Lagos is a charming Portuguese city located on the beautiful western Algarve coastline. The city provides the perfect blend of Portuguese character and stunning beaches, making it an outstanding holiday destination.

Lisbon is Portugal’s vibrant capital city, which is where you’ll find the country’s main international airport.

There are a range of different options for onward travel to Lagos, which lies 190km to the south of Lisbon. These include train services, intercity coach services, or by car along the A2 expressway.

Generally, we’d recommend travelling by train for comfort during the long journey, but the two express bus companies (FlixBus and Rede Expressos) are cheaper and have more daily departures.
This guide will detail how best to travel between Lisbon and Lagos.
Related articles: Lisbon Introduction – Lagos Introduction

There are many options for travelling from Lisbon to Lagos. They include:

Private transfer – While this is the quickest and most convenient way to travel to the Algarve, it is also the most expensive. However, it can be a good option if you are travelling as a group of four.

Driving along the A2/A22 expressways – This is the fastest driving route, but it passes through the bland interior of the Alentejo region. The journey is 300km long and takes 2 hours 40 mins, however the tolls are expensive - costing around €25. The A2 is a very monotonous road to drive, with no interesting sights or towns along the route.

 

 

Driving along the Alentejo coastline – This is a much more scenic route that is actually shorter in distance (280km), however the drive will take around 3 hours 30 mins. The route follows the N120, which is toll-free but slower due to its single carriageways. Depending on your route, you may need to pay tolls on the A2 around Lisbon. For breaks, consider stopping at Vila Nova de Milfontes or Porto Covo.

Warning: If travelling by car, please be aware of tolls and how to pay them. Details are provided later in this guide. The company that manages the roads has recently discovered that foreign tourists are a great source of funds, and can be quick to issue fines – it has even reportedly been sending out fines from as far back as 5 years ago!

Train, Comboios de Portugal – The most comfortable way to travel using public transport is by train. The journey requires two trains (a regional train through the Algarve and an express train to Lisbon) with a connection in the town of Tunes. The journey takes approximately 4 hours 10 mins, including the short connection at Tunes, and a single ticket costs from €24.15. The national train company of Portugal is Comboios de Portugal (CP).

Bus, Rede Expressos – The main intercity bus company of Portugal provides modern and comfortable coaches. There are many direct services, with various routes connecting Lisbon and Lagos, but they have journey times that are similar to the train due to multiple stops within the Algarve. Tickets cost from €12 and the fastest bus service takes 3 hours 40 mins. Full details are provided later in this guide.

Bus, Flixbus – FlixBus is a low-cost bus company that has driven down the price of coach travel in Portugal. This is the best option if you are a budget traveller, but expect services to be busy during the peak season. Fares can be under €7 if booked far enough in advance. Flix buses have similar journey times as the train and Rede Expressos – 3 hours 50 mins, again due to stops in the Algarve and taking the A2 expressway.

 

 

Advice: Whichever option you choose, it always makes sense to book directly with the transport company instead of third-party ticket resellers. Buying directly will reduce booking fees and ensure each company is more accommodating if there are issues. Links to their websites are:
Comboios de Portugal - www.cp.pt
Rede Expressos - rede-expressos.pt
Flixbus - FlixBus

Intercity coach travel in Portugal is safe and comfortable, with both FlixBus and Rede Expressos using modern coaches.

When choosing between the three options (train, bus or low-cost bus), the two deciding factors will be your budget and the level of comfort you’d prefer for the four-hour journey.

Train travel will always be the most comfortable, spacious and relaxing for the four hours. The two stages of the train journey (Lisbon to Tunes and Tunes to Lagos) have very different styles of train (a regional train and an express train), but both will be more comfortable and spacious than the bus. The downside with train travel is that it is the most expensive, costing from €24.15 for a single.

Intercity bus travel is safe, and the coaches are modern, but four hours on a coach can feel like a very long time. The main advantage of bus travel is that it is significantly cheaper than the train, and a single ticket can cost as little as €7.99.

 

 

Both FlixBus and Rede Expressos use dynamic pricing, where tickets purchased well in advance or for low-demand services will be less expensive. Last minute bookings, or seats on the most popular services, will cost significantly more. FlixBus is usually cheaper than Rede Expressos during the summer, but it is always worth checking both websites.

