Lisbon - Faro: Trains, Buses, Flights & Carpooling
Travel from Lisbon to Faro.
Compare and combine trains, buses and flights in one search.
Find the cheapest tickets.
What is the best way to get from Lisbon to Faro?
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.
In order to see all updated times and prices for a specific date, try Travelinho's search engine.
From Lisbon to Faro by train
from 13€
3h 1m
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.
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
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
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
from 19€
3h 15m
17kg CO2
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
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
from 68€
45m
62kg CO2
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.
Car-pooling from Lisbon to Faro
from 14€
2h 40m
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
from 45€
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
from 225€
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
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
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
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
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 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 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 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 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:
-
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.
Find accommodation in Faro
If you are travelling to Faro, you might be interested in looking for accommodation. By using the search box below you can find the best prices in several types of accommodation, from low-budget hostels, to appartments and fancy hotels. The sooner you book, the cheaper it will be. In some cases you might have free cancellation under certain conditions!
Booking.com
Image credits
- Faro beach. Photo by Jonny_Joka on Pixabay.
- Train Alfa Pendular. Photo by LuisFerreira4x4 on Pixabay.
- Estação de Entrecampos. Photo by Nuno Morão on Flickr.
- Map of Faro and its stations. Source: © OpenStreetMap.
- TAP airplane. Photo by Victor on Flickr.
- Road map from Lisbon to Faro. Source: © OpenStreetMap.
- Évora. Photo by Trapuzarra on Pixabay.
- Beja. Photo by Jose Losada - Fotografía on Flickr.
- Mértola. Photo by velodenz on Flickr.
- Tavira. Photo by ddzphoto on Pixabay.
- Santiago do Cacém. Photo by Rui Malheiro on Flickr.
- Vila Nova de Milfontes. Photo by DanielWanke on Pixabay.
- Odeceixe. Photo by Marlis Börger on Flickr.
- Sagres. Photo by Paul Gilmore on Unsplash.