Algarve-South-Portugal.com
The best independent guide to Tavira
Algarve-South-Portugal.com
The best independent guide to Tavira
Tavira Introduction - Sights & activities - 1 week - Beaches - Airport To Tavira - Day Trips - Barril Beach
Tavira to Lagos by Train
Lagos is a fantastic beach resort that is situated on the western edge of the Algarve and is surrounded by a stunning coastline. Tavira is a charming and traditional fishing town that is the best resort town on the eastern side of the Algarve. This guide will detail how to travel from Lagos to Tavira with an emphasis on the use of public transport for the journey.
Lagos to Tavira Overview
Tavira is situated approximately 100km to the east of Lagos and has both good road and rail connections. The journey by car follows the toll A22 from junction 1 to junction 16 and takes approximately 1 and a half hours. The non-toll route follows the N125 and takes an extra 20-40 minutes depending on traffic.
An overview of Tavira and the Gilao River
Tavira to Lagos by Public transport
Tavira is connected to Lagos by both bus and train services. The bus routes are non-direct and usually require a connection at Faro. Train service are less frequent than bus departures but there is always space on the regional trains and train travel is more relaxing. The distance between the two towns makes it impractical to visit either as a day trip.
In summary, rail travel between Lagos and Tavira is the recommended means of travel and will be discussed in detail for the remainder of this guide.
Lagos to Tavira by Train
The railway which connects Tavira and Lagos is a slow regional line which extends the length of the Algarve. The train is operated by Comboios de Portugal (often abbreviated to CP) the national train company of Portugal. The train journey from Tavira to Lagos takes between 2h26 to 2h56, depending on the service which is caught.
There are 8 daily departures with the first train from Tavira at 6:17 and last departure at 19:37. From Lagos, the first train is at 6:14 while the last service is at 20:15. The latest timetable can be viewed at the CP website:
www.cp.pt/
(the link opens a new tab and is a PDF so may download on certain mobile phones)
The Algarve regional train from Lagos to Tavira
An adult single ticket costs €9.45 (correct May 2020), there is a discount for pensioners (50% reduction) and under 25s (25% discount) with valid ID. As this is a regional train service tickets cannot be pre-booked, but there is no need as there is always space on all services. Rail travel along the Algarve railway is safe, and this includes the late-night services.
Faro is a connection station along the route, with some trains continuing directly on to Lagos/Tavira while others requiring a transfer. The guard will make this clear, and most other fellow passengers will know. There is no trolley service on the trains, so make sure you have suitable water and/or food for the journey. All trains have air conditioning.
Note: If you plan to travel from the Algarve (Faro or Tunes) to Lisbon, the train tickets must be reserved, as each ticket is designated a seat. Tickets can be purchased from any ticket office or the CP website: https://www.cp.pt
Lagos and Tavira Train Stations
Lagos train station is in a fancy new building but could be classed as a small train station, with a ticket office and other necessary facilities. The station is located on the eastern side of the estuary, and it is only a short walk to central Lagos, a taxi is not needed to reach the city centre.
Lagos' new train station
Tavira train station is much smaller with the ticket office open during office hours only. The station is located on the western side of the town, approximately 1km from the centre. The walk is downhill from the station but is along cobbled streets, not ideal for heavy luggage. The small size of the station means that taxis will not be usually found outside of the station and if one is required it should be phoned for.
Tavira's small train station
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