The Best of Spain & Portugal — Self-Launched
13 days · Spain & Portugal
Cosmos charges £1,720
No-markup version: ~£1,185 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 13-day loop from Madrid through Toledo, Granada, Córdoba, Seville, Évora, Lisbon, Fátima, Coimbra, Porto, Salamanca, Ávila and Segovia — rebuilt as a self-launched trip using Spain and Portugal's excellent rail and bus network. You'll book the Alhambra, Mezquita and Alcázar tickets yourself, stay in hostels and small guesthouses, and swap the coach for Renfe trains, ALSA/Flixbus coaches and Portuguese Comboios. Same sights, roughly a third of the cost of the Cosmos coach tour.
Day-by-day
Arrive Madrid — old town orientation
Madrid
Land at Barajas and take the Metro Line 8 + Line 10 or the Cercanías train to the centre (~£4.50). Check into a hostel in La Latina or Malasaña. Walk the Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace gardens, then do a free-walking-tour (tip ~£8-10) or simply wander the Austrias quarter at dusk. Evening tapas crawl around Calle Cava Baja — three small plates plus a drink for under £12.
🚌Airport Metro/Cercanías ~£4.50; everything else on foot
🛏Hostel in La Latina/Malasaña — mixed dorm ~£20
- →Free walking tour of Habsburg Madrid (tip-based)
- →Plaza Mayor & Puerta del Sol
- →Tapas crawl on Calle Cava Baja
Toledo day trip — El Greco and the old town
Toledo → Madrid
Take the Avant high-speed train from Madrid Atocha to Toledo (25 min, ~£11 each way, book on renfe.com). Walk the old town, cross the Puerta de Bisagra, then pay entry to the Church of Santo Tomé to see El Greco's 'The Burial of the Count of Orgaz' (~£4). Consider the Toledo tourist bracelet (~£10) covering seven monuments. Optional Cathedral visit (~£9). Return to Madrid in the early evening on the Avant.
🚌Renfe Avant Madrid–Toledo return ~£22
🛏Hostel in Madrid — mixed dorm ~£20
- →Toledo Old Town on foot
- →Santo Tomé & El Greco painting (£4)
- →Toledo tourist bracelet for 7 monuments (~£10)
Madrid → Granada — Alhambra afternoon
Granada
Take the AVE/AV City train from Madrid Atocha to Granada (3h 15m, ~£40, book well ahead). Check into a hostel in the Albaicín. Spend the afternoon in the Alhambra — book the direct ticket on alhambra-patronato.es the moment your dates open (they sell out weeks out; ~£16 general, evening-only Nasrid sunset visits also available). Dinner free tapas with a drink in the Albaicín or on Calle Elvira (~£10).
🚌Renfe Madrid–Granada ~£40
🛏Hostel in Albaicín, Granada — dorm ~£18
- →Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces (£16, book direct)
- →Sunset viewpoint at Mirador San Nicolás
Granada → Córdoba — Mezquita and patios
Córdoba
Morning in the Albaicín and the Generalife gardens if you didn't fit them in. Take the midday ALSA or Renfe Media Distancia bus/train to Córdoba (2h 30m, ~£13-16). Evening entry to the Mezquita-Catedral is free in the early-morning hour but daytime tickets are ~£11 — book on mezquita-catedraldecordoba.es. Stroll the Judería and the Roman bridge at golden hour. Optional visit to an olive-oil farm outside town is harder solo; instead try an olive-oil tasting at a shop in the centre (~£8).
🚌ALSA bus Granada–Córdoba ~£14
🛏Guesthouse near the Judería, Córdoba — private single ~£22
- →Mezquita-Catedral (£11)
- →Judería & Roman Bridge
- →Olive oil tasting in town (~£8)
Córdoba → Seville — Alcázar and flamenco
Seville
Morning train to Seville (Renfe Media Distancia, 1h 45m, ~£11). Drop bags at a hostel in Triana or the old centre. Book the Real Alcázar and Cathedral online (Alcázar ~£15, Cathedral & Giralda ~£11) to skip the queues — both sell out in peak season. Climb the Giralda ramp at sunset, then catch a flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria or La Carbonería (~£18-20).
🚌Renfe Córdoba–Seville ~£11
🛏Hostel in Triana, Seville — dorm ~£20
- →Real Alcázar (£15)
- →Cathedral & Giralda (£11)
- →Flamenco show (~£18)
Seville → Évora → Lisbon
Lisbon
Full travel day. The most practical route is a Renfe/Comboios combo: Seville to Badajoz by train or ALSA coach (~£15-20, 3h), then Badajoz to Évora by Rede Expressos bus (~2h, ~£10). Wander Évora's walled centre, the Roman temple and the Chapel of Bones (~£5). Continue by Rede Expressos/Flixbus to Lisbon (~1h 45m, ~£10). Arrive late, check into a hostel in Baixa or Alfama.
