Getting to know your way around transportation in Portugal is very important when it comes to plan your trip, and getting the most of it when you’re already there. Portugal is a small country and it’s easy to get around, but it’s important that you know what options are available for getting around easily.
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Getting to Portugal
Portugal has international airports in the cities of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal (Madeira) and Ponta Delgada and Horta (Azores), served by the national airline, TAP Air Portugal, but also others, including low-cost companies, such as Ryan Air and Easy Jet. The company that does internal flights in the Azores archipelago is SATA Azores Airlines.
You can search and buy your flight to Portugal here.
TRANSPORTATION IN PORTUGAL – GETTING AROUND
Transportation in Portugal is easy because Portugal has a good public transportation system, which mainly serves the coastal territory with quality, namely, long distance buses and trains. However, the interior of the country has some deficiencies in accessibility, as there are many cities with no rail connection. There are buses that connect the main cities, Lisbon and Porto, to inland cities, but reaching small towns by public transportation can be difficult.
Lisbon and Porto have a metro system, underground in Lisbon, and almost always on the surface in Porto. Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra have urban trains that connect the metropolitan areas. All major Portuguese cities have an urban transportation system, including taxis and urban buses. Private transportation companies based on apps are also to be considered for transportation in Portugal, as they also operate in Portugal, with Uber present in about 20 Portuguese cities.
You can, of course, also rent a car in Portugal, an option that will give you more autonomy and comfort.
Rent a car in Portugal at the best prices through this link.
Driving a car in Portugal
Driving a car is the best option for transportation in Portugal if you value autonomy and comfort. Portugal’s road network is of very good quality, with an extensive network of motorways. Inland, especially in the North, some roads are narrow and have many curves, requiring some care when driving. Don’t forget, drive on the right side of the road.
Travelling on long distance buses in Portugal
Travelling on long distance buses is a great option for transportation in Portugal, as they reach almost everywhere. The main long-distance bus companies in Portugal are:
- Rede Expressos
- Internorte (international services)
Travelling on urban transportation in Portugal
When you visit the main cities, the best option of transportation in Portugal is to use the network of urban transportation. The main companies which provide urban transportation in Portugal are:
Travelling by train in Portugal
Travelling by train is a wonderful option for transportation in Portugal. The national train company is CP, “Comboios de Portugal” (Trains of Portugal), with an online ticket office and an app.
The services provided by CP are:
- Quick and frequent Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra urban trains
- “Alfa Pendular” and “Intercidades”, speed trains that go up and down the country, connecting the north and south of Portugal, as well as some cities in the interior.
- Regional and InterRegional, slower trains that will take you to smaller towns in Portugal, which include the Algarve line and the Douro line. There is also a bus shuttle service between the CP stations and the centers of Albufeira, Loulé and Quarteira, in Algarve.
- International connections to Vigo, Madrid and Paris.
There are also special train services like the historical train in Douro line.
Riding the metro in Lisbon and Porto
The subway system is a great way to move around in a big city. You can walk almost everywhere in Porto, but in Lisbon the subway is just the best option.
