Best of Portugal, Andalucia & Barcelona — Self-Launched
13 days · Portugal & Spain (Madrid, Porto, Lisbon, Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona)
On The Go Tours charges £1,875
No-markup version: ~£1,030 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of On The Go Tours' 13-day coach circuit from Madrid through Portugal and Andalucía to Barcelona — done independently by train and bus. You'll cover the same headline sights (Porto's Ribeira and port cellars, Lisbon's Belém and Alfama, Mérida's Roman ruins, Seville's Alcázar-adjacent old town, Córdoba's Mosque-Cathedral, Ronda's gorge, the Alhambra, Valencia and Gaudí's Barcelona) but with hostel/guesthouse beds, self-booked tickets via GetYourGuide or the official monument sites, and Spanish and Portuguese rail instead of a 50-seat coach. Book the Alhambra and Sagrada Família the moment your dates are fixed — they sell out weeks ahead. All costs are approximate per person.
Day-by-day
Madrid → Salamanca → Porto
Madrid / Salamanca / Porto
Start early in Madrid. Take the Avanza or ALSA bus (or Renfe to Salamanca, ~2h30, £20-25) and stop off in Salamanca for 3-4 hours — the golden-stone Plaza Mayor and the University façades are free to wander and easily done without a guide. Continue by ALSA/Avanza bus from Salamanca to Porto (~4h30-5h, £25-30), or backtrack to Madrid and take the overnight Trenhotel. Check into a hostel in the Ribeira or Bolhão area and eat a cheap francesinha or grilled sardines by the river.
🚌Renfe/Bus Madrid–Salamanca (~£22) + ALSA bus Salamanca–Porto (~£28)
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Ribeira/Bolhão, £15-22
- →Self-walk of Salamanca Plaza Mayor and University quarter
- →Evening stroll along Porto's Ribeira waterfront
Porto — Ribeira, cathedral and port cellars
Porto
Do your own walking loop: Porto Cathedral (free entry to the cloister is cheap, ~£3), the São Bento station azulejo hall (free), then cross the Dom Luís I bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia. Book a port cellar tour and tasting directly with one of the lodges (Sandeman, Ramos Pinto or Calém, roughly £15-22) — no need for the operator's included cellar visit. Afternoon: Palácio da Bolsa and the Church of Santa Clara if you want the interiors (~£10 combined).
🚌Walking + metro/tram day ticket ~£5
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Ribeira or Bolhão, £15-22
- →Porto Cathedral and São Bento station
- →Port wine cellar tour and tasting in Gaia (book direct, ~£18)
- →Palácio da Bolsa and Church of Santa Clara (optional)
Porto → Coimbra → Fátima → Lisbon
Porto / Coimbra / Fátima / Lisbon
Take an early Rede Expressos or FlixBus from Porto to Coimbra (~1h15, £8-12). Spend 3 hours in the old town and up at the University (the Joanina Library tour is ~£12 and worth reserving). Then bus or train to Fátima (~1h, £7) for the Sanctuary and Basilica, and continue by Rede Expressos to Lisbon (~1h45, £9-12). Arrive Lisbon in the evening — book a fado bar in Alfama or Mouraria direct (~£15-25 with a drink).
🚌Rede Expressos/FlixBus segments ~£26 total
🛏Hostel in Alfama/Baixa/Chiado, £18-25
- →Coimbra old town and University (Joanina Library optional)
- →Sanctuary of Fátima
- →Fado performance in Alfama (book direct)
Lisbon — Belém, Alfama and viewpoints
Lisbon
Self-guided day using a Viva Viagem card (£0.50 card + ~£6 day of metro/tram). Morning in Belém: Jerónimos Monastery (~£12) and Belém Tower (~£8) — book on the official site to skip the queue — plus the Monument to the Discoveries (free exterior). Walk the Madragoa and Alfama lanes, ride Tram 28, and catch sunset from Senhora do Monte or São Pedro de Alcântara. Optional half-day Sintra trip by train from Rossio (~£4.50 return, Pena Palace ~£18 direct) if you prefer palaces to city time.
