Unmissable Portugal: Lisbon, Douro & Alentejo — Self-Launched
13 days · Portugal
Schultz Portugal charges £1,950
No-markup version: ~£715 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 13-day loop of Portugal's greatest hits, starting and ending in Lisbon: Sintra's palaces and the Atlantic cliffs at Cabo da Roca, the medieval walled towns of Óbidos and Nazaré, Coimbra's ancient university, the terraced Douro Valley with a rabelo boat and port tasting, Guimarães and Porto, a moliceiro boat in Aveiro, and finally the golden plains of Alentejo — Évora's Roman temple and bone chapel, hilltop Monsaraz, and winery tastings at Esporão and Azeitão. Everything is done on public trains and buses with self-booked tours and tastings, staying in hostels and simple guesthouses. Budget/backpacker estimates; food, drink and small extras flex with your taste.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Lisbon
Lisbon
Fly or train into Lisbon and settle in. Take the metro (Viva Viagem card, ~€0.50 card + €1.85 per ride) from the airport to Baixa/Chiado or Alfama and check into a hostel or simple guesthouse. Spend the late afternoon wandering Alfama's lanes, catching sunset from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, and eating a cheap bifana or grilled sardines in a tasca.
🚌Airport metro to city centre ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Baixa/Alfama (£14–22)
- →Alfama wander
- →Sunset viewpoint (Miradouro da Senhora do Monte)
- →Cheap tasca dinner
Lisbon & Belém — monuments and pastéis de nata
Lisbon
Start at Belém: Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower (combined ticket ~€12 via the monastery site; book ahead online). Walk to the original Pastéis de Belém bakery for a warm custard tart (~€1.40). In the afternoon take tram 15 or the train to Cascais (CP suburban line, ~€2.30, 40 min) for a coastal stroll, then loop back via Estoril. Evening back in Lisbon: free walking tour (tip-based, ~£8–10) or Bairro Alto bar-hop.
🚌Tram 15 + CP train Lisbon–Cascais return ~£5
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Lisbon (£14–22)
- →Jerónimos Monastery & Belém Tower
- →Pastéis de Belém tasting
- →Cascais & Estoril coastal walk
- →Optional free walking tour
Sintra day trip — palaces and the edge of Europe
Sintra / Cabo da Roca
Take the Rossio–Sintra train (~€2.30, 40 min) and buy a Pena Palace timed ticket online (GetYourGuide or parquesdesintra.pt, ~€20). Add Quinta da Regaleira (~€12) if you want the famous initiation well. Bus 403 from Sintra to Cabo da Roca (continental Europe's westernmost point) and on to Cascais (~€4.50), then train back to Lisbon. Skip the private tour — a self-guided combo costs a fraction.
🚌CP Rossio–Sintra train + Scotturb bus 403 ~£8
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Lisbon (£14–22)
- →Pena Palace (timed ticket)
- →Quinta da Regaleira initiation well
- →Cabo da Roca cliffs
- →Sintra historic centre
Lisbon → Óbidos, Nazaré & Alcobaça → Fátima
Óbidos / Nazaré / Alcobaça / Fátima
Rede Expressos bus from Lisbon Sete Rios to Óbidos (~€10, 1h15). Walk the medieval walls, try a Ginjinha in a chocolate cup (~€2). Continue by bus to Nazaré (~€4, 40 min) for the big-wave beach and clifftop viewpoint (Praia do Norte), then to Alcobaça (~€3) for the monastery with Pedro and Inês' tombs (entry ~€7). Evening bus to Fátima (~€3, 30 min) and overnight in a pilgrim guesthouse.
🚌Rede Expressos & regional buses ~£18 total
🛏Pilgrim guesthouse / budget hotel in Fátima (£14–20)
- →Óbidos medieval walls
- →Ginja de Óbidos tasting
- →Nazaré Praia do Norte
- →Alcobaça Monastery
- →Fátima sanctuary (evening candlelight, Apr–Oct)
Fátima → Coimbra → Douro Valley (Régua/Pinhão)
Coimbra / Douro Valley
Bus to Coimbra (~€8, 1h). Drop bags at the station lockers and visit the University of Coimbra — the Joanina Library and tower (ticket ~€13.50, book online; students ~€8). Wander the old town and riverside. Afternoon train from Coimbra to Régua on the scenic Douro line (~€13, 2h — the last stretch hugs the river). Overnight in Pinhão or Régua guesthouse.
🚌Bus + CP Douro line train ~£21
🛏Guesthouse in Pinhão/Régua (£18–25)
- →University of Coimbra & Joanina Library
- →Coimbra old town
- →Scenic Douro line train ride
Douro Valley — boat, vineyards and Lamego
Pinhão / Lamego
Morning rabelo boat ride from Pinhão (shared departures ~€20–30, book at the riverside quay). Visit the azulejo-panelled Pinhão station. Walk or take a taxi up to a quinta for a port tasting — Quinta do Bomfim, Quinta da Roêda or a small family estate (~€20–25 with tour). Optional: local bus to Lamego to climb the baroque Escadaria dos Remédios (free). Dinner at a simple restaurant with Douro wine by the glass (~£12).
