21 days in Portugal, Paris & Madrid Itinerary

Built on seven hills, Lisbon has experienced a renaissance in recent years, making it the cultural star of Portugal.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Pavilhao do Conhecimento and Vila Natal. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Lisbon: Sintra (Quinta da Regaleira & Park and National Palace of Pena) and Sao Tiago Church (in Obidos). The adventure continues: contemplate the long history of Castelo de S. Jorge, pause for some photo ops at Padrao dos Descobrimentos, admire the masterpieces at Museu Nacional do Azulejo, and indulge in some culinary diversions at a local gastronomic tour.

To find more things to do, reviews, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Lisbon trip itinerary planner.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Lisbon is an approximately 13.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train; or do a combination of bus and flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 3 hours traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon. Expect colder temperatures when traveling from Rio de Janeiro in December; daily highs in Lisbon reach 18°C and lows reach 8°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Thu) so you can travel to Porto.

Called "Oporto" by many, the city of Porto along the Duoro River lent the country and Port wine their names. Portugal's second-largest metropolis dates back to the 4th century, representing both a rich cultural past and industrial present through its architecture and style.

Kids will appreciate attractions like Exploratorio - Centro Ciencia Viva de Coimbra and SEA LIFE Porto. Step out of Porto to go to Coimbra and see Portugal dos Pequenitos, which is approximately 1h 20 min away. There's lots more to do: take in the views from Ponte de Dom Luis I, get the lay of the land with Walking tours, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Porto Cathedral (Se Catedral), and take in the architecture and atmosphere at Torre dos Clerigos.

To see where to stay, reviews, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Porto day trip planning tool .

You can fly from Lisbon to Porto in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or drive. In December, daily temperatures in Porto can reach 18°C, while at night they dip to 7°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Mon) to allow time to travel to Paris.

A beautiful and romantic city fit for any itinerary, Paris brims with historic associations and remains vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design.

Family-friendly places like Centre National d'Art et de Culture George Pompidou and The Paris Catacombs will thrill your kids. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Paris: Palace of Versailles (in Versailles) and Disneyland Paris (in Marne-la-Vallee). And it doesn't end there: admire the masterpieces at Louvre Museum, steep yourself in history at Eiffel Tower, shop like a local with Champs-Elysees, and take a stroll through Le Marais.

For traveler tips, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, read Paris vacation maker website .

Traveling by flight from Porto to Paris takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and train; or drive. The time zone changes from Western European Time (WET) to Central European Time (CET), which is usually a 1 hour difference. Expect slightly colder temperatures when traveling from Porto in December; daily highs in Paris reach 9°C and lows reach 3°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Sat) to allow time to travel to Madrid.

Madrid is known for its cultural and artistic heritage, lively nightlife, and a dynamic culinary scene.

Attractions like Parque del Retiro and Royal Palace of Madrid make great kid-friendly stops. Change things up with a short trip to Catedral Primada in Toledo (about 1 hour away). And it doesn't end there: see the interesting displays at Prado National Museum, admire the striking features of Estacion de Atocha, steep yourself in history at Plaza Mayor, and don't miss a visit to Puerta del Sol.

To see ratings, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read our Madrid online journey planner .

Getting from Paris to Madrid by flight takes about 5 hours. Other options: take a train; or drive. When traveling from Paris in December, plan for somewhat warmer days in Madrid, with highs around 14°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 1st (Wed) so you can travel to Lisbon.

Start off your visit on the 2nd (Thu): don't miss a visit to Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paco), then don't miss a visit to Belém Tower, then admire the landmark architecture of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, and finally get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Lisbon Oceanarium.

To find traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, go to the Lisbon sightseeing planner.

Getting from Madrid to Lisbon by flight takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference when traveling from Madrid to Lisbon is minus 1 hour. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Madrid in January, with highs in Lisbon at 17°C and lows at 9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 2nd (Thu) to allow time to travel back home.