Our opinion: Both the train and bus have long journey times, compared to just 2 hours 40 mins when travelling by car. When using public transport, we would choose the train for its extra space and comfort. Bus routes through the Algarve have many roundabouts and twisting roads, and it can feel like a very long time on a packed bus.

The Intercidades train at Tunes station.

If you take just one thing from this article, it should be to book your tickets (for both the train and bus) well in advance of your journey. Booking beforehand saves money, but additionally it secures your seats, as these will often sell out for popular services during the peak season.

The intercity train between Lisbon and Tunes takes a limited number of passengers, and once seats are sold out there will be no more space available - there is no standing allowed on the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades services to/from Lisbon.

Bus services between Lisbon and Lagos also connect the central and western areas of the Algarve (including Portimão, Albufeira, Lagoa and Armação de Pêra), leading to high demand during the summer. The most popular services - for example, Friday evenings and weekends - do sell out.

The remainder of the article will explain in depth how to travel from Lisbon to Lagos.

Alfa Pendular (AP) is the express train network in Portugal.

There are two distinct sections to the train journey from Lagos to Lisbon; the slow regional train from Lagos to Tunes, and the intercity express service from Tunes to Lisbon.

There are two types of express train connecting Tunes to Lisbon: the Alfa Pendular (AP) and the Intercidades (IC [intercity]). The Alfa Pendular is the more modern train, while the Intercidades is slightly cheaper, however both provide a high level of comfort.

A single adult fare between Lagos and Lisbon using the Alfa Pendular costs €32.95/€25.65 (first/second class), while the Intercidades is €30.10/€24.15 (first/second class). No matter what class or train type you book between Lisbon and Tunes, you will take the same regional train between Tunes and Lagos.

There are reductions for Children (50% discount), under 25s (25% discount), seniors 65+ (50% discount) or buying a return ticket (10% reduction). These age-related discounts can be applied during the online booking in the “Options” stage of the booking process. If using any age-based discounts, always travel with a valid ID to prove your age.

There are five daily services departing from Lisbon and Lagos, and the latest timetables can be seen on the Comboios de Portugal (CP) website:
www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/horarios/longo-curso/comboio-porto-lisboa-faro-lagos-v.r.s.antonio.pdf
(The link opens a PDF, which may be downloaded on mobile phones)
CP website: - www.cp.pt/

Seats are allocated on the express train between Lisbon and Tunes, but not on the regional train from Lagos to Tunes.

Insight: The regional train from Lagos to Tunes can feel excruciatingly slow, especially after travelling on the express train. It takes 58 minutes to travel the 45km between Lagos and Tunes.

The slow Algarve regional train waiting at Tunes station for the Lisbon connecting train.

In Lisbon, the trains depart from the Estação do Oriente. This station is to the northeast of Lisbon, GPS: 38.767, -9.099 (link to Google Maps), situated in the Parque das Nações district. The Estação do Oriente is connected to the red metro line, which also serves the airport.

Oriente is a busy transport interchange with metro, bus and train stations, but it is easy to navigate around, thanks to clear signage and plenty of lifts. Opposite the station is the modern Vasco da Gama shopping centre, where you’ll find numerous restaurants and cafes.

Lagos train station is to the east of the city, close to the marina complex, GPS: 37.108603, -8.672195. This is a very small station with just a single train line. From the station, it is a short 300m walk to the city centre, or if your accommodation is further away then there will be taxis waiting outside the station.

The connection at Tunes is very easy. This is another small train station with just two platforms, and lots of other travellers will be making the same connection as you. These trains are held to wait for each other if there is a delay.

Insight: It is a large step down from the carriage to the station at both Tunes and Lagos. If you have mobility issues or are travelling with young children, we’d recommend speaking to the guard if help or extra time is needed.

Insight 2: There is often lots of confusion when the train arrives as to which carriage your seats are in. On your ticket, you will have the word “Carruagem” and a number, which represents the carriage number, and then "Lugar" (the seat number). The carriage number will be displayed on a small sign close to each entrance, such as “21” or the first carriage of second class. There are no designated seats on the train from Lagos to Tunes.

There are no designated seats on the train from Lagos to Tunes, as it is a regional train.
Related articles: Estação do Oriente guide

The Estação do Oriente.

