Helpful Travel Information for Portugal

Portugal Bike Tour
The DuVine Portugal tour starts in Lisbon. We recommend arriving in Lisbon at least one day pre-tour to relax and enjoy this lively city. Your guides will meet you outside of our recommended downtown hotel around 9:00AM to transfer you out of the city. At the end of the tour you will depart the Alentejo for Lisbon for a mid-afternoon arrival between 11 - 12 pm. You can book flights via our Air Consolidator link located on our website under Planning your Trip / Getting There. If you have any questions about your travel arrangements, we will be happy to assist you. Please feel free to call your DuVine Tour Coordinator at 888-396-5383.

GETTING TO LISBON
 
By car

Travellers can get to Lisbon from six main highways. The A2 is the main route from the south, and from the east, the A6 provides access from Madrid and Evora. There are two bridge options from the A2: the 25 de Abril Bridge, which attracts a lot of commuter traffic during rush hours; and the Vasco da Gama Bridge, which is the longest bridge in Europe. The latter has fewer traffic problems, is much more convenient for getting to the airport and northern areas of Lisbon, though it should be noted that the toll charge is a bit more expensive.

Arriving from the north, take the A1 highway, which links Lisbon to Fátima, Coimbra and Oporto as well as the airport. The A8 is another option from the north, serving Torres Vedras, Caldas da Rainha and Leiria. From the west, take the A5 from Estoril and Cascais, or highway IC19 from the suburbs and Sintra.

Three ring roads serve Lisbon: the 2A circular, which connects the A1 to the IC19; the CRIL IC17 (still under construction), linking the Vasco da Gama Bridge with the A1 and A8; and the CREL A9, connecting the A1 with the A8, IC19 and the A5.

By rail

Train travel within Portugal and Lisbon is pleasant and reliable. Two major train stations serve central Lisbon: Santa Apolónia and Orient Station, and three others handle services to the outer areas. The national rail service provider is Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses. All Portuguese train lines connect with services to Lisbon and Porto. Overnight trains are available to connect travellers with Paris, a 19-hour journey, and Madrid, a 10-hour journey.

By bus

The main bus station is located near Saldanha metro terminal, on Avenida Casal Ribeiro, and this is primarily where international bus services arrive and depart from. Inter-Centro runs buses from points in the UK, France and Spain. Rede Nacional de Expressos offers coach services to several destinations within Portugal.

By air

Lisbon - Portela International Airport is a single-terminal facility, split into domestic and international areas, and is easy and quick to get around. Despite appearances, it is nevertheless a major continental hub and one of the largest airports in southern Europe, handling 10 million passengers and 81,000 tonnes of cargo annually.

The airport itself is situated within the city, just seven kilometers north of the urban centre. Two national carriers utilize Portela Airport as their hub: TAP Portugal and Portugalia. In addition, the airport services flights with several major carriers such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Alitalia and Air France and handles flights between major international destinations across the world including London, New York, Sydney, Los Angeles and Toronto as well as several daily scheduled flights between major European cities.

The airport has been undergoing major renovations and expansions, and now has good amenities and facilities such as ATMs, banking services, money changers, duty-free and retail shopping, dining options and car rental outlets. The airport also offers six business stations including those offered by airlines, which feature fax and internet services as well as telephones, computers and photocopiers.

Getting from the Airport to Downtown Lisbon

Ground transportation from Lisbon airport is plentiful and the ride into the city centre is short.

Bus transport to the city centre is available on the Aerobus line 91, with services departing every 20 minutes, while city bus lines 5, 8, 22, 44, 45 and 83 offer alternative services.

Taxis are also readily available outside the terminal, although travelers should note that an extra charge applies for each item of luggage; we recommend therefore, you use taxis that have their rates posted. Inside the airport terminal, you can purchase vouchers for taxis, which are good for anywhere in Lisbon and are inclusive of the luggage charge.  Vouchers may cost slightly more than if you were to bargain hard for your fare directly, but given the current economic times, they can be a wise purchase in light of a rise in dishonest taxi drivers, and offer peace of mind.

Car hire is also available from within the terminal, with many major car rental companies operating booths. We recommend that reservations be made and negotiated before arriving in Lisbon to be sure of securing better tariffs and availability.