If you've got 12 to 15 days and want to combine two countries, two of Europamundo's most popular routes from South Africa are Spain & Portugal and France & Spain. Both share Madrid as a hub. Neither is wrong. They are also genuinely different holidays.
The two routes
| Detail | Spain & Portugal | France & Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Land cost (from): | R38,500 | R44,000 |
| Length: | 12 to 14 days | 12 to 15 days |
| Cities: | Madrid, Lisbon, Porto, Seville, Granada | Paris, Bordeaux, Madrid, Barcelona |
| Meals included: | Breakfasts + 5 dinners | Breakfasts + 4 dinners |
| Group size: | 35 to 44 | 38 to 46 |
| Departs from: | JHB or CPT via Madrid | JHB or CPT via Paris |
| GO English: | Year-round | Year-round |
Spain & Portugal: warm, slow, food-forward
This is the holiday for the traveller who wants sunshine, late dinners, fado music, port wine, and tapas you can't pronounce. The pace is forgiving, you spend two nights in most cities so you actually unpack. The Iberian peninsula has a slower clock than the rest of Europe and the tour rhythm reflects that.
Lisbon and Porto are smaller, more walkable than Madrid or Barcelona. Seville and Granada bring Moorish architecture you won't see anywhere else in Europe. If you've already done Italy and France, this is the obvious next trip.
France & Spain: variety in one tour
You get two of Europe's most iconic cities (Paris and Barcelona) plus the wine country between them. Bordeaux is the sleeper hit on this itinerary. The pace is slightly faster because you're covering more ground, and the contrast between French formality and Spanish warmth is one of the trip's charms.
The price gap, explained
R5,500 more for the France & Spain combo. Why? Paris hotels are more expensive than Lisbon hotels, this is the single biggest driver. France in general runs about 15 to 20% pricier than Iberia on hotel-and-meal costs.
Flights and visa
Both are Schengen, one visa, multiple entries. JHB/CPT to Madrid via Dubai (Emirates) or Doha (Qatar) runs around R14,000 to R17,000 return economy. To Paris is similar. Most travellers fly in to one city and out of the other (open-jaw) which adds R1,500 to R3,000 but saves a return transfer.
Who should pick which
Spain & Portugal: you want a relaxed holiday, you love food, you're not in a rush to "tick off" famous monuments, you've been to Europe at least once already.
France & Spain: you've never been to Paris, you want the big names, you have a foodie partner who'll appreciate French cuisine alongside tapas, and you're happy with a slightly quicker pace.
For more on Iberia, see our Spain & Portugal piece and France beyond Paris. Browse Spain tours or France tours.
