I'm hoping to include travel in Portugal end of May or early June. I can travel to Porto on Ryanair from Dublin and would try to visit Santiago deCompostela before continuing by public transport to Lisbon area. Understand there is a coach that is reasonable. Or, I might consider a few days visit to the Algarve if this journey is possible by train or bus. I will stay for about 4 days in Lisbon at end of trip for my return flight, and would take a day trip to Fatima by local bus service. If Algarve is not convenient then I might try to get the ferry from Lisbon to Madeira (please let me know if there is daily service and location of port) for about 3 days in Funchal. Any help appreciated.

That's what we did in 2006, but we drove. You might find the report useful.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34875899

Fly Dublin to Santiago, bus on to Porto. Otherwise you would be backtracking to get to Santiago.

I agree with Viajero2!

There are Tour Buses that daytrip to Fatima but I suggest that you go to Nossa Senhora da Fatima Church as one of your first stops when you get to Lisbon. The Ladies Group at the Church does a once-monthly day trip to Fatima: lunch included, for next to nothing. Check with the Religious articles shop across from the Church for more info. It's on Avda. Berna several blocks from the Campo Pequenho MetroLisboa station

Sorry, I can't help you with info about connections to Madeira but I can assure you that there is public transport Lisbon to Albufeira or Porto.

My last Santiago pilgrimage I stayed at a cheap hostal called a'Nosa Casa: in the Historic Dist, about 500m from Plaza de Galicia. Continental Breakfast included in the room rate.

Sorry, no full Irish breakfast is available.

In Lisbon, I stay at Residencial Estrela do Saldanha, Avda Republica, 17. at the Duque de Avila exit of MetroLisboa's Saldanha station. It's next door to Pasteleria Versailles (golden oldie) where the Residencial used to offer Continental Breakfast.

Co-owner / Manager Carlos Ferreira speaks English and can be very helpful.

Thanks to all for the many helpful tips. I' still not sure of my route. I will arrive from NY on Continental into Dublin and take a nonstop flight to Santiago DeComp. for 2 nights before continuing on my journey south. I am active retired woman accustomed to lots of walking and hiking and will not be using a car rental. When I leave Santiago I would travel by coach making overnight stop on journey to Lisbon if this is allowed. I like visits to old towns and historic cities. I will try to get to a tourist office to get map and some ideas but I will return out of Lisbon staying overnight at Novotel close to the airport. I had considered travel to see Algarve but have read on posts that in order to see this area one needs to drive. I am hoping the tourist office can help me here, so if Algarve is not easy to do without car, I would consider spending several days in Madeira as I see there are cheap flights from Funchal back to Lisbon. I might try to take a ferry to Funchal if this is easy to arrange then return on Easyjet. Would this be a better choice? Understand from the posts that Funchal is a great area for walking and very beautiful.

Thank you all for your help. Kate

Cavangal,
I'm fairly sure there are no non-stops Dublin-Santiago de Compostela. I think you need to fly through Madrid.

Maribel: I checked Aer Lingus and they do have nonstops to Santiago DeComp. several days a week so I will use this route one way as I will return from Lisbon. I am looking forward to my trip and any guidance on sorting out the best routes. Thanks. Kate

Hi Cavangal,
Ay, that's it! That explains why when I did a search on itasoftware.com for 2 days of the week, the flight didn't appear-should have done the search for all 7-my mistake.

You can take an Alsa bus from Santiago to Oporto (Porto).
www.alsa.es It leaves at 10 am and arrives at 12:45 pm.
Then from Oporto, I'd take the Alfa Pendular train down to Lisbon. And if you want to visit the Algarve, it goes all the way down to Faro.
www.cp.pt

Eva express buses also go from Lisbon to the Algarve.
www.eva-bus.com

Others can tell you which is better, more frequent, the train or bus.

I've been to the gorgeous island of Madeira but by plane from Lisbon. I don't know if there even is a ferry anymore, but if there were, it would be a very long journey.

The following airlines do the route, Lisbon to Funchal (FNC), the capital.
TAP
EasyJet
SATA

I would compare their r.t. fares. You might find a deal.

Now, if I had just checked Aer Lingus instead of itasoftware I would have seen that Aer Lingus operates the flight to Santiago on Tues./Sat. only from May 2-Sept. 19. Now I know!

Maribel: Thanks so much for the info on the route to Lisbon, Faro or Madeira. I have not been to Algarve and need to know if one needs to drive to see the areas or if there are buses? I enjoy walking or hiking if there are trails but if its mostly beaches, then I might be better deciding on Madeira.

I think 2 nights at Santiago will be sufficient and then I would head towards Lisbon or Faro. I am not familiar with Algarve but will try to get to a tourist office for maps and ideas. I will plan for about 12 days travel in Portugal so it is not rushed.

Many thanks. Kate

If you could schedule your arrival to Santiago for Sat., 30 May, you may see the Botafumeiro swing after the 11:00 AM Misa Mayór Pentecost Sunday, 31 May, 2009. I don't know about after Pilgrims' Mass Saturday evening; but it's a pretty good bet for Sunday's High Mass

In Portugal, I recommend Coimbra, an old University town. The Alfa trains stop there enroute Lisbon-Porto (or vv). There is also frequent Bus service on that route.

There's plenty to see & do on the Portuguese mainland without having to go to Madeira. I prefer northern Portugal (area around Guimaraes & Braga). The Portuguese Govt. gives EU Members a Tax free zone there to invigorate the region. Now, with the world's Economys in a shambles, you may find that area Economically distressed.

Nedsireland: Thanks for the update and I may be able to plan for May 30 at Santiago DeComp. I have been to Portugal several years ago and while based at Fatima I did get stops at some of the towns which included the University town Coimbra, Nazare. This trip, I am looking to see the coastal route going south towards Algarve. I will be returning from Lisbon so could spend several days in Lisbon with a day trip to Fatima. If I decide on Faro rather than going to Madeira, is it easy getting around using public transport? I have not been to Algarve and am now looking at that route and might have enough time to return to Lisbon and then include a couple of days visit to Seville if that would give me enough time. Understand that is easy journey by train. Thanks to all for your help getting this journey organized. Kate