Europe from West to East: Lisbon to Budapest (Self-Launched)

Fly or train into Lisbon and check into a hostel in Baixa/Chiado or the cheaper Anjos/Intendente area. Spend the afternoon on foot: Praça do Comércio, the lanes of Alfama, and sunset at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Evening: cheap grilled fish or a bifana in Bairro Alto, then a €3 beer in a tiny tasca. Buy a Viva Viagem card (€0.50) and top it up for the tram and metro.

🚌Metro from Lisbon Airport to city centre ~€2 (20 min). Or arrive by train into Santa Apolónia/Gare do Oriente.

🛏Hostel dorm in Baixa/Intendente (£18-22)

• →Alfama walking wander
• →Miradouro da Senhora do Monte sunset
• →Bairro Alto evening

Do the free tip-based walking tour (Sandemans/Discover Walks, ~£5-8 tip) of Baixa, Chiado and Alfama in the morning — it replaces the operator's guided city tour for a fraction. Afternoon: tram 15 to Belém for the Jerónimos Monastery (€12) and Torre de Belém exterior; the famous Pastéis de Belém queue is worth it (~£2 for three). Optional day trip to Sintra by train (€2.30 each way, 40 min) if you prefer palaces over the city — Pena Palace timed entry books out, reserve ahead on GetYourGuide (~£20).

🚌Tram 15 to Belém ~€1.80 on Viva Viagem; Sintra train €2.30 each way from Rossio.

🛏Hostel dorm in Baixa/Intendente (£18-22)

• →Free walking tour (tip-based)
• →Jerónimos Monastery
• →Belém Tower
• →Pastéis de Belém
• →Optional Sintra/Pena Palace day trip

The operator's coach does Estremoz and Cáceres in one day — you can too, but it's long. Cheapest sensible option: an early bus/train to Badajoz or Cáceres and a stop in Cáceres' walled old town (free to wander, UNESCO-listed, medieval towers and storks). If time is tight, skip Estremoz and go straight to Madrid. Arrive Madrid late evening and check into a hostel around Sol/La Latina or the cheaper Arganzuela end of town.

🚌Lisbon→Badajoz/Cáceres bus ~£20-25 (Rede Expressos/Flixbus, 4-5h); Cáceres→Madrid bus or train ~£20-28 (4h). Alternatively a direct Lisbon→Madrid overnight bus ~£30.

🛏Hostel dorm in Sol/La Latina (£22-28)

• →Cáceres old town walk
• →Plaza Mayor Madrid at night

Self-guided version of the big city day: walk the Paseo del Prado to Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza Mayor, then Retiro Park and the Palacio de Cristal (all free). Prado is free 18:00-20:00 Mon-Sat and Sun 17:00-19:00 — go then and save €15. Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour is self-bookable online (~£28 entry; basic self-guided version cheaper) — book a slot in advance. Evening: tapas crawl in La Latina (vermut + raciones, ~£15).

🚌All on foot; metro single ~€1.50-2 if needed.

🛏Hostel dorm in Sol/La Latina (£22-28)

• →Paseo del Prado & Cibeles walk
• →Plaza Mayor
• →Retiro Park & Palacio de Cristal
• →Free-entry Prado slot
• →Santiago Bernabéu self-guided stadium tour

Take the AVE high-speed train Madrid→Zaragoza (1h25, book on Renfe ahead ~£20-30), spend 3 hours at the Basílica del Pilar and the old town, then continue Zaragoza→Barcelona (1h45, ~£25-35). Poblet Abbey is awkward by public transport — drop it or swap for a Montserrat stop later in the trip. Arrive Barcelona and stay in a hostel in Gràcia or Poble-sec (cheaper than Eixample, still central).

🚌Renfe AVE Madrid→Zaragoza ~£25, Zaragoza→Barcelona ~£30 (book 3-4 weeks ahead for cheap fares).

🛏Hostel dorm in Gràcia/Poble-sec (£25-32)

• →Basílica del Pilar
• →Zaragoza old town tapas
• →Gràcia evening stroll

Book Sagrada Família online in advance (€26, sells out days ahead) for an early slot, then wander the Gothic Quarter on a free walking tour (tip-based). Afternoon: Ramblas, Boqueria market (go early for cheap fruit and pintxos), and Park Güell (€10, free if you skip the monumental zone and just walk the surrounding park). Evening train or afternoon bus to Girona — a cheap regional hop, not the operator's coach leg.

🚌Barcelona→Girona regional train ~£12-18 (40-75 min) or Flixbus ~£8.