🚌Metro/tram day pass ~£6; optional Sintra train ~£5
🛏Hostel in Alfama/Baixa/Chiado, £18-25
- →Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower
- →Tram 28 and Alfama/Madragoa walk
- →Optional Sintra day trip (Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira)
Lisbon → Mérida → Seville
Lisbon / Mérida / Seville
Take the Rede Expressos or ALSA bus Lisbon to Mérida (~3h30-4h, £20-25) — the most direct public option. Drop bags and visit the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre combined ticket (~£13) and the Alcazaba. Late afternoon bus or train to Seville (~2h, £12-15). Settle into a hostel in Triana or the Centro and eat tapas standing up — expect £12-15 for a full dinner with a drink.
🚌ALSA/Rede Expressos Lisbon–Mérida (~£22) + bus/train Mérida–Seville (~£13)
🛏Hostel in Triana/Centro Seville, £18-25
- →Mérida Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre
- →Tapas crawl in Triana
Seville — cathedral, Alcázar and Santa Cruz
Seville
Book Seville Cathedral and Giralda (~£12) and the Real Alcázar (~£14) online in advance — the Alcázar sells out. Walk María Luisa Park and Plaza de España (free), then get lost in Barrio de Santa Cruz. Optional: Guadalquivir river cruise (~£16), Maestranza bullring (~£8), and an evening flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria or La Carbonería (~£12-20).
🚌Walking + occasional tram ~£3
🛏Hostel in Triana/Centro Seville, £18-25
- →Seville Cathedral and Giralda
- →Real Alcázar and Plaza de España
- →Flamenco show (book direct)
- →Optional Maestranza bullring visit
Seville → Córdoba
Córdoba
Hop on the Avant or Media Distancia train Seville to Córdoba (~45min-1h15, £12-20). Book the Mosque-Cathedral online (~£12, includes the early-morning or night-entry options if available). Walk from the Almodóvar Gate through the Judería and the 14th-century Synagogue (free, small entry), then the Roman Bridge and caliphal baths. Evening: patio bars in the Judería.
🚌Renfe Seville–Córdoba ~£15
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Córdoba Judería or Centro, £18-24
- →Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba
- →Judería, Synagogue and Almodóvar Gate walk
- →Roman Bridge and caliphal baths
Córdoba → Ronda → Costa del Sol
Córdoba / Ronda / Málaga or Nerja
Train or ALSA bus Córdoba to Ronda (~2h, £12-15, changing at Antequera if by train). Spend the afternoon walking the El Tajo gorge, the Puente Nuevo and the old Moorish quarter — all free. Late bus from Ronda to the coast (Málaga ~2h, £10-12, or Nerja via Málaga) for beach time. Skip the 'White Villages' drive-by: if you want it properly, take a local bus to Setenil de las Bodegas or Zahara de la Sierra instead.
🚌Bus/train Córdoba–Ronda (~£13) + Ronda–Málaga (~£11)
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Málaga centro or Nerja, £18-26
- →Ronda's El Tajo gorge and Puente Nuevo
- →Old Moorish quarter of Ronda
- →Optional Setenil de las Bodegas white village by local bus
Costa del Sol → Granada — the Alhambra
Granada
Morning bus along the coast and inland to Granada (ALSA, ~1h45 from Málaga, £8-11). Pre-book the Alhambra ticket the day they release (official Patronato site, ~£16 general; Nasrid Palaces sell out weeks ahead — this is the single most important booking of the trip). Explore the Alcazaba, Generalife gardens, Palace of Carlos V and the Archaeological Museum on the same ticket. Evening: Sacromonte cave flamenco — book through GetYourGuide or directly with a cueva (~£18-25).
