Transport in Portugal

[usnugnu]

Does anyone have information on how to get from Algarve to Guimaraes :confused: We are going to the Denmark-Italy game on June 14 while on holiday in Albufeira, and would prefer not to drive. Are the train connections any good? If someone else are going the same way, maybe we could hook up. We are 4 girls. Any info would be much appreciated :)

[csh2000]

UEFA's got some good info on their Euro2004 site about the cities now... Here's a bit on getting to and getting around in Guimaraes: http://www.euro2004.com/portugal2004/city=53487/Kind=131072/index.html

You should be okay taking the major rail system from Faro to Porto and then more local smaller trains from Porto to Guimaraes. It may not be all that direct, but you can do it.

http://www.raileurope.com/ might be a good resource when looking into rail options.

[JoniP]

Here's my advice:

By train: You need to go to Faro in the Algarve and there will be trains to Lisbon (max speed 220Km/h) There you'll have trains to Oporto (220Km/h) If you look you may find direct trains from Faro to Oporto by the time of the tournment. In Oporto pick another train to Guimarães (regular trains).

By bus: The same.. Not hard to find.

By plane: Faro-Lisbon and Lisbon-Oporto or Faro-Oporto ; Porto-Guimarães (by train or bus).

Portuguese railways: www.cp.pt

Any doubts.. Call me..

[buckeye5]

I believe it is quite a long trip. I'm going to the same match, but leaving from Lisbon the morning of the match and need to get up early to get the 3.5+ hour train ride to Oporto, then the hour train ride out to Guimaraes.

Might want to leave the Algarve on Sunday?

[usnugnu]

Thank you for the info. Yes it is a long trip, and it seems like there is no easy way to get there. I found a website www.megatur.pt where they advertise coachtrips from the Algarve to the games depending on demand. Have you heard about them?

[viulo]

I strongly advise against trains from Algarve to anywhere in Portugal. Portuguese railroad system has suffered a lot in the past 20 years and the investment that has been made is only for major connections. And because of the fact that there is no train bridge from Lisbon to the south (people always have to leave at Barreiro and make a 25 minute boat trip to Lisbon), there has never been high demand for connections to the south, so they have never invested in it, so the train ride might take up to five hours.
So, I advice using the bus or the plain, either to Lisbon or Oporto. From Lisbon to Oporto, the train ride is fairly good, it takes about 3, 3 1/2 hours. The bus isn't bad either. From Oporto to Guimarães you can also take the train or the bus. If you take the plain, might as well fly from Faro to Oporto, it probably costs as much as to Lisbon, so you'll save money and time.
For national bus system, check http://www.rede-expressos.pt/
It's only in portuguese but you have a number for reservations and I hope they'll be able to give you information. It´s number on the left side of the page. Portugal's country code is (351).

[JoniP]

I strongly advise against trains from Algarve to anywhere in Portugal. Portuguese railroad system has suffered a lot in the past 20 years and the investment that has been made is only for major connections. And because of the fact that there is no train bridge from Lisbon to the south (people always have to leave at Barreiro and make a 25 minute boat trip to Lisbon), there has never been high demand for connections to the south, so they have never invested in it, so the train ride might take up to five hours.
So, I advice using the bus or the plain, either to Lisbon or Oporto. From Lisbon to Oporto, the train ride is fairly good, it takes about 3, 3 1/2 hours. The bus isn't bad either. From Oporto to Guimarães you can also take the train or the bus. If you take the plain, might as well fly from Faro to Oporto, it probably costs as much as to Lisbon, so you'll save money and time.
For national bus system, check http://www.rede-expressos.pt/
It's only in portuguese but you have a number for reservations and I hope they'll be able to give you information. It´s number on the left side of the page. Portugal's country code is (351).

Who are you? Some bus companies employee... By the time of the tournment there will be a conection directly from Lisbon to the Algarve above the 25 de Abril bridge in Lisbon (which already exists).. The line is being electrified and is expected to be comercionally opational next month..The trains are comfortable and with a max speed 220 km/h the sames that travel to Oporto nowadays..

