Driving from Lisbon Airport to the Algarve

Your best bet is to have a look at Google Maps:

I have made up a map that takes you from Lisbon Airport to the A22 in the Algarve. You can find it here:

Driving Directions

Map Link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=13534482288512528863,38.766243,-9.129286%3B4111118571256442373,38.115160,-8.364580&saddr=Alameda+das+Comunidades+Portuguesas,+Santa+Maria+dos+Olivais,+Lisboa,+1700,+Portugal+(LIS+-+Lisbon+International+Airport)&daddr=IP8+%4038.115160,+-8.364580+to:37.152108,-8.212967&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=11&via=1&sll=37.165789,-8.381882&sspn=0.245684,0.601501&ie=UTF8&ll=37.974515,-8.893433&spn=1.944155,4.812012&t=h&z=8

Start address: LIS - Lisbon International Airport Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas, Santa Maria dos Olivais, Lisboa, 1700, Portugal

Start at: LIS - Lisbon International Airport Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas, Santa Maria dos Olivais, Lisboa, 1700, Portugal

1. Head south on Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas toward Praça do Aeroporto - 0.3 km
2. At Praça do Aeroporto, go under the motorway bridge, and left around the roundabout taking the exit onto Av. Cidade do Porto heading to Sul/A1/A12 - 1.2 km
3. Take the ramp onto E01 - 2.1 km
4. Take exit 14 toward A12/Ponte Vasco da Gama - 0.6 km
5. Merge onto IC17 - 0.2 km
6. Continue on A12 Partial toll road - 35.2 km
7. Continue on IP1 (signs for E01/A2/Algarve/Évora) Toll road - 2.5 km
8. Merge onto A2 Toll road - 80.0 km
9. Take the ramp to A2/Lisboa/Algarve - 0.3 km
10. Continue straight Toll road - 0.4 km
11. Merge onto A2 via the ramp to Algarve/Aljustrel Toll road - 120 km
18. Take exit 15 for A22 toward Lagos/Portimão/Albufeira - 0.2 km

You can zoom in on the area around Lisbon Airport to view it better using the bar on the left had side of the map.

Things can be a bit tricky.particularly at Praça de Aeroporto and getting onto the E01, especially if you are leaving at rush hour.

Best bet is to keep calm. If you miss the bridge ramp don't try and find you way back, keep going to Vila Franca da Xira and the pick up the A10 heading South to Alcochete and the Algarve. Its longer bu simpler.

Albufeira to Lisbon

Given that you should be at Lisbon Airport 2 hours before, there is only one option that might do.

There is a coach operated by www.renex.pt that leaves Albufeira at 06:25 and arrives Lisbon Gare Oriente Bus Station at 09:30.

You then have to grab a taxi to the airport - 10 minutes - Cost +-€ 8.00 + bags.

There is also a coach operated by rede-expressos.pt that leaves Albufeira at 02:20 h arriving Lisbon Sete Rios bus station at 05:30 h.

You would then have to get a taxi from there to the airport. 15 minutes - Cost +- € 10.00

You can find a link to timetables on my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

Scroll down on the right hand side panel till you come to:

»» Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

»» Continue scrolling down in this section till you come to the timetable you want.

Please note that the trains do not offer a suitably timed service.

Lagos Buses - Evening Services - July & August

Lagos Bus operator www.aonda.pt has posters up around town announcing that in July and August it will be operating evening services.

There is an indication of this on their website but the timetables have not yet been uploaded.

Watch this space for more news on this.

Porto to La Coruna

On Saturday, 12th July 2008, there is a bus service operated by www.internorte.pt as follows:

From PORTO - INTERNORTE - PRAÇA DA GALIZA,96

Dept. PORTO 09.00H
PORTO (AEROPORTO SA CARNEIRO) 09.15H
POVOA DE VARZIM 09.45H
VIANA DO CASTELO 10.15H
VIGO (PEINADOR AEROPORTO) 12.15H
VIGO 12.30H
PONTEVEDRA 13.00H
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA 13.30H
CORUNHA 14.30H

Hertz Office - Porto, Portugal & La Coruna, Spain

The following are a list of all the Hertz offices in Porto and La Coruna

Porto Airport
Morada: Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport
Porto,
Portugal
Telefone: 22 9437690
Horário de Funcionamento: Mo-Su 0700-2400

Porto
Rua de Santa Catarina
Morada: Rua de Santa Catarina 899
Porto,
Portugal
Telefone: 22 3395300
Horário de Funcionamento: Mo-Fr 0800-1900 Sa 0900-1300 1500-1900, Su closed