🚌ALSA bus Málaga–Granada ~£10
🛏Hostel in Granada Centro or Realejo, £16-22
- →Alhambra and Generalife (pre-booked official ticket)
- →Palace of Carlos V and Archaeological Museum
- →Sacromonte cave flamenco show
Granada → Valencia
Granada / Valencia
Long transit day today — the operator's coach does exactly the same. Take the ALSA bus Granada to Valencia (~6-7h, £28-35, some services via Guadix and Baza — the same route the tour drives). Alternatively take the train to Madrid and the high-speed AVE down to Valencia, but that's more expensive and no faster. Arrive in Valencia for a late evening in the Barrio del Carmen, or better: split the day with a 2-hour stop in Guadix to see the cave houses if bus timings allow.
🚌ALSA Granada–Valencia ~£30
🛏Hostel in Valencia Centro/Carmen, £18-25
- →Guadix cave quarter stop (if timings permit)
- →Evening walk in Barrio del Carmen
Valencia → Barcelona
Valencia / Barcelona
Morning in Valencia: the Cathedral and its Holy Grail chapel (~£6), the Lonja de la Seda (free on Sundays, ~£2 otherwise) and the Mercado Central for a cheap breakfast. Optionally cycle the Turia gardens to the City of Arts and Sciences. Early-afternoon Euromed train to Barcelona (~3h, £30-40 booked ahead). Evening on Las Ramblas, through the Gothic Quarter, and a drink in El Born or Gràcia.
🚌Renfe Euromed Valencia–Barcelona ~£35
🛏Hostel in Gothic Quarter/El Born/Gràcia, £22-30
- →Valencia Cathedral and Lonja de la Seda
- →Mercado Central
- →Turia gardens and City of Arts and Sciences
- →Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas stroll
Barcelona — Gaudí and Montjuïc
Barcelona
Book the Sagrada Família online weeks ahead (~£24 basic ticket, ~£32 with a tower). Do the Gothic Quarter and the Born on a free self-guided walk (or a GetYourGuide small-group walk, ~£20), then take the cable car or bus up to Montjuïc for the Olympic Ring and the Miró Foundation (~£12) — sunset over the port. Optional evening light-and-fountain walk along Passeig de Gràcia and Casa Batlló's façade.
🚌Metro T-casual 10-ride card ~£10
🛏Hostel in Gothic Quarter/El Born/Gràcia, £22-30
- →Sagrada Família (pre-booked)
- →Gothic Quarter and El Born walk
- →Montjuïc, Olympic Ring and Miró Foundation
- →Casa Batlló / Casa Milà exteriors
Barcelona → Zaragoza → Madrid (or stay put)
Barcelona / Zaragoza / Madrid
The operator's final day is a full coach day back to Madrid. Honestly, don't do it — stay in Barcelona and fly home from there, or use the last day for a train to Zaragoza (AVE ~1h30, £35-45 one way) to see the Basilica del Pilar and Aljafería, then continue to Madrid (~1h30, £40-50) if you need to. Cheap Ryanair/Vueling Barcelona–Madrid isn't worth it — the train is faster. This is a good day to shorten the trip and save money.
🚌AVE Barcelona–Zaragoza–Madrid ~£80-95 (or £0 if you end in Barcelona)
🛏Hostel in Barcelona or Madrid, £22-30
- →Self-guided stop at Zaragoza's Basílica del Pilar and Aljafería
- →Optional end of trip in Barcelona
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,030 | £1,875 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £845 per person (45%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,030
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 Best of Portugal, Andalucia & Barcelona — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,030 per person for 13 days in Portugal & Spain (Madrid, Porto, Lisbon, Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona). 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 On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,875 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,030 — a saving of roughly £845 (45%) per person.
How long is the Portugal & Spain (Madrid, Porto, Lisbon, Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona) trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Portugal & Spain (Madrid, Porto, Lisbon, Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona).
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, budget trip through Portugal & Spain (Madrid, Porto, Lisbon, Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Valencia, Barcelona), 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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