🛏Guesthouse/hostel dorm in Girona old town (£22-28)

• →Sagrada Família (pre-booked online)
• →Free Gothic Quarter walking tour
• →La Boqueria market
• →Park Güell exterior
• →Ramblas

Morning walk of Girona's old town, Cathedral and Jewish Quarter (free). Then a long but scenic rail day: Girona→Narbonne/Montpellier, connecting to Arles where you detour for the Roman amphitheatre (€11) and the Van Gogh lanes. Skip the Carrières des Lumières show unless it's a must — timed tickets ~£13, bookable on their own site. Continue to Chambéry via Lyon late evening; it's a long day, but it mirrors the operator's coach leg on public rail.

🚌Girona→Montpellier/Nîmes TGV ~£30-40; Nîmes→Arles regional ~£8; Arles→Lyon→Chambéry ~£30-35. Buy a sncf-connect interrail-friendly through ticket where possible.

🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Chambéry (£25-32)

• →Girona Cathedral & Jewish Quarter
• →Arles Roman amphitheatre
• →Arles old town / Van Gogh sites

Cross into Switzerland by train (Chambéry→Genève ~£20). In Geneva do the free walk to the Jet d'Eau and the UN quarter (Palais des Nations exterior; guided tours need passport and pre-booking via the UN site, ~£13). Then train to Gruyères (via Palezieux/Bulle) for the Maison Cailler chocolate tour (~£14, book direct or GetYourGuide) and the castle village. Finish at Chillon Castle above Lake Geneva (entry ~£13) and sleep cheap in Martigny or Leysin — Swiss hostels here are the best value in the country (~£35-40 dorm).

🚌Regional Swiss rail all day; consider a Swiss Half Fare Card (~£100 for a month) if you're doing Glacier 3000 and multiple Swiss legs — it pays off.

🛏Hostel dorm in Martigny or Leysin (£35-42)

• →Jet d'Eau & UN quarter walk
• →Maison Cailler chocolate factory tour
• →Gruyères medieval village
• →Château de Chillon

Bus/train from Leysin or Martigny to Les Diablerets, then the cable car up to Glacier 3000 (~CHF 69 / £62 return with Half Fare Card, cheaper than walk-up) — the Peak Walk suspension bridge, Ice Cathedral and fun park are all included in the ticket. Then a scenic run via Zweisimmen/Spiez to Interlaken (lake views, free), a quick stop in Lucerne for the Chapel Bridge, and an evening train to Zurich. Book the Glacier 3000 ticket online the night before.

🚌Swiss rail + PostBus; Glacier 3000 cable car booked online. Zurich is ~2h from Lucerne.

🛏Hostel dorm in Zurich (£38-45)

• →Glacier 3000 Peak Walk & Ice Cathedral
• →Interlaken lakeside stop
• →Lucerne Chapel Bridge & Lion Monument

Train Zurich→Bellinzona (2h, ~£35), walk between the three UNESCO castles (Castelgrande entry ~£8, or just walk the ramparts free). Continue to Como for the lakefront, Duomo and a cheap aperitivo, then a regional train into Milan (~£5). Evening in Navigli for aperitivo hour — one drink often comes with a buffet, the best budget dinner in Milan.

🚌Zurich→Bellinzona ~£35; Bellinzona→Como ~£12; Como→Milano Centrale ~£5.

🛏Hostel dorm in Milan (£28-35)

• →Bellinzona castles
• →Como lakefront & Duomo
• →Navigli aperitivo

Long transfer day. Take a Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed train Milan→Pisa (3h, book ahead ~£25-35), drop bags, and walk 20 minutes to Piazza dei Miracoli — the Leaning Tower climb (€20, pre-book timed slot; skip if budget-tight, the square itself is free). Then regional train Pisa→Rome (3-4h, ~£20-25). Check into a hostel near Termini or Monti.

🚌Italo/Frecciarossa Milan→Pisa ~£30 booked ahead; Pisa→Roma Termini regional/IC ~£22.

🛏Hostel dorm near Termini/Monti (£28-35)

• →Piazza dei Miracoli & Leaning Tower
• →Pisa riverfront walk

Book Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine combined ticket online (€18, timed entry, sells out — GetYourGuide or the official Coopculture site). Do a free tip-based walking tour of the Imperial centre to cover what the operator's guide would. Afternoon optional: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (€20 + booking fee, book direct), or just St Peter's Basilica (free, queue early). Evening in Trastevere — cheap pizza al taglio and a beer by the river.

🚌On foot and metro/bus single €1.50.

🛏Hostel dorm near Termini/Monti (£28-35)

• →Colosseum & Roman Forum
• →Free Imperial Rome walking tour
• →Vatican Museums (optional)
• →St Peter's Basilica
• →Trastevere evening

Morning train Rome→Florence (1h30 Frecciarossa ~£20-30 booked ahead). Climb/transfer to Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic view (free; bus 12 or 25 min walk), then a free walking tour of the historic centre — Ponte Vecchio, Duomo exterior, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce. Duomo dome climb (€30 combined pass) is self-bookable if you want it; otherwise just admire from the piazza. Dinner: a lampredotto sandwich or trattoria pasta (~£12).

