CP/Portuguese Railways Regional PDF timetables from 14th December 2009 now online!
See: www.cp.pt
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Alvor to Fatima
A direct service between Alvor and Faro by Public Transport does not exist.
Your best option would be by bus.
Please see these articles on my blog from last year. This deals with a trip from Lagos.
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Fatima
Alvor is between Lagos and Portimão and in my opinion your best bet would be to get a taxi or local bus into the centre of Portimão where you could connect with the services quoted.
I have published a copy of the relevant timetable on my blog here:(click to enlarge)
There is a direct bus service to Lisbon from Alvor operated by RENEX. However, this terminates at Gare Oriente and does not provide convienent connections to Fatima Services which leave from Sete Rios.
Trains are not that easy either as you have to transit Lisbon and disembark at Caxarias, 10km (6 miles) outside Fátima. There are only a few buses a day between Caxarias and the Sanctuary.
The only other means of transport would be by car. If you took at hire car, you should be aware that the main routes are toll-motorways.
Fatima lies about 350km North of Albufeira, in the Algarve. Alvor lies 50km from Albufeira via the A22 motorway. Total distance is circa 400km each way. If you have a car you can do a long day trip as follows:
- Follow the signs from Alvor of the A22 motorway
- Turn right onto the A22 motorway in the direction of Faro and Espanha.
-After +- 60km head onto the E01 / A2 / IP1 motorway toll road in the direction of Lisbon
-After 2 hours follow the signs for the A13 Santarém
-On arriving in the Santarem Area, head onto E01 / E80 / A1 / IP1 Motorway.
-Continue until you see the off-ramp for Fatima.
-Exit for Fatima.
Your best option would be by bus.
Please see these articles on my blog from last year. This deals with a trip from Lagos.
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Fatima
Alvor is between Lagos and Portimão and in my opinion your best bet would be to get a taxi or local bus into the centre of Portimão where you could connect with the services quoted.
I have published a copy of the relevant timetable on my blog here:(click to enlarge)
There is a direct bus service to Lisbon from Alvor operated by RENEX. However, this terminates at Gare Oriente and does not provide convienent connections to Fatima Services which leave from Sete Rios.
Trains are not that easy either as you have to transit Lisbon and disembark at Caxarias, 10km (6 miles) outside Fátima. There are only a few buses a day between Caxarias and the Sanctuary.
The only other means of transport would be by car. If you took at hire car, you should be aware that the main routes are toll-motorways.
Fatima lies about 350km North of Albufeira, in the Algarve. Alvor lies 50km from Albufeira via the A22 motorway. Total distance is circa 400km each way. If you have a car you can do a long day trip as follows:
- Follow the signs from Alvor of the A22 motorway
- Turn right onto the A22 motorway in the direction of Faro and Espanha.
-After +- 60km head onto the E01 / A2 / IP1 motorway toll road in the direction of Lisbon
-After 2 hours follow the signs for the A13 Santarém
-On arriving in the Santarem Area, head onto E01 / E80 / A1 / IP1 Motorway.
-Continue until you see the off-ramp for Fatima.
-Exit for Fatima.
London Gatwick (LGW) - Faro - Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus has just announced the establishment of their first non-irish base at London Gatwick (LGW).
The have also announced the launching of flights from London Gatwick to Faro.
See:
http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/bookonline/index.jsp
and:
http://www.lowcostportugal.net/companhias-aereas/faro-%E2%80%93-londres-gatwick-via-aer-lingus-abril-2009/2008/12/
The have also announced the launching of flights from London Gatwick to Faro.
See:
http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/bookonline/index.jsp
and:
http://www.lowcostportugal.net/companhias-aereas/faro-%E2%80%93-londres-gatwick-via-aer-lingus-abril-2009/2008/12/
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Lagos, Algarve, Portugal - Taxis
The phone numbers for the Cooptalgos - Taxi service in Lagos, Algarve, Portugal is:
Tm: 91 7813107
Tel: 282 763 587
Tm: 91 7813107
Tel: 282 763 587
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Lisbon to Obidos - Bus Services
Express Bus Services between Lisbon and Obidos are operated by Rodoviária do Tejo. They operate Lisbon Campo Grande (Metro) and take about 1 hr. 10 minutes.
Click on these links for the current timetables.
Lisbon - Obidos http://www.rodotejo.pt/horarios/todosresultados/5227/3260/1
Obidos - Lisbon http://www.rodotejo.pt/horarios/todosresultados/3260/5227/1
Note the ones marked "Aos Sabados, Domingos E Feriados." operate only at week-ends and on public holidays. The rest are daily services.
Click on these links for the current timetables.
Lisbon - Obidos http://www.rodotejo.pt/horarios/todosresultados/5227/3260/1
Obidos - Lisbon http://www.rodotejo.pt/horarios/todosresultados/3260/5227/1
Note the ones marked "Aos Sabados, Domingos E Feriados." operate only at week-ends and on public holidays. The rest are daily services.
