Portugal & Spain — 18-Day Solar Eclipse Trip

July 30 departure • Arrive Lisbon July 31 • Return August 16, 2026: Lisbon • Porto • Bilbao • Burgos (Eclipse) • Madrid

Trip Overview

A relaxed cultural trip through Portugal and northern Spain, built around the Total Solar Eclipse on August 12th, 2026 in Burgos. The updated day-by-day plan uses Lisbon, Porto, Bilbao, Burgos, and Madrid, with key addresses, tickets, and transfers now consolidated.

Itinerary at a Glance

Note: Overnight flight is not shown in the city day count.

Days 1–4 – Lisbon (4 nights) Arrival + private Lisbon TukTuk; base near Rua Fialho de Almeida Belém day: Jerónimos, riverfront sights, Coach Museum, O Frade dinner Sintra day trip; free Chiado time; Solidó Fado evening Transport: Bolt/Uber/taxi + metro/tram Lodging: Rua Fialho de Almeida 6
Days 5–8 – Porto (4 nights) Train Lisbon→Porto; base near Mercado do Bolhão Porto walk/Ribeira dinner; Douro Valley tour; Foz/Serralves day Porto TukTuk; Palácio da Bolsa; final coastal/countryside van day Transport: Train, Bolt/Uber, Tram 1, van to OPO Sixt Lodging: Rua Sá da Bandeira 468
Days 9–10 – Bilbao (2 nights) Fly Porto→Bilbao; lodging at Hernani Kalea 7 Relaxed day: Teatro Arriaga, river walk, Zubizuri, Guggenheim Lunch near Guggenheim; Artxanda Funicular/Viewpoint; Plaza Nueva pintxos Transport: taxi/Bolt/Uber to lodging and bus station
Days 11–13 – Burgos (3 nights – Eclipse Base) ALSA bus Bilbao→Burgos; Enterprise van; rural lodging south of Burgos Museum of Human Evolution, old town, Burgos Cathedral; scout eclipse site SOLAR ECLIPSE — 12 August 2026 with glasses, water, backup viewing plan Transport: Bus Bilbao→Burgos; rental van; train Burgos→Madrid Lodging: reserved
Days 14–16 – Madrid (3 nights) Train Burgos→Madrid; lodging at C. de Concepción Jerónima 3 Prado/Retiro option; historic Madrid walking tour Day trip: Segovia by train, Bus 11 to Aqueduct, Cathedral, José María lunch, Alcázar Transport: Sol↔Chamartín Cercanías + Madrid↔Segovia train
Day 17 – Departure Madrid → LAX; taxi/Bolt/Uber to MAD, with normal airport buffer.

Estimated Known Costs from Day by Day(2) (6 travelers)

Known spreadsheet total currently listed: $12,800.13
Approximate per-person amount from spreadsheet: $2,133.36
Includes listed lodging, trains/buses, transfer estimate, tours/tickets, rentals, and selected reservations
Major transport: Lisbon→Porto, Porto→Bilbao, Bilbao→Burgos, Burgos→Madrid, Madrid↔Segovia
Not final all-in budget: international airfare, most meals, cash spending, and some incidentals may be extra
Cash/card note: start with about €150 cash per person; use no-foreign-fee cards and pay in euros

Trip Themes

History • Architecture • Food & Wine • Coastal Landscapes • Art & Culture • Local Neighborhoods • Eclipse Travel

Key Travel Advantages

Addresses, ticket costs, and pickup points are now consolidated in the day-by-day plan
Porto has enough time for Douro Valley, Foz/Serralves, TukTuk, and a van/coast day
Bilbao is kept to one relaxed sightseeing day before moving to Burgos
Burgos lodging is secured and eclipse day stays deliberately light
Madrid/Segovia logistics now include Sol→Chamartín Cercanías and Bus 11 to the Aqueduct

Portugal & Spain — 18-Day Solar Eclipse Trip

Trip Overview

Itinerary at a Glance

Days 1–4 – Lisbon (4 nights)

Days 5–8 – Porto (4 nights)

Days 9–10 – Bilbao (2 nights)

Days 11–13 – Burgos (3 nights – Eclipse Base)

Days 14–16 – Madrid (3 nights)

Day 17 – Departure

Estimated Known Costs from Day by Day(2) (6 travelers)

Trip Themes

Key Travel Advantages