So I don't understand your comment either you have interests in bus or you are badly informed..

[dirk diggler]

Noticed your in Porto. What is the status of Porto's new metro system?
All the guide books say it was supposed to be finished in time for the tournament.
But the metro's confusing web site seems to indicate that only part of line A is finsihed?
Will it be of any use to fans going to the stadiums?

[JoniP]

Noticed your in Porto. What is the status of Porto's new metro system?
All the guide books say it was supposed to be finished in time for the tournament.
But the metro's confusing web site seems to indicate that only part of line A is finsihed?
Will it be of any use to fans going to the stadiums?

Yes the blue line will be ready to serve the Dragão Stadium from the city center and other places including train stations.. Unfortunately it will be at about 1 km from the airport but that will be no problem cause there are many buses or taxis (cabs). The bessa stadium has no metro station on the stadium.. But there are some nearby.. By that time there will be more information..
Don't worry you won't get lost in Porto!

[viulo]

Is the train that crosses the 25 de Abril Bridge the same that will come from Algarve? Or will people have to change? If it is the same, why is it settled, then, that they'll build a railroad bridge to connect Lisbon to Barreiro, in the future? Just to service people from Barreiro?
Maybe it is, maybe I'm misinformed. I admit not to follow thoroughly railroad information.

[JoniP]

Is the train that crosses the 25 de Abril Bridge the same that will come from Algarve? Or will people have to change? If it is the same, why is it settled, then, that they'll build a railroad bridge to connect Lisbon to Barreiro, in the future? Just to service people from Barreiro?
Maybe it is, maybe I'm misinformed. I admit not to follow thoroughly railroad information.

In the future there will be a new bridge to have the high speed train (TGV). During the tournment (and so on) the Pendular train will go directlly from Lisbon to the Algarve.. Read this if you want to: (it's in english) http://viajar.clix.pt/com/noticias.php?id=1318&lg=en

[buckeye5]

Comboios Especials (Special Trains)

Has anyone seen the news on these trains today? They are running trains to each match which you can make reservations for NOW. A return trip is required however. The problem though, that I see, is how ridiculous the prices are for these trips. 75 euros for Porto to Guimaraes!!!! Normally this trip costs like, 6 euros?

Am I correct locals?

Either (1) CP is trying to profit from this and it will cost a lot as it allows people to travel from the south to the north in one day for a match or (2) It will be hard as hell to travel by train in Portugal. Which would be disastrous for them and the perception of the tournament. In Korea I was able to walk up to the stations the day of an get tickets. So I hope #1 is the case, otherwise I might be SOL, because I didn't plan on spending 600 euros on the ground to get to and from my matches.

Comments from anyone who may know?

[JoniP]

Comboios Especials (Special Trains)

Has anyone seen the news on these trains today? They are running trains to each match which you can make reservations for NOW. A return trip is required however. The problem though, that I see, is how ridiculous the prices are for these trips. 75 euros for Porto to Guimaraes!!!! Normally this trip costs like, 6 euros?

Am I correct locals?

Either (1) CP is trying to profit from this and it will cost a lot as it allows people to travel from the south to the north in one day for a match or (2) It will be hard as hell to travel by train in Portugal. Which would be disastrous for them and the perception of the tournament. In Korea I was able to walk up to the stations the day of an get tickets. So I hope #1 is the case, otherwise I might be SOL, because I didn't plan on spending 600 euros on the ground to get to and from my matches.

Comments from anyone who may know?


Where have you seen that?? 75 euros to go from Oporto to Guimarães.. That's ridiculous.. I think it would almost be cheaper to rent-a-car! Now you would pay 1,75 € to go from Oporto to Guimarães.. The prices are in www.cp.pt Isn't that some kind os pass that you can use in the whole tournment or to go to more games? What you are saying I'd say it's impossible..

