Portugal & Spain Upgraded — Self-Launched Version
15 days · Portugal & Spain
G Adventures charges £2,600
No-markup version: ~£1,490 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 15-day self-launched run from Lisbon to Seville covering Sintra, Évora, Tomar, Coimbra, Porto, Madrid, Toledo, Córdoba and Granada — with a budget-friendly flight hop to Madrid and high-speed trains the rest of the way. You book your own hostels and guesthouses, self-book the same headline experiences (Pena Palace, Chapel of Bones, Coimbra University, Douro cruise, Mezquita, Alhambra, flamenco) via GetYourGuide or the monuments' own websites, and swap the group leader for pre-booked tickets and a good pair of shoes. All costs are rough backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lisbon — Alfama & fado dinner
Lisbon
Fly into Lisbon and take the Aerobus (€1.20) or metro from the airport to your hostel in Baixa or Alfama. Settle in, then do a free self-guided loop of Alfama's lanes and the Miradouro de Santa Luzia. In the evening, book a small fado dinner at a tasca in Alfama (Tasca do Chico or similar) — food plus fado sets run roughly €25-35 and replace the tour's group dinner night.
🚌Aerobus A1 from airport ~£1, metro/transit ~£1.50/day
🛏Hostel dorm or private twin in a Lisbon guesthouse (£18-28/night)
- →Self-guided Alfama & Miradouro walk
- →Fado dinner in a local tasca
Sintra day trip — Pena Palace
Sintra / Lisbon
Catch the suburban train from Rossio station to Sintra (~€4.60 return, 40 min) and buy a Pena Palace timed ticket online in advance (€20 palace + park). Add the Quinta da Regaleira or Moorish Castle if you have energy. Back in Lisbon in the late afternoon, ride the Santa Justa lift (€6) or walk up to São Jorge Castle (€15) for sunset.
🚌CP Rossio–Sintra train ~£8 return; Sintra bus 434 ~£3
🛏Lisbon hostel/guesthouse
- →Sintra train day trip
- →Pena Palace timed-entry ticket
- →Santa Justa lift or São Jorge Castle
Lisbon to Évora — Chapel of Bones
Évora
Take a Rede Expressos or FlixBus coach from Lisbon Sete Rios to Évora (~1h45, €12-15). After checking into a guesthouse inside the walls, visit the Capela dos Ossos at Igreja de São Francisco (€6, buy at the door) and the well-preserved Roman Temple of Diana for free. Wander the whitewashed old town in the evening.
🚌Rede Expressos/FlixBus Lisbon–Évora ~£12
🛏Évora guesthouse/pousada-style budget room (£25-35/night)
- →Chapel of Bones entry
- →Roman Temple of Diana (free)
- →Évora old-town walk
Cork farm countryside & Évora at your pace
Évora
Book a half-day cork-farm experience through GetYourGuide or a local Alentejo operator (typically €45-60 including a farm visit and often lunch). Alternatively, take the local bus toward Montemor-o-Novo and arrange a farm visit directly. Afternoon: Cathedral of Évora (€4) and the Clock Museum, then a slow dinner of Alentejo pork and wine.
🚌Local bus or tour pickup ~£8
🛏Évora guesthouse
- →Cork harvesting farm tour
- →Évora Cathedral rooftop
- →Clock Museum
Évora to Coimbra via Tomar's Templar castle
Tomar / Coimbra
Take an early bus or train combo up to Tomar, drop bags in a locker, and enter the Convent of Christ with the Templar Castle on a self-guided ticket (€6). If you want the historic commentary, a guided Tomar walking tour on GetYourGuide runs ~€20. Late afternoon train or bus onward to Coimbra (~€10-14), checking into a riverside guesthouse near the old town.
🚌Bus/train Évora–Tomar–Coimbra ~£22 total
🛏Coimbra guesthouse/hostel (£20-30/night)
- →Convent of Christ & Templar Castle
- →Optional guided Tomar tour
- →Coimbra riverside evening
Coimbra University & train to Porto
Coimbra / Porto
Buy a combined ticket to the University of Coimbra (Joanina Library, Chapel of São Miguel, tower and botanical garden, ~€15) and get there early — the library caps visitor numbers. Afternoon: catch the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train from Coimbra-B to Porto Campanhã (~1h, €15-20). Evening stroll across the Dom Luís I bridge.
🚌CP Intercidades train Coimbra–Porto ~£16
🛏Porto hostel or guesthouse (£20-32/night)
- →Coimbra University & Joanina Library ticket
- →Dom Luís I bridge sunset walk
Porto — Douro cruise & port cellar
Porto
Do the classic 6-bridges Douro river cruise from Ribeira (€18-25 for the 50-minute version, book online or at the pier). Cross to Vila Nova de Gaia and join a port cellar tour and tasting at Sandeman, Graham's or similar (€18-25). Afternoon: São Bento station azulejos (free), Lello Bookstore (€8 voucher), Ribeira wander.