🚌Frecciarossa Roma Termini→Firenze SMN ~£25.

🛏Hostel dorm near Santa Maria Novella (£25-32)

• →Piazzale Michelangelo
• →Free Florence historic centre walking tour
• →Ponte Vecchio & Piazza della Signoria
• →Duomo exterior

Regional train Florence→Venice (2h, ~£18-25). Buy a vaporetto day pass only if you'll use it 3+ times (€25 for 24h; otherwise single €9.50 — walk instead, it's a small island). Ride line 4.1/4.2 to Murano for the glass workshops — the free demo visits are the independent equivalent of the operator's Murano factory stop (real factory tours ~£5-10 booked direct). Back to St Mark's Square in the late afternoon, then cicchetti and an ombra of wine in Cannaregio (~£12).

🚌Regionale Firenze→Venezia S. Lucia ~£20; vaporetto 24h pass €25 optional.

🛏Hostel/guesthouse outside the historic centre (Mestre, £22-28)

• →Murano glass workshops
• →St Mark's Square
• →Cannaregio cicchetti crawl
• →Rialto Bridge

Take the scenic Venice→Innsbruck train (via Brenner, 3h30, ~£20-30) — the Alps views rival anything on the coach route. Wander Innsbruck's Golden Roof and old town for 2 hours, then regional train to Salzburg (2h, ~£15-20), skipping Kitzbühel unless you want a detour. Evening in Salzburg's old town: Mirabell Gardens, Getreidegasse, and a cheap Bosna sausage or beer hall dinner.

🚌Venezia→Innsbruck ~£25; Innsbruck→Salzburg ~£18. Consider a Trenitalia/ÖBB Sparschiene advance ticket.

🛏Hostel dorm in Salzburg (£25-32)

• →Innsbruck Golden Roof & old town
• →Salzburg Getreidegasse & Mirabell Gardens

Morning self-guided walk of Salzburg's Altstadt and up to the fortress viewpoint (exterior/terrace free; full fortress entry €13 optional). Then bus/train to Gmunden or Traunkirchen on Lake Traunsee for the lakeside walk and a short boat hop (~£10-15) — the four-castle cruise is replicated by any Traunsee liner crossing. St Wolfgang is a scenic detour if time allows. Evening train to Vienna (2h20, ~£25-35); stay in a hostel near Westbahnhof or the 7th district.

🚌Salzburg→Attnang-Puchheim→Gmunden regional ~£10; Traunsee boat ~£12; Gmunden→Vienna via Attnang ~£28.

🛏Hostel dorm in Vienna (£25-32)

• →Salzburg Altstadt walk
• →Lake Traunsee lakeside & boat hop
• →St Wolfgang (optional)

Do a free tip-based walking tour of the Ringstrasse and city centre (replaces the panoramic coach tour), then pick one palace: Schönbrunn (€30 grand tour + gardens free) or Belvedere (€18, Klimt's The Kiss). Evening heuriger in Grinzing for cheap wine and buffet — the local equivalent of the operator's Grinzing stop, reached by tram D (~£4).

🚌Tram D to Grinzing ~£2.40; day ticket €5.80.

🛏Hostel dorm in Vienna (£25-32)

• →Free Ringstrasse walking tour
• →Schönbrunn or Belvedere
• →Grinzing heuriger evening

Morning train Vienna→Budapest Keleti (2h40, ~£12-20 with RegioJet/MÁV booked ahead). Check into a hostel in the Jewish Quarter (best value and nightlife). Afternoon free walking tour of Pest (Parliament, St Stephen's, Váci utca). Evening: public Danube river cruise — the D11/D12 commuter boat is ~£2 and does the same Buda Castle/Parliment stretch as the tourist boats; a proper 1-hour sightseeing cruise on GetYourGuide is ~£10 if you want commentary.

🚌RegioJet/MÁV Vienna→Budapest ~£15; Budapest public boat ~£2.

🛏Hostel dorm in Jewish Quarter (£15-20)

• →Free Pest walking tour
• →Váci utca & Great Market Hall
• →Danube river cruise (public boat or GetYourGuide)

Last day: Széchenyi or Gellért thermal baths (Széchenyi ~£22 with locker, book online) for a soak, then Fisherman's Bastion and Buda Castle views (funicular ~£4), and a langos or ruin-bar lunch (~£8). Fly out from Budapest Airport — bus 100E to the terminal ~£3. Optional Magyar folk show with dinner (~£30-40) can be booked on GetYourGuide the night before if you want the operator's optional extra.

🚌Budapest 100E airport bus ~£3; metro/tram day ticket ~£5.

🛏Departure day — no night booked (or one more hostel night ~£18)

• →Széchenyi thermal baths
• →Fisherman's Bastion & Buda Castle
• →Ruin bar lunch
• →Optional Magyar folk show