Porto
Vitoria Garage - Ruo Eng. Ferreira Dias
Morada: Ruo Eng. Ferreira Dias 805/807 Ramalde,
Porto,
Portugal
Telefone: 22 6163782
Horário de Funcionamento: Mo-Fr 0830-1230 1430-1830, Sa-Su closed

La Coruna Airport
Morada: Coruna Airport
La Coruna,
Espanha
Telefone: 981 663990
Horário de Funcionamento: Mo-Fr 0800-2330, Sa 0900-1600, Su 0800-2330
La Coruna
Estacion de Tren - Railway Station
Morada: Joaquin Planells
La Coruna,
Espanha
Telefone: 981 234012
Horário de Funcionamento: Mo-Fr 0900-1300 1600-1930, Sa 0900-1130, Su closed

Lisbon Airport to Praia Del Rey Resort Obidos

I have checked out a couple of taxi/shuttle services and I am coming up with prices in the order of Euros 140 to Euro 150.

I spoke to the Praia del Rey resort themselves and they have a service available via their concierge. Price per taxi not per person will be Euro 100.00 from Lisbon Airport to the resort during weekdays. After Hours and week-ends this rises to Euro 150.00

These taxis can be booked by emailing the concierge at:

concierge@marriott-pdr.com.pt

or calling

+351 262905100

Madrid airport and hotels

Try the IBIS Barajas. It's only 800m from the airport and you can actually walk to it.

Done this myself last year.

Taxis don't like going there because it is to short a trip. But you can get there by local bus and metro as well with a +- 400m walk at the end.

I now see that from the IBIS site that there is now a shuttle service available to the hotel..

See this link:
[url=http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/pt/ibi/3753/fiche_hotel.shtml]
http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/pt/ibi/3753/fiche_hotel.shtml[/url]

Day trips from Carcavelos by car

If you are staying in Carcavelos, and hiring a car you are well placed to explore North of Lisbon.

You could drive along the Marginal to Estoril and then take the N6-8 to Sintra. See the Pena Palace,etc. Afterwards, take the N247 towards Cabo da Roca (The most westerly point on the European Continent) and then back to Carcavelos via Cascais.

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintra

Although the distances are not great, you may find that is enough to do on day 1.

Another day trip could be to visit the old historic walled town of Obidos, and then on to the historic towns of Alconbaça and Batalha
all of which have over he centuries been linked closely to Portuguese and European History.

See these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93bidos%2C_Portugal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batalha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoba%C3%A7a

Another day trip could be to drive towards Lisbon, cross over the 25 Abril bridge and visit Palmela, Setubal, Alcacer do Sal and then back to Carcavelos.

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setubal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmela

Coimbra or Nazare are also doable from Carcavelos on day trips but will require at least 2 hours driving each way.

Food at Lisbon Airport or Sete Rios bus station

I wouldn't recommend the airport for the reason given by Cubsur!

However, at Sete Rios Bus Station, if you follow the signs from the Bus Station for the railway station you will go down a flight of stairs/escalators. There is a small alley that the taxis use.

Turn left along there and go through the short tunnel.

About 50 metres along on the corner there is a good cafe that does lunches for local office workers.

Food was good and not to expensive, last time I was there a few months ago. They probably to coffee and toast/crossaint for breakfast as well.

Porto Airport - Lisbon

On arriving at Porto Airport you will have to allow a minimum of 55 minutes from entering the Metro station until you get to Porto Campanha Station.

You probably will not get there until circa 20:15 at the earliest.

At present the last train for Lisbon leaves Porto Campanha at 20:47 arriving Lisbon Sta Apolonia at 23.30.

I am not sure when you are planning to travel so please check the timetables nearer the time.

You can find a link to the Lisbon to Porto rail timetable on my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

Scroll down on the right hand side panel till you come to:

»» Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

»» Continue scrolling down in this section till you come to:

Porto - Lisbon - Porto Train Timetable

If you are travelling in high summer you should book in advance if possible but the Portuguese railway online booking system is not that great.

You can try it here at www.cp.pt.

The price at present for the service in question will be Euro 27.50 but this may go up soon.

Caceres - Badajoz - Lisbon - Faro

Please note that there is currently no train running between Caceres and Lisbon.

The Lusitânia Comboio train that used to run this route is now running via Vilar Formoso. I believe this is due to imminent construction works on the new high speed rail link between Lisbon and Madrid.

See:

http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?vgnextoid=a6176e29d6b74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD&lang=en

You can find a link to the Lisbon to Faro rail timetable on my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

Scroll down on the right hand side panel till you come to:

»» Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

»» Continue scrolling down in this section till you come to:

Portuguese Railways - 2008 - Lisbon - Algarve Faro/Lagos Timetable

Click on it and you will be able to download the latest timetable in pdf format.

