Plan at least 16 days for Spain, Portugal and Morocco in one trip, and closer to three weeks if you want Porto and the Douro Valley or a night near the Sahara dunes. Sixteen days gives you six bases with at least two nights in each, and on our route short flights between the countries keep every travel leg to about two and a half hours or less. With fewer than two weeks, we usually suggest two countries, since each border adds a travel day.
Magical Private Travel has planned private luxury journeys across Spain, Portugal and Morocco since 2002 for 17,000+ travelers, with our own local teams in Lisbon and Marrakech.
Thinking about all three countries in 2027 or 2028? Share your dates and a planner will suggest the route and the number of days that fit you. Start planning your journey
How many days do you need for Spain, Portugal and Morocco?
The right length depends on how many bases you want and how much you enjoy a slower pace. Here is how we usually explain it to American travelers.
| Trip length | What fits | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 13 days | Two countries, or one city in each of the three, such as Madrid, Marrakech and Lisbon | Return visitors and travelers short on time |
| 14 to 16 days | Six bases: Barcelona, Granada, Seville and Madrid, then Marrakech and Lisbon, with two to four nights each | A first visit to all three countries |
| 18 to 21 days | The same route plus Porto and the Douro Valley, or Fez and two nights near the Sahara dunes | Travelers who want more depth at an easy pace |
Our rule of thumb is no more than one hotel change every two or three days. One-night stops cost the most time, because each one means packing, checking out and another transfer. A longer stay in fewer places almost always feels like more trip, not less.
What is the best order for Spain, Portugal and Morocco?
Fly into one city and home from another, so you never retrace your steps. Our favorite first-visit route starts in Barcelona and ends in Lisbon:
- Barcelona, two nights, for Gaudí and the Gothic Quarter
- A short flight to Granada, two nights, for the Alhambra and the Albaicín
- A drive of about two and a half hours to Seville, two nights
- The high-speed train to Madrid, two nights, for the Prado and the Retiro
- A direct flight of about two hours to Marrakech, four nights
- A direct flight of about an hour and 40 minutes to Lisbon, three nights, with Sintra and the coast
Morocco sits in the middle, and Lisbon’s Atlantic air makes an easy finish. The route also works in reverse. Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon all have nonstop flights to several U.S. cities, so the long-haul ends are simple either way. If you are deciding between Seville and Granada first, our post on how we route Andalusia covers it.
See this route day by day on our Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 16 Days journey, Barcelona to Lisbon by way of Marrakech, from $15,968 per person, excl. international flights, based on two sharing. View the itinerary
Should you take the ferry or fly from Spain to Morocco?
It depends on where in Morocco you are going. The fast ferry from Tarifa to Tangier takes about an hour and suits routes through northern Morocco, where Tangier, Chefchaouen and Fez sit close to the coast. Our 16-day Spain and Morocco journey, Madrid to Marrakech, crosses the Strait this way: a licensed driver takes you from Marbella to Tarifa, and a private driver meets you at the port in Tangier.
For Marrakech, the Agafay and the Atlas Mountains, flying is the better choice. The direct flight from Madrid takes about two hours and saves a long drive south from the Strait. For more on Moroccan arrivals, see whether to fly into Casablanca or Marrakech.
How many nights should you spend in Morocco?
Four nights in Marrakech is the sweet spot on a three-country trip. That gives you a day in the medina and the souks, a day in the Agafay, where you could choose a camel ride or a quad bike at sunset, and a day in the Atlas foothills, with the option of a light hike to the Setti Fatma waterfalls in the Ourika Valley.
The Sahara dunes need more time. The drive from Marrakech is long, so plan at least three extra days, ideally on a three-week trip. Our post on the Sahara or the Agafay explains the difference. In Morocco, your private driver and your licensed guide are two different people, so the guide can focus fully on you. Amine and Youssef are two of the licensed guides we work with, and they travel with clients throughout the country.
Who looks after you in each country?
Three countries usually means three sets of suppliers, two currencies and a stack of separate bookings. With us it means one planner and one private WhatsApp group with our 24/7 team and Rachel, Inés, Sofia or Dan, from your first call until you fly home.
- In Spain, a licensed guide leads each city and a licensed driver handles the road transfers. Spanish guides are local to their city, so you meet a new expert in each place, such as Ana, the art historian we work with in Madrid, or Israel, one of our Alhambra guides in Granada.
