Help – Trains in Portugal?

Mr_P_5

Hi,

Hope someone can help. I am going to stay in Lagos next week and my in-laws are also staying in Portugal – Tavira. As it is a long way I’m thinking of going by train. Does anybody know how easy it is to get from Lagos to Tavira is by train? How long it takes? And how much it will cost?

Any info appreciated!

Thanks

lauranurse

Hi

We stayed in Lagos a couple of years ago, but Im not sure where Tavira is!

I just wanted to say that it is very easy to get the train from Lagos, it is a staffed station and has a computer terminal to look up destinations etc. I think it was quite cheap, we got the train a few times to nearby places such as Portimao, Albufeira and it was very easy. The trains are a bit older than what we are used to in this country though!

Mr_P_5

Travira is the other side of Faro so quite a distance to drive. looking on the net seems like you change trains in Faro.. just wondered if anyone has done it and knows how long it takes and how much it is?

thanks

pcg2001

Yes, Lagos is on the western corner of the Algarve and Tavira is on the eastern corner.

I've looked at the portuguese train company: www.cp.pt there is an english option.

The timetable you are looking for is this one:
http://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Imagens/PDF/Passageiros/horarios/regionais_2007/vrantonio_lagos.pdf

It is about 1h40 hours from Lagos to Faro (main town in the Algarve), and there you need to change to another train and it takes about 40 minutes to Tavira. This is a local stopping service. Very local. I haven't been able to see the price. Will update.

It is 113 kms from Lagos to Tavira and it should take about 1h20 driving to get there.

Here is a map I hope can help you see the distance.

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/Itineraires?strStartCityCountry=669&strStartAddress=&strStartMerged=lagos&strDestCityCountry=669&strDestAddress=&strDestMerged=tavira&choiceType=1&x=30&y=10&ie=UTF-8

If it doesn't work just input both cities.

I would advise you to rent a car and do this distance. It is mostly a motorway for 100 kms. You can also travel a bit and visit a bit of Portugal off the beaten path. You can take your inlaws for lunh some place nice (look at the suggestion in Cabanas near Tavira).

I should add I love Tavira. I believe it is one of the less touristy beaches in Portugal. You have to take a small boat to cross to the beaches. It is huge there and not very crowded. Do check out Cabanas, which is a quaint little fisherman village, with a great restaurant (Pedro something!!) and the beach in August seems almost deserted. So wonderful to get away from the crowds.

pcg2001

The train is:

Lagos - Faro €6.15 single

Faro - Tavira: €2.30 single

pcg2001

I'm Portuguese, though I only know the Algarve as a tourist myself, but feel free to ask if you need any more help. I will do my best to help.

Mr_P_5

Hi Thanks For that... really useful! i will have a car but was debating training it as might be easier and more relaxing than having to drive all that way... failing that we may meet them half way but thought might be easier to meet them were they are staying as its there last day! also does sound a nice place!

so would you drive rather than train? guess it would be a lot cheaper!

pcg2001

Mr_P wrote: »

Hi Thanks For that... really useful! i will have a car but was debating training it as might be easier and more relaxing than having to drive all that way... failing that we may meet them half way but thought might be easier to meet them were they are staying as its there last day! also does sound a nice place!

so would you drive rather than train? guess it would be a lot cheaper!

Yes, I would definitely drive. Trains are not as used in Portugal as here in the UK, where commuting is often by train. We normally drive everywhere. If you notice in viamichelin or any journey planning site, the Algarve has a motorway from one side to the other. You can easily leave a coastal town like Lagos, catch the motorway and 100 kms afterwards you will see the exit for Tavira. It is still free to use the motorway!!

Tavira is a very nice town by a river with nice restaurants. It's much quieter than the rest of the algarve. So my advise would be for you to meet your ILs there and have a look around. Also, that area of the Algarve is warmer, and by that I mean more mediterranean. From my experience the sea in Lagos is relatively cold. It is the atlantic ocean after all!! But closer to Spain the weather feels more mediterranean.

Also, you might want to check out some beaches nearby for a future trip If you like quiet beaches, do check out Cabanas. The village is nothing special, but taking the boat to the other side and seeing the dunes and a vast beach with few people can make for a lovely afternoon!! The restaurant I suggested in Cabanas was a wonderful surprise, since you normally find slightly expensive and not-so-good quality resturants catered to tourists. That one feels like a more traditional portuguese restaurnat, where the portions are huge, the food tasty and the fish extremely fresh. I lovely the seafood bean casserole (feijoada de marisco).

I understand the beach in Tavira is also nice, and you also need to take the boat. But even though we stayed in Tavira, our hotel was a bit off the centre and since we had the car, we would always drive to Cabanas.

Having said this, Lagos is beautiful. I love the pedestrian centre.

With both these towns Lagos and Tavira you are seeing the quaintest places in the Algarve. Vila Real Santo Ant!nio, Faro, Loul! are also old town with nice pedestrian areas, but are slightly less pretty. The rest of the Algarve is a bit more "Benidorm" style. Being in Lagos, I would advise you to drive west to the Alentejo coast. Some beaches there are only accessible by foot and it often feels good to get away from the masses of tourists!!

Hope both you and your ILs enjoy yourselves. Do try the local fish specialities like Cataplana, mixed grills, bean casseroles with squid or seafood (feijoada de lulas/ chocos, feijoada marisco), seafood kebabs (espetada de marisco), and simply grilled sardines with grilled pepper (just seasoned with salt - delicious!)!! Let me know how you get on!!