then sample different stalls for approximately €12–25 per person. It is lively rather than intimate, but ideal for a budget-friendly dinner with plenty of choice; afterward, the metro and trains from Cais do Sodré make returning across Lisbon straightforward.
Take an early flight from Lisbon to Seville, allowing airport-transfer and check-in time before the afternoon sightseeing. After dropping bags at your accommodation, head into Santa Cruz for a quick, inexpensive lunch—Bodega Santa Cruz “Las Columnas” is best saved for dinner, so look for a simple menu del día nearby and keep the afternoon flexible. From the center, everything is walkable; allow about 10 minutes to reach Seville Cathedral.
Begin with Seville Cathedral, ideally around 2:00 p.m. when the morning crowds have thinned. Set aside roughly two hours for the vast Gothic interior, Christopher Columbus’s tomb, and the climb up La Giralda, whose ramps are easier than stairs but still warm in the afternoon. Tickets were around €10–12 in this period, though timed-entry rules and prices should be checked for your travel date. The entrance is near Avenida de la Constitución, and the cathedral is closed on some Sundays and religious holidays.
Walk five minutes through the narrow lanes of Santa Cruz to the Real Alcázar of Seville. Give the palaces and gardens at least two hours, especially the Patio de las Doncellas, Salón de Embajadores, and shaded paths around the ponds. Timed tickets are essential—reserve ahead rather than relying on same-day availability—and bring water, as the gardens can feel surprisingly hot even in March. If you have a little time between visits, wander along Calle Agua and the lanes beside the old city wall rather than adding another formal attraction.
From the Alcázar, walk about 20 minutes south through Puerta de Jerez to Plaza de España in Parque de María Luisa, arriving around sunset. The tiled alcoves, broad semicircle, and small canal are particularly atmospheric as the tour groups leave; allow an hour to stroll beneath the arcades and through the nearby park. Return on foot toward Santa Cruz—roughly 20 minutes—or take the tram from Prado de San Sebastián if your feet are tired. Finish at Bodega Santa Cruz “Las Columnas”, where standing at the bar is part of the experience: order a few inexpensive tapas, such as montaditos or tortilla, and expect about €10–20 per person. It is lively and compact, so arriving before 8:30 p.m. gives you a better chance of finding space.
Begin at Mercado de Triana, arriving around 9:30–10:00 when the stalls are lively but not yet crowded. Browse the fruit, vegetables, cheese, and cured meats, then pick up a simple breakfast or snack from one of the market counters—allow about €5–12. The market generally opens in the morning and is easiest to reach by walking across from central Seville or taking local buses to the Plaza del Altozano area. After eating, walk a few minutes to Centro Cerámica Triana, where displays explain Triana’s traditional pottery and tile production. Allow about an hour; check the day’s opening hours before setting out, as cultural venues can have shorter weekend schedules.
From the ceramics center, stroll back toward Puente de Isabel II, better known as Puente de Triana. Take your time crossing toward the city center, pausing for views along the Guadalquivir and photographs of Triana’s colorful riverfront. From the far end, continue through Santa Cruz to Casa de Pilatos, roughly a 20-minute walk. This elegant palace is a calmer alternative to Seville’s biggest monuments, with Mudejar courtyards, tiled rooms, and Renaissance details. Plan around 1½ hours; admission is typically in the mid-teens, and visiting in the early afternoon helps avoid the strongest sun while leaving time to wander the surrounding lanes.
As the light softens, walk north through the center to Metropol Parasol in Plaza de la Encarnación. The wooden structure is most rewarding near sunset, when the elevated walkway gives broad views across Seville; allow about an hour, including the lift and viewpoint. Tickets are usually around €5–6, and sunset slots can be popular, so arrive a little early. Finish at El Rinconcillo, about a 10-minute walk away, for traditional tapas and a very atmospheric dinner. Go before 8:30 or after the first dinner rush, expect roughly €15–25 per person, and order gradually at the bar rather than committing to a large meal—this is a good night to sample a few classic Andalusian plates.
Take a morning Renfe AVE from Sevilla Santa Justa to Madrid Atocha, allowing roughly 2½–3 hours plus time to check in or leave bags at your accommodation. Since Atocha is central, you can walk or use the metro rather than arranging another airport-style transfer. Have a quick snack before boarding or after arrival, then make your way to the nearby Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía; it is about a 5-minute walk from the station. Allow around two hours for the highlights, especially Picasso’s Guernica. The museum is generally open Tuesday through Saturday into the evening, with admission commonly around €10; verify the 2022-era schedule and reserve a timed ticket if available.