[buckeye5]

Go to www.cp.pt, they are running the 'Comboios Especials'.

I think they are a great service if you are coming from Faro, because it goes directly to Guimaraes (maybe that's why it costs so much?!)

Yes, I saw the same price of 1.75 euros for a ticket on the suburban service to Guimaraes. I would imagine that these 'regular trains' have to be available, because there is still the local population who may depend on them for service.

I don't believe it is a pass. It was a return ticket for Italy-Denmark from Oporto to Guimaraes. Check it out for yourself, there is an advert/link from the homepage of www.cp.pt

[dirk diggler]

I think the reason these special trains are so expensive comes from this line at the web site "Guarantee your return trip"
Since the matches end at night, these special trains may be your only way of getting back. There may not be any regularly scheduled trains for the return trip that late. Since the hotels are filled at the stadium city, they can be greedy like this :(

[JoniP]

Go to www.cp.pt, they are running the 'Comboios Especials'.

I think they are a great service if you are coming from Faro, because it goes directly to Guimaraes (maybe that's why it costs so much?!)

Yes, I saw the same price of 1.75 euros for a ticket on the suburban service to Guimaraes. I would imagine that these 'regular trains' have to be available, because there is still the local population who may depend on them for service.

I don't believe it is a pass. It was a return ticket for Italy-Denmark from Oporto to Guimaraes. Check it out for yourself, there is an advert/link from the homepage of www.cp.pt

Yes I've seen that.. I agree it's too expensive.. But those trains were made for long trips.. If you pay 75 € to go from Porto to Guimarães you'll pay "only" 90€ to go from Faro to Guimarães.. Only more 15€ to make more 600x2km.. It's not a bad price (90€) to go from tha Algarve to Guimarães and return. From Lisbon to Guimarães 65€.. From Porto (55 or 75 depending on the train) Specially counting that to go in regular trains you would have to catch 3.. But to go from Porto to Guimarães, Porto - Braga, Lisbon - Porto I stronglly suggest regular trains.. If it is a long trip like going to the Algarve.. The prices are not so bad..

[Buff_K]

Hi I would really like some help. I would like to travel by coach (or rail if need be) from Faro to Porto return on the 27th June (coming back after the game or on the 28th) and also Faro to Lisbon on the 30th June (coming back after the game or on the 1st July). I have been to www.rede-expressos.pt and all I get is: Não existem percursos para a data escolhida! and I dont know what this means, tho I take it that it's not possible. I also cannot find the phone number, only a number to text message.

Any help would be greatly greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

[buckeye5]

"No journeys exist for the date chosen". I don't know where to help you with a phone number though. Have you checked the www.cp.pt web site? They have the comboios especials for matches. Including from Loule.

[JoniP]

Hi I would really like some help. I would like to travel by coach (or rail if need be) from Faro to Porto return on the 27th June (coming back after the game or on the 28th) and also Faro to Lisbon on the 30th June (coming back after the game or on the 1st July). I have been to www.rede-expressos.pt and all I get is: Não existem percursos para a data escolhida! and I dont know what this means, tho I take it that it's not possible. I also cannot find the phone number, only a number to text message.

Any help would be greatly greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Here's they're email rede.expressos@mail.telepac.pt .. Ask them about that.. And there's also the special trains at www.cp.pt

[Buff_K]

Have you checked the www.cp.pt web site? They have the comboios especials for matches. Including from Loule.

I have been to www.cp.pt and it doesn't seem of great help. Firstly for the special euro2004 trains, it only lists the group games, not the quarter and semi final games that I have tickets for.

And secondly, it seems that if I was to travel by ordinairy train I would have to leave a few days early to make the match in time, as opposed to travelling on the same day, as I'm sure I could by coach. If I read it correctly, I believe theres a train from Faro to Porto only once a week, and that doesnt suit. I think I'm screwed. :(

I have sent both CP and the coach company emails tho, so we'll see how we go.