- In Portugal, a licensed guide shows you Lisbon and Sintra. Luisa is one of the Lisbon guides we work with.
- In Morocco, a private driver and a licensed guide look after you, supported by our local team in Marrakech.
We choose our guides for their experience, knowledge and engaging personalities, and we rotate them, so a specific guide is never guaranteed.
Is a private journey or a small group tour better for Spain, Portugal and Morocco?
Both exist, and they suit different travelers. Luxury small group tours of Spain, Portugal and Morocco run on fixed dates with a set pace, which suits travelers who enjoy the company of other guests and a ready-made plan. A private journey runs on your dates and at your pace, with your own guide in each city, hotels chosen for you and timed entries booked ahead, so you skip the lines at the Alhambra and the Sagrada Família. We plan private journeys only, for couples, families and friends traveling together.
Can you fly privately between Spain, Portugal and Morocco?
Yes, and it changes the math. Spain alone is nearly the size of France, so flying privately turns long overland days into short hops. For clients who fly privately, our planners have built routes such as the “Triple Play”: Madrid or Barcelona, then Seville, Fez, the Sahara and Marrakech, finishing in Lisbon or Porto. For two couples on a seven-day Andalusia and Marrakech journey, a private jet from Granada to Marrakech replaced a poor scheduled connection with a short flight. No private aircraft yet? We have suggestions.
When is the best time to visit Spain, Portugal and Morocco together?
April to June and September to October suit all three countries best, with warm days in Andalusia and Marrakech and fresh Atlantic air in Lisbon. November is also an attractive month, and Morocco is lovely in winter. In July and August, Seville, Madrid and Marrakech run hot, so we plan early starts and long midday breaks. Hotels price like airlines, so high-demand weeks cost more, but they are still fine times to travel.
How far in advance should you book a three-country trip?
Ideally a year or more ahead, because we limit ourselves to five trips per country each week so every trip gets truly personal, custom planning. A three-country journey needs that availability in all three places on the right dates. The top local guides, with deep local knowledge and excellent English, are few, and the best of them are reserved quickly. Traveling sooner? Contact us. Depending on our availability, your dates and your needs, we may be able to make it happen. Read more on how far in advance to book.
Why plan with Magical Private Travel?
We are an American-owned company that has planned private journeys in Spain, Portugal and Morocco since 2002, bringing American precision and local expertise to every trip. Our licensed guides, chefs, winemakers and artisans are partners we have worked with for years. MPT maintains excellent ratings on Trustpilot and Google’s independent review platforms. Browse all our Spain, Portugal and Morocco journeys, or read how it works.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for Spain, Portugal and Morocco?
Plan at least 16 days. That gives you six bases, such as Barcelona, Granada, Seville, Madrid, Marrakech and Lisbon, with at least two nights in each. For Porto and the Douro Valley or a night near the Sahara dunes, plan about three weeks.
Can you see Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 10 days?
You can, with one city in each country, such as Madrid, Marrakech and Lisbon. For a first visit with more than one city per country, we suggest two countries in 10 days, since each border adds a travel day.
What is the best route for Spain, Portugal and Morocco in one trip?
Fly into one city and home from another. A favorite first-visit route runs from Barcelona to Granada, Seville and Madrid, then flies to Marrakech and on to Lisbon. It also works in reverse.
Should you take the ferry or fly from Spain to Morocco?
Take the fast ferry from Tarifa to Tangier, about an hour, for northern Morocco, including Tangier, Chefchaouen and Fez. For Marrakech, the Agafay and the Atlas Mountains, fly. The direct flight from Madrid takes about two hours.
How many nights should you spend in Marrakech?
Four nights on a three-country trip. That allows a day in the medina, a day in the Agafay and a day in the Atlas foothills. A trip to the Sahara dunes needs at least three extra days.
How far in advance should you book a private tour of Spain, Portugal and Morocco?
Ideally a year or more ahead, because we limit ourselves to five trips per country each week so every trip gets truly personal, custom planning. The best local guides are few and reserved quickly. Traveling sooner? Contact us. Depending on our availability, your dates and your needs, we may be able to make it happen.
Travel planning is complicated. We make it easy. Tell us which countries you are dreaming of and how much time you have, and a planner will reply with a first custom itinerary built around you. Plan my private journey
Dan O’Beirne, founder of Magical Private Travel, in Europe since 1998.