It is possible to travel between Tunes and Porto on the Alfa Pendular train services, which provide connections to Lagos via the regional train. There are two daily departures between Lagos and Porto (taking 6 hours 37 mins and costing €58.05), providing another option to explore Portugal without having to stop in Lisbon.
Full details can be found on the excellent Comboios de Portugal website: www.cp.pt/

Bus travel in Portugal is safe and inexpensive, and the coaches used by Rede Expressos and FlixBus are modern and smart.

Rede Expressos is the main inter-city bus company of Portugal, covering many routes throughout the country. This is a conglomerate of lots of smaller bus companies, so the Lisbon to Lagos service may be provided by Renex, Mundial Turismo or Rede Expressos.

FlixBus is a low-cost bus company that provides services along many of the more popular routes in Portugal. Since it started operating, the price of bus travel has significantly fallen and is now much cheaper than train travel.

Both Rede Expressos and FlixBus follow similar routes and have almost identical journey times (approximately 4 hours). FlixBus services will be cheaper when booked in advance, but its services will sell out during popular times. You should also expect FlixBus services to be much busier than the Rede Expressos equivalent.
Rede Expressos - rede-expressos.pt/
Flixbus - FlixBus

Both bus companies use dynamic pricing, with the cost of the ticket fluctuating with demand and increasing closer to the departure time.

FlixBus in Oriente bus station.

The majority of Rede Expressos buses arrive and depart Lisbon from Sete Rios bus station (GPS: 38.741, -9.166), which is the main bus station of Lisbon. It is located on the blue metro line and is connected to the Jardim Zoológico metro station.

FlixBus services operate from the Estação do Oriente bus station (GPS: 38.767, -9.099), which is connected to the train station. This is situated in the Parque das Nações district of Lisbon and is connected to the red metro line by the Oriente metro station.

Advice: Always check your ticket for the departure location, especially when travelling with Rede Expressos buses. Sete Rios bus station is often full to capacity and services may depart from Oriente where there is more space.

Both Sete Rios and Estação do Oriente are large and modern bus stations with late-closing ticket offices and generally good facilities. Lisbon bus stations are safe, but you should remain vigilant when passing through, as pickpockets are always on the lookout for easy opportunities.

In Lagos, all buses terminate at the Terminal Rodoviário de Lagos. This is a small bus station situated just to the north of the historic centre of the city (GPS: 37.107, -8.676).FlixBus services depart from the street next to the bus station, but always confirm the departure location on the ticket.
Related articles: Estação do Oriente - Sete Rios bus station

Sete Rios bus station in Lisbon

The journey by car from Lisbon to Lagos follows the A2 and A22 expressways. Both of these roads have tolls, and the cost will be around €25 for a car. The tolls are paid for using the Via Verde transponder, which you should ask for if you are renting a car in Portugal. Full details are provided on their website:
visitors.viaverde.pt

If you are planning on driving a foreign registered car, please see this website:
www.portugaltolls.com/

We’d highly recommend having a Via Verde transponder while driving in Portugal, as many expressways only have automatic toll collection.

To estimate the cost of tolls in Portugal, use the website:
https://portagens.infraestruturasdeportugal.pt/

The A2 can be a very dull drive through the interior of the Alentejo region. There are no noteworthy towns or sights along the route.

The coastal route along the N120 passes many more interesting sights and towns, but it is a single carriageway that meanders through the countryside. Notable towns and villlages along the N120 include:
Odeceixe – A small village in a region of pristine and dramatic beaches.
Zambujeira do Mar – A picturesque village perched on the top of cliffs and overlooking a beautiful beach.
Vila Nova de Milfontes – A traditional beach town, which is a fantastic location from which to explore the Alentejo coastline.
Porto Covo – A pretty coastal village
Sines – A historic port city, but it is very industrial, with a massive oil refinery and docks.

Do you need a car for Lisbon?
Having a car in Lagos is great for exploring the region, however in Lisbon it can be a hinderance. Lisbon has excellent public transport links, and the ride hailing apps (such as Uber or Bolt) are inexpensive for private travel. Driving in Lisbon can be very demanding, with heavy traffic, erratic driving and severely limited car parking.
We would recommend having a car in Lagos, but there is no need for one during your time in Lisbon.