travelinho > lisbon-faro

Lisbon - Faro: Trains, Buses, Flights & Carpooling


Travel from Lisbon to Faro. Compare and combine trains, buses and flights. All options explained.
Faro

What is the best way to get from Lisbon to Faro?

Lisbon and Faro are well connected both by train and bus, with similar prices and durations.
However, if you book your trip around 30 days in advance, there are good chances to find a train Promo-ticket, being this the optimal option.
Driving by yourself is not recommended, especially if you are only one or two peaople traveling, since it is more stressful and much more expensive.
Train
from 13€
3h 1m
cheapest greenest
Bus
from 19€
3h 15m
Flight
from 68€
45m
fastest
Car pooling
from 14€
2h 40m
Own car
from 45€
2h 40m
Private car transfer
from 225€
3h 0m

In order to see all updated times and prices for a specific date, try Travelinho's search engine.

From Lisbon to Faro by train

price
from 13€
duration
3h 1m
clean
3.4kg CO2
Comboios de Portugal is the Portuguese national railway company and operates five direct trains per day. All trains to Faro depart from Lisboa Entrecampos station.
The first train departs at 08:22 and the last one at 18:22.

Train timetable

The exact duration of the ride and its price will depend on the type of train:

Alfa Pendular

The Alfa Pendular (AP) are the high-speed trains of Comboios de Portugal. They cover the distance from Lisbon to Faro in 3 hours and 1 minute.
Train Alfa Pendular
Standard fare is 23€ for 2nd class and 31€ for 1st class. They have many commodities onboard, including WiFi.
When Promo-tickets are available, you can find tickets for 14€ or even less.

Intercidades

Intercidades trains (IC) are about 30 minuts slower, but slightly cheaper. The duration with these kind of trains is 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Standard fare is 22€ for 2nd class and 29€ for 1st class. Promo-tickets, if available, usually cost 13€.

Good to know

Train tickets from Comboios de Portugal are usually available for purchase between 30 and 60 days before departure.
The earlier you book, the more chances you have to find a Promo-ticket.

Train stations

Lisboa Entrecampos

Lisboa Entrecampos
The station of Lisboa - Entrecampos is at the north of the city and it is well connected to the airport with the bus line 12, that runs every 5 minutes.
In order to get to the station of Entrecampos from the city center you can use the underground system.

Faro train station

Map of Faro city center
Faro has only one station for long-distance trains.
It is conveniently located in the city center, just a few minutes walk from the main attractions in town.

From Lisbon to Faro by bus

price
from 19€
duration
3h 15m
clean
17kg CO2
There are three companies operating this route: Rede expressos, EVA and RENEX.
During the week there are in total 15 buses running daily while in the weekend a couple of them do not run, as you can see in the timetable.
The fastest buses cover the distance in 3h and 15 minutes, while the slowest takes more than 4 hours.
The price is fixed at 19€ - 20€ per way, depending on the company.

Bus timetable

Rede expressos

Rede expressos operates 8 daily buses, the first departing at 01:00 and the last one departing at 22:30.
All buses have a fixed price: 19€. However, you might want to book it in advance in to make sure you can get it even if it is fully booked.

EVA

EVA operates 6 daily buses, the first departing at 08:15 and the last one departing at 20:30.
The price is always 20€. However, similarly to Rede expressos, you might want to book it in advance to avoid any surprise if it is fully booked.

RENEX

Bus stations

Lisboa Sete Rios

Map of Lisbon with station of Sete Rios marked.
The bus station of Sete Rios is located at the north-west of the city. There is also a train station with the same name next to it.
Lisbon's undergound system connects the station with the city center.

Faro bus station

The bus station in Faro is located in front of the train station. See train station for more information.

Flights from Lisbon to Faro

price
from 68€
duration
45m
clean
62kg CO2
TAP Portugal / Airbus A321-212 / CS-TJH
TAP Portugal offers three daily flights.
The first flight departs at 09:45 and the last one at 22:40.

From Lisbon to Faro by car

A distance of 280 km separates Lisbon from Faro. This can be covered by car in about 2h 40m with normal traffic conditions.
Map of the road route from Lisbon to Faro

Car-pooling from Lisbon to Faro

price
from 14€
duration
2h 40m
clean
13kg CO2
A fun alternative to train or bus is car-pooling. With this system you have the chance to meet new interesting people and share the costs of the ride.
The biggest platform is BlaBlaCar. A ride usually costs between 14€ and 17€.
By checking only a couple of days in advance there are good chances to find a ride. However, if you search for a date later than one week before departure, it is difficult to find a ride. Anyway, it might be worth checking just in case.

