Lisbon to Faro: Train, Bus, Car or Flight (2026)

Faro is the Algarve’s capital and the end of the main railway line from Lisbon, so getting there is simple. Here’s how to travel from Lisbon to Faro by train, bus, car or plane in 2026, with times, fares, the right Lisbon station and how to carry on from Faro.

Quick answer: take the direct train. There are five a day: the Alfa Pendular takes about 3 hours from Lisboa Oriente (€26.30 in 2026) and the Intercidades about 3h30 (€24.55 in second class). The last one leaves Oriente at 18:32. Buses from Sete Rios and Oriente take about 3h15 to 4 hours, run more often and can cost under €10 if you book early. Driving takes about 2h45, plus €23.80 in A2 tolls in 2026. Flying is rarely faster door to door.

Train, bus, car or plane?

The train is the most comfortable and arrives a short walk from the old town. The bus is cheaper booked early and runs later. A car pays off only if you’ll use it in the Algarve. Prices are one-way adult fares, checked October 2026.

By train (best)

• From: Lisboa Oriente or Entrecampos for every train, and Sete Rios for the Intercidades only. No Algarve trains use Santa Apolónia, Rossio or Cais do Sodré.
• Time: about 3 hours on the Alfa Pendular and about 3h30 on the Intercidades from Oriente, or about 3h20 from Sete Rios.
• Trains per day: five direct trains each way, every day: two Alfa Pendular and three Intercidades.
• Fare: in 2026, the Alfa Pendular costs €26.30 in Turística and €35.10 in Conforto (first class). The Intercidades costs €24.55 in second class and €32.15 in first. Over-65s and children aged 4 to 12 pay half, with ID.
• Booking: on cp.pt or the CP app, up to 60 days ahead. A seat reservation is compulsory and included in the ticket. Carry the ID you booked with.
• On board: free Wi-Fi and a café-bar, but a staff strike since February 2026 means the bar is sometimes closed, mostly at weekends. Bring water and snacks.

Train times

From CP’s timetable in force since 6 September 2026. All five trains run daily.

• Lisbon to Faro: 08:23 (Alfa Pendular, arrives 11:27), 10:02 (Intercidades, 13:31), 14:02 (Intercidades, 17:39), 17:23 (Alfa Pendular, 20:23) and 18:32 (Intercidades, 22:02). Times are from Oriente; Intercidades trains leave Sete Rios 12 minutes later.
• Faro to Lisbon: 07:00 (Alfa Pendular, reaching Oriente at 10:05), 09:15 (Intercidades, 12:56), 14:15 (Intercidades, 17:56), 16:00 (Alfa Pendular, 19:05) and 18:15 (Intercidades, 21:56).

All trains also stop at Tunes, Albufeira-Ferreiras and Loulé. Timetables change a few times a year and strikes happen, so check cp.pt the day before. More in the Portugal train guide.

Which Lisbon station?

Oriente is on the red metro line, three stops from the airport. Entrecampos is on the yellow line. Sete Rios is next to Jardim Zoológico on the blue line, beside the main coach terminal. See Lisbon public transport.

Cheaper tickets

• Promo fares: CP’s Promo tickets take up to 65% off when bought at least 8 days ahead, or up to 56% at 5 to 7 days, on limited seats. CP quotes Lisbon to Faro on the Alfa Pendular from about €9. They can be changed but not refunded, and since 10 August 2026 they’re only sold online, in the app and at ticket machines.
• Flash sales: CP sold Lisbon to Faro on the Alfa Pendular for €5.50 for travel in early May and again from 8 to 28 October 2026, booked at least 10 days ahead.

By bus

• From: Rede Expressos and FlixBus leave from the Sete Rios coach terminal (Jardim Zoológico metro) and from Oriente. Some coaches also call at Lisbon airport.
• Time: about 3h15 at best, and up to about 4 hours with stops.
• Frequency: many departures a day, far more than the train, including some late in the evening.
• Fare: prices rise as seats sell. In 2026, FlixBus advertises Lisbon to Faro from about €4.50, and early tickets on either company often cost under €10. Last-minute summer seats can cost €20 or more.
• Arrival: Rede Expressos uses Faro’s bus terminal on Avenida da República, and FlixBus stops nearby at the old customs house (Alfândega) by the marina. Both are a short walk from the train station and the old town.

