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.