Albufeira is the largest and most lively resort town in the Algarve. The town boasts glorious beaches, buzzing nightlife and Portuguese charm, which makes for a thrilling holiday destination.

Lisbon is the vibrant capital city of Portugal, and is also home to the country’s main international airport.

There are many options for travel between Albufeira and Lisbon, including express trains, intercity coach services, or by car along the A2 expressway. The best method of travel for you will depend on your budget, the standard of comfort you’d prefer and whether you want to have a car in Lisbon.

In our opinion, the best way to travel from Lisbon to Albufeira is by the express train, which takes 3 hours 9 mins and costs €28.45. The only downside is that Albufeira station is in the village of Ferreiras, a long way from Albufeira town centre.

This article will provide a high-level guide on how best to travel from Lisbon to Albufeira, as well as links to relevant transport companies and useful travel advice.
Related articles: Lisbon guide – Albufeira guide

The are many options for travelling between Lisbon and Albufeira, which include:

Private transfer – The fastest and most convenient way to travel between Albufeira and Lisbon, however it is also the most expensive. This may be a good option if you are travelling as a group of four.

 

 

Driving along the A2 expressways – The quickest driving route follows the A2 expressway north/south as it cuts through the centre of the Alentejo region. The route is 255km long and takes just 2 hours and 20 minutes to drive, but the tolls are expensive at €22.40. The A2 is a very dull driving route that passes through the interior of Portugal, with no interesting sights or detours along the way.

Driving along the Alentejo coastline (N120) – This is a much more scenic driving route, but expect it to take at least 100 minutes longer than using the A2 expressway. The route mostly follows the N120, which is toll-free but slower due to its single-carriageway roads. Depending on your route, you may need to pay tolls on the A2 around Lisbon and on the A22 in the Algarve.

Warning: If travelling by car, please be aware of tolls and how to pay them. Details are provided at the end of this guide. The company that manages the roads has recently discovered that foreign tourists are a great source of funds and is quick to issue fines – it has even been sending out fines from 5 years ago!

Train travel – The most comfortable way to travel between Lisbon and Albufeira is by train. Albufeira lies on the main north-south express train route and the journey takes just 3 hours 9 mins, with fares starting from €28.45 for an adult ticket. The inconvenience of the train is that the station is in the village of Ferreiras, 7km to the north of Albufeira. For this journey you will need to make an additional journey by taxi (€10 to €12), Uber/bolt (€6 to €9) or bus (€1.70). The national train company of Portugal is Comboios de Portugal (CP), and full details are provided in later sections.

Bus - Rede Expressos – Rede Expressos is the main intercity bus company of Portugal, providing direct services between Albufeira and Lisbon. Bus travel is much cheaper than train (typical bus fare is between €10 and €25), and journeys are fast, with few stops. The fastest bus service takes just 2 hours 45 mins, only 20 minutes longer than by car.

Bus, Flixbus – This low-cost bus company has driven down the price of coach travel in Portugal. FlixBus is the best option if you are a budget traveller, with fares as low as €3.50 if booked far enough in advance. The downside is that its buses are always packed during the summer. (Note: Flixbus do not depart from Albufeira’s bus station, but from the bus stop on the Avenida da Liberdade.)

 

 

Advice: Whichever option you choose, it always makes sense to book directly with the transport company, instead of third-party ticket resellers. Buying directly will reduce booking fees and ensure each company is more accommodating if there are issues. Links to their websites are:
Comboios de Portugal - www.cp.pt
Rede Expressos - rede-expressos.pt
Flixbus - FlixBus

Intercity coach travel in Portugal is safe and comfortable, and both Flixbus and Rede Expressos use modern coaches.

Bus and train travel is very comparable when travelling between Lisbon and Albufeira. The main difference is that the train is more comfortable - and is also more expensive.

Public transport is exceptionally good value in Portugal; two adult train fares from Lisbon to Albufeira costs approximately the same as the tolls and fuel when driving.

When travelling from Lisbon to Albufeira, we’d choose the train, as it is more spacious and comfortable. If you are a budget-conscious traveller you should take FlixBus, as this is the cheapest option.

 

 

Insight: We never recommend hiring a car for the journey from Albufeira to Lisbon. Driving in the Algarve is easy and relaxing, but in Lisbon it is extremely challenging, with heavy traffic, confusing road layouts, erratic drivers and limited parking. A car is useful in the Algarve, but not for your time in Lisbon. If you want a car for the Algarve, we would suggest taking public transport from Lisbon to Albufeira and hiring a car there.