🚌Local bus / short taxi ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Pinhão/Régua (£18–25)
- →Rabelo boat ride
- →Pinhão station azulejos
- →Winery tour & port tasting
- →Senhora dos Remédios staircase, Lamego
Douro → Guimarães → Porto
Guimarães / Porto
Train to Porto via Régua and Campanhã (~€14, 2h) — or break the journey at Guimarães if you want the castle and Paço dos Duques (ticket ~€6; the historic centre is free to wander). Continue to Porto's São Bento station and check into a hostel or guesthouse in Ribeira or near Trindade. Oriental dinner: a francesinha or a cheap prato do dia (~£10).
🚌CP train Douro line → Porto (+ Guimarães detour) ~£16
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Porto (£16–24)
- →Guimarães castle & historic centre
- →Paço dos Duques
- →São Bento station azulejos
Porto — Ribeira, Gaia and port cellars
Porto
Free walking tour of the old town (tip-based) or a self-guided walk: Clérigos Tower, Livraria Lello (book timed ticket ~€8), São Bento, the cathedral and Ribeira. Cross Luís I bridge on the top deck to Vila Nova de Gaia and join a port cellar tour at Sandeman, Graham's or Ramos Pinto (~€18–25 with tasting; book via GetYourGuide). Cap it with a sunset drink on the Gaia riverfront.
🚌Tram/metro + walking ~£4
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Porto (£16–24)
- →Porto free walking tour
- →Livraria Lello
- →Luís I bridge walk
- →Port wine cellar tour & tasting in Gaia
Porto → Aveiro → Lisbon
Aveiro / Lisbon
Morning train to Aveiro (~€4.50, 1h). Take a moliceiro boat ride on the canals (~€12, 45 min, buy at the quay) and admire the Art Nouveau houses and Costa Nova's striped beach houses via local bus (~€2.50). Late afternoon train to Lisbon (Alfa Pendular ~€28, 2h15 — book in advance for cheaper Intercidades fares around €19).
🚌CP trains Porto–Aveiro–Lisbon ~£25
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Lisbon (£14–22)
- →Moliceiro canal boat ride
- →Aveiro Art Nouveau streets
- →Costa Nova striped houses
Lisbon → Évora — Roman temple and bone chapel
Évora
Take the Rede Expressos bus from Lisbon Sete Rios to Évora (~€13, 1h45). Check into a hostel or small pousada-style guesthouse inside the walls. Self-guided walk of the Roman Temple, Évora Cathedral (rooftop ticket ~€4.50), the chilling Bone Chapel at São Francisco (~€6) and the Praça do Giraldo. Dinner in a traditional Alentejo tasca — migas or açorda with local wine (~£14).
🚌Rede Expressos bus ~£12
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Évora (£16–24)
- →Roman Temple
- →Évora Cathedral rooftop
- →Bone Chapel
- →Alentejo dinner
Monsaraz, clay crafts and Herdade do Esporão
São Pedro do Corval / Monsaraz / Esporão
Rent a car for the day (from ~€30–40 split, or join a small-group Alentejo wine tour ~€60–80 via GetYourGuide) to reach the countryside villages. See potters at work in São Pedro do Corval (free, optional pottery class ~€15), climb to hilltop Monsaraz with its castle and views over the Alqueva lake, have lunch at a village restaurant (~£12), then visit Herdade do Esporão for a cellar tour and wine tasting (~€25, book directly). Back to Évora for the night.
🚌Shared rental car / small-group tour ~£15
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Évora (£16–24)
- →São Pedro do Corval pottery village
- →Monsaraz hilltop village & castle
- →Herdade do Esporão winery tour & tasting
- →Alentejo lunch
Arrábida coast and Azeitão wineries → Lisbon
Serra da Arrábida / Azeitão / Lisbon
Bus to Setúbal (~€8, 1h) and local bus into the Serra da Arrábida Natural Park for coastal trails and hidden beaches (free). Continue to Azeitão for a Moscatel tasting at a local producer such as José Maria da Fonseca (~€10–15, book direct or walk in). Evening bus or train back to Lisbon (~€8–10) and one last night out in Cais do Sodré or Mouraria.
🚌Buses Setúbal–Arrábida–Azeitão–Lisbon ~£18
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Lisbon (£14–22)
- →Serra da Arrábida coastal trails
- →Azeitão Moscatel tasting
- →Setúbal old town
- →Lisbon night out
Depart Lisbon
Lisbon
Slow breakfast, a last coffee and pastel de nata, maybe the Mercado da Ribeira food hall for souvenirs. Metro to the airport (or a 25-min bus/train from Oriente/Rossio). Safe travels home.
🚌Metro to airport ~£2
🛏—
- →Local market visit
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. Schultz Portugal
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Schultz Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£715 | £1,950 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,235 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Schultz Portugal-style trips? Check them out here.~£715
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 Unmissable Portugal: Lisbon, Douro & Alentejo — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £715 per person for 13 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 Schultz Portugal?+
Yes — Schultz Portugal charges around £1,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £715 — a saving of roughly £1,235 (63%) per person.
How long is the Portugal trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 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, budget 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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