9 or 11 days
Lisbon, Seville, Madrid, extension to Barcelona
In Portugal and Spain, every step is a history lesson of its own—from Lisbon’s Moorish labyrinth of narrow streets to Seville’s impeccably preserved mosaics. The trail of breathtaking views and architectural wonders continues in Madrid, a city whose youthful crowds mix with a regional history of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian influences.

🔹 Curated experiences: Every program is intentionally designed to feature guided learning, cultural engagement, and independent exploration experiences to drive global competency development, denoted on each itinerary with a blue diamond. Learn more about these experiences.
  • Day 1: Fly overnight to Portugal

  • Day 2: Lisbon

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Take a walking tour of the age-old Islamic Alfama district of Lisbon, which includes includes 16th century aristocratic palaces and churches

    Enjoy dinner in Lisbon

  • Day 3: Lisbon

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Lisbon

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Tower of BelĂ©m
    • Monument to the Discoveries

    Visit the Jerónimos Monastery, a monastery built by King Manuel to honor the country’s great voyagers

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Sintra and Cascais

    Sintra and Cascais

    Enjoy a half-day excursion to the hillside town of Sintra, referred to by Lord Byron as “glorious Eden”. Here, you’ll visit the National Palace of Sintra, whose two conical chimneys reign as the town’s most recognizable landmarks. Continue to the charming beach town of Cascais. Due to Portugal’s neutrality in World War II, Cascais became home to many of the exiled royal families of Europe, including those of Spain, Italy and Bulgaria. 

  • Day 4: Lisbon • Seville

    Travel via Évora, a Roman town lined with whitewashed houses and colorful azulejos, on your way to Seville

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Ă‰vora, a walled town that is home to the Praca de Giraldo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 

    Visit the Chapel of Bones, a 16th century place of worship decorated with bones and skulls

    Take a walking tour of Seville

    With your Field Director you will see:

    • Giralda Tower, part of the Great Mosque of Seville and transformed with Renaissance stylings by the Catholic Church
    • Torre de Oro, an Islamic watchtower
    • Plaza de Toros de Maestranza, Seville's famous bullring

    Enjoy dinner in Seville

  • Day 5: Seville

    Visit Seville Cathedral, the third-largest church in the world that took more than a century to build 

    Visit the Seville Alcázar, an architectural wonder originally founded as a fort for the governors of Seville in 913 

    Take a tour of Seville

    With an expert local guide you will see:

    • Barrio de Santa Cruz's narrow, twisting alleys
    • Maria Luisa Park, and its mosaics and fountains of Plaza de España
    • Plaza de Toros to learn about the tradition of Spanish bullfighting

    🔹 Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Seville on your own

  • Day 6: Seville • Madrid

    Travel by the high speed, energy efficient AVE train to Madrid 

    Take a walking tour of Madrid, Spain’s capital and largest city

    Visit the Prado, Madrid's famed art museum where you can behold Velázquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s paired canvases

  • Day 7: Madrid

     đź”ą Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Madrid on your own

    Take a guided tour of Madrid

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s busiest squares
    • Plaza Mayor, the center of old Madrid where you’ll learn about the grand square’s history of bullfights, royal weddings, and public executions
    • Plaza de Oriente, the Royal Palace square, located across from the Royal Palace

    Visit the Royal Palace and get a glimpse of regal Madrid, where you’ll wander the fabulous palace interior

  • Day 8: Madrid

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Toledo

    Toledo

    This half-day excursion will take you to the former Spanish capital of Toledo. Known as the “city of the three cultures,” this was a place of peaceful coexistence of, Jews, Christians and Muslims. Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. Enjoy a panoramic drive around the city and visit the cathedral that dominates Toledo’s skyline. Then continue on to the Church of Santo TomĂ© where you’ll view The Burial of Count Orgaz, one of El Greco’s most famous works. Step inside one of Toledo's synagogues and finish off your excursion with a stop at a local sword-making workshop. 

    Enjoy a tapas dinner in Madrid, consisting of many small plates of local culinary favorites

  • Day 9: Depart for home

Add more days

  • Day 9: Madrid • Barcelona

    Travel by AVE train to Barcelona 

    Take a walking tour of Las Ramblas, a pedestrian mall where you’ll find endless entertainment, restaurants, markets, monuments and shopping

    Enjoy dinner in Barcelona

  • Day 10: Barcelona

    Take a guided tour of Barcelona

    With your expert local guide you will see: 

    • La Sagrada FamĂ­lia, Gaudí’s masterpiece cathedral that is over 130 years in the making
    • From the top of MontjuĂŻc, enjoy panoramic views of the harbor below
    • Gothic Quarter, a memory of the Roman Empire, now lined with shops and restaurants
    • Barcelona Cathedral, a Gothic Revival church known for its gargoyles and other mythical animals

    Visit Park GĂĽell, a vast public park designed by Antoni GaudĂ­ that features colorful mosaics and remarkable architecture

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Barcelona by bike

    Barcelona by bike

    Feel the warm Mediterranean air breeze by as you explore Barcelona on a guided bicycle tour. This bicycle-friendly city has more than 75 miles of lanes for cyclists, providing a safe, fun and fast way to gain a deeper understanding of Barcelona’s richly diverse streets and neighborhoods. Stop along the way to learn historical details about the city’s famous sites before pedaling on to your next destination.  