Please note that the autumn/winter timetable will only be online after September.

You will probably need to get a bus from Caceres to Badajoz and then another one to Lisbon.

Alternatively, you could try getting a bus from Caceres to Seville and then the twice daily DAMAS bus from Seville to Faro.

Cubsur has timetables for the latter route here:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm

For Caceres - Badajoz - Lisbon try

http://www.auto-res.net

They have several daily service between Caceres and Badajoz and at present at least two daily service between Badajoz and Lisbon.

http://www.alsa.es

This company also has several services a day between Badajoz and Lisbon.

Check the timetables in October as the winter schedules are not yet available.

Elefante Azul - Car / Dog Wash - Guia

Down at Algarve-Shopping this morning and saw that the Elefante Azul Car wash by the Guia roundabout also has a dogwash unit for those Algarve Residents who want to do two things at the same time.

One very happy rescued Cão da Agua had just been cleaned. Hus owner's car looked happy as well!

East Midlands - Algarve - New Route

According to news reports Ryanair have announced the launching of a new route linking East Midlands Airport in the UK with Faro Airport in the Algarve.

See:

http://www.easier.com/view/Travel/Flights/Ryanair/article-186416.html

Açores - New Air Route

Air Berlin announced yesterday the launching of a new weekly flight from Nuremburg to Ponta Delgada in the Açores beginning November 3rd, 2008.

This will be the first direct link between the archipelago and Germany.

More info here (in Portuguese):

http://www.lowcostportugal.net/aeroportos/voos-air-berlin-para-ponta-delgada-comecam-a-3-de-novembro/2008/06/

Lagos - Algarve - Gas Boiler Assistance

Lagogas

Website in English here

http://www.lagogas.com/lagogas/Default.aspx?Content=Contacts

and

Servilas

Tel: 282764953
servilas.ld@netvisao.pt

Be aware that if your boiler is not a major brand, you may have difficulty getting support.

Where we live the builders installed Sylber gas combi boilers in the 8 townhouses in 2000. Sylber is an Italian brand. The only agent in Portugal was in Aveiro near Porto, and they stopped selling them years ago.Cut a long story short we had to install a new boiler.

Algeciras, Spain - Restaurante

Although not a tourist city, Algeciras may be one of the places you need to visit en route to Morocco or Gib.

Situated in the center, Restaurant Asador La Carbonera offers good cuisine and a nice relaxing enviroment.

Prices are expensive, however and watch the wine list, particularly!

Address:

Corner of Calle Muro/Calle Murrillo
Algeciras.

Tel: 956 66 37 38

A Curva, Algoz, Algarve

A Curva, Rua Moinheta 25, Algoz, is nice traditional Portuguese restaurant situated in the centre of the agricultural village of Algoz, inland of Guia and Albufeira.

Tel: 282 574 827

Closed Sundays.

Hostal/Pension - Lepe, Province of Huelva, Spain

Lepe is a joke town to the Spanish, noted as the strawberry capital of Spain.

However, it is a lot more, being both an agricultural and commercial centre for the region.

Situated 20 kms from the Portuguese frontier at Ayamonte and 30 kms from Huelva, it is an ideal base for anything exploring the area to purchase a property. It is also a good stop-over for anyone from the Algarve with a very early morning flight from Seville Airport or anyone driving down to the Algarve through Spain and who just have to sleep.

I can recommend Hostal El Patio, operated by Srª. Josefa Ma Cruz Guerrero, Avd. Diputacion 10.

Tel: 00 34 959 382 690
Tel: 00 34 656 42 75 49

email: 654763252@amena.com

website: http://www.hostalelpatiolepe.com/index.html

Prices are very reasonable ranging from € 36 for a double in low season. Rooms include TV, aircon and there is a wifi facility.

There is no breakfast provided but there are several cafes within a 3 minutes walk.

Obidos Medieval Festival 2008

According to the website of the Camara Municipal de Obidos, it will take place between 10-07-2008 and 20-07-2008. (European Calendar Format).

Link here:

http://www.obidos.oestedigital.pt/events/PesquisaEventos.aspx?uid=8f3fdb91-e7ee-4a7c-8d30-340dd7c70bc8&cat=0&d=15-06-2008

Portugal to Morocco

I have just got back to Lagos in the Algarve, from a trip to Sevilla and Algeciras and can comment as follows:

1) There are several ferry services operating several times a day between Algeciras and Morocco.

