Essential Spain & Portugal: Lisbon to Barcelona Self-Launched

Welcome to Portugal! Check into your hostel — central Lisbon options like Home Lisbon Hostel or Sunset Destination Hostel are well-rated and sociable. Your first evening is yours to explore. Grab a pastel de nata from Pastéis de Belém, ride the iconic Eléctrico 28 tram through the old city, and wander up to Miradouro de Santa Catarina to watch buskers as the sun sets. No guided meeting needed — just download Maps.me or pick up a city map at the hostel.

🚌Arrive independently by flight into Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport. Metro Line Red to Alameda or Oriente, ~€2.

🛏Lisbon hostel dorm (e.g. Home Lisbon Hostel, Sunset Destination Hostel, or similar) — approx £15–20/night

• →Arrive and check in to central Lisbon hostel
• →Try pastel de nata at a local café (Pastéis de Belém is the classic)
• →Ride the famous Eléctrico 28 tram through Alfama and Baixa
• →Explore Bairro Alto and Miradouro de Santa Catarina at sunset
• →Optional: Jerónimos Monastery (€20, book direct at mosteiro-jeronimos.pt)
• →Optional: Day trip to Sintra — train from Rossio station (~€10 return, ~40 min)

Take the morning train from Lisbon Oriente to Faro, then a regional train onward to Lagos — or book a direct Rede Expressos bus from Sete Rios bus terminal (approximately 4.5–5 hours, ~£15–18). Check into your Lagos hostel and head straight to the Ponta da Piedade trail — a self-guided coastal walk along dramatic limestone cliffs, natural arches, rock stacks and hidden grottoes. The trailhead is a short walk or taxi from the town centre. Grab dinner at a harbour-side fish restaurant — fresh catch of the day is a Lagos staple.

🚌Rede Expressos bus Lisbon (Sete Rios) → Lagos, approx £15–18. Book at rede-expressos.pt.

🛏Lagos hostel dorm (e.g. Rising Cock Hostel, Bura Surf Hostel, or similar) — approx £16–22/night

• →Morning bus or train from Lisbon to Lagos (~£15–18, 4.5–5 hrs)
• →Self-guided walk along the Ponta da Piedade coastal trail (free, ~2–3 hrs)
• →Swim at Praia do Camilo beach below the cliffs
• →Dinner at a harbour-side fish restaurant in Lagos old town

A full free day to enjoy the Algarve coast. For the active, book a kayak tour via GetYourGuide or directly with local operators at the marina — you'll paddle through sea caves, arches and grottos for around £30–35. Alternatively, join a 1-hour Algarve Caves boat tour (from ~£18, bookable at the marina). Praia Dona Ana and Meia Praia are great for a beach day, and Lagos old town has good bars and restaurants for the evening.

🚌Local on foot or cheap taxi within Lagos.

🛏Lagos hostel dorm (same as Day 2) — approx £16–22/night

• →Optional: Kayak tour through Algarve sea caves (~£30–35, book via GetYourGuide or at marina)
• →Optional: Algarve Caves boat tour (~£18, bookable at the Lagos marina)
• →Beach day at Praia Dona Ana or Meia Praia
• →Explore Lagos old town, city walls and Mercado de Lagos

Cross the border into Spain today. Take a Rede Expressos or Alsa bus from Lagos to Seville via Huelva — journey is approximately 5–6.5 hours with a change; book in advance at alsa.com. Alternatively, take a bus to Faro and connect to Seville. Arrive into Plaza de Armas or Prado de San Sebastián bus station. Check into your Seville hostel — the Triana or Santa Cruz neighbourhoods are ideal bases. Spend the evening exploring Barrio Santa Cruz's maze of alleyways and stop for a cold cerveza and tapa at a busy local bar.

🚌Bus Lagos → Seville via Alsa or Rede Expressos, ~£20–28. Check alsa.com and rome2rio.com for current routes.

