MY TOP TRAVEL RESOURCES

PACKING: Check out my travel necessities and adventure gear on my Amazon Shop!
INTERNET: Stay connected on your phone anywhere without needing Wi-Fi or a physical sim card, with Airalo esim!
ACCOMMODATION: Find the best deals and most comprehensive & reliable accommodations on booking.com
INSURANCE: Cover yourself in case of travel or medical emergencies with SafetyWing insurance.

*I only share my genuine + trusted recommendations with you! This website contains affiliate links, and if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are entirely my own, and your support helps me continue sharing my honest travel advice so THANK YOU!!!

Spain/Portugal is an iconic Euro-trip itinerary, and i had the privilege of doing this trip with my family and we had THE BEST time!!! due to the Canadian government being the absolute worst with visas (we’ve been trying for over a YEAR to get Matt a simple VISITOR’S VISA TO SEE WHERE I AM FROM AND MEET MY FAMILY!!!) this was the FIRST TIME my fiancé got to meet my dad, brother, sister-in-law-, niece and nephew (he has already met my mom) and it was such an amazing trip!!

here are my top recos for Barcelona & Seville in Spain, and Lagos & Lisbon & Porto in Portugal!!!

BARCELONA

ssooo crowded during peak season of July/August but still worth a stop to see the iconic tourist attractions! @basilicasagradafamilia, @casabatllo, La Ramblas, Park Guell, Ciutadella Park, etc. i do really love the street & sidewalk vibes here — the Gothic Quarter cobblestones, live music, dancing, tapas, sangria ! we also did a day trip to Sitges which was a 50-minute train ride from Barcelona and nice to get away from the hustle and bustle.

Our hotel was perfect for our family, one of our faves of the trip!!

loved this hotel in barcelona!

➡️ 1hr 40min flight ➡️

** HIGHLY RECOMMEND a bonus stop in Andalucia to see the hilltop/cliffside wonders of Setenil de Las Bodegas, Ronda, and Zahara De La Sierra 😍🤯 We flew into Malaga and stayed in Setenil de Las Bodegas for a night before heading to Seville!

Our accommodation was…absolutely… PERFECT!!! Built into the rocks, looking out across the canyon into the cliffs, birds swooping by, pure bliss.

stay at this adorable place in setenil!

SEVILLE

Seville blew me away, it is SSOOO beautiful!! the city is a work of art with mosaic tiles and pretty colourful buildings. don’t miss Real Alcazar, @plazadeespana_sevilla and Casa de Pilatos, we loved flamenco at @teatroflamencosev, OBSESSED w brunch at @filo_sevilla, lil wine bar @ajoyagua_taberna and BEST gelato at @heladeria_olmo!! we also went to the theme park Isla Magica which was .. an experience lol but auntie duty calls!

Loved our accom here because it was in such a good location, next to the shops, STARBUCKS, but also local cafes lol, and everything was so walkable!! Also it had laundry and a rooftop pool!!

book this perfect apartment in seville!

➡️ rent a car — 2hr 45 min drive ➡️

highly recommend a stop at Cacela Vehla across the border in Portugal, a cute teeny little whitewashed town looking out onto an expansive sandy beach with all shades of blue!!

LAGOS

welcome to Lagos in the Algarve — it’s all about the coastline here! rent a boat and explore the Algarve with @eliteyachtcharters.algarve, and stop at Praia da Falesia. visit the praias in Lagos, especially for sunrise — Dona Ana, Estudantes, or my personal fave with the long stairs — Ponta da Piedade! ✨✨✨

we also did a day trip to Sagres which was cute for a day trip but quite chill. I wasn’t overly sold on the old town so would definitely just recommend spending as much time by the water/cliffs as possible!!

BROWSE ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE ALGARVE

➡️ 2hr 50 min drive ➡️

LISBON

Lisbon is SUCH a vibe! coolest city in Europe maybe, or at least top 5!! prepare for lots of hilly walks, incredible views, vibey eateries (@break.brunch.lisboa) & bars (loved @lisboa_bar, @java_lisboa), LX Market for concept stores & just all around vibes (patios, graffiti, local brands), go for sunset (bring wine and a picnic!) at Sao Jorge castle, tuktuk around the city, we took the old tram Elevador da Bica which is probably a tourist trap but kinda cool anyway and nice for photos!! also Lisbon is a great place from which to take day trips to Sintra (fairytale castles!! pena palace, moorish castle, centro historico, quinta da regaleira) & Belem (home of the pasteis de nada)!

click the button below for my fave hotel of the trip — request room 42! (corner suite, two balconies!)

stayed at this cute apartment in lisbon!

PORTO

i was expecting a quaint little riverside town but Porto also blew me away!! it’s set on staggering cliffs framing the river, the town is suuuuper hilly and a little gritty, but it is so so epic!! obsessed with the views and vibes at both Passeio das Virtudes and Jardim do Morro (sunset spots!!), loved walking around old town to see spots like Igreja do Carmo (blue tiled church), Livraria Lello (Harry Potter Library), Sao Bento station (blue tiled train station).

our apartment was nothing fancy but i loved the location, easy to access the upper old town and the bridge across to the other side!!

ideally located apartment in porto!