From Lisbon to The Algarve Portugal – The Ultimate Guide for 2024

LOOKING TO TRAVEL TO THE ALGARVE FROM LISBON?

Lisbon and the Algarve are both points of interest on any trip to Portugal, so if you’re trying to figure out how to include them both and get from Lisbon to the Algarve, this post is for you. 

The long and short of it is that Lisbon to Algarve is a very doable trip. You have to decide how you want to make it, and ultimately, that will depend on your personal preferences.

Personally, I love traveling by train 🚆 in any country, but in Portugal, I find train travel really enjoyable. The trains generally run very close to schedule — plus they are clean, spacious, comfortable, and safe. 

But you could also opt to drive, take the bus, or even fly. Here are all the details you need to plan your trip from Lisbon to Algarve.

🤩 🌎 This means it’s quite a large area, 4,960 km² to be exact.

With it being so large, your trip there will depend on where you are going. Some spots are more easily accessible than others. Faro, for example, is well-connected, and you can get there on a direct bus connection from Lisbon.

On the other hand, if you want to go to the small city of Sagres, which is fairly remote, all the way out to the west, your journey will be longer, and if you’re using public transport, you’ll need to connect and change buses in Lagos.

To get to Lagos in the first place is an easy direct bus from Lisbon, which stops first in Lagoa and Portimao.  A few other popular destinations in the Algarve include Albufeira, Carvoeiro, and the Benagil Cave, located slightly west of central along the coast. If you’re coming by public transport, you’d need to make your way first to Lagoa before continuing on by bus.

Generally, how far is Lisbon from Algarve Portugal? The distance to Faro, a central city in the Algarve, is approximately 280 kilometers (about 174 miles). For Albufeira, another key location, it’s about 256 kilometers (159 miles) from Lisbon.

Lastly, the distance to Lagos, further west in the Algarve, is around 300 kilometers (186 miles). These distances are key considerations when planning to travel from Lisbon to Algarve Portugal.

But with the sea also comes seafood, fishermen — their history and the villages they have built and lived in over the years, diving, and resort towns full of nightlife and great dining. All of this makes the Algarve a great place for a vacation.

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

How to get From Lisbon to Algarve Portugal

‎🚗 From Lisbon to the Algarve: By Car 

Want to go from Lisbon to Algarve by car? The time it takes to get from Lisbon to the Algarve depends on where exactly you’re going. When going from Lisbon to the Algarve by car, the main road to take is the A2, and you’ll hit the Algarve in about two hours.

But the first population center you’ll hit is São Bartolomeu de Messines, which is another 15 minutes farther. From there, the first city you’ll hit is Albufeira, which is about two and a half hours from Lisbon. 

While the main route would bring you along the highway — and driving on the highways is the fastest and easiest way to make your way through Portugal — the drive from Lisbon to Algarve can also be an opportunity to see more of the coastline.

Going this way would be a slower trip, but you could stop in gorgeous coastal towns like Comporta, Melides, and Sines, to name just a few.

🚗 When Lisbon to Algarve driving, tolls are something you should consider. In Portugal, most motorways are toll roads designated as ‘A’ with blue signs. There are two primary systems for toll payments: traditional toll booths and camera-based systems. Learn more about Via Verde and the toll system. Learn more about tolls and Via Verde here.

For example, the drive from Lisbon to Lagos takes about three hours, while the drive from Lisbon to Albufeira takes about two and a half hours. If you want to head to Faro, the time is somewhere in between, about two hours and 45 minutes. 

🏖️ The Lisbon to Algarve coastal drive is beautiful, but it the trip to Faro would be more than five hours of driving.

Remember there are also one-way fees on rental cars, so if you don’t plan to drive back to Lisbon this can also increase your costs. 

🛣️ The road is also quite flat and straightforward, making the trip fairly simple to drive. However, if you stick to the coast rather than the main highway, you’ll pass by completely different scenery with endless ocean views. 

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

🚕 From Lisbon to the Algarve: By Private Transfer

Wondering, can I get a private transfer from Lisbon to the Algarve? Yes, absolutely – if you want to avoid making the drive yourself, there are plenty of options for private transfer.

You can also get a private transfer, which includes sightseeing along the way, and you’ll have the freedom to organize the trip exactly as you like.

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

🚌 From Lisbon to the Algarve: By Bus

The Lisbon to the Algarve bus options are plentiful — there are several direct bus connections from Lisbon to the Algarve. You can get a Rede Expressos bus from Sete Rios to Faro, Lagos, or Albufeira. There is also a Flixbus service from Oriente Station to Faro, Lagos, and Albufeira as well. 

Summer is the most in-demand season and, therefore, the highest pieces. Also, due to demand, book your tickets several weeks in advance during summer. Regardless, you’ll likely not spend more than about €20 on a one-way ticket. 

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

🚆 From Lisbon to the Algarve: By Train

The Alfa Pendular high-speed train from Lisbon to the Algarve is a great option for an easy, laid-back trip with great views. The Lisbon to Algarve train has great onboard amenities, such as complimentary Wi-Fi, comfortable seats, and faster travel times.

The Algarve train ride takes around 4 hours and stops in 13 places. Once you pass into the Algarve, you can get off at five destinations: Messines-Alte, Tunes, Albufeira, Loule, and Faro. 

Messines is a large town in rural Algarve with some nice wineries nearby. Tunes is a small village not far from the Castle of Paderne.

If you get off at the train from Lisbon to Albufeira stop, remember that the train station is not centrally located but is about 7 km (4 mi) north of the city, so you’ll need to order an Uber or get a taxi or bus into town. The Uber will probably cost you from €7 (significantly more in high season).

