Spanish Ring with Lisbon — Self-Launched
12 days · Spain & Portugal
Europamundo charges £1,240
No-markup version: ~£890 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Europamundo's 12-day Spanish Ring with Lisbon coach tour — Madrid, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, Seville and Lisbon — reimagined using Spain's superb public transport network (Renfe AVE/Avant trains and ALSA buses) plus a cheap Seville–Lisbon cross-border bus or train. Instead of 7am bus departures and out-of-town 4* hotels, you'll stay in central hostels and budget guesthouses, self-book Sagrada Família and Alhambra tickets directly, and eat wherever you like. It covers the same cities and headline sights, but at roughly half the price — with the freedom to skip the long driving days. Estimates are approximate, based on shoulder-season backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Madrid — Plaza Mayor & La Latina tapas
Madrid
Fly or train into Madrid and check into a central hostel around Sol, La Latina or Malasaña. Spend the late afternoon on a free self-guided wander: Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, and the Mercado de San Miguel if you want a quick snack (pricey but fun). Evening in La Latina — Calle Cava Baja is lined with tapas bars; a few raciones and a caña will set you back around £15. If you're arriving by plane, the Airport Express bus (€5) or Metro (€5 airport supplement) gets you into the centre cheaply.
🚌Airport Express bus or Metro from MAD (~£4-5)
🛏Central hostel dorm around Sol/La Latina (~£20-25/night)
- →Plaza Mayor
- →Puerta del Sol
- →Cava Baja tapas crawl
- →Mercado de San Miguel (optional)
Madrid highlights — Prado to Retiro on foot
Madrid
Do the classic Madrid walking circuit yourself: Paseo del Prado, Plaza de Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, then into Retiro Park to see the lake and the Palacio de Cristal (free). Budget 2-3 hours for the Prado (€15) or hit it in the free evening slot (Mon-Sat 18:00-20:00) if you time it right. In the afternoon, choose between the Bernabéu Stadium self-guided tour (~£28) or the Reina Sofía. Dinner around Plaza de Santa Ana or a menú del día lunch for £10-12.
🚌On foot; Metro single €1.50-2 if needed
🛏Central hostel dorm (~£20-25/night)
- →Paseo del Prado & Cibeles
- →Puerta de Alcalá
- →Retiro Park & Palacio de Cristal
- →Prado Museum (€15, free evening slot)
- →Bernabéu tour (optional ~£28)
Madrid → Zaragoza → Barcelona
Barcelona
Take an early Renfe AVE or Avant from Madrid Atocha to Zaragoza (~1h20, book ahead on renfe.com from ~€25-35). Drop bags at left luggage, walk to the Basílica del Pilar on the Ebro (free entry) and grab lunch. Then continue by AVE to Barcelona (~1h30, ~€35-50 if booked early — this is the priciest leg, so book well in advance or compare a Madrid–Barcelona direct AVE instead if you'd rather skip Poblet). Poblet Abbey is awkward without a car, so treat it as a worthwhile sacrifice; if you really want it, base a night in Lleida and take a local bus. Arrive Barcelona, check into a Gothic Quarter or Gràcia hostel.
🚌Renfe AVE Madrid–Zaragoza (~£25) + Zaragoza–Barcelona AVE (~£35)
🛏Hostel in Barri Gòtic or Gràcia (~£25-30/night)
- →Basílica del Pilar, Zaragoza
- →Ebro riverside stroll
- →Gothic Quarter evening wander
Barcelona — Gaudí and the Gothic Quarter
Barcelona
Book Sagrada Família tickets directly at sagradafamilia.org a few weeks out (€26 basic, ~£22) — far cheaper than the €65 the tour charges. Pair it with a self-guided Gaudí walk: Casa Batlló and La Pedrera exteriors on Passeig de Gràcia, then Park Güell (free outer zone, €10 for the monumental zone). Afternoon on Las Ramblas, the Boqueria market and down to Maremagnum and Columbus Square. Budget £10-15 for a menú del día; evening vermouth and pintxos in Gràcia or El Born.