🚌Coach + bus Seville–Badajoz–Évora–Lisbon ~£38
🛏Hostel in Alfama/Baixa, Lisbon — dorm ~£20
- →Évora old town & Roman temple
- →Chapel of Bones (£5)
Lisbon — Belém, Alfama and the castle
Lisbon
Grab a Viva Viagem card (~£0.50) and a 24h Carris/metro pass (~£6.50). Tram 15 to Belém for the Tower of Belém (~£7) and the Monument to the Discoveries (free exterior). Lunch on a pastel de nata and a bifana. Afternoon: climb to Castelo de São Jorge (~£11) and wander Alfama's Moorish streets. Optional day trip to Sintra (train from Rossio, 40 min, ~£2 each way, Pena Palace ~£17) if you want the riviera-and-palaces fix the coach tour offered.
🚌24h Lisbon transport pass ~£6.50
🛏Hostel in Alfama/Baixa, Lisbon — dorm ~£20
- →Belém Tower (£7)
- →Castelo de São Jorge (£11)
- →Alfama wander
- →Optional Sintra day trip (~£20)
Lisbon → Coimbra → Porto
Porto
Morning Comboios de Portugal (CP) train to Coimbra (1h 45m, ~£15). If you want the Fátima stop, take an early Rede Expressos coach Lisbon–Fátima (~1h 20m, ~£9) and see the Sanctuary, then continue to Coimbra (~£8). In Coimbra, visit the Joanina Library and university (~£12). Late afternoon train Coimbra to Porto Campanhã (1h, ~£11). Check into a hostel in the Ribeira or Bolhão area.
🚌CP trains Lisbon–Coimbra–Porto ~£26 (or +£17 via Fátima)
🛏Hostel in Porto — dorm ~£18
- →Sanctuary of Fátima (optional)
- →Coimbra University & Joanina Library (£12)
Porto — port cellars and the Douro
Porto
Morning free walking tour or self-guided loop: São Bento station tiles, the Cathedral, and across the Dom Luís I bridge to Gaia. Port cellar tour and tasting at Sandeman, Graham's or a smaller lodge (~£15-18; book ahead on GetYourGuide or direct). Sunset at Jardim do Morro. Optional evening Douro river cruise with dinner (~£35) or the cheaper 6-bridges cruise (~£15). Optional day trip to Guimarães by train (1h, ~£4).
🚌Tram/metro in Porto ~£4
🛏Hostel in Porto — dorm ~£18
- →Port wine cellar tour & tasting (~£16)
- →Dom Luís I bridge & Gaia riverside
- →Optional Douro cruise (~£15)
Porto → Salamanca
Salamanca
This is the long haul: take the ALSA/Rede Expressos coach Porto–Salamanca (roughly 5-6h via Zamora; ~£25-30), or a CP train Porto–Vigo + Renfe Vigo–Salamanca combination if you prefer rail. Arrive late afternoon and check into a hostal near the Plaza Mayor. At dusk the Plaza Mayor glows — it's one of Spain's finest squares. Tapas dinner around Calle Van Dyck (~£12).
🚌ALSA coach Porto–Salamanca ~£28
🛏Hostal near Plaza Mayor, Salamanca — private single ~£25
- →Plaza Mayor at dusk
- →Salamanca old town & university facade
Salamanca → Ávila → Segovia → Madrid
Madrid
Ambitious but doable by rail and bus. Morning bus/train Salamanca–Ávila (~1h 45m, ~£11); walk the medieval walls (wall entry ~£5) and St Theresa's Convent (free to visit the church, small museum fee). Continue by Regional train Ávila–Segovia (~1h 10m, ~£7). See the Roman Aqueduct, the Cathedral and the Alcázar exterior before catching the Avant train Segovia–Madrid (30 min, ~£11). If you'd rather not rush, cut Ávila and go direct.
🚌Bus + regional train + Avant ~£29
🛏Hostel in Madrid — dorm ~£20
- →Ávila walls (£5) & St Theresa's Convent
- →Segovia Roman Aqueduct & Alcázar exterior
Madrid — Prado, Retiro and Reina Sofía
Madrid
Use Madrid's art triangle: the Prado is free 18:00-20:00 Mon-Sat and Sun 17:00-19:00 (otherwise ~£13); Reina Sofía has free slots too. Book a free slot or pay to skip waiting. Wander Retiro Park and the Crystal Palace, then the Gran Vía. Optional El Escorial or a day trip to Cuenca if you want one more excursion. Farewell dinner at Mercado de San Miguel or a vermouth bar in La Latina (~£18).
🚌Metro 10-trip ticket ~£11
🛏Hostel in Madrid — dorm ~£20
- →Prado Museum (free evening slots)
- →Reina Sofía & Retiro Park
- →Gran Vía & Malasaña
Depart Madrid
Madrid
Breakfast at a café, final wander, then Metro or Cercanías back to Barajas for your flight home. If you've got a late flight, drop bags at the hostel and revisit the Royal Palace or the Almudena Cathedral before heading out.
🚌Airport Metro/Cercanías ~£4.50
🛏—
- →Royal Palace or Almudena Cathedral (optional)
- →Last tortilla and coffee in La Latina
Self-launched vs. Cosmos
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Cosmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,185 | £1,720 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £535 per person (31%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Cosmos-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,185
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 The Best of Spain & Portugal — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,185 per person for 13 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 Cosmos?+
Yes — Cosmos charges around £1,720 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,185 — a saving of roughly £535 (31%) per person.
How long is the Spain & Portugal trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 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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