See this page for links.

http://tarifa.costasur.com/en/ferry-to-morocco.html

2) TRANSPORTES GENERALES COMES operate a regular Seville to Algeciras Bus Service four times per day.

Timetable is here:

http://www.tgcomes.es/horarios_33.htm

3) Using the information shown on Cubsur's site, you should be able to get from Lisbon or the Algarve to Seville and easily connect to the above service.

Be aware that Algeciras is a real port town and not exactly salubrious. There are not many hotels nor hostels and those that are not exactly new nor welcoming.

We stayed at the Hotel Alboran Algeciras which is a bit out of town and cost Euro 70+ per night for a double room. It was clean and pleasant though.

If you have to stay en-route, I recommend overnighting in Seville.

Bus Service Cascais Lisbon

The operator of the bus services in the Cascais area is SCOTTURB.

http://www.scotturb.com

Their website is not exactly up to date.

The service you require for Quinta da Marinha is the 405/415.

The latest timetable can be found here:

http://www.scotturb.com/inverno2007/405415.htm

This however does refer to the winter 2007 service.

It appears that there are practically no evening services.

Algarve & Portugal - Possible Itinerary - Summer 2008

As you are coming to the Algarve between 20 to 26 July, I STRONGLY repeat STRONGLY do not recommend Albufeira.

This is peak tourist season.

Albufeira will be full of tourists from Northern Europe at that time. It has lost its Portuguese character. If you want a resort full of English, Irish, and Dutch Pubs then Albufeira is OK.

Otherwise, I would strongly recommend you consider the following alternatives:

1) Lagos

In the Western Algarve and where I live. Dating from prehistoric times, it retains its city walls and Portuguese character. Lots of Portuguese restaurants. Historically, it was the jumping of point for the Portuguese Voyages of Discovery.

Great Beaches - Meia Praia, 5km of sand, Porto de Mos, Praia Dona Ana.

An ideal departure point for exploring the Algarve and the West Coast.

Have a look at this link on wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos,_Portugal

If you read Portuguese, see this one as well:

http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos_(Portugal)

In Lagos, I can recommend, the Marina Club which should suit your needs.

See:

http://www.marinaclub.pt/

Also, The Hotel Aqualuz

http://www.aqualuz.com/en/home.html

Both the above are near beaches but also within easy walking distance of the town for restaurants and bars.

If you are looking for apartment rental, have a look at the Lagos page of this website here:

http://www.paraisolpraia.com/index.php?content=sel_prop&town=001

The site is still being developed for 2009 so you would have to email them on:

paraisolpraia@gmail.com

They have rental apartments on Meia Para Beach that I know, but you need a car.

I can also suggest you look at

http://www.holidayslagos.com/english.html

Don't worry about the site. The owner is reputable and has a good range of properties.

For the above two you can say you were referred by Barlaventoexpert!

You may find some more nuggets of interest by searching my blog here:


http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com

2) In the Eastern Algarve, I would recommend Tavira which like Lagos retains a sense of character.

I not sure what your budget is but I can recommend the Hotel Vila Galé in Tavira.

http://www.vilagale.pt/pages/hoteis/?hotel=3

As regards, travelling to the Algarve, make sure you do want to take the Bus.

EVA buses leave Lisbon from the Sete Rios coach station - Metro Station - Jardim Zoologico and about 12 minutes from Rossio by Metro.

However, it is you first time coming to the Algarve, you might consider the train.

The trip is spectacular. Leaving Lisbon Entrecampos Station (Metro Station - Entrecampos) you cross the 25 Abril bridge with stunning views over the Tejo and then pass through the Alentejo until reaching the Algarve. There are two fast Alfa-Pendular trains and several Intercity trains per day. The former are air conditioned.

For Lagos, you would change trains to a local train at Tunes, while

for Tavira, you would change trains at Faro.

You can find a direct link to the pdf version of the current CP timetable for this route on my blog:

Scroll down on the right and you will find at panel entitled:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com

»» Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

In this panel look for:

>>>Portuguese Railways - 2008 - Lisbon - Algarve Faro/Lagos Timetable

Click on it to download the timetable in pdf form.

As regards, car hire most vehicles in Portugal are manual shift. Automatics are available at a premium and need to booked well in advance.

In Lisbon & Tavira, I would recommend AutoJardim.

http://www.carhireyes.com/autojardim/

In Lagos, I would recommend Luzcar (they could meet you off the train)

http://www.paraisolpraia.com/carhirealgarve/index.php?option=en

As regards day trips to Porto, your best bet would be by High Speed Alfa-Pendular Train from Sta. Apolonia Station.

You can find the timetable in my blog as indicated above under:

>> Porto - Lisbon - Porto Train Timetable

Current trip time is 2hr:45min each way so you will not have lot of time.