🛏Seville hostel dorm (e.g. Triana Backpackers, Oasis Backpackers Hostel Seville, or similar) — approx £18–25/night

• →Morning bus from Lagos to Seville (~£20–28, 5–6.5 hrs, book at alsa.com)
• →Check in to Seville hostel in Triana or Santa Cruz
• →Self-guided walk through Barrio Santa Cruz
• →Evening tapas crawl along Calle Mateos Gago or in Triana

A full day to immerse yourself in Spain's most passionate city. Start with the Cathedral and La Giralda tower (€12 combined, book online at catedraldesevilla.es — queue times can be long without pre-booking). Then head to the Royal Alcázar (€14, pre-book at alcazarsevilla.org — essential to avoid sell-outs). For your self-guided tapas experience this evening, join a bookable Seville Tapas Tour via GetYourGuide (~£35–45 per person) or do your own crawl: Bar El Rinconcillo (Seville's oldest bar), El Pinton and Bar Alfalfa are classics. Round the night off with a flamenco show — La Casa del Flamenco in the Santa Cruz quarter is atmospheric and bookable direct (~£18–22).

🚌On foot — Seville's historic centre is very walkable.

🛏Seville hostel dorm (same as Day 4) — approx £18–25/night

• →Seville Cathedral and La Giralda tower (€12, book at catedraldesevilla.es)
• →Royal Alcázar of Seville (€14, pre-book at alcazarsevilla.org)
• →Walk along the Guadalquivir river and see the Torre del Oro (€3)
• →Self-guided tapas crawl: Bar El Rinconcillo, El Pinton, Bar Alfalfa
• →Optional: Flamenco show at La Casa del Flamenco (~£18–22, book direct)

Take a ALSA bus from Seville's Prado de San Sebastián station to Granada (~3–3.5 hours, ~£15–20, book at alsa.com). Arrive into Granada bus station and catch city bus LAC or a taxi to the centre. Check into your hostel in the Realejo or Albaicín area for easy access to the sights. This evening, walk up through the narrow alleys of the Albaicín quarter to the Mirador de San Nicolás — the best free viewpoint over the Alhambra at golden hour. Grab free tapas with your drinks at a local bar (Granada is one of the last cities in Spain that still does this!)

🚌ALSA bus Seville → Granada, ~£15–20. Book at alsa.com.

🛏Granada hostel dorm (e.g. Makuto Guesthouse, Oasis Granada, or similar) — approx £16–22/night

• →Morning ALSA bus Seville → Granada (~£15–20, ~3–3.5 hrs, book at alsa.com)
• →Explore the Albaicín quarter — UNESCO-listed Moorish neighbourhood
• →Sunset at Mirador de San Nicolás (free) with Alhambra views
• →Evening tapas bars in Granada — drinks often come with free tapas

Head to Monachil for the Los Cahorros trail — a spectacular hike through the Sierra Nevada foothills with hanging rope bridges, gorges, waterfalls and swimming holes (~4 hours, free to walk). Take bus 3 or a taxi to Monachil from Granada centre (~£5–8 return). Note: check current trail status at juntadeandalucia.es before you go — the route has had temporary closures due to flooding, in which case an alternative hike from Pinos Genil to Parque Bola de Oro is a worthy substitute. Back in Granada in the afternoon, visit the Alhambra if you've pre-booked (€20, book well in advance at tickets.alhambra-patronato.es — tickets sell out weeks ahead).

🚌Local bus or taxi to Monachil village, ~£5–8 return.

🛏Granada hostel dorm (same as Day 6) — approx £16–22/night

• →Bus or taxi to Monachil (~£5–8 return)
• →Self-guided Los Cahorros hike: rope bridges, gorges, waterfalls (~4 hrs, free)
• →Check trail status at juntadeandalucia.es — alternative: Pinos Genil to Parque Bola de Oro hike
• →Afternoon visit to Alhambra Palace & Generalife gardens (€20, pre-book at tickets.alhambra-patronato.es)
• →Optional: Granada Cathedral (€6) or Capilla Real (€6)

Travel to Madrid by ALSA bus (~5 hours from Granada, ~£20–28, departs from Granada bus station) or by AVANT/AVE high-speed train if routed via Antequera (check renfe.com for connections). Arrive into Madrid's Estación Sur or Atocha station. Check into a hostel in Malasaña, Lavapiés or La Latina — all well-located for the city's best bars, food and culture. Tonight, do as Intrepid does: find Madrid's best churros con chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés near Sol — open nearly 24 hours, a true institution. Explore the Gran Vía and Plaza Mayor in the evening light.

🚌ALSA bus Granada → Madrid (~£20–28), or train via Antequera on Renfe (~£25–35). Book at alsa.com or renfe.com.

