I am flying to Lisbon in late October to visit a friend who lives in Tavira. I will not have a car. I am trying to decide how to get to Tavira and back to Lisbon. Questions:
1) My friend can come and meet me in Faro. Is there a direct way to Tavira, or will I have to change buses or trains in any case? She does not have a car either.
2) If I decide to fly, I am thinking I may miss some lovely countryside? I was on the Rick Steves tour this past spring, and it did include a day trip to the Alentejo, but was otherwise north.
3) Do the budget airlines use the same airport outside Lisbon as the international flights come into?
4) Is there an easy way to get from Oriente traion station to downtown?
5) How reliable/safe is Uber in Portugal?
Thank you!
Posted by
San Francisco
191 posts
Can only speak to question 5 and only in Lisbon. We found Uber to be reliable and reasonable and a quicker alternative to the metro and trams when time was at a premium.
Posted by
Paris
7312 posts
1) Tavira has a train station (several, actually!). Change trains in Faro. It is not a big station, so should be no trouble.
2) Do not fly, it does not make sense to fly to Faro when the train takes 3 hours.
3) See 2), but for now there is only one airport in Lisbon
4) You can take a local train to Santa Apolónia (convenient if your destination is the Alfama, and if I remember correctly it is free with your intercity ticket from Faro, but please check), or the metro, or a taxi/Uber
Posted by
OP
Charlottesville, VA, USA
24 posts
Thank you for these responses. Very helpful!
Posted by
7 posts
We have just returned from another Portugal adventure, this time for 5 weeks, using all public transportation. The CP train system is easy to navigate, and very inexpensive. Even better rates when purchasing tickets online ahead of time. Their phone app is easy to use. We traveled Portugal from Porto to the Algarve via trains. The trains travel very fast, so sometimes viewing scenery is a blur, but it is amazing to see the countryside, the cork tree groves, vineyards, and olive trees. I love the stork nests. Answering # 4, the metro station is directly below the train stain at Oriente. You can watch youtube videos on how to purchase a viva card and add the fare, or there is always an employee nearby to advise. There is one transfer to a different line to get downtown. Super easy. #5- we have used Uber many times in Portugal and it has always been inexpensive, fast, and fun. We have met some amazing drivers and have had wonderful conversations. Would highly recommend Uber, but not in Lisbon. We found it difficult to coordinate with drivers, because of the terrain. If you ever find yourself lost or confused, the Portuguese people will step in and help. I had someone find me on a train to let me know it was time to get off, she really went out of her way to do that. Others helped us on the buses and metro. Enjoy your trip!