To ask for opinions on this backpacking route?

[checonfusione]

I’m looking at a two and a half week backpacking trip next summer, and I think I’ve found a route I’m happy with. I’m just looking for opinions on whether I need to do longer in some places or less time in others:

1. Porto - 3 nights
2. lisbon - 3 nights
3. Malaga - 3 nights
4. madrid - 3 nights
5. barcelona - 4 nights

I think it’s pretty doable and cost effective with hostels in some places, Airbnbs in others and then a splurge on a hotel in Barcelona. AIBU to do it this way? Is there anywhere I should drop/add?

Basically my lesson from this is I need to win the lottery and travel Europe for the rest of my days 🤣

I think you first plan was fine

I've been to all your Portuguese / Spanish destinations on a budget. I think your itinerary is a bit a bit packed - I'd be inclined to take out one destination. Happy for you to DM me for extensive recommendations and tips.

If you can afford, it looks great.

Then your book is incorrect

When I start planning trips I normally start by looking at tour company itineraries for the area I’m interested in (generally ones like gadventures and intrepid ) and see what routes they offer as these are obviously constructed for a reason with appealing a attractions and by people who understand travel and what people/ backpackers are generally looking for as a job !!

the website also gives you overview of places and activities available if you’re not already familiar, it’s also really helpful in understanding what’s feasible/ a good timeline for things ! often I’ll find a route/ stops that appeal to me as is just need a bit of tweaking

Then I’ll do my own research and adapt this from there if I want to add/ drop somewhere etc

https://www.gadventures.com/search/?destinations=Spain

Go to Sitges during your Barcelona part of the trip.

In fairness that is my life plan

From my backpacking days in the 1990s, with no apps to pre book, we learned a lot from the suggestions from fellow travellers. While in Spain and visiting the usual tourist spots, someone recommended Toledo and it was breathtaking 😍

You don't have the same time to redirect and explore but if possible, I would reduce Barcelona (always far too busy) for somewhere more authentic.

Have you been to Italy before? This was one of the countries on our route which really blew me away, even after Spain. Pure, steeped history, visible everywhere; Florence, Venice, the Vatican, Verona, Rome of course. We stayed in YHs which were former convents, all just so different and beautiful 😍

Wishing you a wonderful, exciting time, my advice is to try to get a train ride out to explore than the tourist spots. Xx

Just returned from Croatia and it is expensive. €10 for 2x250ml of water.

I recommend Sintra if you do the Portugal one.

Backpacking routes I've enjoyed are -

Milan - Verona - Venice - Bologna - Florence - Pisa - Cinque Terra - Rome - Naples - Pompei (although I felt rushed and wished I'd had longer in Rome and Pompei)

Paris - Avignon - Marseille - Toulon - Ajaccio - Corte (great hikes) - Ile Russe

Hard agree.

If you've not committed yet here are my suggestions. 2k for this trip is going to give you enough to stay in good accommodation and have all experiences. And it's proper 'backpacking'😁 will make memories and not be too crowded.
Start in Skopje North Macedonia birth place of Mother Teresa. 1 full day is fine. 2 nights. Fly direct from Luton with Wizz Air. Visit the cross on public transport. Top deck is best for the authentic experience of thinking it's going to topple on the bends.
Train to Bitola in North Macedonia. Used to be the city of embassys in Ottoman times and is fantastic. 2 days.
Bus to Ohrid on Lake Ohrid. Around 2 hours. Lake Ohrid is a gem. Stay 3 days. Trip around lake one full day stopping at all interesting places. One day chilling. Do sunset boat on lake for beauty and emotion that you won't find often. Walk to one of the most beautiful sited churches in Europe.
Bus from Ohrid to Tirana in Albania. Across the mountains. Life experience this one. 3 hours. Get lost in Tirana International bus station 3 days (joking, it's just a bit wild with no signs). Tirana 2 days. Loads of things to do to suit your tastes. Do the house of whispers museum.
Bus Tirana to Barr in Montenegro. 4 hours coastal but fantastic. Stay Barr 2 days. One day visit to Kotor up the coast. Take your Instagram pucture at the castle as thousands have done. Worth the climb to see the bay. Take a trip down tge coast by boat. Around an hour on local bus to get there with all the locals. Fun journey.
Then train Barr to Belgrade. This is one of the wonders of European trains. You can do night train but you want to see the scenery so do day time. Belgrade 2 days. Plenty of options there. Don't do the zoo. It's one of those ones with cadged animals looking half dead.
Fly Belgrade to Mostar. Serbian Airlines. Can get a flight for 60 Euro. Stay 2 days with a trip to medjugorje if that's your thing. Have dinner by the famous bridge in an expensive restaurant that locals say is a complete rip off. It's anout 15 Euro for 2 courses and drinks each. Bosnia is great value.
Train Mostar to Sarajevo. Breathtaking scenery. Stay Sarajevo. Do the escape tunnels from the seige and an evening in the old town and the disused bobseigh course from the winter Olympics. Learn their history . It's a fantastic city.
Fly back to Luton on Wizz Air.
Plan next one...300 days