  • Day 11: Depart for home

  • Day 1: Fly overnight to Portugal

  • Day 2: Lisbon

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Take a walking tour of the age-old Islamic Alfama district of Lisbon, which includes includes 16th century aristocratic palaces and churches

    Enjoy dinner in Lisbon

  • Day 3: Lisbon

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Lisbon

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Tower of BelĂ©m
    • Monument to the Discoveries

    Visit the Jerónimos Monastery, a monastery built by King Manuel to honor the country’s great voyagers

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Sintra and Cascais

    Sintra and Cascais

    Enjoy a half-day excursion to the hillside town of Sintra, referred to by Lord Byron as “glorious Eden”. Here, you’ll visit the National Palace of Sintra, whose two conical chimneys reign as the town’s most recognizable landmarks. Continue to the charming beach town of Cascais. Due to Portugal’s neutrality in World War II, Cascais became home to many of the exiled royal families of Europe, including those of Spain, Italy and Bulgaria. 

  • Day 4: Lisbon • Seville

    Travel via Évora, a Roman town lined with whitewashed houses and colorful azulejos, on your way to Seville

    🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Ă‰vora, a walled town that is home to the Praca de Giraldo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 

    Visit the Chapel of Bones, a 16th century place of worship decorated with bones and skulls

    Take a walking tour of Seville

    With your Field Director you will see:

    • Giralda Tower, part of the Great Mosque of Seville and transformed with Renaissance stylings by the Catholic Church
    • Torre de Oro, an Islamic watchtower
    • Plaza de Toros de Maestranza, Seville's famous bullring

    Enjoy dinner in Seville

  • Day 5: Seville

    Visit Seville Cathedral, the third-largest church in the world that took more than a century to build 

    Visit the Seville Alcázar, an architectural wonder originally founded as a fort for the governors of Seville in 913 

    Take a tour of Seville

    With an expert local guide you will see:

    • Barrio de Santa Cruz's narrow, twisting alleys
    • Maria Luisa Park, and its mosaics and fountains of Plaza de España
    • Plaza de Toros to learn about the tradition of Spanish bullfighting

    🔹 Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Seville on your own

  • Day 6: Seville • Madrid

    Travel by the high speed, energy efficient AVE train to Madrid 

    Take a walking tour of Madrid, Spain’s capital and largest city

    Visit the Prado, Madrid's famed art museum where you can behold Velázquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s paired canvases

  • Day 7: Madrid

     đź”ą Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Madrid on your own

    Take a guided tour of Madrid

    With your expert local guide you will see:

    • Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s busiest squares
    • Plaza Mayor, the center of old Madrid where you’ll learn about the grand square’s history of bullfights, royal weddings, and public executions
    • Plaza de Oriente, the Royal Palace square, located across from the Royal Palace

    Visit the Royal Palace and get a glimpse of regal Madrid, where you’ll wander the fabulous palace interior

  • Day 8: Madrid

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Toledo

    Toledo

    This half-day excursion will take you to the former Spanish capital of Toledo. Known as the “city of the three cultures,” this was a place of peaceful coexistence of, Jews, Christians and Muslims. Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. Enjoy a panoramic drive around the city and visit the cathedral that dominates Toledo’s skyline. Then continue on to the Church of Santo TomĂ© where you’ll view The Burial of Count Orgaz, one of El Greco’s most famous works. Step inside one of Toledo's synagogues and finish off your excursion with a stop at a local sword-making workshop. 

    Enjoy a tapas dinner in Madrid, consisting of many small plates of local culinary favorites

  • Day 9: Depart for home

Add more days

  • Day 9: Madrid • Barcelona

    Travel by AVE train to Barcelona 

    Take a walking tour of Las Ramblas, a pedestrian mall where you’ll find endless entertainment, restaurants, markets, monuments and shopping

    Enjoy dinner in Barcelona

  • Day 10: Barcelona

    Take a guided tour of Barcelona

    With your expert local guide you will see: 

    • La Sagrada FamĂ­lia, Gaudí’s masterpiece cathedral that is over 130 years in the making
    • From the top of MontjuĂŻc, enjoy panoramic views of the harbor below
    • Gothic Quarter, a memory of the Roman Empire, now lined with shops and restaurants
    • Barcelona Cathedral, a Gothic Revival church known for its gargoyles and other mythical animals

    Visit Park GĂĽell, a vast public park designed by Antoni GaudĂ­ that features colorful mosaics and remarkable architecture

    Add this in-depth excursion:
    Barcelona by bike

    Barcelona by bike

    Feel the warm Mediterranean air breeze by as you explore Barcelona on a guided bicycle tour. This bicycle-friendly city has more than 75 miles of lanes for cyclists, providing a safe, fun and fast way to gain a deeper understanding of Barcelona’s richly diverse streets and neighborhoods. Stop along the way to learn historical details about the city’s famous sites before pedaling on to your next destination.  

  • Day 11: Depart for home


Learning outcomes on this program

Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness


EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources

With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development
See the resources you get
EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources


With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development

See the resources you get


What's Included

  • Transportation

    Various modes of transport are tailored to your program. While some transfers are included, others may come at additional cost.

  • Accommodations

    Safe, comfortable lodging will be waiting for you at your destination.

  • Select meals

    Enjoy a combination of included meals and the freedom to explore local cuisine on your own.

  • End-to-end support

    Your dedicated EF team helps secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides enrollment tools, and helps establish your program’s ongoing presence on campus.

  • EF Global Learning Toolkit

    We offer various tools to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.

  • Field Director

    Your Field Director is on the ground with your group, providing deep local insights while handling program logistics.

  • Guided exploration

    Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides: natural historians who provide cultural insights to enhance learning moments throughout the program.

  • Field Visits

    Experience academics in action during engaging visits with relevant organizations, thought leaders, and partners.


Programs in real life

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EF College Study Tours blog page     Blog →

Programs in real life

EF College Study Tours Instagram page     Instagram →

EF College Study Tours Facebook page     Facebook →

EF College Study Tours blog page     Blog →

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