🛏Madrid hostel dorm (e.g. The Hat Madrid, Cats Hostel, or Mad4You Hostel) — approx £20–28/night

• →Morning ALSA bus or train Granada → Madrid (~£20–28, ~5 hrs)
• →Check into hostel in Malasaña, Lavapiés or La Latina
• →Churros con chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés (near Puerta del Sol, ~£4)
• →Evening walk along Gran Vía and Plaza Mayor

Explore the Lavapiés neighbourhood on a self-guided or bookable street art tour. A free self-guided route using Google Maps and the Lavapiés street art map (available at your hostel or online) covers the same ground as the guided version. Alternatively, book a Lavapiés Street Art walking tour via GetYourGuide or Civitatis (~£12–18). Spend the afternoon at the Museo del Prado (€15, free entry Mon–Sat 6–8pm and Sun 5–7pm — a brilliant budget hack!), take a stroll through El Retiro Park, or visit Museo Reina Sofía to see Picasso's Guernica (€12, free Mon/Wed–Sat after 7pm, Sun after 12:30pm).

🚌Madrid Metro day pass ~£7, or on foot in central areas.

🛏Madrid hostel dorm (same as Day 8) — approx £20–28/night

• →Self-guided Lavapiés street art walk (free) or guided tour via GetYourGuide (~£12–18)
• →Museo del Prado — free entry Mon–Sat 6–8pm, Sun 5–7pm (otherwise €15, book at museodelprado.es)
• →Stroll through Parque del Buen Retiro (free)
• →Optional: Museo Reina Sofía — see Picasso's Guernica (€12, or free after 7pm weekdays)
• →Optional: Royal Palace of Madrid (€14, pre-book at patrimonionacional.es)

Take the AVE high-speed train from Madrid Atocha to Barcelona Sants (approximately 2.5–3 hours, ~£35–60 booked in advance at renfe.com — prices vary significantly so book as early as possible). Arrive into Barcelona and check into a hostel in El Raval, Gràcia or the Gothic Quarter. Spend the late afternoon doing a self-guided Gaudí walk: the exterior of La Sagrada Família is impressive even from outside (entry €26, book well in advance at tickets.sagradafamilia.org if visiting inside). Stroll along the Passeig de Gràcia to see Casa Batlló and Casa Milà exteriors for free. Tonight, head out with fellow travellers for dinner in El Born or the Gothic Quarter.

🚌AVE train Madrid → Barcelona, ~£35–60. Book as early as possible at renfe.com. Barcelona Metro L5 from Sants to centre ~€2.50.

🛏Barcelona hostel dorm (e.g. St Christopher's Inn, Kabul Party Hostel, or Generator Barcelona) — approx £22–32/night

• →AVE high-speed train Madrid Atocha → Barcelona Sants (~£35–60, ~2.5–3 hrs, book at renfe.com)
• →Check into Barcelona hostel in El Raval, Gràcia or Gothic Quarter
• →Self-guided Gaudí walk: Sagrada Família exterior, Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Batlló & Casa Milà (exteriors free)
• →Optional: Sagrada Família interior (€26, must pre-book at tickets.sagradafamilia.org)
• →Dinner in El Born or the Gothic Quarter

Your adventure ends this morning, but if you can extend your stay, Barcelona rewards it. Spend a final morning exploring Barceloneta beach, wandering through La Boqueria market on La Rambla, or visiting the Picasso Museum (€14, book at museupicasso.bcn.cat). For free culture, the Gothic Quarter's medieval lanes, Parc de la Ciutadella and the Fundació Joan Miró exterior are all worth your time. Head to the airport via the Aerobus from Plaça de Catalunya (~€6.75) or the R2 Nord train from Passeig de Gràcia (~€4.60).

🚌Aerobus to Barcelona El Prat airport from Plaça de Catalunya, ~€6.75 (~35 min). Or R2 Nord train ~€4.60.

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed unless extending stay

• →Final morning: Barceloneta beach or Parc de la Ciutadella (both free)
• →La Boqueria market on La Rambla — great for breakfast snacks
• →Optional: Picasso Museum (€14, book at museupicasso.bcn.cat)
• →Optional: National Art Museum of Catalonia / MNAC (€12)
• →Optional: Gaudí walking tour via GetYourGuide or Civitatis (~£20–45)
• →Depart: Aerobus to airport from Plaça de Catalunya (~€6.75)