Portugal North to South: Porto, Lisbon & Lagos Self-Launched by Train and Bus
8 days · Portugal
Destination Services Portugal charges £860
No-markup version: ~£815 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Destination Services Portugal's 8-day Porto-to-Faro self-drive package, rebuilt for independent travellers using Portugal's excellent (and cheap) train and bus network instead of a rental car. You'll get the same spine of the trip — two nights in Porto, two in Lisbon, three in Lagos — but swap 4-star tour hotels for well-located hostels and guesthouses, the group port wine cellar visit for a self-booked tasting, and the drive down the coast for the Alfa Pendular train and Rede Expressos buses. Days are light-activity and flexible, with practical add-ons (Sintra, Évora, Cabo São Vicente) you can pick and choose. Costs are rough budget-traveller estimates in GBP; book trains early on cp.pt for the best fares.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Porto & first evening in Ribeira
Porto
Land at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) and take the Metro Line E (violet) directly into town — about 30 minutes to Trindade or São Bento for roughly £2 (buy a rechargeable Andante card, ~£0.50). Check into a central hostel or guesthouse near São Bento or Ribeira. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Ribeira waterfront and the steep lanes of the old town, then grab a cheap dinner of francesinha or grilled sardines at a tasca away from the riverfront tourist strip (£10-14). Skip the rental car entirely — Porto is walkable and the trains south are fast and cheap.
🚌Metro Line E airport to city centre, ~£2
🛏Central hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near São Bento (approx. £22-28/night)
- →Ribeira waterfront stroll
- →São Bento Station azulejo panels (free)
- →Evening tasca dinner
Porto: port wine cellar tasting & old town
Porto
Cross the Dom Luís I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia and book a port cellar tour and tasting directly with a lodge — Sandeman, Graham's, Taylor's and Ramos Pinto all sell walk-in or online tickets from about £12-18 for a tour plus 2-3 tastings (book ahead in summer via the lodge's own site or GetYourGuide). In the afternoon explore the historic centre: São Francisco Church (£4), the Palácio da Bolsa (£10) and shopping along Rua de Santa Catarina. Sunset from the Jardim do Morro on the Gaia side is free and unbeatable. In the evening, a casual dinner in the Bolhão or Cedofeita area keeps costs down (~£12).
🚌On foot; optional metro/tram hop ~£1.50
🛏Central hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near São Bento (approx. £22-28/night)
- →Port wine cellar tour & tasting in Gaia (~£15)
- →São Francisco Church (~£4)
- →Palácio da Bolsa (~£10)
- →Sunset at Jardim do Morro (free)
Train to Lisbon via Coimbra or Óbidos
Lisbon
Take the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train from Porto Campanhã to Lisbon Oriente or Santa Apolónia — about 2h50-3h20, from roughly £15-25 if booked ahead on cp.pt. If you want the scenic stop the tour offers, break the journey at Coimbra (historic university, ~£10 entry) or at Óbidos (bus/wall walk) on a separate cheaper regional leg. Check into a hostel in Alfama, Baixa or Bairro Alto. In the evening, explore Bairro Alto's tiny streets and grab a bifana or grilled fish with a glass of vinho verde for under £12, then catch free fado drifting out of doorways in Alfama.
🚌Alfa Pendular/Intercidades train Porto to Lisbon, ~£15-25
🛏Hostel dorm in Alfama/Baixa or budget guesthouse (approx. £24-30/night)
- →Optional Coimbra stop (university ~£10)
- →Bairro Alto evening wander
- →Alfama fado ambience (free)
Lisbon: Belém, Alfama & optional Sintra day trip
Lisbon
Start in Belém: Jerónimos Monastery (£10), the Belém Tower, and the Discoveries Monument (both free to view from outside). Take tram 15 or the train from Cais do Sodré. In the afternoon climb to São Jorge Castle (£10, or just enjoy the Miradouros for free) and wander Alfama's lanes. Sintra is an easy optional half-day: the suburban train from Rossio costs about £2.20 each way and Pena Palace entry is around £18 — book online to skip queues. Cascais and Cabo da Roca are a further train ride if you want the coast. Dinner in the Mouraria area for cheap tascas (~£12).