Comment on Airports Serving the Algarve
I concur. Faro Airport is already seeing a decrease in frequencies, destinations served and traffic.
With Beja Airport ready for ops in the next year, the new Lisbon Airport at Alcochete only going to be 1hr. 45min by car from the Algarve, and Huelva considering building an airport, I cannot see how an airport in the Portimão/Lagos area would be profitable. Indeed Faro Airport itself would be economically at threat with all these potential alternatives.
What is really needed is services from Faro to other destinations to open new markets. Low Cost flights to Paris, Porto, Lyon, Milan and Madrid, and perhaps Helsinki, Budapest, Warsaw and Toronto/Montreal would certainly broaden the region's appeal and catchment area, essential at present if we are going to see a substantial downturn in arrivals from the UK owing to teh downturn and the £/€ rate.
However, methinks that the new race track near Portimão/Mex Grande will be an influential factor in a decision for a local airport.
With Beja Airport ready for ops in the next year, the new Lisbon Airport at Alcochete only going to be 1hr. 45min by car from the Algarve, and Huelva considering building an airport, I cannot see how an airport in the Portimão/Lagos area would be profitable. Indeed Faro Airport itself would be economically at threat with all these potential alternatives.
What is really needed is services from Faro to other destinations to open new markets. Low Cost flights to Paris, Porto, Lyon, Milan and Madrid, and perhaps Helsinki, Budapest, Warsaw and Toronto/Montreal would certainly broaden the region's appeal and catchment area, essential at present if we are going to see a substantial downturn in arrivals from the UK owing to teh downturn and the £/€ rate.
However, methinks that the new race track near Portimão/Mex Grande will be an influential factor in a decision for a local airport.
Friday, 19 December 2008
Lagos, Algarve, Portugal - Markets
As promised a google map extract showing the locations of the main markets in Lagos, Algarve, Portugal
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Forum: http://britishexpats.com - Do not use
If you are thinking of using a forum dealing with the Algarve to find out information, I strongly do not recommend using http://britishexpats.com.
Their rules on providing useful information are such that is quite impossible to post anything useful. More than once I have tried to post sensible credible information published on this forum in response to questions by their members and have been booted by the moderator. This morning there was a question from a member about 3G PAYG Internet in Portugal. I posted a link to the article about this on my blog which provides a synopsis of the current operators in Portugal. It was booted. I have no such problem with other expats forums in the Algarve.
Also, you cannot use their private message system till you have posted three times. If you can't post private messages till you've posted three messages approved by a moderator, it's barmy.
So their member who could have found my info useful has lost out.
I recommend avoiding this particular forum.
Their rules on providing useful information are such that is quite impossible to post anything useful. More than once I have tried to post sensible credible information published on this forum in response to questions by their members and have been booted by the moderator. This morning there was a question from a member about 3G PAYG Internet in Portugal. I posted a link to the article about this on my blog which provides a synopsis of the current operators in Portugal. It was booted. I have no such problem with other expats forums in the Algarve.
Also, you cannot use their private message system till you have posted three times. If you can't post private messages till you've posted three messages approved by a moderator, it's barmy.
So their member who could have found my info useful has lost out.
I recommend avoiding this particular forum.
Lagos, Algarve - Markets
There is a large general market on the 1st Saturday of every month by the football stadium/Sports centre.
There is a weekly produce market in the Mercado de Levante by the Bus Station.
On the Avenida in the centre of Town you will find the Mercado Muncipal, which opens early Monday to Saturday and where you will find fish.
There is also the Mercado de Santo Amaro at the top of the town which is a clone of the one down town and is also open Monday to Saturday.
There is a weekly produce market in the Mercado de Levante by the Bus Station.
On the Avenida in the centre of Town you will find the Mercado Muncipal, which opens early Monday to Saturday and where you will find fish.
There is also the Mercado de Santo Amaro at the top of the town which is a clone of the one down town and is also open Monday to Saturday.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Train/bus Lisbon-Sevilla - Christmas 2008
There are no direct trains between Lisbon and Seville. You would have to route via Madrid.
www.alsa.es operate buses between Lisbon and Seville.
They are showing the following departures for 25th December 2008.
Departure schedules (25/12/2008): LISBOA ORIENTE - SEVILLA
Depart LISBON ORIENTE. 09:30
Arr: SEVILLA 17:45
Price One way 48,00
Depart LISBON ORIENTE. 20:45
Arr: SEVILLA 05:45 next day
Price One way 48,00
You should check with www.alsa.es Monday next week to esnure that the service will operate.
www.alsa.es operate buses between Lisbon and Seville.
They are showing the following departures for 25th December 2008.
Departure schedules (25/12/2008): LISBOA ORIENTE - SEVILLA
Depart LISBON ORIENTE. 09:30
Arr: SEVILLA 17:45
Price One way 48,00
Depart LISBON ORIENTE. 20:45
Arr: SEVILLA 05:45 next day
Price One way 48,00
You should check with www.alsa.es Monday next week to esnure that the service will operate.
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