Portugal Getting There & Away

Getting There & Away

Air

Portugal's national airline is TAP Air Portugal (TP). For free advice on air travel from the UK call the Air Travel Advisory Bureau on (0171) 636 5000 (London) or (0161) 833 200 (Manchester). Other airlines flying directly to Portugal from the UK are British Airways, Portugalia, Easy Jet, FlyGlobespan, BMI, Jet2 and Monarch. Low cost companies tend to fly only to Faro and some of them only during holidays period.

Approximate flight times

From Lisbon to London is 2 hours 30 minutes and to New York is 8 hours.

International airports:

Lisbon (LIS) (Portela de Sacavem) (Web site: http://www.anaep.pt/lisboa) is 7km (4.5 miles) north of the city (travel time – 35 minutes). Greenline Bus nos. 44 45 and 83 runs every 15 minutes from 0530-0100 to the city centre and main railway station. A special 'Airbus' departs to the city centre every 20 minutes. Taxi services to the city are available with a surcharge after 2200. Airport facilities include 24-hour bureau de change tourist information (0600-0200) duty-free shops (0700-0130) and car hire ( Avis Eurodollar Inter-Rent and Hertz ).

Faro (FAO) (Web site: http://www.anaep.pt/faro) is 4km (3 miles) west of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Bus nos. 17 and 18 go to the city; taxis are available.

Oporto (OPO) (Oporto Sá Carneiro) (Web site: http://www.anaep.pt/porto) is 11km (about 7 miles) from the city. Taxis to the city are available.

Lisbon Faro and Oporto airports all have the following airport facilities: outgoing duty-free shop; bank/bureau de change (open normal banking hours); car hire and a restaurant/bar.

Sea

The principal ports for international passengers are Lisbon, Leixões (Oporto), Funchal (Madeira) and Portimão (Algarve) served by P&O Union Castle Olympia Linea C Cunard and Italia. For details contact shipping lines.

Rail

There is a daily service between London Paris and Lisbon taking approximately 26 hours. The 'Sud-Express' runs between Paris and Lisbon offering first- and second-class seats sleepers and a restaurant car. Inter-Rail is valid in Portugal.

Road

The only land border is shared with Spain and there are seven frontier posts in the north and six on the western and southern border. Border posts are usually open 0700-2400 but close earlier in winter. Ferries from the UK (Plymouth) to Santander in northern Spain obviate the need to drive through Spain. Cars can be imported for up to six months. For information on documentation and regulations see the Travel - Internal section.