Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Portugal straggles behind the rest of Europe in train service, but offers excellent bus trans-
portation. Off the main Lisbon-Porto-Coimbra train lines, buses are usually a better bet.
In cases where buses and trains serve the same destination, the bus is often more efficient,
offering more frequent connections and sometimes a more central station. If schedules are
similar, use the maps in this topic to determine which station is closest to your hotel.
The best public transportation option is to mix bus and train travel. Always verify bus
and train schedules before your departure, and never leave a station without the next day's
schedule options in hand. To ask for a schedule at an information window, say,
“Horario
para
(fill in names of cities),
faz favor.
” (The local TI will sometimes have schedules
available for you to take or copy.) To study train schedules in advance, see
www.cp.pt
for all domestic and Spain/France routes (schedules are downloadable PDFs). Another
good resource, which also has schedules for trains throughout Europe, is German Rail's
timetable (
www.bahn.com
).
Departures and arrivals are
partidas
and
chegadas,
respectively. These key Portuguese
“fine print” words may also come in handy in your travels: Both
as
and
aos
mean “on”;
de
means “from,” as in “from this date to that date”;
só
means “only,” as in “only effect-
ive on...”;
não
means “not”; and
feriado
means “holiday.” On schedules, exceptions are
noted, as in this typical qualifier:
“Não se efectua aos sábados, domingos, e feriados ofi-
ciais”
(“Not effective on Saturdays, Sundays, and official holidays”).
The fastest Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains serve the main Lisboa-Porto line with an
occasional extension to Faro or Braga and require seat reservations. Regional and Inter-
regional “milk-run” trains serve most other routes, making lots of stops. On Portuguese
train schedules,
diario
means “daily” and
mudança de comboio
means “change trains.”
Railpasses:
Because you'll use a mix of trains and buses on your trip, a Portugal Pass
is generally not a good value. If you're traveling beyond Portugal, the Spain-Portugal Pass
or Select Eurail Pass can make sense, but use the pass wisely, just for your long train trips.
These passes are sold only outside of Europe. For specifics, see
www.ricksteves.com/rail
.
Even if you have a railpass, use buses when they're more convenient and direct than the
trains.
OvernightTrains:
If you'll be going to Madrid, book ahead for the overnight train to
ensure you get a berth and/or seat. It's a pricey Hotel Train called the “Lusitânia” (prices
between these two capital cities. You can save money by taking a bus (€47, Intercentro
Lines service using an Alsa bus), or save time by taking a plane (see “Cheap Flights,”
later in this chapter).