No you don't. Just do places that aren't crazy popular. Head East is my advice.

It depends what you're interested in - I like art, so in Madrid, there's the Prado, the Thyssen Bornemisza, the Reina Sofia (with Guernica) - I needed days. If you're not into art and history, then it might seem boring.

It looks like a good itinerary to me.

Your original itinerary sounds great, but here's a few other options.

From Lisbon, it's easier to get to Seville than Malaga. Loads to do in Seville! It's also easier to get to Madrid from here.

If you do Málaga, take a day trip to Ronda and also a day trip to do the Caminito del Rey - perfect for hiking and a little bit of adventure. Not as scary as they make out either.

Consider Granada too - the Alhambra is fantastic, and you could even do a day trip to the Sierra Nevada.

You could easily do an Andalusia trip, and would still find the weather very pleasant in October.

Potential itinerary

Malaga - 3nts (1day Malaga city, 1 day Ronda, 1 day Caminito del Rey)
Seville - 3nts
Cordoba - 1nt
Granada - 2nts
Nerja - 4nts (beach, relax, day trips to Frigliana and the caves)
Madrid / Barcelona- rest of the stay take the bus back to Malaga or Granada and catch the high speed train to Madrid or BCN from there.

You could do this route in other ways depending on flights
Seville - Cordoba- Granada - Nerja - Malaga
Seville - Cordoba-Malaga -Nerja- Granada

Accomodation is generally quite cheap in this area, particularly Seville, Granada and Cordoba in the summer months as most people escape to the coast. It would be hot, but head out in a morning, chill in the afternoon and explore again in the evening. October is good value too, and the weather is often still mid twenties.

Yes, that’s my Madrid, too. I think it’s a dull city with incredible art. I spend literally all my time in art museums when there. If that wasn’t my passion, I’d skip Madrid.

May I suggest booking an apartment with a washing machine (and maybe a tumble dryer) half way through (Málaga?) so you can clean your clothes 😊

I would skip Madrid, and I do one day in Malaga, 3 days round the golden triangle, and then fly from Malaga to Barcelona and have 2/3 days there.

You're both right (or both wrong!) - it's a backpacking holiday 😊

Sounds brilliant OP. Porto is my favourite of the places you're going, and I'd consider swerving the south of Spain if you're going in the height of summer.

An alternative might be to start somewhere like Biarritz, and follow the coast across Northern Spain and then down through Portugal.

One of the rudest, most unnecessary posts I've ever seen here. 🙄 But "you do you".

No, actually, on second thoughts, please don't "do you", its patronising, belittling, and completely pointless. If you dont have something useful to say, why bother?

Were you one of those kids whose parents hung off every word you said? 😆😆

Right, I have 18 days booked off work. Now the fun begins 😁

You've got to come back and tell us all about it. 😊 It sounds really fun.

FWIW, I've been to both Madrid and Porto. I liked Porto but reckon you could more or less nail it in two days. I wished we had spent more time in Madrid, instead of 24 hours. It's got a lot of museums and galleries of that's your thing. We were scared of the heat (40° +) meaning we wouldn't do sightseeing.

All in all, Northern Spain was a little underwhelming as a place, which really surprised me. Its quite heavily industrialised/urbanised like here, so not picturesque, if that's what you're into.

I loved the sound of your Italy tour though. And to be honest, if I was going backpacking alone in these places, I'd have had a better time. Doing a road trip with dh and a moany pair of daughters in their early twenties wasn't the best. Dh is only impressed by unspoilt picturesque and historical places. The girls were bored out of their minds. Never again. 😆

This sounds like a proper adventure, I’m envious!

Sounds good, when I did Spain I did near Malaga, Ronda, Madrid, Barcelona, and went on to Biarritz as I moved into France. 3-4 nights was my most common stop (I backpacked for 51 weeks in total) but Barcelona I ended up staying a month and returning frequently.