🚌Metro T10 card (~£10 for 10 rides)
🛏Hostel in Barri Gòtic or Gràcia (~£25-30/night)
- →Sagrada Família (€26 direct)
- →Passeig de Gràcia Gaudí houses
- →Park Güell
- →Las Ramblas & Boqueria
- →Barceloneta beach stroll
Barcelona → Peñíscola → Valencia
Valencia
Take an ALSA or Hife coach from Barcelona Nord to Peñíscola (~2h, €18-25) — the castle-topped seaside town is a lovely lunch stop. Continue by bus to Valencia (~1h45, €12-15 from Vinaròs/Peñíscola) or book the direct Barcelona–Valencia ALSA if you'd rather skip the coast. In Valencia, the old town is compact and walkable: the Cathedral, Plaza de la Virgen, and the Mercado Central. In the evening, walk the dry riverbed Turia gardens (free) and grab a proper paella at a neighbourhood restaurant (£15-18) — avoid the tourist-trap places on the plaza.
🚌ALSA/Hife buses Barcelona–Peñíscola–Valencia (~£30 total)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in El Carmen (~£20-25/night)
- →Peñíscola old town & castle
- →Valencia Cathedral & Plaza de la Virgen
- →Mercado Central
- →Turia Gardens
- →Paella dinner
Valencia → Alicante → Granada
Granada
Optional quick stop in Alicante — an early ALSA bus (~2h, £10) drops you by the port; the Castle of Santa Bárbara is €3.80 and gives great views. From Alicante take the train or ALSA bus to Granada (~4h by bus, £18-22). It's a longish travel day but you arrive in one of Spain's most atmospheric cities. Check into a hostel in the Albaicín or Realejo, then eat free tapas — Granada still gives a free plate with every drink in many bars. Dinner and drinks £15-18.
🚌ALSA bus Valencia–Alicante (~£10) + Alicante–Granada (~£20)
🛏Hostel in Albaicín/Realejo (~£18-22/night)
- →Alicante marina & Castle of Santa Bárbara
- →Guadix plain views from the bus
- →Free tapas evening in Granada
Granada — Alhambra, Albaicín & flamenco
Granada
The Alhambra is NOT included in the tour price either — book direct at tickets.alhambra-patronato.es as soon as your date opens (general ticket ~€19, ~£16). Get the morning Nasrid Palaces slot, then spend the afternoon in the Albaicín's whitewashed lanes walking up to Mirador de San Nicolás for the classic Alhambra view at sunset. See Granada Cathedral and the Capilla Real (tomb of the Catholic Monarchs, €5). In the evening, catch flamenco at a cave tablao in Sacromonte — Casa Ana or similar runs £18-25 for an intimate show, hugely better value than the tour's €40 add-on.
🚌On foot; C30 minibus up to Albaicín/Sacromonte €1.40
🛏Hostel in Albaicín/Realejo (~£18-22/night)
- →Alhambra & Generalife (€19 direct)
- →Albaicín walk
- →Mirador de San Nicolás
- →Granada Cathedral & Capilla Real (€5)
- →Sacromonte flamenco tablao (~£20)
Granada → Nerja → Málaga → Seville
Seville
Take an early ALSA bus Granada–Nerja (~1h30, £8) — the Balcón de Europa clifftop views are free and the beaches are lovely. Continue along the coast by ALSA/Avanza to Málaga (~1h30, £7-9), where you can drop into the Alcazaba or just eat espetos on the beach. Then the fastest route to Seville is the Avant train from Málaga María Zambrano (~2h, book ahead ~£25-35) or ALSA bus (~2h45, £15). Ronda doesn't fit this leg without a car — either swap it for Málaga's old town or add a separate day trip. Arrive Seville, check into a hostel in Triana or the Alfalfa area.
