PORTO - Portugal - page 363

Buses
Remember, each bus company has its own mini-station; there's no central bus terminus
(for addresses and telephone numbers, see “Arrival in Porto,” here ) . Various companies
compete on the same route (for example, four companies go to Lisbon). Ask the transport
office at the TI about the handiest bus for your itinerary (see “Tourist Information,” here ;
toll-free tel. [phone]). Don't bother trying to get to the Douro Valley (Peso da Régua
or Pinhão) by bus; it takes twice as long as the train.
From Porto by Bus to: Coimbra (operated by Rede Expressos, Rodonorte, and oth-
ers; best is Rede Expressos—11/day, 1.5 hours, more frequent early and late, sparse mid-
afternoon), Lisbon (best via RENEX or Rede Expressos, at least hourly, 3 hours), Santi-
agodeCompostela,Spain (run by Internorte; 6/week in summer, 4/week in winter, 5.25
hours, €26).
Santiago Bus Tour: To get to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, consider taking an ex-
pensive but convenient all-day guided bus tour from Porto. It leaves daily at 8:00 and
takes two to three hours via the expressway. (You can skip out on the return to Porto.) But
this is a pricey alternative—the fares are €98-120. For information on these tours, ask at
the ATC/Porto Tours office (see here ; www.portotours.com ).