Transportation in Portugal was seen as a priority in the 1990s, pushed by the growing use of automobiles and industrialisation. Portugal is a small country where you can get almost everywhere by train or bus, or of course by car. There are several daily flights from Lisbon to Porto and Faro, and less frequent flights by smaller aircrafts to Vila Real, Chaves and Braganca. The train is cheaper than the bus, and the lines are generally more scenic, but buses are usually faster. In the following sections, we have attempted to give you a brief synopsis of Portugal's Travel Guide.
Getting to Portugal
By Air
Portugal has international airports at Faro and Porto, which have been recently renovated and developed, besides the one at the capital city of Lisbon. Flights to Lisbon come in from the UK, Spain, France and as far as the Unites States and Canada.
The islands are well connected by smaller airports such as the one at Funchal. This airport even has international flights from across Europe coming in to Madeira Island. Other island airports include the ones at Porto Santo and Ponta Delgada.
For bargains on air fare, try and find flights that arrive at Algarve - you'll get some real deals on the charters that arrive from cities across Europe.
For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world, including Lisbon.
Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Portugal.
Flights to Portugal
By Sea
If you're coming in to Portugal on a cruise ship, you may end up arriving at Lisbon if you head to the centre of the country. If you arrive from the north you will first lay eyes on Leixoes, while travellers from the south will dock at Sines or Setubal. Portugal's main port in the Atlantic is Ponta Delgada, but there are several smaller places for yachts to dock along the coastline, should you choose to arrive in style.
By Road
The road network of Portugal includes some of the region's finest highways (over 68,000 km) and freeways (totalling a distance of 2000 km). Buses connect Spain to Portugal and there are regular services between Algarve, Faro (to Seville), Oporto and Lisbon. Travellers from the UK usually take the short route via ferry from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Santander and Bilbao in Spain from where Portugal is an easy drive away.
European visitors typically cross the border at Valenca do Minho, Braganca, Guarda or Badajoz. Entry is possible all through the day, seven days a week, all year round. With a Schengen visa at hand it is quite easy to make the crossing.
Once inside Portugal, you'll find roads that are world class, but primarily in the areas near larger cities and towns. Portugal does have a reputation for high rates of road accidents, so be extra cautious and be prepared for journeys to take longer than planned.
By Train
Coming in to Portugal by train is probably not the best idea, since this is the single most popular mode of transport for backpackers and students from across Europe. The journey will seem longer with all the noise - and the comfort levels aren't too high to begin with. Train options include connections from San Sebastien and Madrid. There aren't any connections to Algarve as yet.
Lisbon and Porto's subway systems are connected with some overlapping stations and the super fast Pendolino trains, also called Alfa Pendular, are a great way to get between these hubs without wasting too much of your precious holiday time. That makes it perfect for tourists looking to explore the North.
For travellers exploring areas to the south, new-age transportation will be a while coming, so hold your horses! There is hope, however, with the South Tagus Metro construction underway. Once this is up things should get better for train travellers. A similar system is also being developed to connect to Coimbra, although it's early days yet for that one.
High Speed Travel
Pendolino - The famous Pendolino from Comboios de Portugal runs down the length of Portugal connecting Faro, Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto and Braga. For towns that don't fall along this line, there are good regional and intercity trains that form a network across the country.
TGV - A TGV line is to be built to link Porto, Lisbon and Madrid. Construction is scheduled to start in 2008 and the Porto-Lisbon section is expected to have a total of five stops along the way (Lisbon, Ota New Airport Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro and Porto).
Getting Around Portugal
The Metro
Once in Lisbon or Porto - the two metros of Portugal, the local subways will help you whiz around in relative comfort. Commercial routes cover about 35 km and take you to the all the hot spots in both these cities.
The metro in Lisbon is a great way to get around and the administration have used the stations to showcase Portuguese art - the one at Picoas has tile work and sculptures inspired by Lisbon and created by artist Martins Correia while the one at Campo Pequeno has wonderful bullfighting scenes etched in marble panelling. Ride the route to discover more treasures!
For more information on art in the metro visit the official site http://www.metrolisboa.pt/
By Car
Traffic drives on the right. International Driving Permits and foreign driving licenses are accepted. There are few toll roads. The only expensive one is the Porto - Coimbra motorway (€3 approximately).
Travelling by taxi is relatively cheap. Across major towns and for shorter journeys in areas where other transportation may be limited, a taxi is worth considering. Outside major towns, you can also negotiate specific fares and hire a taxi for a few hours.
By Bus
Bus services links most of the country's smaller towns and villages as well as shadow many of the main train routes. Keep in mind that some timetables often are designed for children who travel to and from school. Departures can be very early in the morning.
Most bus services were earlier operated by the state-owned RN (Rodoviaria Nacional). This has now been privatised, and there are a number of private companies. RN Expressos covers long-distance routes. Check with the Tourist Office for the most convenient bus. For long-distance journeys pick up timetables and make reservations at the local bus station. For local buses you purchase your ticket on board.
By Train
All trains are operated by CP (Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses). The Categories are: Regional: Stop at most stations; Inter-regional: Faster, stop only at major stations; Intercidades: Twice as fast, twice as expensive, so reserve your seat in advance; Rapidos: The fastest, most luxurious and expensive service; Between Lisbon - Coimbra - Porto.
Ask at major stations for a copy of CP's official timetable (Guia Horario Oficial) if you plan to do a lot of traveling by train. It covers routes and schedules throughout the country. Timetables are also usually posted on station walls. Tickets must be purchased at the station in advance. Rail cards for tourists (Bilhetes Turisticos) will save you some money. They are valid for 7, 14 or 21 days. Other discount tickets are also available.
