From Lisbon to the Algarve, how to move to reach a real paradise in Portugal where you can relax, surf and have fun. Here's how to get around, by bus, car, train or plane, read the post.
Lisbon. Every time I come back here I am fascinated. I always find it full of charm and tirelessly sly, sometimes strange, yet always as beautiful as the first time. If you have not yet been lucky enough to be able to walk in its splendid avenues, between tiled buildings and pleasantly furnished alleys with numerous and picturesque buildings, run to discover it. By doing this you will be able to say whether, for you too, it has turned out to be a magically European city.
Each glimpse of it is poetry but it does not necessarily have to be interpreted with melancholy. In fact, it is clear, from the first experiences in the center and beyond, how the Portuguese take drinking seriously, and in particular they love to have fun. Among your favorite drinks, you cannot fail to try the Jijina, Port wine and some local liqueurs still not so commercially famous. However excellent according to the interested party.
All the more reason it is impossible for me to avoid sipping a good Porto while leafing through the pages of J.Saramago's “Journey to Portugal” thanks to which reading takes up the flavors and smells of this fantastic territory. It is even more difficult to take leave of the Lisbon descriptions without using the words. Especially when he describes the end of his visit with the simple words “The traveler is about to end his tour of Lisbon. He saw a lot, he saw almost nothing. He wanted to see well, perhaps he saw badly: it is the constant risk of any trip ”.
To leave from Lisbon in the direction of the Algarve you will have to first evaluate with which means of transport you are most comfortable in travel. If your choice falls on public transport, the most used are the train and of coach. But you can also opt for motorcycles or cars if you prefer to travel freer without finding too much difficulty. In fact, the country has a good motorway network even if the Portuguese sometimes drive like crazy. The railway network is also considered good, which has recently been modernized thanks to a redevelopment program through EU funds.
As for myself, the choice was almost immediate, because, partly due to lack of desire, partly because I have a real passion for landscapes seen from a train window, I could not resist the charm of railways. In doing so, I was able to face a comfortable and moderately fast journey in complete relaxation.
If you opt for rail transport like me, you will find that the Portuguese lines are equipped with a high-speed network that connects Lisbon to the Algarve and simply by finding the nearest station you can ask you to indicate the times and place of departure of the trains. Or more you can also visit the railway website in this case: Comboios de Portugal.
Having said that from Lisbon you can find numerous connections with the cities of the Algarve also using the bus, of which you can find out timetables and departures simply by visiting these web addresses: Rede Expressos or, Eva Transportes.
But it is not so strange to also come across those who prefer the car. Vehicle that you can easily rent by browsing the offers of the many car rental agencies present with the same brands now all over Europe and which provide an excellent service by displacing themselves in an increasing number of city offices.
Distances, on the other hand, are not at all impossible when it comes to Portugal, considering the kilometers that separate Lisbon from Lagos they do not exceed by much of three hundred and fifty. By doing so, you will be comfortably seated in your rental car and you will be able to enjoy the landscape, take unforgettable photos and skim over little tourist villages without any difficulty.
But, if the distances are not sidereal, the same cannot be said of the road network which is not always modern and easy. I therefore advise against those who are less practical driving to tackle many kilometers by motorbike or car without having first carefully considered the routes to be tackled, because, sometimes the smaller cars can be unsuitable or slow down the movements a lot and scooters do not they are always the most suitable vehicle, even if of large displacement.
Having said that, if the most comfortable means for you is thecar or motorcycle it is possible to reach the south of Portugal and therefore also the Algarve via the A2 motorway connecting Lisbon to Faro (About 2 and a half hours, with toll). Once you arrive in Algoz then take the A22 (with electronic toll) towards Faro, if this is your destination or if you want to continue towards Spain. While if your destination is further west, take the exit signposted Portimao / Lagos, and you will find beaches, ocean, surf and the good life of the Algarve.
