What's the best way to get from Lisbon to Lagos
 

I'm in the beginning stages of planning my trip to Portugal this September, and I was just wondering what was the best way to get from Lisbon to Lagos. I found a website of a bus company (EVA) and it takes approx. 4-5 hours. Is the train faster or does anyone know any other bus company in this region?

Thanks in advance!

Carlos

I think Bus is best! Bus Companies in general do not compete 'head to head' on routes. There may be another Bus Company that serves Faro and a 'Thru' route like Eurolines that serves both or either. Then there's Damas SA on the Algarve-Huelva/Sevilla route.

The high speed rail line Porto-Lisbon (Alfa Pendular) terminates in Lisbon. To go south from LIsbon by Rail you must take the ferry from Cais do Sodre across the Tagus. You can take a bus from Oriente Multimodal Transportation Center or the former main Bus Station on Joao Crisostomo in Lisbon and you don't have to mess with that.

Thank YOU! I thought that was the case, but I wanted to get some feedback from an experience travel.

Hi Carlos
You have 2 options, train or bus. There are buses every hour from Lisbon to Lagos. The cost is approx 15 euros and the duration is 3 to 4 hours. The bus station is Sete Rios (nearby the Zoo), metro station Jardim Zoologico.
The trains are less frequent. There is only one Alfa Pendular high speed train daily from Lisbon (Oriente or Entrecampos stations) to Tunes in the Algarve and then you have to switch trains for a regional slow train to Lagos. The alternative are the Intercidades which are not as fast as the Alfa Pendular.
The Alfa leaves at 17.21 hours from Oriente station. The Intercidades depatures are at 8:21, 13:21, 19:21.
The duration is 2 hours and 35 minutes for the Alfa (a little more for Intercidades) plus 51 minutes for the Tunes/Lagos section

The cost is 21.50 euros (1st class) or 16:50 euros (2nd class) plus 2.60 euros for the Tunes/Lagos section.
The train route is very scenic, including the views from 25th April bridge when you leave Lisbon, but considering that you must change trains in Tunes (Algarve) I think that bus is more convenient for you.

Note that trains from Lisboa to the Algarve go over the bridge: you no longer have to get a ferry to connect with a train.

Thank you so much for the valuable information. You've convinced me that bus will be the better option.....unless I rent a car

Are there non-smoking options on either the bus or the train? I had planned on taking the bus from Lisbon to Lagos but heard that it is a long 4 hour journey with lots of smoking. I have asthma and worry that this might cause me serious problems. I read that there are non-smoking cars on the train. Can anyone confirm? Are the restrictions respected?

I never took any trains while in Portugal. However, I did take the bus and there was NO smoking allowed in the buses.

Thanks csandoval. Were your bus trips over 1 hour? I heard/read that there are different rules for trips over/under 1 hour. Right now I am leaning towards taking the train. It sounds like you can only smoke on train in between the cars. I know that I will have to transfer if I take the train but I have heard that the route is very scenic.

yes, the trips were over 1 hour. I strongly suggest to stir away from taking the train if you are planning to go to Lagos. The best way to get around Portugal is by Bus. The view by bus is very scenic as well, and you'll get much faster than by train. We took the bus from Lisbon to Evora (a little over 2 hours), to Fatima (a little over 1 hour)....never encounter anyone breaking the rules about smoking in the bus.

Thanks CarlosSandoval! You were totally correct. I just returned from my trip to Portugal. On your advice, I took the bus from Lisbon to Lagos and as you predicted - not a single person smoked during the trip! It is a 4 hour journey which costs 17 euros one-way. The bus was very comfortable with A/C, toilets, and TV.

no problem. we are heading to Portugal in less than two weeks.

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