The bus beats the train for a later departure or a lower fare. See Portugal by bus.

By car

• Route: cross the Tagus, take the A2 south to where it meets the A22 near Albufeira, then follow the A22 east towards Faro. It’s about 280km and roughly 2h45 without stops.
• Tolls: €23.80 for a normal car on the A2 between Lisbon and the Algarve in 2026. Take a ticket on the way in and pay by card or cash at the end, or use the Via Verde lane if your hire car has a device. The A22 has been toll-free since 1 January 2025, and the Tagus bridges only charge heading into Lisbon. See Portugal’s tolls explained.
• Traffic: Friday afternoons in summer and the start of August are the busiest times heading south.
• Parking in Faro: use the paid car parks near the marina or the station.

Driving makes sense if you want a car for the beaches anyway. Otherwise, take the train and collect a hire car in Faro, which saves driving out of Lisbon. See car rental in Portugal.

By air

TAP flies from Lisbon to Faro about three times a day, and the flight takes about 50 minutes. Add the metro to the airport, check-in and security, then the ride in from Faro airport, and door to door it takes about as long as the train, for a much higher fare. TAP’s own site listed winter returns from about €125. Flying only makes sense if you’re connecting from another flight on the same ticket. See Faro airport transfers.

Arriving in Faro

• Train station: at the north-west end of Avenida da República, near the marina. The Arco da Vila gate into the old town is about 10 to 15 minutes’ walk. See things to do in Faro.
• To the airport: Próximo bus 16 runs from near the bus station in about 20 minutes, or a taxi takes about 10 minutes.
• To Olhão and Tavira: every train from Lisbon connects with a regional train heading east, usually within half an hour. Olhão is about 10 minutes away and Tavira about 30. See Tavira and the eastern Algarve.
• To Albufeira: get off the Lisbon train earlier, at Albufeira-Ferreiras. The station is about 6km from the town, so take a taxi or local bus from there.
• To Lagos: change at Tunes, before Faro. See Lisbon to the Algarve.

Which option is right for you?

• Faro, Olhão or Tavira without a car: the train.
• Tight budget or a late start: the bus.
• Touring the Algarve: drive, or take the train and hire a car in Faro.
• Arriving on a long-haul flight: a connecting flight to Faro on the same ticket.

Tips

• Book early in summer: trains and coaches fill up on Fridays and in August, and the cheapest Promo seats go first.
• Buy from CP: CP warns that some websites reselling its tickets aren’t authorised, so use cp.pt, the CP app or a station.
• Late arrival: the last train reaches Faro at 22:02, so book a room near the station or the old town. See where to stay in the Algarve.

Plan it: Driving? Compare car hire. Then find a place to stay in Faro or browse Faro tours, including Ria Formosa boat trips.

FAQ

How long is the train from Lisbon to Faro?

About 3 hours on the Alfa Pendular and 3h30 on the Intercidades, with no change.

How much is the train from Lisbon to Faro?

In 2026, €26.30 on the Alfa Pendular (Turística) or €24.55 on the Intercidades (second class) at full fare. Promo fares bought 8 or more days ahead can cost much less.

What time is the last train from Lisbon to Faro?

The 18:32 Intercidades from Oriente (18:44 from Sete Rios), arriving at 22:02. The last train back leaves Faro at 18:15.

Which Lisbon station do trains to Faro leave from?

Oriente and Entrecampos for every train, plus Sete Rios for the Intercidades. None leave from Santa Apolónia.

Is the bus or the train better for Faro?

The train is comfier and stops close to the old town. The bus runs more often and later, and is often cheaper booked early.

More: Lisbon to the Algarve and Porto to the Algarve.

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