🚌Tram 15 + metro/day pass ~£6; optional Rossio-Sintra train ~£4.50 return
🛏Hostel dorm in Alfama/Baixa or budget guesthouse (approx. £24-30/night)
- →Jerónimos Monastery (~£10)
- →Belém Tower & Discoveries Monument (exterior free)
- →São Jorge Castle (~£10)
- →Optional Sintra & Pena Palace (~£20 incl. train)
Bus to Lagos via Évora or Beja
Lagos
Take a Rede Expressos or FlixBus from Lisbon Sete Rios to Lagos — roughly 3h45-4h30 direct, about £10-16 booked online. If you want the journey to mirror the tour's inland stop, route via Évora (Roman temple, chapel of bones, ~£6 entry) and continue to Lagos, or pause in Beja en route. Arrive in Lagos, check into a hostel near the old town or Meia Praia, and head straight for the waterfront for a sunset drink. Dinner of cataplana or grilled sardines at a local family restaurant (avoid the marina-front tourist menus) runs £12-15.
🚌Rede Expressos/FlixBus Lisbon to Lagos, ~£10-16
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Lagos old town (approx. £20-26/night)
- →Optional Évora stop (Roman temple & chapel of bones ~£6)
- →Lagos waterfront sunset
Lagos old town & Ponta da Piedade
Lagos
Explore Lagos on foot: the old town walls, the Mercado dos Escravos (Europe's first slave market, free), Santo António Church (£3) and the Forte da Bandeira. In the afternoon walk 25 minutes (or take a £4 taxi) to Ponta da Piedade for the dramatic golden cliffs and sea stacks. Optional: book a small-group kayak or boat tour into the grottoes through GetYourGuide or a local operator for about £25-30 — a great way to see the caves the tour only glimpses. Try a pastel de nata and coffee mid-morning, and eat dinner back in the old town (~£13).
🚌On foot; local bus or taxi to Ponta da Piedade ~£2-4
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Lagos old town (approx. £20-26/night)
- →Old town walls & Mercado dos Escravos (free)
- →Santo António Church (~£3)
- →Ponta da Piedade cliffs (free)
- →Optional kayak/boat grotto tour (~£27)
Sagres, Cabo São Vicente & west coast beaches
Lagos
Take the local bus from Lagos to Sagres (change at Vila do Bispo; about £4-6 each way, 1h) to reach the Faro de Sagres fortress (£4) and Cabo São Vicente, the southwestern tip of Europe — the 'end of the world'. Alternatively, rent a bike for the day (~£10) or join a shared minivan tour via GetYourGuide (~£30). On the way back, stop at Praia do Camilo or Meia Praia for a swim. If you prefer a lazier day, stay in Lagos and beach-hop between Praia Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo. Evening in Ferragudo's harbour or a final Lagos dinner (~£14).
🚌Local bus Lagos–Sagres return ~£8-12
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Lagos old town (approx. £20-26/night)
- →Sagres fortress (~£4)
- →Cabo São Vicente (free)
- →West coast beach swim
- →Optional bike hire (~£10)
Lagos to Faro & departure
Faro
Take the regional train from Lagos to Faro (about 1h50, ~£7-8) and then a short local bus or taxi to Faro Airport (~£2.50 bus, £12 taxi). If your flight is later, leave time for a wander around Faro's old town, the cathedral and the marina before departure. Buy any last pastéis de nata and stock up on snacks for the journey home.
🚌Lagos–Faro regional train ~£7-8 + airport bus ~£2.50
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Optional Faro old town & marina stroll
Self-launched vs. Destination Services Portugal
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Destination Services Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£815 | £860 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £45 per person (5%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Destination Services Portugal-style trips? Check them out here.~£815
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Portugal North to South: Porto, Lisbon & Lagos Self-Launched by Train and Bus cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £815 per person for 8 days in Portugal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Destination Services Portugal?+
Yes — Destination Services Portugal charges around £860 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £815 — a saving of roughly £45 (5%) per person.
How long is the Portugal trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Portugal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, beaches trip through Portugal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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