Great advice. We have had such pleasure with prepared guests and such agnst with those seeking our devotion to their entertainment. I would add two pre-steps: 1) Read a guide, such as the Eyewitness Guide, for an overview of history, weather, regions and towns. Without this foundation, it's just a superficial trek on foreign soil. 2) See Julie Dawn Fox's blog, perhaps have Julie do an itinerary as she can deal with the shop vs. World Heritage sites conundrum.
July is pretty daunting heat-wise too. I was flattened by the 30+C temperatures - especially as we don't have air-con in the restaurant kitchen. I am amazed how people can sit sun-bathing. Bus services around Portugal are indeed very good and I wouldn't recommend the toll roads if driving as they do nothing to help tourists see the real country.
Great post Nancy! A couple additional thoughts to encourage public transportation use. In Lisbon, the metro now accepts Visa card at the turnstiles, so you don't have to buy tickets. The ticket machines are sometimes confusing to visitors, but have an option to display in English. Buying a rechargable "Navegante" card in Lisbon, or its alternative in Porto (I think its called "Andante"), gives you the flexibility to ride the metro, trams, buses, and even the ferry across the Tagus river. They offer daily rates - last time I looked in Lisbon it was about 11EUR for 24 hours, but we figured out that buying a card with a certain amount of money (10EUR, 20EUR, etc) was a better option for people here for several days.
I enjoyed this one (as always) in particular on utilizing alternative transportation. I live in Olhão and travel quite often, utilizing the Faro international airport (which is much better than Lisbon for me). I've never used the Lisbon airport to get in and out of Portugal as Faro, though far more limited in flight times, is much easier and offers many 1-leg trips. For example, Faro to Dublin or Faro to Munich, then straight to DFW, Newark or a host of other places in the USA. I've noticed that you don't mention this travel option when traveling travel in and out of Portugal and specifically, the Algarve. I'm mobility challenged and this option is priceless for me when traveling.
You are absolutely correct! When Denise traveled to Miami leaving from Faro was cheaper than flying out of Lisbon…also Sevilla is often a great option.
Your final line is a point well taken. To leave a place and then say, "I wish I would have". My wife and I, we do that too often. We are not "bucket list" travelers. We do like to get a little lost and let cities unfold for us. But too many times, we pack too much in to a trip. Too many places that we want to see, too short on time. To live like a local, as much as we can. That is our goal when we travel. Slow down, see one place at a time. Dive into the deep end - culture, people, place. We did a Lisbon - Evora - Tomar - Viseu - Porto trip back in October 22. We both came down with COVID and dragged terribly. Tomar is lovely as is Viseu. Too much crammed in to one trip, even if we had stayed well. I will share our "wish we would have", that your readers might benefit from our mistake. "I wish we would have" done a Porto with a Viseu side trip. Two cities only. Lovely land up there in October. Less is more. (Thank you for sharing Nancy. I wish we were Neighbors. Three big dogs keep us on home soil for now. We love them. But one day, perhaps one day we might take off - one way - back from whence our people came.)
Today we have started our 40 day road trip which includes a dozen cities…I worry we will be exhausted in the process and that Onix (who is on this roadtrip with us) will be cranky
Yes to Flixbus. It's more comfortable than the train, or for that matter flying. Also big yes to Spain. Even a day trip on a, cheap flight to Barcelona (less than two hours) to only visit the Sagrada Família is well worth it.
Thanks for the info. I’m coming for part of August and most of September to the Algarve area. It’ll be my first time there and I’ll be apartment sitting for most of. My husband (who is joining me later) and I will fly out of Lisbon and will most likely take Flixbus. We are so excited to see Portugal!
We’d like to come check out VRSA and Ayamonte before we leave Tavira on the 18th. Would you want to meet us for lunch and then we’ll pop over Spain in the afternoon?
Thank you for the information. I was dreading navigating traveling by train because we did this in Italy and lugging the suitcases onto the train wasn’t easy for us older travelers. But the bus option sounds much better, since the suitcases travel down below. Looking forward to our spring visit!
In the US I never take public transport but always do in other countries. My question would be if the trains offer a more scenic route? I really want to slowly travel Spain and Portugal in the same trip and then make our way to Morocco. I'm terrible at preplanning. Is it possible to wing it off season and take trains and buses without buying tickets in advance?
You won’t need advance ticketa for any of the bus services in PT and generally there are plenty of empty seats on the trains I’ve been on. Can’t speak to Spain but assume you don’t need to book weeks in advance…slow travel provides more flexibility. BTW there is a ferry from Spain to Morocco…that trip is on our 2015 list.
Great advice. We have had such pleasure with prepared guests and such agnst with those seeking our devotion to their entertainment. I would add two pre-steps: 1) Read a guide, such as the Eyewitness Guide, for an overview of history, weather, regions and towns. Without this foundation, it's just a superficial trek on foreign soil. 2) See Julie Dawn Fox's blog, perhaps have Julie do an itinerary as she can deal with the shop vs. World Heritage sites conundrum.
If you are at least 65 years old, you can pay 50% of CP train fares by showing your passport or drivers license when you buy tickets.