Own car

price
from 45€
duration
2h 40m
Driving your own car will cost 45€, according to Via Michelin. The cost includes 23€ for fuel consumption and 22€ for tolls.
If you don't own a car and you need to rent one, you will have to add also that cost.
Renting a basic car in Portugal can be very cheap. However, if you plan to drop the car in a different city from where you picked it up, you will have to pay an additional fee.

Private car transfer from Lisbon to Faro

price
from 225€
duration
3h 0m
If money is not an issue, there is also the possibility to book a private car transfer. This option is very flexible regarding times and as hassle-free as you can get.
The company daytrip seems to have a high quality service according to reviews on Tripadvisor (we have not tried them ourselves). They also offer the possibility to visit different sights along the way.
You might also want to check Suntransfers.com, as they have also good reviews on both Tripadvisor and Trustpilot. This option might be especially interesting if you are a large group, as they have Private Minicoaches and Coaches and the price per person will decrease drastically.

What can I visit on my way from Lisbon to Faro?

If you want to plan the journey with any stops along the way, you will have to take and alternative route which will be a detour. The most straight-forward route through the E1 does not have any attractions or sights.
The alternatives are driving inland closer to the Spanish border or along the coast.
In both cases you can first stop at the fishing village of Sesimbra, just 43 km (27 miles) south from Lisbon.

Inland

By taking an inland alternative, you will extend your trip by more than one additional hour driving, but you will have the chance to visit such beautiful places as Évora, Beja, Mértola and Tavira.

Évora

Evora
Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986.
The old town is surrounded by walls. Inside those walls you can find a cathedral, a Roman temple and the Chapel of Bones!
For more information about what to see in Évora, check out Julie Dawn Fox's blog, written by a Brit living in central Portugal.

Beja

Beja
Named Pax Julia by Julius Caeser, Beja is not as touristic as Évora, but has also interesting monuments.
The main one is the castle, located at the top of a hill, and its Keep (Torre de Menagem). You can climb to the top and enjoy a wonderful view of the town and its surroundings.
For more information about Beja, The Crazy Tourist explains well in detail everything you can do there.

Mértola

Mertola
Mértola is a small town located on a hill over the Guadiana River. It has a castle and stunning views.
Due to its historical importance and uniqueness, it is currently in the process to become a Unesco World Heritage site.
If you want to know more, ZigZag on Earth has one of the most complete articles about what to do in Mértola.

Tavira

Tavira
Last but not least, arriving to the south coast of Portugal and already very close to Faro stands Tavira.
Some clame that Tavira is the most beautiful city of the Algarve.
To know more about Tavira, check out AlgarveFun's article.

Along the coast

By taking the route as close to the Algarve coast as possible, you will extend the trip by almost two additional driving hours. The landscapes you can find will compensate that extra effort, though.
Some of the most interesting stops are Santiago do Cacém, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Odeceixe, and Sagres.

Santiago do Cacém

Santiago do Cacém
Santiago do Cacém is located 160 km south from Lisbon.
Its beaches, the castle and the Roman ruins of Mirobriga are the main attractions.
The Crazy Tourist's blog gives more information about what to visit in the area.

Vila Nova de Milfontes

Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova de Milfontes is a small town located at the mouth of the Mira river to the Atlantic ocean.
Here you can have a swim at one of its four beaches or visit the town itself.
The blog FindingBeyond.com, gives plenty of tips for Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Odeceixe

Odeceixe
Odeceixe is known among surfers and families due to its beaches.
The village itself is 3 km inland.
Check out Julie Dawn Fox's awesome blog for more information about Odeceixe.

Sagres

Sagres
Sagres is located at the most Southwestern point of mainland Europe.
Apart from water sports, the Fortress and the Lighthouse of Cabo de São Vicente are the main attractions.

How can I get from Lisbon to Faro Airport?

There is not any bus or train that rides directly from Lisbon to Faro Airport.
Your possibilities are:
  • Go from Lisbon to the city center of Faro by train or by bus.
    Once there, for 3€ you can take the shuttle bus number 16 that runs approximately every hour. Alternatively you can book a transfer for 7€ with Terravision or just take a taxi for around 11€.
  • Check if there is any Car-pooling option available.
  • Book a car private transfer from Lisbon directo to Faro airport.

Accommodation in Faro

If you are travelling to Faro, you might be interested in looking for accommodation. We have researches some of the best options in several types of accommodation, from low-budget hostels, to apartments and stylish hotels.
Keep in mind that usually the sooner you book, the cheaper it will be. In some cases you might have free cancellation under certain conditions, so why waiting to book?