Self-Launched Southern Portugal: Lisbon & the Algarve

Arrive at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport and make your own way into the city. The Aerobus (Line 1) runs directly from the airport to central Lisbon for around £4, or take the Metro (Vermelha/Red Line) to Alameda or Marquês de Pombal for £1.80. Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the Baixa or Mouraria neighbourhood — both are central and full of character. Spend the evening wandering the tiled streets, grabbing a pastel de nata at a local café, and soaking up the atmosphere. No need to pre-book much for tonight — just get settled.

🚌Aerobus Line 1 from airport to city centre (~£4) or Metro Red Line (~£1.80)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Baixa/Mouraria — e.g. Home Lisbon Hostel or Lisbon Lounge Hostel (~£18–30/night in a dorm or private room)

• →Take the Aerobus or Metro from Lisbon Airport to the city centre (~£2–4)
• →Check in to your hostel or guesthouse in Baixa or Mouraria
• →Explore the local streets and grab a pastel de nata at a traditional café
• →Stroll along the Tagus riverfront at dusk

A free day to explore Lisbon at your own pace. Ride the iconic Tram 28E through Alfama and Graça for just £3.50 — one of the best value experiences in the city. Head up to the Miradouro da Graça or Miradouro de Santa Luzia for panoramic views over the terracotta rooftops. Wander through the Alfama neighbourhood's labyrinthine lanes, listen for live Fado music drifting from restaurant doorways, and browse the antique shops in the Feira da Ladra flea market (Tuesdays and Saturdays). Lunch on local piri-piri chicken or a bifanas sandwich at a tasca for under £6. In the afternoon, visit Mouraria, Lisbon's oldest Moorish quarter.

🚌Tram 28E (~£3.50) and walking

🛏Same hostel or guesthouse in Baixa/Mouraria (~£18–30/night)

• →Ride Tram 28E through Alfama and Graça (~£3.50)
• →Visit Miradouro da Graça and Miradouro de Santa Luzia (free)
• →Wander the lanes of Alfama and Mouraria (free)
• →Browse Feira da Ladra flea market if it's Tuesday or Saturday (free entry)
• →Lunch at a local tasca — bifanas sandwich or piri-piri chicken (~£5–8)

Book a self-launched guided walking tour of Lisbon's highlights through GetYourGuide (from ~£20pp) covering Eduardo VII Park, Baixa Pombalina, Rossio, Alfama, and the Estrela Basilica. In the afternoon, head to Belém by Tram 15E or bus (~£2) to visit the Monument of the Discoveries, Belém Tower (entry ~£7), and the exterior of Jerónimos Monastery (free exterior, ~£12 interior). Optionally, ride the Glória Funicular up to Bairro Alto (~£4 return) for sundowners at the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint. For a day trip, Sintra is reachable by train from Rossio station for ~£4 return, and Cascais by train from Cais do Sodré for ~£4 return.

🚌Tram 15E or bus to Belém (~£2), Glória Funicular (~£4 return)

🛏Same hostel or guesthouse in Baixa/Mouraria (~£18–30/night)

• →Book a guided walking tour via GetYourGuide covering Baixa, Alfama, and Estrela (~£20pp)
• →Travel to Belém by Tram 15E or bus (~£2)
• →Visit Belém Tower (entry ~£7)
• →Admire Jerónimos Monastery exterior (free) or pay ~£12 for interior entry
• →Monument of the Discoveries (exterior free, interior ~£7)
• →Optional: Ride Glória Funicular to Bairro Alto and São Pedro viewpoint (~£4 return)
• →Optional day trip: Train to Sintra from Rossio (~£4 return) or Cascais from Cais do Sodré (~£4 return)

Take an early Rede Expressos or Flixbus coach from Lisbon's Sete Rios bus terminal to Lagos (~3.5–4 hrs, ~£18–22). Explore Lagos' old town, dramatic sea caves, and Ponta da Piedade cliffs — you can walk or hire a cheap tuk-tuk locally. Catch a local bus or taxi (~£15–20 shared) to Cape St. Vincent, the most south-westerly point of mainland Europe, and the nearby Sagres Fortress (entry ~£3 — far cheaper than tour mark-ups). In the late afternoon, take a regional Rede Expressos bus east along the N125 to Albufeira (~1–1.5 hrs, ~£8). Check in to your Albufeira guesthouse and spend the evening on the lively beach strip.

