What is best bus or train travel..??

There are no direct trains between the Algarve and South Spain/Seville. However, there are good bus services.

See this article on my blog.

http://bit.ly/lagossevillebus2009

There is not really anywhere between Albufeira and Seville that matches Albufeira. There is Monte Gordo near Vila Real Stª. Antonio where there will be some night life but not like Albufeira. On the Spanish side there is Isla Cristina and El Rompido. However, I have only driven through them.

I would suggest, however, the following change to your itinerary!

Instead of going to Albufeira, why not head first to either Lagos or Praia da Rocha near Portimão. The transit time by bus is not much more than Lisbon - Albufeira and they both have great night scenes in Summer. You could then layover in Albufeira en route to Seville.

For more information on travelling from Lisbon to the Algarve, have a look at Cubsur's excellent site here:

http://algarvebus.info/

For bus and rail, go to my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com

Scroll down on the right hand side and you will find a panel
entitled:

Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

In this panel you will find links for:

# Eva Bus Service - Eva Bus Service - Lisbon Sete Rios to Lagos
# RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve (including Lagos) timetable

Hope this helps.

Bordeira - near Faro to Lisbon

Google Map Location here:

http://bit.ly/BordeiraFaroAlgarve

If you are lucky and your villa is facing the right way and is in a good location you may have a great view over the coastal plain towards the sea.

As regards Faro centre, it is fairly compact. I would recommend you park somewhere like the car park at the bus station and walk.

You are well located for access to the A22 Via de Infante Spinal Motorway. The whole coastal Algarve is therefore within 90 minutes driving. You could easily visit Silves (old walled town) ( http://bit.ly/silves_algarve_wiki ), Monchique and Lagos (historic old town) (http://bit.ly/lagos_algarve_wiki) as well.

Visiting Lisbon depends on you.

By toll motoway, one can get up to either of the two bridges crossing the Tejo in about 3 hours allowing for stops. Distance is +- 280 kms.

However, there are good rail and bus services from Faro to Lisbon.

For rail, have a look at Cubsur's excellent site here:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/006.htm

For bus, go to my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com

Scroll down on the right hand side and you will find a panel
entitled:

Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

In this panel you will find links for:

# Eva Bus Service - Faro to Lisbon Sete Rios
# RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve (including Lagos) timetable

My recommendation to allow enough time in Lisbon would be to take the early morning Alfa-Pendular train to Lisbon and then perhaps come back to Faro by bus. The bus station and train station are close to each other. Bear in mind that by July, summer timetables will have come into operation.

Travel from OZ to Braga, Portugal

Iḿ not sure why you are heading to Barcelona first...Its a way the other side of the Iberian Peninsula!!!!

There is no Airport at Braga. The nearest airport to Braga is Porto which is 55km away.

There are direct flights to Porto from a variety of destinations.

There is a list of current destinations served here:

http://bit.ly/porto_destinations_2010

Although low-cost Ryanair operates Barcelona Girona (Change of Airport may be required)- Porto, I would have thought that Madrid, London Gatwick, and/or Paris CDG would be equally good routings and then catch a Ryanair or Easyjet low-cost to Porto.

From the airport you would have to take the Light Rail system into the city(Campanha) and then get a train to Braga. (Trains every hour) (About 50 minutes travel time)

Madrid and Badajoz, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal

There is one daily train service service from Badajoz to Lisbon as follows:(click on full screen to view.)

badajoz_lisboa_rail_timetable_2010

There are bus services as follows:

alsa.es



and

anibal.net

Timetable see:

http://bit.ly/lisbon_madrid_anibal


A final alternative would be to route via Faro in the Algarve.

There is one website that allows pick-ups in Spain with reasonable drop-offs at Faro Airport. They then offer pick-up of a Portuguese Hire car there as well.

See:

http://www.iberiacarhire.com/

Distance between Lisbon and Porto

According to google maps between 317 and 339 kilometres depending on route.

Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel - Sagres

Interesting bit of publicity here about the above new resort opening in Sagres in April 2010.


See:http://bit.ly/algarve_martinhal

Ryanair - Cork - Faro

Ryanair will be operating a summer service from Cork to Faro.

More information here:

http://bit.ly/ryanair_summer_cork_faro

Driving into and through Lisbon

Downtown Lisbon has been the subject of traffic calming measures in recent years which has made it even more unfriendly for those who want to drive into the city. You end up having to drive 1km down a road before you can double back.

Unless you are staying in a hotel somewhere in the area of Avda. Jose Malhoa, or similiar, where you can easily get off the motorway ring road, I do not recommend it. Stay in Sintra, Carcavelos, Estoril or Cascais and use the excellent suburban railways to commute in and the metro,tram and bus to get around in the city..

Places to visit around Lagos, Algarve

Assuming you have a car, suggest that the following may be off interest:

1) Sagres - Visit the fortress that housed the famous navigation school set up by Infante Dom Henrique which powered Portugal's voyages of discovery 500 years ago.

2)Cape St Vincent - The most south westerly point of Europe.

3) Monchique Village and Mountain. Dominating the Western Algarve, this massif is worth a trip.

4) The far wet coast - explore the beaches and rugged west coast North of Vila de Bispo. Lunch at Carrapateira.

5) Lagos Old Town - One of the few towns in the Algarve that retains its old character.

See: http://bit.ly/lagos_algarve_wiki

6) If you are with youngsters.... Zoomarine in Guia.

See: http://bit.ly/zoomarine_algarve

7) Silves

Old walled town dating back to Roman times.

See: http://bit.ly/silves_algarve_wiki

That should keep you going for a while.

Public transportation Lisbon-Óbidos

The cost of taxis would be exorbitant..probably in the order of € 100 euros plus each way.

Bus is probably the best way to make this trip.

The following is the current week-end timetable for the bus service from Lisboa Campo Grande to Obidos and return:

Lisboa Obidos Weekend Bus Service Timetable - Click to enlarge

Or click here:

http://bit.ly/lisbon_obidos_weekend