From the museum, walk north-east through the leafy Barrio de Las Letras toward El Retiro Park, roughly 15–20 minutes, or take a short metro ride if you are tired. Spend about 1½ hours wandering the park’s broad paths, stopping at the Estanque Grande lake and the Palacio de Cristal if it is open. March is a lovely time for this: cool enough for walking, with the gardens beginning to brighten for spring. Leave the park through the north-west side to reach Puerta de Alcalá, where 20 minutes is plenty for photographs and a look along Calle de Alcalá.
Continue west along Calle de Alcalá toward Sol, a pleasant 20–25-minute walk through the lively center. Have dinner at Casa Labra, a historic, no-frills tavern near Calle de Tetuán, ordering its famous cod croquettes alongside a few traditional tapas. Expect roughly €10–20 per person if you keep it casual; arrive before the evening rush, as the standing bar area fills quickly. Afterward, wander around Puerta del Sol and the surrounding streets, keeping the rest of the evening unhurried after the train journey.
Start at Mercado de San Miguel around 9:30, before the tour groups arrive. It is more of a polished food hall than a traditional market, so keep the tasting light: coffee, a small tortilla portion, croquetas, or a pastry should come to roughly €8–18. From there, walk five minutes through Calle Mayor to Plaza Mayor. Take a lap beneath the arcades and peek down the surrounding lanes; the square is quieter in the morning, and you can avoid paying the premium for its terrace cafés.
Continue through the Austrias district to the Royal Palace of Madrid, about 10 minutes on foot. Allow two hours for the state rooms and armory, and check the official schedule before setting out, as ceremonial closures can affect admission. General entry was around €12–14, with reduced or free periods sometimes available; arrive before late morning queues build. The palace sits on a rise, so the approach from Plaza de Oriente is easier than navigating the narrower streets directly behind it.
After the palace, cross to Almudena Cathedral for about 45 minutes. Entry to the main church is generally free with a small requested donation, while the museum and dome have separate fees; dress respectfully and expect a quieter visit than at the palace. For an inexpensive lunch, wander toward La Latina and choose a menú del día or a bocadillo rather than eating directly beside the monuments. Then take Metro line 3 from Ópera toward Moncloa, or walk roughly 25 minutes, to Templo de Debod in Parque del Oeste. Arrive 45–60 minutes before sunset for the best light over the western horizon; the temple grounds are free, though access inside may be limited or timed. Finish in Huertas at La Venencia, a wonderfully old-fashioned sherry bar on Calle de Echegaray. Order a glass or two with simple snacks—about €10–20—and keep the atmosphere low-key: it is known for sherry, not cocktails, and photography is traditionally discouraged.
Give yourself a calm final morning at the Museo del Prado, arriving around opening time—normally 10:00, though schedules and ticket arrangements can vary. Reserve a timed ticket if available, and allow about 2½ hours for the essential rooms: Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco are the anchors, but avoid trying to see every gallery. From central Madrid, walk down the Paseo del Prado or take Metro Line 2 to Banco de España; admission is generally around €15, with some free-entry periods near closing, subject to the museum’s current policy.
Walk south along the Paseo del Prado to CaixaForum Madrid, whose living vertical garden is easy to miss from street level. Set aside roughly an hour for the changing exhibition, checking the current program and hours before going; standard admission is often around €6–8, with discounts or free access for some visitors. Afterward, continue into the Barrio de Las Letras through Calle de las Huertas. This is a good place to slow down rather than add another major sight: look for literary quotations set into the pavement, browse the small independent shops, and pause in Plaza de Santa Ana or Plaza del Ángel. Allow about an hour, with an inexpensive café stop if you need one.
Finish at Chocolatería San Ginés, tucked just off Calle del Arenal near Sol. Order the classic churros with thick hot chocolate—about €5–10 per person—and expect a little queue, although the service is usually quick. If you have a flight, leave central Madrid at least 2½–3 hours beforehand: the Metro to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport takes roughly 35–50 minutes depending on your terminal and connections, while a taxi is simpler with luggage and generally takes 25–40 minutes outside peak traffic. Check your terminal before departing; T4 is separate from T1–T3, so allow extra time if changing between airport areas.