Ferries in Portugal: A Practical Guide

Ferries are a cheap, scenic way to get around parts of Portugal: across the Tagus in Lisbon, to the barrier islands of the Algarve, between the Azores islands and out to the Berlengas and Porto Santo. Here’s a guide to Portugal’s most useful ferries.

Quick answer: the most useful ferries are Lisbon to Cacilhas (for Cristo Rei), Setúbal to Tróia (for Comporta), the Ria Formosa island ferries from Faro, Olhão and Tavira, Peniche to the Berlengas (seasonal), Funchal to Porto Santo, and the Azores inter-island ferries between Pico, Faial and São Jorge.

Why take a ferry

Some of Portugal’s best places can only be reached by water, like the Algarve’s sandbar islands and the Berlengas nature reserve. Other ferries are simply the quickest route, such as Setúbal to Tróia or the hops between the central Azores. Short crossings are cheap, and even a ten-minute ride across the Tagus gives you one of the best views of Lisbon.

Lisbon

• Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas: a short, frequent crossing with great city views. In Cacilhas, eat seafood and take the bus to Cristo Rei.
• Belém to Trafaria and Porto Brandão: for the Costa da Caparica beaches. See the best beaches near Lisbon and Costa da Caparica.
• Tickets: buy a single at the terminal, or load a reusable Navegante card (about €0.50) with credit, known as zapping. A single to Cacilhas costs about €2, or about €1.60 with zapping, and Belém to Trafaria about €1.50. See Lisbon public transport.

The Cacilhas crossing takes about 10 minutes and runs from early morning until after midnight. Sit on the right side going over for the view of the April 25th Bridge and the city hills. See Cristo Rei.

Porto

Since 22 July 2026, two small river ferries have crossed the Douro every half hour: Cais do Ouro to the fishing village of Afurada, and Ribeira to Cais de Gaia, by the port cellars. A single costs about €3 on board, or about €5 for a same-day return, and the boats are part of the Andante ticket system. See Vila Nova de Gaia.

Setúbal to Tróia

Car and passenger ferries run by Atlantic Ferries cross the Sado estuary to the Tróia peninsula, the shortcut to Comporta. Watch for dolphins. See Comporta and where to stay in Setúbal.

• Car ferry: about 25 minutes, and about €21 for a car. In summer, queues at weekends can be long, so arrive early.
• Passenger catamaran: about 15 minutes and about €5 each way, handy if you just want a beach day on Tróia. It uses a separate quay from the car ferry.
• Dolphins: the Sado has a resident group of bottlenose dolphins, sometimes seen from the boat.

See the Tróia peninsula.

Peniche to the Berlengas

Seasonal boats (mostly spring to autumn) cross to the island reserve. Book early in summer, as visitor numbers are limited, and expect a choppy crossing. See Berlengas ferries. See Berlengas.

The crossing takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the sea. The island has a cap of 550 visitors at a time and a small daily visitor fee (about €3, half price for ages 6 to 18 and over-65s), which you pay when you register online for a BerlengasPass before you go. On the island, walk to the Fort of São João Baptista and swim in the clear coves. Take food and water, as facilities are basic.

The Algarve

• Faro: boats to Ilha Deserta (Barreta) and Culatra. See Faro and Ilha Deserta.
• Olhão: ferries to Armona and Culatra.
• Tavira: a short crossing to Ilha de Tavira. See Tavira.
• Vila Real de Santo António: a ferry across the Guadiana to Ayamonte in Spain.

These islands are long, car-free sandbars in the Ria Formosa lagoon, with wide beaches on the ocean side. Services run more often in summer and are cut back from October to March, when the last boat back can leave in the late afternoon. In Tavira, summer boats leave from the town centre; the rest of the year, use the Quatro Águas pier, about 2 km away. Water taxis also run from the same quays if you miss the last ferry, at a higher price.

The Guadiana crossing to Ayamonte takes about 15 minutes, with tickets sold at the quay. Spain is one hour ahead, so allow for that when checking return times.

Madeira to Porto Santo

A ferry from Funchal to Porto Santo takes about 2.5 hours. It can be rough. See Porto Santo.

The ship is the Lobo Marinho. Sailings are more frequent in summer and drop to a few a week in the low season, so check the timetable. It also stops for maintenance for about a week a year (in 2026, 14 to 22 October). A day trip means a very early start and a late return. Porto Santo’s draw is its 9km golden beach.

The Azores

• The “triangle”: frequent ferries link Horta (Faial), Madalena (Pico) and São Jorge every day of the year.
• Horta to Madalena: about 30 minutes, with at least four sailings a day all year and up to eight in summer. Easy to do as a day trip to Pico.
• To São Jorge: about 1h15 to 2 hours, depending on the route.
• Longer routes: from June to September there are extra sailings, boats between Flores and Corvo, and a few weekly links from the triangle to Terceira, some via Graciosa. Outside summer, flights are usually more practical.

The operator is Atlânticoline. See Azores island hopping.

Tips

• Seasickness: take tablets before Atlantic crossings.
• Book ahead in summer for the Berlengas and Porto Santo.
• Check timetables: winter services are reduced, and rough seas cause cancellations.
• Cars: only some routes take vehicles, such as Setúbal to Tróia and Funchal to Porto Santo. Check that your hire contract allows it.

FAQ

How much is the ferry from Lisbon to Cacilhas?

A single costs about €2, or about €1.60 by zapping with a Navegante card.

Can I take a hire car on a ferry in Portugal?

Yes, on a few routes, mainly Setúbal to Tróia and Funchal to Porto Santo. Some hire companies restrict ferry use, so check your contract first.

Do I need to book the ferry to the Berlengas?

Yes, in summer. Book your boat early and register online for a BerlengasPass, as only 550 people can be on the island at once.

Can you visit Porto Santo as a day trip from Madeira?

Yes, on days when the Lobo Marinho sails out in the morning and back in the evening, but one or two nights is more relaxing.

More: the best boat trips in Portugal.

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