Travel to Portugal

Travel to Portugal

You can travel to Portugal with ease from many locations, with there being several modes of transport available to you. You could opt to travel to Portugal by bus, train, or flight, so the choice is yours. A range of providers operate these routes, with popular bus companies, including alsa, travelling from various locations in continental Europe to Portugal. You can also get a renfe train from Vigo Guixar to Porto, whilst many airlines, such as Ryanair and TAP Air Portugal, operate frequent service between European cities and Portugal. People travel to Portugal for many reasons, one of which is the country's scenic landscape. Whether it's the Algarve, or further north in the country in Porto, there is a range of attractive coastal landscapes for you to explore when travelling in Portugal.

Booking your ticket with Omio for Portugal

It's easy to book your ticket on the Omio website or app, so you can get your journey in Portugal underway with ease. You can use search filters on Omio to choose your desired mode of transport, the time you wish to travel and the company you prefer to travel with. One benefit of booking train, bus, or flight tickets in Portugal with Omio is that they are delivered directly to your Omio account, and you can use them immediately. If you have any issues using the website or app, you can contact our helpful customer service team. Staff are available in a range of languages for your convenience.

Train companies in Portugal

There is one main train company operating in Portugal, making this a great way to travel. The leading train operator is Comboios de Portugal. This company offers frequent services between many parts of Portugal and its capital city, Lisbon. You can choose between direct and indirect routes, peak and off-peak trains, and high-speed and slower trains, making it easy to create your perfect journey. You can also book one-way tickets or round-trip tickets with ease, so you'll always have a seat for your trip.

Portugal Woman. Source: Shutterstuck

Bus companies in Portugal

You can choose to travel with a range of bus operators when taking a trip in Portugal. Popular bus companies in Portugal include alsa, rede expressos, Renex and citi express. These operators run regular trips throughout Portugal, so you can get to your destination with ease. Bus journeys are often one of the cheaper ways to travel, too, making it a great way to travel on a budget. There are direct and indirect routes taking varying amounts of time, so you can decide how quickly you arrive at your final port of call.

Flight companies in Portugal

There are some major airports in Portugal which act as hubs for many airlines. For instance, Lisbon Airport (LIS) is a hub for TAP Air, which is one of the country’s most popular airlines. You can take domestic and international flights at airports throughout Portugal, making it one of the fastest ways to travel. Some of the leading airlines in Portugal are TAP Air and Azores Airlines. They operate direct and indirect flights to many popular destinations across Europe and beyond. Taking a flight with a company in Portugal can also be a very cost-effective way to complete your journey to your final destination.

Popular international routes in Portugal

Not only can you travel with ease throughout Portugal, but you can also take international routes to other countries. For instance, if you are travelling by train, it is easy to take a renfe train from Porto to Vigo Guixar in Spain. If you are travelling overseas by bus, you can take an alsa bus from Lisbon, for example, to many locations in Europe, including Paris and Madrid. If, on the other hand, you plan to travel internationally by plane, you will have a great choice of destinations. TAP Air offers a comprehensive range of flights from airports across Portugal to Europe. You could, for instance, fly direct to Madrid, Vienna, or London. For flights further afield, Azores Airlines has you covered, as you can take a trip to North America with ease.

When arriving in Portugal

When you arrive in Portugal, you might find some differences to your native country. People in Portugal tend to eat food later in the day than is customary in the UK, so you might want to reserve a space at a restaurant if you plan on eating later. If you're going to hire a car upon arrival in the country, you must familiarise yourself with the rules of the road, starting with the fact that cars drive on the right side of the road. The local currency in Portugal is the Euro, unlike in the UK, which uses Pound Sterling.

Train Provider in Portugal

There is one main train provider in Portugal, so you will be able to get from city to city quite easily. Comboios de Portugal covers most of the country, with one popular route being that of Lisbon to Porto, which is direct and takes about 2h 50min. You can also head to the south of the country with the same provider, with direct trains to Faro from Lisbon taking around 3 hours in total. Another route you can take is to a city further inland, such as Coimbra, which is also direct from Lisbon and takes in the region of 1h 50min. Comboios de Portugal offers free Wi-Fi, First Class seating and on-board buffet service.

Bus Providers in Portugal

You can choose from a selection of bus providers in Portugal, making cheap travel between cities possible. A popular route is Lisbon to Porto, which is operated by alsa in approximately 3h 30min. You can travel to Faro from Lisbon with Renex in around 3h 50min. Or you could take a trip from Porto to Coimbra with rede expressos, which takes in the region of 1h 25min. Buses in Portugal are of the highest quality, with most offering Wi-Fi, charging points and comfy seating. Often, you can even get coffees and snacks on board, too.

