Transportation in Portugal

Getting around Portugal is quite easy; there are plenty of options for those who might not wish to rent a car and drive. Ultimately public transportation services in Portugal are trustworthy and affordable! Rideshare options also provided below.

Uber or Bolt

Both Uber and Bolt are great rideshare options. You can download the apps on your phone.

Comboios de Portugal

Portugal has a large railway network that spans practically the whole country, making travel between the cities quite economical, extremely convenient, and oftentimes very scenic thanks to all the greenery we see when traveling from city to city. Trains connect famous tourist destinations including Lisbon, Faro, Lagos, Porto, and Figueira da Foz, while international links run to Paris and Madrid.

Regional (R): trains that stop at almost every station in Portugal

Interregional (IR): faster trains that skip the smallest stations

Intercidades (IC): express trains that tend to stop only in major cities

Alfa Pendular Deluxe: faster than express trains which can be pricier

TGV: high-speed train connecting Porto and Lisbon (wont be available until 2030)

Lisbon and Porto each have their own Suburbano (Suburban) railway systems. The Greater Lisbon network extends to Sintra, Cascais, Setúbal, and up the lower Tejo valley. Greater Porto's network stretches to Braga, Guimarães, and Aveiro. Suburbano services also run between Coimbra and Figueira da Foz.

Long-distance train tickets may be purchased online, at the official Comboios de Portugal website or at stations around Portugal. Tickets for Intercidades and Alfa Pendular are available up to 30 days in advance; however, you should have no constraints reserving for the following or even the same day. Other services must be reserved at least 24 hours in advance to guarantee a ticket.

Children under 5 can travel for free, and between the ages of 6 and 12 only pay half of the price. Additionally, senior travelers from 65 and upwards can get 50% off any service but must show ID. Comboios de Portugal

Buses of Portugal

If you wish to get to the smaller towns and villages that aren’t served by the rail network, you can book your tickets on the following transportation networks:

Rede Expressos: links the Algarve region to Lisbon, Porto, Barcelos, Braga and Arcos de Valdevez (https://rede-expressos.pt/pt)

Renex: serves the north of Portugal from Vila Real (https://rede-expressos.pt/pt) Rodonorte: serves the north of Portugal from Vila Real (https://www.rodonorte.pt/pt/) Eva Transportes: Algarve regional network, connecting its towns, and with Sevilla (Spain) along the routes (https://eva-bus.com/)

Frota Azul: gets you around the beach resorts in Portimão (https://www.barraqueirotransportes.pt/)

The bus services fall into 3 main categories:

Carreiras: daily buses routes with several stops

Expressos and Rápidas: comfortable and faster buses. Expressos run between major cities and Rápidas within specific regions

Alta Qualidade: a much faster category offered by some networks

PORTO - Metro/Subway

Metro fares are reasonable, with special tour tickets or 24-hour fares ranging from €6.45 to €7.00, available at ticket machines and from Metro operators. A day ticket allows more travel flexibility, especially on days of exploration.

Porto's metro has six lines serving over seven municipalities: Porto, Gondomar, Maia, Matosinhos, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, and Vila Nova de Gaia.

- Line A (Blue) connects Estádio do Dragão to Senhor Matosinhos, with a stop at the famous FC Porto stadium.

- Line B (Red) runs from Estádio do Dragão to Póvoa de Varzim, passing through busy city areas like Heroísmo and Trindade. Póvoa de Varzim, 30 km from Porto, is historically known for shipbuilding during the Age of Discovery.

- Line C (Green) connects Campanhã to ISMAI, the University of Maia. Campanhã, one of Porto's oldest areas, is known for its grand villas and palaces, once home to the Portuguese bourgeoisie.

- Line D (Yellow) runs from Hospital de São João to Santo Ovídio in Vila Nova de Gaia, home to Porto’s main hospital and famous for its port wine cellars, a popular tourist attraction.

- Line E (Purple) connects Trindade, a bustling area near hotels, shops, and restaurants, to Porto Airport, making it a convenient route for travelers.

- Line F (Orange) links Fânzeres in Gondomar to Senhora da Hora in Matosinhos, where you can find beautiful 18th-century architecture and NorteShopping, the second-largest mall in Portugal.

Each line offers access to key landmarks, ensuring a comprehensive transport network across Porto and surrounding areas.

PORTO - Metro/Subway

LISBON - Metro/Subway

Metro fares are reasonable, with special tour tickets or 24-hour fares ranging from €6.45 to €7.00, available at ticket machines and from Metro operators. A day ticket allows more travel flexibility, especially on days of exploration. The Lisbon Metro has four main lines, each distinguished by color and symbol:

- Linha Azul (Blue Line) has a seagull icon and runs from Santa Apolónia to Reboleira, connecting to railway stations Santa Apolónia and Sete Rios (via Jardim Zoológico). It passes through major areas like Terreiro do Paço, Marquês de Pombal (crossing with the Yellow Line), Jardim Zoológico, Colégio Militar, and Reboleira in Amadora.

- Linha Amarela (Yellow Line) features a sunflower icon and runs from Rato to Odivelas, connecting to Entrecampos station. It serves areas like Marquês de Pombal (crossing with the Blue Line), Saldanha, Campo Pequeno, and Odivelas in the northwest.

