Self-Launched Southern Portugal: Lisbon & the Algarve
7 days · Portugal
Aborigen Tours charges £920
No-markup version: ~£460 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This self-launched version of Aborigen Tours' Southern Portugal itinerary covers all the same highlights — Lisbon's historic neighbourhoods, the dramatic cliffs of Cape St. Vincent, the Algarve coastline, and the Roman city of Évora — at a fraction of the price. Swap 4-star hotels for well-located boutique guesthouses and hostels, travel by intercity bus and local trains instead of a private coach, and book guided experiences independently through GetYourGuide or direct. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Welcome to Lisbon
Lisbon
Arrive at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport and make your own way into the city. The Aerobus (Line 1) runs directly from the airport to central Lisbon for around £4, or take the Metro (Vermelha/Red Line) to Alameda or Marquês de Pombal for £1.80. Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the Baixa or Mouraria neighbourhood — both are central and full of character. Spend the evening wandering the tiled streets, grabbing a pastel de nata at a local café, and soaking up the atmosphere. No need to pre-book much for tonight — just get settled.
🚌Aerobus Line 1 from airport to city centre (~£4) or Metro Red Line (~£1.80)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Baixa/Mouraria — e.g. Home Lisbon Hostel or Lisbon Lounge Hostel (~£18–30/night in a dorm or private room)
- →Take the Aerobus or Metro from Lisbon Airport to the city centre (~£2–4)
- →Check in to your hostel or guesthouse in Baixa or Mouraria
- →Explore the local streets and grab a pastel de nata at a traditional café
- →Stroll along the Tagus riverfront at dusk
Lisbon at Leisure
Lisbon
A free day to explore Lisbon at your own pace. Ride the iconic Tram 28E through Alfama and Graça for just £3.50 — one of the best value experiences in the city. Head up to the Miradouro da Graça or Miradouro de Santa Luzia for panoramic views over the terracotta rooftops. Wander through the Alfama neighbourhood's labyrinthine lanes, listen for live Fado music drifting from restaurant doorways, and browse the antique shops in the Feira da Ladra flea market (Tuesdays and Saturdays). Lunch on local piri-piri chicken or a bifanas sandwich at a tasca for under £6. In the afternoon, visit Mouraria, Lisbon's oldest Moorish quarter.
🚌Tram 28E (~£3.50) and walking
🛏Same hostel or guesthouse in Baixa/Mouraria (~£18–30/night)
- →Ride Tram 28E through Alfama and Graça (~£3.50)
- →Visit Miradouro da Graça and Miradouro de Santa Luzia (free)
- →Wander the lanes of Alfama and Mouraria (free)
- →Browse Feira da Ladra flea market if it's Tuesday or Saturday (free entry)
- →Lunch at a local tasca — bifanas sandwich or piri-piri chicken (~£5–8)
Discovering Lisbon: Guided City Tour & Belém
Lisbon
Book a self-launched guided walking tour of Lisbon's highlights through GetYourGuide (from ~£20pp) covering Eduardo VII Park, Baixa Pombalina, Rossio, Alfama, and the Estrela Basilica. In the afternoon, head to Belém by Tram 15E or bus (~£2) to visit the Monument of the Discoveries, Belém Tower (entry ~£7), and the exterior of Jerónimos Monastery (free exterior, ~£12 interior). Optionally, ride the Glória Funicular up to Bairro Alto (~£4 return) for sundowners at the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint. For a day trip, Sintra is reachable by train from Rossio station for ~£4 return, and Cascais by train from Cais do Sodré for ~£4 return.
🚌Tram 15E or bus to Belém (~£2), Glória Funicular (~£4 return)
🛏Same hostel or guesthouse in Baixa/Mouraria (~£18–30/night)
- →Book a guided walking tour via GetYourGuide covering Baixa, Alfama, and Estrela (~£20pp)
- →Travel to Belém by Tram 15E or bus (~£2)
- →Visit Belém Tower (entry ~£7)
- →Admire Jerónimos Monastery exterior (free) or pay ~£12 for interior entry
- →Monument of the Discoveries (exterior free, interior ~£7)
- →Optional: Ride Glória Funicular to Bairro Alto and São Pedro viewpoint (~£4 return)
- →Optional day trip: Train to Sintra from Rossio (~£4 return) or Cascais from Cais do Sodré (~£4 return)
Lisbon to Lagos, Cape St. Vincent & Albufeira
Lagos / Cape St. Vincent / Albufeira
Take an early Rede Expressos or Flixbus coach from Lisbon's Sete Rios bus terminal to Lagos (~3.5–4 hrs, ~£18–22). Explore Lagos' old town, dramatic sea caves, and Ponta da Piedade cliffs — you can walk or hire a cheap tuk-tuk locally. Catch a local bus or taxi (~£15–20 shared) to Cape St. Vincent, the most south-westerly point of mainland Europe, and the nearby Sagres Fortress (entry ~£3 — far cheaper than tour mark-ups). In the late afternoon, take a regional Rede Expressos bus east along the N125 to Albufeira (~1–1.5 hrs, ~£8). Check in to your Albufeira guesthouse and spend the evening on the lively beach strip.