July is pretty daunting heat-wise too. I was flattened by the 30+C temperatures - especially as we don't have air-con in the restaurant kitchen. I am amazed how people can sit sun-bathing. Bus services around Portugal are indeed very good and I wouldn't recommend the toll roads if driving as they do nothing to help tourists see the real country.
Thank you for hyping mass transit! The proliferation of rental cars is terrible.
Great post Nancy! A couple additional thoughts to encourage public transportation use. In Lisbon, the metro now accepts Visa card at the turnstiles, so you don't have to buy tickets. The ticket machines are sometimes confusing to visitors, but have an option to display in English. Buying a rechargable "Navegante" card in Lisbon, or its alternative in Porto (I think its called "Andante"), gives you the flexibility to ride the metro, trams, buses, and even the ferry across the Tagus river. They offer daily rates - last time I looked in Lisbon it was about 11EUR for 24 hours, but we figured out that buying a card with a certain amount of money (10EUR, 20EUR, etc) was a better option for people here for several days.
I enjoyed this one (as always) in particular on utilizing alternative transportation. I live in Olhão and travel quite often, utilizing the Faro international airport (which is much better than Lisbon for me). I've never used the Lisbon airport to get in and out of Portugal as Faro, though far more limited in flight times, is much easier and offers many 1-leg trips. For example, Faro to Dublin or Faro to Munich, then straight to DFW, Newark or a host of other places in the USA. I've noticed that you don't mention this travel option when traveling travel in and out of Portugal and specifically, the Algarve. I'm mobility challenged and this option is priceless for me when traveling.
You are absolutely correct! When Denise traveled to Miami leaving from Faro was cheaper than flying out of Lisbon…also Sevilla is often a great option.
Your final line is a point well taken. To leave a place and then say, "I wish I would have". My wife and I, we do that too often. We are not "bucket list" travelers. We do like to get a little lost and let cities unfold for us. But too many times, we pack too much in to a trip. Too many places that we want to see, too short on time. To live like a local, as much as we can. That is our goal when we travel. Slow down, see one place at a time. Dive into the deep end - culture, people, place. We did a Lisbon - Evora - Tomar - Viseu - Porto trip back in October 22. We both came down with COVID and dragged terribly. Tomar is lovely as is Viseu. Too much crammed in to one trip, even if we had stayed well. I will share our "wish we would have", that your readers might benefit from our mistake. "I wish we would have" done a Porto with a Viseu side trip. Two cities only. Lovely land up there in October. Less is more. (Thank you for sharing Nancy. I wish we were Neighbors. Three big dogs keep us on home soil for now. We love them. But one day, perhaps one day we might take off - one way - back from whence our people came.)
Today we have started our 40 day road trip which includes a dozen cities…I worry we will be exhausted in the process and that Onix (who is on this roadtrip with us) will be cranky
Yes to Flixbus. It's more comfortable than the train, or for that matter flying. Also big yes to Spain. Even a day trip on a, cheap flight to Barcelona (less than two hours) to only visit the Sagrada Família is well worth it.
Though based on news report the folks in Barcelona are protesting the number of tourists.
Very interesting! I didn't know there isn't an interrail service going outside Portugal.
Thanks for the info. I’m coming for part of August and most of September to the Algarve area. It’ll be my first time there and I’ll be apartment sitting for most of. My husband (who is joining me later) and I will fly out of Lisbon and will most likely take Flixbus. We are so excited to see Portugal!
If you happen to be in Eastern Algarve please contact me.
Thank you. I will be in Tavira most of the time.
Just a 30 minute train ride away!
We’d like to come check out VRSA and Ayamonte before we leave Tavira on the 18th. Would you want to meet us for lunch and then we’ll pop over Spain in the afternoon?
Absolutely, Email me ncwhiteman@gmail.com and I will share phone details o we can talk.
I or we might just do that… come check out VRSA and meet you if the timing works out for you.
Enjoy your road trip! -CW
Thank you for the information. I was dreading navigating traveling by train because we did this in Italy and lugging the suitcases onto the train wasn’t easy for us older travelers. But the bus option sounds much better, since the suitcases travel down below. Looking forward to our spring visit!
Glad I could help!
Great article.
I'm hoping to get to Portugal in winter 2026, probably mostly in Algarve.
Haven't started research or planning yet.
I'm told Lagos is quieter than Faro. How is the transport between the two? Would you recommend bus or train?
I'm hoping to stay 4 to 6 weeks including visits the Lisbon area and Porto.
Possibly a language course.
I do not have experience with traveling between these cities. It appears the train runs every 40 minutes and takes nearly 2 hours. https://www.cp.pt/sites/passageiros/pt/consultar-horarios/horarios-resultado Or you could start your research with the Rome2Rio internet site https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Lagos-Faro-Portugal/Faro#trips
In the US I never take public transport but always do in other countries. My question would be if the trains offer a more scenic route? I really want to slowly travel Spain and Portugal in the same trip and then make our way to Morocco. I'm terrible at preplanning. Is it possible to wing it off season and take trains and buses without buying tickets in advance?
You won’t need advance ticketa for any of the bus services in PT and generally there are plenty of empty seats on the trains I’ve been on. Can’t speak to Spain but assume you don’t need to book weeks in advance…slow travel provides more flexibility. BTW there is a ferry from Spain to Morocco…that trip is on our 2015 list.