- Linha Verde (Green Line) has a caravel icon and runs from Cais do Sodré to Telheiras. It connects to the Cais do Sodré station, a hub for the Cascais train line and Lisbon buses and ferries. The Green Line serves downtown Lisbon hotspots such as Baixa-Chiado (crossing to the Blue Line), Rossio (with a railway connection), Intendente, and Roma-Areeiro, which connects to the Sintra & Azambuja railway lines.

- Linha Vermelha (Red Line) features a compass icon and runs from São Sebastião to Lisbon Airport. São Sebastião station is a key terminus, crossing between the Blue and Red Lines in the Avenidas Novas parish.

LISBON - Metro/Subway

Tram

All lines have the option of buying a ticket on board. The price is per ride, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re going one stop or all the way to the end. On most routes, you hand money to the driver as you board but on busy routes, the front of the tram can be very congested, making it difficult to deal with money & tickets as you board.

Buying onboard costs 2x as much as using a pre-purchased ticket/pass. To save time & hassle, go to a metro station, marked kiosk or post office ahead of time, and buy a day pass or preload a Viva Viagem pass.

In Lisbon, Tram 28 is the most famous, passing through iconic districts like Graça, Alfama, Baixa, and Lapa-Estrela, starting from Martim Moniz and ending at Campo de Ourique.

Tram 12 begins at Praça da Figueira in Baixa and travels to São Jorge Castle, offering a view of Lisbon’s landmarks.

Tram 18 departs from Cais do Sodré to Ajuda, where you can visit the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, a royal palace turned museum.

Tram 24 travels from Largo do Camões to Campolide, passing through the vibrant neighborhood of Príncipe Real, with its boutique shops, bars, and restaurants.

Tram 25 runs from Praça da Figueira to Campo de Ourique, passing through Santos and Lapa-Estrela, home to the Basílica da Estrela and the Museum of National Ancient Art.

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In Porto, vintage trams are also popular. There are three main lines, with fares costing €5 as of January 2024.

Linha 1 travels along the northern bank of the Douro River from Infante to Passeio Alegre in Foz do Douro, offering stunning views of the river.

Linha 18 connects Massarelos, home to the Tram Museum, to Carmo, near the University of Porto, passing through the UNESCO-listed historic downtown area.

Linha 22 starts at Carmo and Praça da Batalha, with connections to Porto Metro stations. Batalha Square is a bustling hub, featuring the Royal Theatre of São João, Cinema Batalha, and many cafes and restaurants.

Funiculars / Cable Cars

In Lisbon, there are three funiculars, also referred to as cable cars, lifts or elevators, that are considered national treasures, and help you get around the city of eights hills with the Gloria Elevator, Lavra Elevator, and Bica Elevator.

A one-time use ticket costs €3.80 (price in January 2024), directly at the funicular. There are also 24-hour tickets which can be purchased at metro stations, either through a ticket vending machine or via an operator. This option allows you to hop on and off as many times as you like on the metro, trams and buses.

The Gloria Funicular can be caught at Avenida da Liberdade, by Praça dos Restauradores taking you up to Bairro Alto, Príncipe Real neighbourhood, and witness amazing views of the city at the garden and lookout point of São Pedro de Alcântara.

Lavra Funicular connects Largo da Anunciada to Rua Câmara Pestana, in the parishes of Santo Antonio and Arroios; within proximity, you can visit Jardim do Torel to experience a public park with great water and city views, and the Campo Mártires da Pátria public park.

Lastly, the Bica Elevator connecting Rua de São Paulo with Calçada do Combro and Rua do Loreto; leading you to Bairro Alto, and Bica neighbourhoods, and best of all, the lookout point known as Miradouro de Santa Catarina, part of the eight hilltops or “Colinas” of Lisbon.

Pro Tip : Always enter from the front and exit at the rear.

Renting a Car

When renting a car in Portugal, you'll need the following documents:

Your driver’s license

ID (passport)

Credit card in your name

International Driver’s Permit (recommended)

The legal driving age is 18, but most rental companies require drivers to be at least 21 and to have held a license for at least one year. A valid driver’s license, ID, and credit card are mandatory for renting. Note that drivers under 25 may face extra fees.

An International Driver’s Permit (IDP) is not required for non-EU citizens with an English or Portuguese license but is recommended if you plan to drive in other European countries, as it’s required in some. The IDP costs about $15 and is valid for one year.

It's best to rent a small car unless you need extra space or plan to drive in the mountains, due to the size of the lanes. Portugal’s motorways have a 120km speed limit, while departmental roads have a 90km limit. In residential areas, the speed limit is 50km, often enforced by "velocidade controlada" traffic lights, which signal a reduction in speed when approaching urban zones.

Portugal's motorways include many toll roads, generally faster than smaller routes. The country uses an Electronic Toll payment system with no toll booths. Instead, an e-toll device (Via Verde transponder) is attached to the car’s windscreen and records toll usage. Rental companies offer the device for 1-2€ per day, linked to your credit card. Sometimes, a 50€ deposit is held for the device. Toll costs are around 1€ per 10 km, and the total amount is charged to your credit card after the rental. The transponder allows access to dedicated green lanes marked with the letter ‘V’.

The average cost of fuel is roughly about 2.04€ per liter (around 5€ per gallon). You can use the 1-2-3 Fuel app to find the cheapest gas stations along your route. Fuel options include diesel (gasóleo) and petrol 95/98 (gasolina sem chumbo). If you're unsure about which fuel to use, check the sticker on the car key, dashboard, or fuel door for guidance.