Albufeira Travel Forum

We are visiting Albufeira in July and would like to take a trip to visit Lisbon, staying over for one night and returning the following day.

Does anyone have any suggestions please as to the best way to travel. We will not be driving and so would prefer train if that is feasible? Does anyone have any experience of this in terms of travel time, cost etc. (2 adults and 2 children).

Many thanks

Richard

Depending on where exactly your are staying you may find the coach service more convenient as the railway station is 4 miles out of town. Also coaches are more frequent. Personally I prefer the train.

Trains cost 17 Euros each way if booked on on-line and the fastest take a little under 3 hours.

Trains leave Albufeira daily at 0719 (arrives 0957); 0944 (1303); 1349 (1656); 1723 (2036) and 1921 (2256). Return trains leave at 0851, 1030, 1330, 1730, 1851 and 1930.

You should aim for Lisbon ENTRECAMPOS station, which is closer to the city centre than the Oriente station. It has a metro station underneath, with links into the city centre about 3 miles away. There are some hotels within a 10 minutes walk however.

Reservations are essential and you can do this on-line at www.cp.pt a maximum of 30 days before travel. The site is English if you click the little flag icon next to where is says 'Acesso rapido' at the top of the page. If you don't reserve on line you have to go to the railway station or use a Multibanco ATM cashpoint, as none of the travel agents in town will handle domestic train tickets.

Don't forget you will need to add 8 - 10 Euros for taxi to the station and return.

Buses (Coaches)

These leave from Albufeira's Calicos Bus Terminal, although some do also stop in the Centro - old town centre - Avenida da Liberdade. Buses take between 3 and 4 hours to get to Lisbon ie about the same time as the slower trains. Fares are about the same as well - 18 Euros one-way by most.

The bus company website is only in Portuguese so I have put together some coach travel information in English at a personal webpage www.algarvebus.info/rede-expressos.pt

You can make bookings on-line at www.rede-expressos.pt (Portuguese only don't forget) or at the Bus Shop in the Avenida da Liberdade or at the Bus Terminal itself.

These buses will deposit you at the SETE RIOS bus terminal in Lisbon which is also some miles from the city centre but has a metro station right next door. There are also several hotels within walking distance.

Once agai, in Albufeira you will need to make plans to get to and from the Bus Terminal (or Avenida da Liberdade) and I have a page that might come in useful www.algarvebus.info/albufeira.htm.

I hope that helps you get started and if you need any more information do ask.

Albufeira resident also bus and train user!

Wow. That's really helpful.

I'll have a good look at this later and let you know (if that's OK) if I need to know anything else.

Very many thanks

Richard

yes there are at least 4 or 5 trains per day, takes around two hours, normally the first and the last ones are express, cost was 22€ each way when I went last time, +5€ for first class.
It will take you to the orient region of lisbon where there are lots of things to see and do, with in the walking distance such as science park , marine park ,exhibition center ,shopping center ,casino, hotels and much more would be grate experience for the kids.
hope you have a nice time with your family.
farsh.