🚌Rede Expressos coach Lisbon–Lagos (~£18–22), local bus/taxi to Cape St. Vincent (~£15–20 shared), bus Lagos–Albufeira (~£8)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Albufeira — e.g. Albufeira Lounge Hostel (~£18–28/night)

• →Rede Expressos/Flixbus coach: Lisbon Sete Rios to Lagos (~£18–22, ~3.5–4 hrs)
• →Explore Lagos old town and Ponta da Piedade cliffs (free)
• →Local bus or taxi to Cape St. Vincent (most south-westerly point of mainland Europe, free access)
• →Visit Sagres Fortress (~£3 entry)
• →Regional bus: Lagos to Albufeira (~£8, ~1–1.5 hrs)
• →Evening stroll along Albufeira beach

This is your longest travel day — the original tour covers a lot of ground. Start early: take a regional bus from Albufeira to Faro (~45 min, ~£5) and spend an hour exploring Faro's beautiful old town (Cidade Velha), the city walls, and the waterfront. Then take a bus towards Mértola (~2 hrs, ~£9) — a stunning hilltop village with a Moorish castle and the unique Igreja Matriz (a mosque converted into a church). Continue by bus to Évora (~1.5 hrs, ~£8), a UNESCO World Heritage city with an intact Roman Temple, medieval city walls, and Gothic cathedral. Don't miss the haunting Chapel of Bones (€5 entry, ~£4.30). Evening bus from Évora back to Lisbon (~1.5 hrs, ~£12). A full-on day — pack snacks and wear comfortable shoes.

🚌Bus Albufeira–Faro (~£5), bus Faro–Mértola (~£9), bus Mértola–Évora (~£8), bus Évora–Lisbon (~£12)

🛏Back to hostel or guesthouse in Lisbon Baixa/Mouraria (~£18–30/night)

• →Bus: Albufeira to Faro (~£5, ~45 min)
• →Explore Faro old town and city walls (free)
• →Bus: Faro to Mértola (~£9, ~2 hrs)
• →Visit Mértola's Moorish castle and Igreja Matriz (free/small fee)
• →Bus: Mértola to Évora (~£8, ~1.5 hrs)
• →Roman Temple of Évora and medieval walls (free exterior)
• →Chapel of Bones entry (~£4.30)
• →Bus: Évora to Lisbon (~£12, ~1.5 hrs)

A well-earned leisurely day back in Lisbon. Visit the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (National Tile Museum, ~£7) — an absolute highlight for understanding Portuguese culture and craft. Head to LX Factory, a creative hub in a converted industrial space in Alcântara, great for brunch, independent boutiques, and street art. Alternatively, spend the morning at the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (£9) or explore the Time Out Market for an iconic Lisbon food hall lunch (~£10–15). In the evening, hunt down a proper Fado show — many tascos in Alfama offer free live Fado with dinner, or book a dedicated Fado experience via GetYourGuide from ~£25.

🚌Walking, Metro, or Tram (~£3–5)

🛏Same hostel or guesthouse in Baixa/Mouraria (~£18–30/night)

• →Visit Museu Nacional do Azulejo (~£7)
• →Explore LX Factory market and creative hub (free entry)
• →Lunch at Time Out Market (~£10–15)
• →Optional: Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (~£9)
• →Evening Fado experience in Alfama — free at a tasca with dinner, or ~£25pp via GetYourGuide

Final breakfast in Lisbon — grab a coffee and pastel de nata at a local padaria (bakery) for under £3. Make your way to the airport independently: the Metro Red Line runs directly from central Lisbon to the airport for ~£1.80, taking around 25–35 minutes. Allow plenty of time, especially in summer. End of a brilliant self-launched Portugal adventure.

🚌Metro Vermelha (Red Line) to airport (~£1.80)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final coffee and pastel de nata at a local bakery (~£2–3)
• →Metro Red Line to Lisbon Airport (~£1.80, ~25–35 min)
• →Depart Lisbon