The Intercidades (intercity) train to Albufeira pulling into Oriente in Lisbon

If you take just one thing from this article, it should be to book your tickets (for both the train and bus) well in advance of your journey. Booking beforehand will not only save you money, but also secures your seats, as popular services will sell out in the peak season.

The intercity train between Lisbon and Tunes has only a limited number of seats, and once they are all sold there will be no more tickets available. There is no standing allowed on the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades services to/from Lisbon.

Buses between Lisbon and the Algarve can get extremely busy during the summer, and popular services - such as on Friday evenings and at weekends - will sell out.

Both FlixBus and Rede Expressos use dynamic pricing, where seats purchased well in advance or on low-demand services will be inexpensive. Tickets purchased last minute or on popular routes will cost significantly more. FlixBus is usually cheaper than Rede Expressos during the summer, but it is always worth checking both websites.

The following sections explain train and bus travel in depth, including station information.

The Albufeira to Lisbon railway is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP), the national train company of Portugal.

There are two types of train that run between Lisbon and Albufeira: the Alfa Pendular (AP) and the Intercidades (IC) - intercity. The Alfa Pendular is the more modern train, with a slightly faster route, while the Intercidades is marginally cheaper. An adult single on the Intercidades costs €22.50, while the Alfa Pendular costs €24.

There are reductions for children (50% discount), under 25s (25% discount), seniors 65+ (50% discount) or when buying a return ticket (10% reduction). These age-related discounts can be applied during the ‘options’ stage of the online booking process. If using any age-based discount, always travel with valid ID to prove your age.

Train tickets must be pre-booked, as each ticket is for a designated a seat and the number of seats is limited. The latest timetable for services between Lisbon and Albufeira can be seen on the CP website:
www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/horarios/longo-curso/comboio-porto-lisboa-faro-lagos-v.r.s.antonio.pdf
(The link opens a PDF, which may be downloaded on mobile phones)
To purchase tickets use the CP website: www.cp.pt/

Warning: Popular summer services do sell out. It is not advisable just to turn up at the station shortly before the departure time and hope that there are still seats available for the express train.

Insight: There is often lots of confusion when the train arrives as to which carriage your seats are in. On your ticket, you will see the word ‘Carruagen’ (carriage) and ‘Lugar’ (seat number). The carriage number will be displayed on a small sign close to each carriage door. For example, the carriage number ‘21’ will represent the first carriage of second class – and doesn’t mean that there are 21 carriages!

Alfa Pendular (AP) is the express train network of Portugal

All trains to Albufeira depart Lisbon from the Estação do Oriente.

Oriente station is situated to the northeast of Lisbon in the Parque das Nações district, GPS: 38.767, -9.099 (link to Google Maps). The Estação do Oriente is connected to the red metro line, which also serves the airport.

Oriente is a busy transport interchange with metro, bus and train stations, but it is easy to navigate, with clear signage and plenty of lifts. Opposite the station is the modern Vasco da Gama shopping centre, where there are numerous restaurants and cafes.

Albufeira train station is based in the village of Ferreiras, 7km to the north of Albufeira GPS: 37.128, -8.233. This is a small train station, with just two platforms and a ticket office. Outside of the station are a couple of cafes and not much else.

The best way to travel between Albufeira and Ferreiras is to take a taxi or use a ride-hailing service (such as Uber or Bolt). The journey will cost between €6 and €9 with Uber/Bolt or €10 to €12 in a taxi. The station is served by the number 5 and 11 bus routes operated by Vamus. The number 11 route connects the station to the Avenida Liberdade and the centre of Albufeira, but neither route goes close to the New Town or Santa Eulália areas. Full details can be seen on the Vamus website:
vamusalgarve.pt/#/pt/albufeira/schedules.

Insider tip: There can be very high demand for Uber/Bolt in the summer. If travelling from Lisbon, book your Uber/Bolt as soon as you exit the train at Albufeira to be ahead of all the other passengers who will also be booking transfers.

Insight: It is a large step down from the carriage to the station at Albufeira. If you have mobility issues or are travelling with young children, it is advisable to chat with the guard if help or extra time is needed.
Related articles: Estação do Oriente

There are two daily train services between Albufeira and Porto. These are the Alfa Pendular (AP) services that leave early in the morning and early in the evening. The Albufeira to Porto journey takes 5 hours and 27 minutes, and tickets for this service cost €76.50/€56.40 (2nd/1st class).