Really you should concentrate on the River area and the Centre of the Town.

For more info, have a look at this link to the Porto offical tourism site:

http://www.portoturismo.pt/index.php?m=1&s=3

travel from Evora to Marbella

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in reply.

There are unfortunately no direct buses from Evora to Marbella.

You best bet would be to go from Evora to Madrid (Estacion Sur) with alsa.es

Departure schedules : EVORA - MADRID EST.SUR

dept: 11:15 arr:19:00 price: Euro 36,00
dept: 22:45 arr: 06:30 price Euro 36,00

and then by Daibus from Madrid to Marbella.

The timetable is here.


http://www.daibus.es/htm/madcosver.htm

I have had a look at options via Lisbon and Seville and there is nothing suitable.

There are no easy train links.

Buses - Zamora, Spain - Bragança, Portugal

According to the tourist office in Zamora, the only bus service between Zamora and Bragança, Portugal is as follows:

Lunes y miércoles: (Mondays & Wednesdays) 16.00 horas.
Viernes: (Friday) 00.15 horas.

Bus Company/Empresa: Francisco Ledesma. Tel. 980 514 374

Lagos - Bike & Scooter Hire,

There are a couple of places.

Luis of Sidecar 32 in Torraltinha,Lagos is one.

He can be contacted via the following address.

Side Car 32 - Motociclos de Aluguer, Lda.
R. St Casa Misericórdia
8600-621 LAGOS

email: filipe_bolota@hotmail.com
Tel: 282798383

He can deliver a bike to you in town at the Repsol Garage on the Avenida.

Lisbon to Figueira da Foz

To get from Lisbon Airport to Figueira da Foz is not easy.

Apart from hire car, airport transfer/taxi (+- € 280 per vehicle one way), the only way will be by train from Lisbon Gare Oriente station, 10 minutes by taxi from Lisbon Airport or by long distance coach from Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station 15 minutes by taxi from Lisbon Airport.

By train you would have to get a train to Coimbra and then catch another train to Figueira da Foz.

The following are the services for the dates indicated as generated by the website of the rail company www.cp.pt. Click on image to enlarge!



The following are the services for the dates indicated as generated by the website of the bus company www.rede-expressos.pt. Click on box on right hand side of menu bar below to enlarge!

lisboa figueira da foz - Upload a doc

Read this doc on Scribd: lisboa figueira da foz

carvoeiro to fatima

I presume you mean Carvoeiro in the Algarve, not Cabo do Carvoeiro!

According to google maps, the distance is 361 km,taking about 3 hours 19 mins, and a long part on toll motorways.

Braga to Santiago de Compostela

From Braga you would have to change at Porto(Campanha) and Vigo in Spain.

There are two trains per day between Porto(Campanha) and Vigo. The following info is based on the current timetables provided by renfe.es and cp.pt and are for informational purposes only..

Dept: Braga 06:30
Arr: Porto 07:41

Dept: Porto(Campanha) 07:55
Arr: Vigo 12:12

Dept: Vigo: 12:32
Arr: Santiago da Compostela: 14:31

Dept: Braga 15:30
Arr: Porto 16:41

Dept: Porto(Campanha) 17:55
Arr: Vigo 22:08

Dept: Vigo: 22:30
Arr: Santiago da Compostela: 00:18

There is a quicker bus service operated by www.alsa.es as follows:

Braga 10:00 Santiago da Compostela 13:45 Monday to Friday
Braga 15:15 Santiago da Compostela 18:45 Daily

Zoomarine from Lagos

Zoomarine operate regular buses from Lagos to Park. A popular departure point is the Bus stop opposite Pingo Doce near the Marina.

There is a Zoomarine kiosk on the main concourse of Faro Airport where you could buy tickets on arrival.

The zoomarine website (www.zoomarine.com) states that you do not need to buy tickets in advance. You can purchase on arrival.

There are a lot of shops in Lagos who are agents for Zoomarine.

I think from memory that the Bom Dia shop in the Marina sells them.

Faro - Seville - Summer 2008 Bus Services

The following is the Summer 2008 Bus Schedule from www.alsa.es for the service Faro to Seville as copied from the alsa website on 02 June 2008. (Click on each timetable to enlarge!)




The following is the Summer 2008 Bus Schedule from www.alsa.es for the service Seville to Faro as copied from the alsa website on 02 June 2008.



I am not responsible for any changes to these schedules and these are published for information only.

Note that in Faro, tickets for alsa.es services can be bought at the travel agent on the left as on enters the pedestrian entrance of the bus station.