Flight Provider in Portugal

Portugal is serviced by some excellent airlines operating domestically and internationally. For example, you could take a flight from Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Porto Airport (OPO) with TAP Air, taking in the region of 1 hour. A flight from Porto Airport to Faro Airport (FAO) with Ryanair, meanwhile, takes around 1h 05min. The route from Porto Airport to Ponte Delgada Airport (PDL) with Azores Airlines takes approximately 2h 25min. Airlines in Portugal range from budget airlines to high-end airlines, but all offer a reliable and comfortable service. Tap Air is one of the more recognised airlines to fly with, and the carrier offers worldwide flights, too. This airline is also considered to be a low cost airline, so you get the best of both worlds.

Main train stations in Portugal

There are some excellent trains stations in Portugal to travel to and from. In Lisbon, there is The Rossio Railway Station in the city centre, about a 4min walk to popular attractions such as the Santa Justa Lift. Estacao do Oriente station, meanwhile, is in the north of Lisbon and about a 26min metro journey to the same tourist attraction on the Vm and Vd Lines. Entrecampos train station also in the north of the city is around a 20min journey on the bus 732 to Santa Justa Lift. These three Lisbon train stations offer great amenities, including food outlets, cash points, gift shops and toilets.

Further north in Portugal, there is Sao Bento train station in Porto, about a 7min bus journey on line 500 to popular attractions such as Bolsa Palace. The train station has toilets, coffee shops and food outlets. Faro train station, in the south, is about a 6min bus journey on line 10 from Arco da Vila, a popular historical landmark. This train station offers a range of facilities, including a bar, cashpoints, and toilets.

Night trains Portugal

You can get night trains in Portugal to some of the main cities. For instance, travelling from Lisbon to Porto, you can take a train at about 22:00 that arrives the following morning at about 01:23.

Main bus stations in Portugal

You will find some great bus stations in Portugal, for instance Sete-Rios coach station in Lisbon. From here, it is around a 15min journey on the Az metro line to popular areas such as the Santa Justa Lift. This station has coffee shops, cash points and food shops. Porto bus station is about a 13min taxi journey from the city centre and popular sights like Bolsa Palace. Close by to this bus station you will find many cafés, toilet facilities and shops.

In Faro, the bus station is about a 5min walk to Arco da Vila. There are cash points, food shops and toilets nearby the station. Coimbra bus station is approximately a 15min walk to popular attractions such as Se Velha. You'll find cash points, food establishments and hotels near to the bus station. Aviero bus station is approximately a 4min taxi journey to popular attractions like Aveiro Museum. Facilities close to this station include coffee shops, restaurants and a hostels.

Main airports in Portugal

There are many airports in Portugal, the largest and busiest of which is Lisbon Airport. It is about a 30min bus journey on the number 1 line to popular parts of the city such as Santa Justa Lift. Porto Airport is about a 45min trip on the E train to Sao Bento train station in the city centre. If you're flying to Faro Airport, you can get the number 16 bus to Arco da Vila in central Faro in about 27min. All these airports offer currency exchange bureaus, restaurants, shopping facilities, and more.

Popular journey in Portugal

Popular trips in Portugal include Lisbon to Porto by train, taking in the region of 2h 50min at the cost of approximately £24. If you wanted to fly from Faro Airport to Porto Airport, it would take about 1h 10min and cost as little as £9. A bus journey from Lisbon to Faro takes approximately 3 hours, with prices starting from about £5. Other popular train journeys Portugal include Porto to Coimbra for about £5 and a journey time of approximately 1h 25min. The train from Lisbon to Aviero, meanwhile, takes about 2h 30min and costs in the region of £12.

Good to Know in Portugal

It's good to know that train tickets tend to get more expensive the closer you get to your departure date, so it's worth booking as early as possible. If you have some flexibility with your journey times, you might be able to get cheaper travel. If you can, consider travelling on off-peak rather than on-peak trains, as this will be cheaper.

Portugal tourist. Source: Shutterstuck

Travel to Portugal —travel tips

Portugal is a great country to visit, with loads to see and do. A great way to ensure that you don't miss out on the best attractions is to create an itinerary before you arrive. In Lisbon, you can check out some great attractions such as Santa Justa Lift, which gives panoramic views of the city. If you head to Porto, why not see the city's palace, or take a boat out on the Douro River. In Faro, you can enjoy some great nearby beaches along the popular Algarve coastline. coimbra is a fascinating city with some fabulous architecture, and you can spend a leisurely day walking around the town and enjoying stunning buildings and the famous Se Velha cathedral. In Aviero, you can visit the Museu de Aveiro, which provides a great look at the city’s past. Over in Albufeira, you can visit Zoomarine, where you can swim with dolphins.

• Check out the Oceanario de Lisboa
• Go hiking in the Pico do Arieiro
• Meet some animals at Krazy World Zoo
• Be amazed by the Biblioteca Joanina
• Check out Museu de Portimao