Lagos to Fatima

It is possible to do it by normal bus...it will be a long day but doable as long as you are only going to visit the Sanctuary, and spend few hours on pilgrimage.

Eva Transportes have a bus departure (Mondays to Fridays) from Lagos Bus Station at 05:45 arriving Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station at 09:30.

There is a Rede Expressos bus leaving Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station at 10:30 arriving Fatima at 11:55h.

For the return there is a Rede Expressos Bus from Fatima at 16:30 h arriving Lisbon Sete Rios at 18:00 h.

There is an Eva Transportes bus from arriving Lisbon Sete Rios at 18:30 arriving Lagos Bus Station at 22:15. There is one bus after this at 20:30 if you miss this one.

Rede Expressos Website (Only Portuguese)- http://www.rede-expressos.pt/0010.asp

Eva Transportes -
http://www.eva-bus.com

Return Trip should cost about e 55.00 per person.

Santiago da Compostela to Lisbon

Sorry, have been off-line unexpectedly for the week-end.

www.alsa.es have a bus departure from from Santiago da Compostela at 10:00 (Spanish Time) routing via Porto and arriving Lisbon Oriente at 18:00.

There are no direct trains between S. de Compostela and Porto.

You would need to get the 05:50 from S. de Compostela arriving Vigo at
07:37. Then the 07:40 from Vigo arriving Porto at 09:55 (Portuguese Time) Then the 10:52 from Porto arriving Lisbon Sta. Apolonia 14:00.

See www.cp.pt for more info.

As regards booking tickets, Bus Station in Santiago is probably the best.

For trains, probably Vigo Station for the Sector Vigo to Porto and then Porto station for the Porto to Lisbon.

You can try the only websites from bookins but they can be difficult and slow at times.

You best bet is probably the bus as you should be able to book a through ticket.

Lisbon airport to bus station for Evora..

There is no Metro from Lisbon airport at present and there are no direct buses from Lisbon Airport to Sete Rios Bus Station from where buses from Evora leave.

The best and quickest way to get between the two is by taxi which should take about 10 - 15 minutes depending on traffic.

Public transport Porto to Madrid

There is no direct train service from Porto to Madrid.

In fact at present passenger train services between Portugal and Spain
are not good!

You could get a train from Porto to Coimbra B and then connect with the nightly Lusitânia Comboio Hotel Train at 0:13 (Midnight 13 minutes) and arrive Madrid (Chamartin) at 8.40 the next morning. This is the only rail link.

The quickest way may be by air.

www.ryanair.com fly Porto to Madrid daily.

Bus company www.internorte.pt operate a daily coach service (current timetables) leaving Porto at 09:45 arriving Madrid Est. Sur. at 19:45 Spanish time.

Five nights a week (except Weds./Sat.) there is a service leaving Porto at 20:30 arriving Madrid Est. Sur. at 06:30.

Rail - Portugal - Algarve to Porto and Obidos

The Train from Lagos to Lisbon - Change at Tunes as you indicated.

Years ago, the train used to run to Barreiro on the South Side of the Tejo and then you got a ferry across.

However, for the past 4 years there has been a rail link over the Tejo under the 25 de Abril bridge which give one a spectacular view of Lisbon and the River.

Most trains now stop at two stations in Lisbon:

Entrecampos - Best for Central Lisbon. Metro Station
Gare Oriente - Main interchange with line running North for Porto Campanha.

Certain interregional services stop at Lisbon Sete Rios as well.

From Central Lisbon trains depart Sta Apolonia Station, near the baixa. (Metro now open). They run through Gare Oriente running north.

Trains South leave from Porto Campanha. To get to Obidos you will have to change at Coimbra-b, Bifurcacao De Lares, and Caldas Da Rainha stations. Transit time is about 5 hours. Note that the station in Obidos is outside the town.

There is no direct train from Obidos to Lagos. Travel time will be between 7,5 and 8 hours and you will have to change train in Monte Abraao, Sete Rios- Lisbon and Tunes.

You may find this link on my blog and the links to timetables shown in the right hand panel of the blog of use:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/caldas-da-rainha-to-faro-by-train.html

bus/train travel to obidos/praya de rey from lisbon

There is no direct train service from Lisbon Airport to Obidos and Obidos station is situated outside of the town.

Public Transport Services outside Greater Lisbon start to shut down on weekends around 20:00

The last bus from Lisbon to Obidos on Saturdayleave Lisbon Campo Grande at 16:45.

As regards trains there is only one train that will serve as follows:

Lisboa - Gare Oriente Station (Ten Minutes by Taxi from Airport)
Dept: 19h57
Obidos
Arrive: 22h48

One changes at Sete Rios and Mira Sintra-melecas stations en route.

Be aware that there will probably be no taxis at the station when you arrive unless you arrange one beforehand.

I recommend you see the following article on my blog which also deals with this matter.

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=praia+del+rey

or

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/lisbon-airport-to-praia-del-rey-resort.html

Train/Bus from Lisbon to La Coruna

Unfortunately there is no direct train service between Lisbon and La Coruna.

You would need first to get to Porto, then Vigo and then La Coruna.

See these articles on my blog for previous articles on this:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=la+coruna

I have also published there an extract from the current Lisbon - La Coruna Bus service operated by Internorte. (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Driving from porto to the algarve

The drive from Porto to Lisbon or the Algarve is no great problem. There is an excellent toll motorway network covering the whole route.

With stops Porto to the Algarve would take about six hours via the toll motorway. (Tolls for a small car would be about € 35.00)

In September/October you will probably have no problem arranging accomodation "on the fly", save in Lisbon should you wish to lay over there.

As regards destinations in the Algarve, I suspect that from your requirements, that Lagos would be your best bet. It's not just that I live here..but it has the sort of mix you describe.

If you want real partying then Vilamoura or Albufeira are probably more suitable. However, bear in mind that by the end of September, the summer is over and the partying substantially reduced.

Also bear in mind that there you are going to traverse some wonderful parts of Portugal. If you chose to take your time driving from Porto, you could visit Coimbra, Figueira da Foz, Nazare, Obidos, Alcobaça, Batalha, Sintra.

Porto and Lisbon are also great places to visit.

Lisbon Airport to Lagos by Eva Bus - Minimum Times

In summer these buses do fill up.

Tickets may be transferable but only if presented to the ticket office one hour before the bus in question departs.

However, I can tell you now from personal experience that if your plane arrives at 09:05 there is absolutely no way you will make the 10:30 EVA coach from Sete Rios bus station, unless you are only travelling with carry-on bags and even then it will be a push.

It will take at least 45 minutes from landing to clearing immigration, collecting your hold baggage and clearing customs. You then need get a cab and if there is a queue for taxis that could take another 10 minutes. You then need to allow for at least 15 minutes to get to Sete Rios bus station.

The above timing does not allow for unforeseen events.

Much better to take your time and get the 12:30.r at least 15 minutes to get to Sete Rios bus station.

Porto Airport to Espinho

This is quite simple.

You need to get the Light Rail Metro from Porto Airport to Campanha Station via Line E.

See:

http://www.metrodoporto.pt/pagegen.asp?SYS_PAGE_ID=871913&id=154

and

http://www.metrodoporto.pt/document/827457/874411.pdf

From Porto Campanha there are trains between three and five times an hour to Espinho from 05:09 until 01:00, Takes up to 25 minutes.

For timetable in pdf format See:

http://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Imagens/PDF/Passageiros/horarios/urbanos_porto_2007/aveiro_linha.pdf