🚌Rede Expressos coach Lisbon–Lagos (~£18–22), local bus/taxi to Cape St. Vincent (~£15–20 shared), bus Lagos–Albufeira (~£8)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Albufeira — e.g. Albufeira Lounge Hostel (~£18–28/night)
- →Rede Expressos/Flixbus coach: Lisbon Sete Rios to Lagos (~£18–22, ~3.5–4 hrs)
- →Explore Lagos old town and Ponta da Piedade cliffs (free)
- →Local bus or taxi to Cape St. Vincent (most south-westerly point of mainland Europe, free access)
- →Visit Sagres Fortress (~£3 entry)
- →Regional bus: Lagos to Albufeira (~£8, ~1–1.5 hrs)
- →Evening stroll along Albufeira beach
Faro, Mértola, Évora & Back to Lisbon
Faro / Mértola / Évora / Lisbon
This is your longest travel day — the original tour covers a lot of ground. Start early: take a regional bus from Albufeira to Faro (~45 min, ~£5) and spend an hour exploring Faro's beautiful old town (Cidade Velha), the city walls, and the waterfront. Then take a bus towards Mértola (~2 hrs, ~£9) — a stunning hilltop village with a Moorish castle and the unique Igreja Matriz (a mosque converted into a church). Continue by bus to Évora (~1.5 hrs, ~£8), a UNESCO World Heritage city with an intact Roman Temple, medieval city walls, and Gothic cathedral. Don't miss the haunting Chapel of Bones (€5 entry, ~£4.30). Evening bus from Évora back to Lisbon (~1.5 hrs, ~£12). A full-on day — pack snacks and wear comfortable shoes.
🚌Bus Albufeira–Faro (~£5), bus Faro–Mértola (~£9), bus Mértola–Évora (~£8), bus Évora–Lisbon (~£12)
🛏Back to hostel or guesthouse in Lisbon Baixa/Mouraria (~£18–30/night)
- →Bus: Albufeira to Faro (~£5, ~45 min)
- →Explore Faro old town and city walls (free)
- →Bus: Faro to Mértola (~£9, ~2 hrs)
- →Visit Mértola's Moorish castle and Igreja Matriz (free/small fee)
- →Bus: Mértola to Évora (~£8, ~1.5 hrs)
- →Roman Temple of Évora and medieval walls (free exterior)
- →Chapel of Bones entry (~£4.30)
- →Bus: Évora to Lisbon (~£12, ~1.5 hrs)
Final Free Day in Lisbon
Lisbon
A well-earned leisurely day back in Lisbon. Visit the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (National Tile Museum, ~£7) — an absolute highlight for understanding Portuguese culture and craft. Head to LX Factory, a creative hub in a converted industrial space in Alcântara, great for brunch, independent boutiques, and street art. Alternatively, spend the morning at the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (£9) or explore the Time Out Market for an iconic Lisbon food hall lunch (~£10–15). In the evening, hunt down a proper Fado show — many tascos in Alfama offer free live Fado with dinner, or book a dedicated Fado experience via GetYourGuide from ~£25.
🚌Walking, Metro, or Tram (~£3–5)
🛏Same hostel or guesthouse in Baixa/Mouraria (~£18–30/night)
- →Visit Museu Nacional do Azulejo (~£7)
- →Explore LX Factory market and creative hub (free entry)
- →Lunch at Time Out Market (~£10–15)
- →Optional: Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (~£9)
- →Evening Fado experience in Alfama — free at a tasca with dinner, or ~£25pp via GetYourGuide
Farewell Lisbon — Departure
Lisbon
Final breakfast in Lisbon — grab a coffee and pastel de nata at a local padaria (bakery) for under £3. Make your way to the airport independently: the Metro Red Line runs directly from central Lisbon to the airport for ~£1.80, taking around 25–35 minutes. Allow plenty of time, especially in summer. End of a brilliant self-launched Portugal adventure.
🚌Metro Vermelha (Red Line) to airport (~£1.80)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final coffee and pastel de nata at a local bakery (~£2–3)
- →Metro Red Line to Lisbon Airport (~£1.80, ~25–35 min)
- →Depart Lisbon
Self-launched vs. Aborigen Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Aborigen Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£460 | £920 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £460 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Aborigen Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£460
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 Self-Launched Southern Portugal: Lisbon & the Algarve cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £460 per person for 7 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 Aborigen Tours?+
Yes — Aborigen Tours charges around £920 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £460 — a saving of roughly £460 (50%) per person.
How long is the Portugal trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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, city-breaks, backpacker 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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