Advice on Spain and Portugal

If you're going to Portugal, I recommend Lisbon. Pretty walkable, and the tram system was easy to figure out to see more out of the way sights (like the Tower of Belem). Lisbon is also the home to the world's oldest bookstore: the Bertrand bookstore.

For Spain, there's a lot to see in Madrid. El Prado is great if you like art museums. Ratiro Park is good for just walking around. Barcelona is also incredible. I would recommend strolling down las Ramblas and taking a walking tour of the Gothic District (I took a great one from RunnerBean Tours). And finally, La Alhambra in Grenada is incredible if you're interested in architecture.

Obviously, this is a lot, and I don't know that I'd recommend trying to see all of this in one week. But there are lot of great options.

With such a limited time you could probably just hit the major cities, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon (although I've never been to Portugal.

I had a fairly extensive stay in Spain, and if I had 2 cities to return to it would probably be Sevilla and Granada, but given only a week you may be better off staying in the major hubs.

If you like museums, old churches, wine, and good food, there won't be any shortage of those in those 3 major cities.

I was in Spain for almost three weeks a few years ago. I used Madrid as the home base and did day trips (easy bus or train rides) to Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial and Avila. I spent the entire day at the Prado, one of the greatest art museums in the world. Retiro Park, as someone mentioned, is right next to the Prado.

Every restaurant in Spain has a three course lunch menu at a good price, often including wine. Take advantage of it. Also spent LOTS of time at tapas bars and generally partying with the Madrillenos. Madrid has got to be the party capital of Europe! And the Spanish gals are stunning. And people there I found to be very friendly despite a terrible economy and high unemployment rate.

ETA: My Madrid friends took me to a home futbol game at the Bernabeu Stadium, Real Madrid vs the rival Barcelona. Quite an experience. The atmosphere is pretty much the same as in Tiger Stadium against an SEC rival on Saturday night.

With just 7 days, you'll have to limit it to 2 cities. Choose Barcelona (beaches, architecture, scenery) or Madrid (real Spain, history, food) + Lisbon.

I don't know the area and I don't have any specific info on either Spain or Portugal, but I'd agree with 7 days I'd concentrate on Portugal personally. Or do a part of Spain. 3-4 days for a big city is really a minimum to see most but not all of what you want in a leisurely fashion. Then you add a couple days trips and you are done.

I don't have an issue with hurrying, but I wouldn't want to be moving so much you spend more time traveling than site seeing either.

Headed there in a few weeks. We going surfing in Portugal about 30 minutes north of Lisbon. Supposedly Best surfing in Europe. Having some time in Lisbon to mainly just eat. I hear great things of Lisbon cuisine. Then Barcelona for a few days to see the sights and Sagrada. If you interested in any of that, I’ll give some recs when I get back in early June.