Buses to + in Portugal
Bus Travel to Portugal
From the UK, Flixbus (previously Eurolines) - offer return fares to Lisbon via Coimbra, changing in Paris from London's Victoria coach station. There are also bus services to Porto, Lagos via Faro and Viana do Castelo. There are five buses a week to Lisbon from Paris and services to other destinations in Portugal.
Flixbus' routes stretch from Scandinavia to Central Europe to North Africa and journeys to Portugal can be booked in many European cities. The company has main offices in Lisbon (Tel: 218 957 398), Porto (Tel: 225 189 303) and Braganca (Tel: 273 327 122).
Busabout provides tickets in increments of 2, 3 or four weeks for most European cities on its hop-on hop-off network. Busabout also offers Flexipasses allowing various days' travel within a set period and its main routes into Portugal are to Lisbon and Lagos in the Algarve from many European cities. There are reductions for passengers under 26.
There are a variety of bus options from Spain into Portugal from Madrid, Sevilla and Granada with Eurolines and Busabout or with local operators: Avanza, Alsa (Spain) & Eva (Portugal).
Eva runs buses from Lagos-Sevilla via Huelva picking up in the main towns of the Algarve: Faro, Albufeira, Tavira. Eva offers a 3-day and 7-day bus pass for the Algarve. There is a Lisbon to Sevilla bus operated by Eva and Damas that leaves Lisbon at 10.30 am arriving in Sevilla at 8.15 pm (Spanish time).
Alsa (an affiliate of National Express) runs buses to Porto via Guarda and to Lisbon from Madrid (journey times are around 8-9 hours depending on the time of departure) and via Badajoz and Evora to Lisbon from Sevilla (6 hours).
Bus Travel in Portugal
Portugal's domestic bus services are on the whole quicker than a similar journey by train, though they can be more expensive. The networks of the private bus companies cover most of the country's main towns and more local destinations. Departure times can be early in the morning and services are reduced at weekends. Check with the tourist information center for departure points and with the bus companies for schedules.
Express buses can be booked online with Rede expressos or by SMS by calling 969 50 20 50 (information in Portuguese).
Expressos - are the quickest inter-city buses.
Rápidas - are fairly fast regional buses.
Carreiras - are slow local buses.
Bus Stations in Portugal
Lisbon's main bus station is presently at Sete Rios easily accessible by metro to Jardim Zoologico (opposite Lisbon Zoo) or by train to Sete Rios Station. The bus station at Arco do Cego on Avenida Joao Crostomo (nearest metro Saldanha) is presently closed for refurbishment.
Campo Grande Bus Station in the north of Lisbon has buses to long-distance buses to Alenquer, Alverca, Arruda dos Vinhos, Ericeira, Loures, Mafra, Nazaré, Obidos, Peniche, Sapataria, Torres Vedras and Zambujal as well as more local buses within Lisbon and its suburbs.
Bus services from Campo Grande are operated by a number of different bus companies including: Boa Viagem, Barraqueiro Oeste, Mafrense, and Rodoviária de Lisboa.
The main intercity bus terminal in Porto is Plaça da Batalha.
Renex (218 956 836) buses run from Gare do Oriente in Lisbon to Porto, Albufeira, Braga, Faro, Loule, Vilamoura and other destinations.
Major Bus Companies in Portugal
Rede Expressos is the largest bus company in Portugal with a network covering most of the country including the Algarve.
Rodonorte is a large bus company serving the north of Portugal with services radiating out of Vila Real. Rodonorte buses connect with Aveiro, Amarante, Braga, Bragança, Chaves, Coimbra, Covilhã, Guarda, Guimarães, Lamego, Lisbon, Mirandela, Porto, Povoa de Varzim, Viana do Castelo and Viseu.
Eva Transportes is a more regional network focusing largely on the Algarve. Buses operated by Eva also connect Lagos, Portimão, Albufeira, Faro Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo Antonio in Portugal with Sevilla in Spain along the southern coast route.
Renex now part of Rede Expressos had routes linking Vila Real de Santo Antonio with Faro, Almancil and the Terminal Renex Vale Paraíso outside Albufeira; Loule and Vale Paraíso and Lagos and Vale Paraíso. Renex buses to Lisbon departed from Vale Paraíso, which is some distance north of Albufeira Bus Station. Renex also ran bus services from Porto to Barcelos (Linha Barcelos) and from Porto to Braga and Arcos de Valdevez (Linha do Norte). These services are now operated by Rede Expressos.
Frota Azul has a comprehensive bus network for getting around the beach resorts of Ferragudo and Praia da Rocha near Portimão. Frota Azul buses also connect to the nearby towns of Lagos, Lagoa, Monchique, Silves and São Bartolomeu de Messines.
Citiexpress was a part of the Rede Expressos group. It had buses from Sete Rios in Lisbon connecting to Guarda, Mondem de Basto, Tabuaco and Regua. Other routes were Braga - Castelo Branco, Aveiro - Covilha, Vila Real - Covilha, São João da Pesqueira - Viseu and Lamego - Porto. The routes are now operated by Rede Expressos.
Buses in Madeira
Public transport in Madeira is operated by four main bus companies Horários do Funchal, SAM, EACL and Rodoeste.
In general, there are fairly frequent municipal buses in Funchal and less frequent services to the outlying towns and villages.
There is no central bus station in Funchal. The seafront on Avenida do Mar is a good place to find an Horários do Funchal bus. EACL buses leave from Rua Dom Carlos I. Several Rodoeste services depart from the Hotel Zone (Lido).
Find out more about buses in Madeira.
Buses around Portugal & Europe
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