The train is the recommended means of travel for such long distances, and the latest timetable can be seen on the CP website: www.cp.pt/

You may not have considered Porto as part of your holiday, but it is a fascinating city that is equally as good as Lisbon.Related articles: The Algarve to Porto - Porto guide

Bus travel in Portugal is safe and inexpensive, with the coaches used by Rede Expressos and FlixBus being both smart and modern.

Rede Expressos is the main inter-city bus company of Portugal, covering many routes throughout the country. It is a conglomerate of many smaller bus companies, and the Lisbon to Lagos service may be provided by Renex, Mundial Turismo, or Rede Expressos.

FlixBus is a low-cost bus company that provides services along many of the more popular routes in the country. Since it started operating, the price of bus travel has significantly fallen and is now much cheaper than train travel.

FlixBus services will be cheaper when booked in advance, but its services will sell out during popular times. Also, expect FlixBus services to be much busier than the Rede Expressos equivalent.
Rede Expressos - rede-expressos.pt/
Flixbus - FlixBus

Both bus companies use dynamic pricing, with the cost of the ticket increasing closer to the departure time and with demand.

Flixbus in Oriente bus station

The majority of Rede Expressos buses depart Lisbon from the Sete Rios bus station (GPS: 38.741, -9.166), which is Lisbon’s main bus station. It is located on the blue metro line and is connected to the Jardim Zoológico metro station.

FlixBus departs from the Estação do Oriente bus station (GPS: 38.767, -9.099), which is connected to the train station. This is in the Parque das Nações district and is connected to the red metro line by the Oriente metro station.

Advice: Always check your ticket for the departure location, especially when travelling with Rede Expressos buses. Sete Rios bus station is often full to capacity, and services may depart from Oriente, where there is more space.

Both Sete Rios and Estação do Oriente are large and modern bus stations with late-closing ticket offices and generally good facilities. Lisbon bus stations are safe, but be sure to use common sense when passing through, as pick-pockets are always on the search for easy opportunities.
Related articles: Sete Rios bus station

Sete Rios bus station in Lisbon

In Albufeira, Rede Expressos buses depart from the Terminal Rodoviário de Albufeira (GPS 37.098, -8.245), which is inconveniently located to the north of the town. From the bus station, it is a 1.8km walk to the centre of the Old Town or 2.7km to The Strip – for this journey, you’ll probably want to take a taxi or Uber/Bolt.

FlixBus reduces its costs by not departing from conventional bus stations, and this is true in Albufeira. The FlixBus stop is in the Avenida da Liberdade (GPS: 37.091, -8.254), which is to the north-west of the Old Town of Albufeira. This is about 3km from The Strip (the heart of the new town), and you will want to take a taxi, Uber or Bolt for this journey.
Insight: Always confirm the departure location for your FlixBus journey, which will be shown on the website.

The FlixBus bus stop in Albufeira

The journey from Lisbon to Albufeira follows the A2 expressway. This road has tolls, and the cost will be €25.70, almost the same as the cost of a train ticket.

The tolls are paid through the Via Verde transponder, which you should ask for if you are renting a car in Portugal. Full details are provided on their website:
visitors.viaverde.pt

If you are planning on driving a foreign registered car, please see this website:
www.portugaltolls.com/

It is highly recommended to have a Via Verde transponder while driving in Portugal, as many expressways only have automatic toll collection. To estimate the cost of tolls in Portugal, use the website:
https://portagens.infraestruturasdeportugal.pt/

The A2 is a very boring drive through the interior of the Alentejo region. There are no noteworthy towns or sights along the route.

The coastal route along the N120 is much more scenic, but it is a single carriageway that meanders through the countryside and will take much longer. Along the N120, pretty towns and villages include:
Odeceixe – A small village in a region of pristine and dramatic beaches.
Zambujeira do Mar – Small village perched on the top of cliffs that overlook a beautiful beach.
Vila Nova de Milfontes – A traditional beach town, and a fantastic location from which to explore the Alentejo coastline..
Porto Covo – A pretty coastal village
Sines – A historic port city, but sadly it is very industrial, with a massive oil refinery and docks.

Do you need a car for Lisbon?
Having a car in Albufeira is great for exploring and discovering hard-to-reach beaches or villages, but in Lisbon it can be a hindrance. Lisbon has excellent public transport options, and the ride-hailing apps (such as Uber or Bolt) are inexpensive for private travel. Driving in Lisbon can be very demanding, with heavy traffic, erratic driving and severely limited car parking.

We would recommend having a car for Albufeira, but there is no need for one in Lisbon.

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