You’d have a similar situation in Loule, with the train station about the same distance to the south of town. Faro station, on the other hand, is right on the edge of town, so you can get to most places in the city on foot. 

Is there a direct train to other places like Lisbon to Portimao train stop? No. You’ll have to get off at one of these four stops and take a local bus or train to your final destination.

Oriente is northeast of central Lisbon, close to the river. You can get directly to the station on the red metro line. Sete Rios is near the zoo, in the northwest part of the city. You can get there on the blue line. Entrecampos is quite central in the Campo Pequeno neighborhood. You can get there on the yellow metro line.

So, is there a train from Lisbon to Algarve? Absolutely. Is there a train from Lisbon to Faro? Yup! Is the train from Lisbon to Algarve scenic? It can be. And finally, if you are still wondering how far is Algarve from Lisbon by train, it really depends on where you want to go.

Lisbon to the Algarve by train prices are the same whether you buy each way individually or as a round trip. You can buy train tickets here.

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

‎⛵ From Lisbon to the Algarve: By Boat

When exploring ways to travel from Lisbon to the Algarve, going from Lisbon to Algarve by boat stands out as a unique and luxurious choice.

There aren’t any ferry services for this route, so chartering a private boat is your only option. The best part? 🛥️ It offers a bespoke travel experience.

This method captures the beauty of the Portuguese coastline and offers unparalleled freedom to select your own stops. When considering Lisbon to the Algarve by boat, a private charter transforms the journey into an exclusive adventure, where you choose each stop and vista, making for a truly memorable voyage.

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

‎✈️ From Lisbon to the Algarve: By Plane

There is only one airport in the Algarve — in Faro. The airport is international and has a decent number of flights coming in every day.

While the flight time from Lisbon airport to Faro airport is short, it is, of course, important to keep in mind the time needed to arrive at the airport. Even considering this, a flight may be the fastest way to get from Lisbon to Faro if speed is your top priority.

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

However, if you are short on time, this can be a great way to see more of Portugal than just Lisbon. You could do the trip self-guided or head out on an organized tour. You can also go on this 2-day Lisbon to Algarve experience if you’d like to spend more time in the Algarve.

A Lisbon to Algarve road trip usually allows for 10 – 12 hour days for this type of trip, so you’d probably want to consider similar timing if you DIY a Lisbon to Algarve tour.

The Algarve is renowned for its stunning beaches, charming towns, and beautiful landscapes, deserving at least a few days for exploration. However, if you’re short on time, organized day tours can give you a glimpse of this picturesque area.

While it will be quick, you can still see a lot in a day — exploring Lagos, the beaches, the caves around it, and having time to get on a boat and pause on the beaches is not out of the question on a day trip. 

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

How do you get around in the Algarve?

The Algarve is a large region covering all of southern Portugal, and there is much to see within it. You probably won’t want to spend all your time in just one spot. The easiest way to get around without time constraints is by hiring your own car and driving yourself.

I always recommend looking and comparing car rental prices on RentalCars.com or Discover Cars. The prices can be as low as about €10 per day, but you’ll also need to consider petrol costs — and those can be high.

💰⛽ Remember, when you see prices listed at gas stations, they are in liters. 

If you’re not comfortable or don’t want to drive yourself around, there are Ubers in the area, as well as the European equivalent — Bolt. I always recommend having both apps and comparing the prices between them. As an example of what you might expect to pay for an Uber ride, a trip from Faro to Albufeira (45 km away) is around €30 without surge pricing.

🚗💨 You can also book a private transfer. For a pre-booked taxi, you’re looking at a similar price to an Uber ride, but if you need a larger vehicle for more people or luggage, a private transfer may be more economical than an Uber. Faro Airport Transfer, for example, offers a van from Faro to Albufeira for up to eight people for under €50, while an Uber of that size will likely cost over €60.

🚌 There are also public transportation options, though the more off-the-beaten trail you want to get, the fewer and farther between these will become. Alsa runs buses. And as an example their local bus from Faro to Albufeira takes about 45 minutes with one stop along the way and costs €15.

🚆 The trains are run by CP, and the regional train ride from Faro to Albufeira costs just €3.40 on the train and takes around 30 minutes. 

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

Lisbon to Algarve: Frequently Asked Questions 

LISBON TO THE ALGARVE

If you want just to hit the highlights and also plan to go elsewhere in Portugal, you could spend as little as three days in the Algarve and see the main points of interest.

LISBON TO ALGARVE

There are many options, like the Lisbon to Faro train, and the best will depend on your budget and how quickly you want to get there or if you’d like to have the freedom to make stops along the way.

LISBON TO ALGARVE

Final Thoughts: Lisbon to The Algarve  

Ready for a Lisbon Algarve road trip? Getting from Lisbon to Algarve is not only doable, it can be a really enjoyable trip. Whether you’re considering driving Lisbon to Algarve for a scenic journey through diverse landscapes or taking the Lisbon to the Algarve train for a more relaxed experience, many options suit your travel style.

The journey is as important as the destination; both offer plenty to see and do. From the reverse route of Algarve to Lisbon, understanding how far is Algarve from Lisbon to opting for the Lisbon to Algarve Portugal train for a unique travel experience, or choosing a Lisbon to Algarve flight for speed and convenience, each option presents its own advantages.

Whether you prefer more countryside views or coastal vistas, it’s all on offer. Enjoy every moment of your trip, as both Lisbon and the Algarve have a lot to offer