🚌Metro/tram day pass ~£5
🛏Porto hostel/guesthouse
- →Douro 6-bridges river cruise
- →Port wine cellar tour & tasting
- →Lello Bookstore
- →São Bento station
Fly Porto to Madrid — capital at your pace
Madrid
Book a low-cost flight (Ryanair/easyJet/Vueling) Porto–Madrid, ~£35-55 one-way if booked ahead; the metro from Barajas into the centre is €5. Check into a hostel near Sol or La Latina, then hit Plaza Mayor, the Mercado de San Miguel for a grazing lunch, and El Retiro Park at golden hour.
🚌Flight Porto–Madrid ~£45; airport metro ~£5
🛏Madrid hostel dorm or private room (£22-35/night)
- →Plaza Mayor & Puerta del Sol
- →Mercado de San Miguel
- →El Retiro Park
Toledo day trip
Toledo / Madrid
Take the Avant high-speed train from Madrid Atocha to Toledo (~35 min, €11-14 each way) or the Alsa bus (€6). Self-guide the old town: Toledo Cathedral (€12-13), the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca (€4), and the Mirador del Valle walk for the panorama. A GetYourGuide Toledo walking tour with an official guide runs ~€20 if you want the history layers. Return to Madrid for the Prado in the free evening slot (Mon-Sat 18:00-20:00) or a tapas crawl in La Latina.
🚌Avant train Madrid–Toledo ~£22 return; metro ~£4
🛏Madrid hostel
- →Toledo old town & cathedral
- →Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca
- →Prado Museum (free evening slot)
High-speed train to Córdoba — the Mezquita
Córdoba
Ride the AVE or Avant from Madrid to Córdoba (~1h45, €35-50 if booked ahead on Renfe). Buy a Mezquita-Catedral ticket online (~€13, or €20 with the tower) — go early or late to dodge crowds. Afternoon in the Judería's winding lanes, the Roman bridge and the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (€5). Dinner: salmorejo and rabo de toro in a patio taverna.
🚌Renfe AVE/Avant Madrid–Córdoba ~£40; local transit ~£2
🛏Córdoba hostel/guesthouse in the Judería (£22-32/night)
- →Mezquita-Catedral entry
- →Jewish Quarter walk
- →Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
- →Roman bridge
Córdoba to Granada — flamenco class
Granada
Take the Alsa bus or regional train Córdoba–Granada (~2h30, €15-25). Check in around the Realejo or Albaicín, do an orientation walk past the Cathedral (€5) and Royal Chapel (€5), then join a beginner flamenco class or a small flamenco show at a tablao (class ~€25-35; show €20-30) booked via GetYourGuide. Late-night tapas crawl in the Calle Elvira area.
🚌Alsa bus or train Córdoba–Granada ~£18
🛏Granada hostel/guesthouse (£22-32/night)
- →Granada orientation walk
- →Flamenco class or tablao show
- →Tapas crawl
The Alhambra — book well ahead
Granada
This is the one ticket you must lock in 30-60+ days out: Alhambra general tickets (€19.09) sell out, especially the Nasrid Palaces timed slot. Book directly at tickets.alhambra-patronato.es or via GetYourGuide for a guided version (~€45-60 with an official guide). Spend morning to early afternoon inside, then climb to the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín for sunset over the palace.
🚌City bus/minibus to Alhambra ~£3 return
🛏Granada hostel/guesthouse
- →Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces
- →Albaicín & Mirador de San Nicolás
- →Optional Sacromonte evening
Granada to Seville
Seville
Bus (Alsa, ~3h, €15-20) or train (Renfe Media Distancia, ~2h30-3h, €25-30) to Seville. Afternoon self-guided walk of the old town: the Cathedral and La Giralda (€9), the Santa Cruz lanes, and the Plaza de España at sunset. Evening: a flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria or La Carbonería (€18-30).
🚌Alsa bus Granada–Seville ~£18
🛏Seville hostel/guesthouse in the old town (£25-38/night)
- →Seville Cathedral & La Giralda
- →Santa Cruz barrio walk
- →Plaza de España
- →Flamenco show
Seville — Alcázar & tapas
Seville
Pre-book the Real Alcázar online (€13.50-16) for the first slot of the day to beat the queues, then Casa de Pilatos (€10-12) or the Triana ceramics district. Afternoon: a small-group Seville food tour via GetYourGuide (~€45-60) or a self-made tapas crawl through Triana — jamón, espinacas con garbanzos, and orange wine.
🚌Walkable; occasional tram ~£3
🛏Seville hostel/guesthouse
- →Real Alcázar
- →Casa de Pilatos or Triana
- →Optional Seville food tour
Depart Seville
Seville
Last morning for churros at a local café or the Setas viewpoint, then the airport bus (EA line, €4) or a train onward to Madrid if you're flying home from there. If you have a spare day, add Cádiz or Jerez by train for sherry country.
🚌EA airport bus ~£4, or Renfe onward
🛏None (departure day)
- →Churros breakfast
- →Optional Cádiz or Jerez day trip
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,490 | £2,600 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,110 per person (43%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,490
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Portugal & Spain Upgraded — Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,490 per person for 15 days in Portugal & Spain. 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,490 — a saving of roughly £1,110 (43%) per person.
How long is the Portugal & Spain trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Portugal & Spain.
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, city-breaks, foodie trip through Portugal & Spain, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.