🚌ALSA buses Granada–Nerja–Málaga (~£16) + Avant train Málaga–Seville (~£30)
🛏Hostel in Triana or Alfalfa (~£22-28/night)
- →Nerja Balcón de Europa & beaches
- →Málaga Alcazaba / old town
- →Triana evening stroll
Seville — cathedral, Alcázar and river
Seville
Self-guided Seville: the Cathedral and Giralda tower (€12, or €16 combined) if you want to climb, plus the Real Alcázar (€14.50, book ahead — sell-out risk in spring/autumn) with its Game of Thrones gardens. Wander Santa Cruz's narrow lanes, then cross into Triana for the ceramics shops and river views. A 1-hour Guadalquivir river cruise is ~£15 from the Torre del Oro pier. In the evening, flamenco at Casa de la Memoria (€22, small 50-seat venue) or La Carbonería (free). Dinner in Triana £15.
🚌On foot
🛏Hostel in Triana or Alfalfa (~£22-28/night)
- →Seville Cathedral & Giralda (€12-16)
- →Real Alcázar (€14.50)
- →Santa Cruz & Triana districts
- →Guadalquivir river cruise (~£15)
- →Flamenco at Casa de la Memoria (€22)
Seville → Mérida → Évora → Lisbon
Lisbon
Cross the border overland. Option A: take a train or ALSA bus Seville–Mérida (~2h, £10-12), see the remarkable Roman theatre and amphitheatre (€15 archaeological ensemble, ~£13) and stroll the historic centre. Then an ALSA/Rede Expressos bus Mérida–Évora (~2h, £10) and a final bus Évora–Lisbon (~1h45, £9). Option B (simpler): direct ALSA/Rede Expressos Seville–Lisbon (~6h, £25-30) and do Mérida or Évora as a separate day trip. Évora's Roman temple and bone chapel (€6) are worth a couple of hours. Check into a Lisbon hostel in Alfama, Baixa or Bairro Alto.
🚌Bus/train Seville–Mérida (~£11) + bus Mérida–Évora (~£10) + bus Évora–Lisbon (~£9)
🛏Hostel in Alfama/Baixa/Bairro Alto (~£20-25/night)
- →Mérida Roman Theatre & Amphitheatre (€15)
- →Mérida historic centre
- →Évora Roman Temple & Chapel of Bones (€6)
Lisbon — Belém, Alfama and viewpoints
Lisbon
Start in Belém: Jerónimos Monastery (€12) and the Tower of Belém (€8, or free with the Lisboa Card if you're doing lots of sights), plus the famous Pastéis de Belém custard tarts (£4 for a couple). Ride tram 15 back east (~£1.50 with a Viva Viagem card) and do a self-guided walk through Alfama, up to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Castelo de São Jorge (€15, or admire from outside). Sunset at one of the Bairro Alto miradouros, then cheap grilled sardines and vinho verde in a tasca (£12-15).
🚌Tram 15 + Viva Viagem card (~£3)
🛏Hostel in Alfama/Baixa/Bairro Alto (~£20-25/night)
- →Jerónimos Monastery (€12)
- →Belém Tower (€8)
- →Pastéis de Belém
- →Alfama & Miradouro de Santa Luzia
- →Bairro Alto sunset viewpoint
Lisbon — Sintra day trip or farewell
Lisbon
Skip the €40 coach tour and take the CP Sintra train from Rossio (~40 min, €4.80 return with a Viva card). Pena Palace (€20) and Quinta da Regaleira (€12) are the highlights — book Pena online to skip the queue. Alternatively stay in Lisbon: LX Factory, Time Out Market, or the Tile Museum. Round the trip off with a final dinner in Mouraria or a fado bar in Alfama (~£20 entry with a drink). Depart the next day from Lisbon airport (Metro €2).
🚌CP train Rossio–Sintra return (~£4)
🛏Hostel in Alfama/Baixa/Bairro Alto (~£20-25/night)
- →Sintra: Pena Palace (€20)
- →Quinta da Regaleira (€12)
- →LX Factory / Time Out Market (alternative)
- →Fado in Alfama (~£20)
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£890 | £1,240 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £350 per person (28%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£890
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 Spanish Ring with Lisbon — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £890 per person for 12 days in Spain & 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 Europamundo?+
Yes — Europamundo charges around £1,240 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £890 — a saving of roughly £350 (28%) per person.
How long is the Spain & Portugal trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Spain & 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, city-breaks, foodie trip through Spain & 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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