As one of the most popular destinations in the Algarve, town of Lagos is a fantastic starting point for any trip to the Algarve. Golden beaches, beautiful coves, azure water and historic streets await you. It’s a popular trip with multiple routes covering multiple departure points and can sometimes be a little confusing with people new to Portugal! So, what’s the best way to travel between Lisbon and Lagos? Keep reading to find out!
Why Visit Lagos if you’re in Lisbon?
Boasting a historic oldtown, modern marina, with some incredible beaches and scenery, Lagos really combines much of what the Algarve is famous for. Unfortunately, it is a bit too far for a day trip, but for a couple of days, or as part of a longer tour of Portugal Lagos is a fantastic base in the Algarve.
It’s now one of the most popular towns in the Algarve, yet its historic core remains charmingly Portuguese, and not every street is occupied by international restaurants and souvenir shops. The vibe is completely different to the metropolitan Lisbon, and its typical beach scene along the coast to Cascais. Did we mention the beaches? It’s the quintessential Algarve beach destination and really does offer a beach for everyone.
Looking for a complete travel guide to Lagos? Look no further and read our guide here!
Public transport between Lisbon and Lagos? Bus or Train?
Lagos is around 280km south of Lisbon, and transport between the two cities is really convenient. You have multiple options between buses, trains, driving yourself, or booking a private driver.
Bus Services between Lisbon and Lagos
There are two bus companies operating direct routes between Lisbon and Lagos, the domestic operator Rede Expresso, and the European wide Flixbus. Both companies offer a direct service to Lagos from Lisbon and back again, with very similar prices and travel times. The difference is in their departure stations, and their schedules. Travel time is between 3 hours and 40 minutes, and 4 hours and 15 minutes, depending on which service and which route. Most services are direct, although there are some much longer indirect services, so you’ll need to be careful which bus you book.
Where do the buses depart from in Lisbon?
The two main departure stations are Sete Rios Bus Terminal (located on the blue line of the metro), or Gare do Oriente (located on the red line). Unfortunately, there are no departures from the airport, you will need to transfer to either of the bus stations if you plan to head to Lagos as soon as your flight lands in Lisbon. Both bus stations are modern, well equipped and have full facilities to keep you occupied while you wait for any buses!
Lagos bus station is called Terminal Rodovario and is much smaller and located just to the north of the historic old town. It’s around a 10-minute walk, or 1km in distance to the historic old town. It’s a much smaller bus station and its ticket office is only open between 07:30 and 20:30.
What does a bus cost from Lisbon to Lagos?
Tickets cost from €19 one way, or around €35 for a return trip on Rede Expressos (Sometimes operating as Renex). If booked in advance, tickets can be as low as €5 each way on Flixbus. All trips can be booked on the Rede Expressos website up to 30 days in advance, or FLixbus up to 90 days in advance.
On Flixbus, one-way tickets from Lisbon to Lagos can be as cheap as €5, however these are advance tickets and the price does go up as the tickets are sold! Their website is available in English, French and Spanish as well as the native Portuguese. Discounts are available for children, youths, students and seniors.
Train Services between Lisbon and Lagos
The journey between Lisbon and Lagos by train is split into two journeys, on two different train lines. The first is between Lisbon and Tunes, and the second the regional line that travel west between Tunes and Lagos. Despite the need to switch trains, travel time remains competitive with the bus times.
There is one railway line from Lisbon to Tunes, but several different services operate on it. The services are the Alfa Pendular and the Intercidades, and both are run by the national operator Coimbois de Portugal. Of the two services, the Alfa Pendular is quicker and takes around 2hrs and 29 minutes, whereas the Intercidades takes around 3 hours. The main difference is the number of stops and despite the difference in time, prices are comparable. You’ll still need to swap to the regional train to get from Tunes to Lagos. The main difference is the number of stops both trains make, the full timetable for both trains can be found on the CP website.
Where do the trains depart from in Lisbon?
The Alfa Pendular departs Lisbon, from Oriente and Entrecampos before making its way to the the Algarve. The Intercidades departs Lisbon, from Oriente, Entrecampos, and Sete Rios before making its way to the Algarve. Both trains stop in Tunes and you’ll need to swap to the regional line.
In Lagos, the train station is located to the east of the city. A rather pretty 1.3km walk through Lagos’s marina and along its riverside.
What do the trains cost between Lisbon and Lagos?
A single ticket from Lisbon to Faro on the Alfa Pendular and Regional route costs €30.95 and €24.05 for 1st and 2nd class respectively. On the the Intercidades it costs €28.30 and €22.65. However, discounts are available. If you purchase your ticket in the advance (more than 5 days) you can get up to 50% off. Other discounts are available, like student, senior and family tickets and we cover many of them here in our guide to trains in the Algarve. Tickets for the trains can be bought on the official CP website, on the CP app, or directly at the stations.
Driving from Lisbon to the Lagos
The most flexible option, although perhaps one of the most expensive is to take a car. Either your own or a rental. Obviously, the biggest advantage of taking a car is freedom and the lack of transfers. You can drive directly to your destination without needing a separate transfer. However, you’ll need to consider the fuel costs and tolls if you want to take the quickest route. What really cannot be understated is the freedom and flexibility that driving a vehicle will give you.
Taking the scenic route along the coast, with stops in towns like Vila Nova de Milfontes, Porto Covo, or Aljezur is beautiful roadtrip and a really great way of enhancing your holiday. It just depends on if you want to spend time touring, or if you just want to get to Lagos and relax.
The quickest route is around 300km and should take around three hours. However, this route involves toll roads on the A2 and the A22 in the Algarve. In real terms it will cost around €25 in tolls for an average car to get one way from Lisbon to Lagos. But this cost goes up for large SUVS, 4x4s, and vans. The official toll calculator can be found here, but it’s a rather confusing and elaborate website to use.
If you use the route that avoids tolls the distance is very similar. However, due to the smaller and slower roads it will take around four to four and half hours to drive. Fuel costs are hard to work out, and completely dependent on your vehicle. The most recent trip we made in an economy rental it cost around €25 in petrol one way.
If you’re looking at renting a car, read our guide here! It covers everything you need to know and how to avoid the extra costs.
Comparison of Travel time and cost between Lisbon and Lagos
| Method | Cost (single) | Cost (return) | Discounted Cost | Travel Time |
| Train | €22 | €44 | €13.50 (single) | 3 – 3.5 hours |
| Bus | €19 | €35 | €5 (single) | 3 – 4 hours |
| Car | €50ish | €100 | €30 (no-tolls) | 2.5 – 3 hours |
| Transfer | €200-400 | €200-400 | n/a | 2.5-3 hours |
What is the Best Way of Travelling Between Lisbon and Lagos?
The simplest way to decide on your budget and what is the most convenient way for you. Buses are direct, while the trains do require you to swap to another train partway through the journey. Neither depart from the airport in Lisbon – so if a stress and hassle free transfer is what you are looking for you may want to consider a private driver for the journey. However, the costs will be much higher for a private transfer.
We personally prefer the train, for us they’re a little bit more relaxed, and open, and we don’t mind the swap to another train in Tunes. But some people just want to sit, relax and wake up in their destination, for those the bus might be the most convenient and best option!
Have you traveled between Lagos and Lisbon? Share your travel tips with us and our readers in the comments below!
Follow Us!
