Arrival & Transport

Portugal is easily accessible by plane from Germany — Lisbon and Porto are served year-round by numerous airlines, Faro (Algarve) and Funchal (Madeira) seasonally. Flight times are pleasantly short: 2.5–3 hours from southern Germany, 3–3.5 hours from northern Germany.

✈️ Lisbon (LIS) — Humberto Delgado — THE Hub

Portugal's main airport and by far the most important hub, only 7 km from the city center — one of the closest major airports to a city in Europe. Excellent connections year-round: Direct flights from Munich (2:50h), Frankfurt (2:45h), Berlin (3:15h), Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Vienna, Zurich. Airlines: Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal (Star Alliance — collect Miles&More!), Eurowings, Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Condor. TAP is the national airline and offers the most frequencies from DACH.

Transfer to the center: Metro (red line to Alameda, then green line, or red line directly to Oriente/São Sebastião; 1.65 €, 20–30 min). Aerobus 1 to Cais do Sodré via Marquês de Pombal and Rossio (4 €, 30–40 min, every 20 min). Taxi/Uber to the center: 10–15 € (fixed taxi price: about 15 €, Uber usually cheaper). Note: The airport has only one terminal. Baggage claim can be slow — plan 30–45 minutes after landing.

✈️ Porto (OPO) — Francisco Sá Carneiro

Northern Portugal's main airport, 11 km northwest of the old town, modern and efficient. Direct flights from Munich (2:40h), Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg. TAP Air Portugal, Lufthansa, Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, Wizz Air. Porto is the perfect starting point for northern Portugal, the Douro Valley, Braga, and Guimarães.

Transfer: Metro line E (purple) directly to the center (Trindade, Aliados: 2.60 € with Andante card, 30 min, every 20–30 min). Taxi 20–25 €. Uber 12–18 €.

✈️ Faro (FAO) — Algarve

The gateway to the Algarve. Strongly seasonal (April–October) with many charter flights and low-cost carriers from Germany: Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, Condor, TUI fly, Wizz Air. In summer, direct flights from almost all major German cities. In winter, only limited (Ryanair year-round from some cities). Located 7 km west of Faro and optimally located to explore the entire Algarve.

Transfer: Bus 16 to the center of Faro (2.35 €, 20 min). To the Algarve coast, you need a rental car (rental car counters directly in the terminal) or a shuttle transfer. Taxi to Lagos: 80–100 €, to Albufeira: 40–50 €.

✈️ Funchal (FNC) — Madeira

Notoriously famous airport with a short runway on stilts over the sea — flights are diverted or canceled in strong winds (happens a few times in winter). Direct flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Hamburg (Condor, TUI fly, Eurowings, TAP via Lisbon). Flight time 4–4.5 hours from Germany. Alternatively via Lisbon with TAP (1:40h Lisbon → Funchal, from 50 € one-way).

Transfer: Aerobus to Funchal (5 €, 30 min). Taxi 25–30 €. Hotel shuttles available.

Flight prices (indicative from Germany, one-way)

Flight saving tips: Ryanair and easyJet offer the cheapest prices to Lisbon and Porto (from 25 € one-way in the low season!), but note the surcharge for luggage. TAP Air Portugal, as a Star Alliance member, is ideal for Miles&More collectors and usually includes 23 kg of free luggage in the basic fare. Open-jaw flights save backtracking: flight in to Lisbon, return from Porto (or vice versa) — often even cheaper than round trips to the same airport.

A rental car is the best way to discover Portugal — the country is compact enough that you could drive from the Algarve to Porto in one day (550 km, 5h), and the road infrastructure is excellent. Highways (Autoestradas) are modern and well-developed, and the country roads through Alentejo and the Douro Valley offer panoramas that are among the most beautiful in Europe.

Prices & Booking

Rental cars in Portugal are cheap compared to the rest of Europe: From 15–25 €/day for a small car in the off-season, 30–50 €/day in summer. Book through comparison portals (billiger-mietwagen.de, CHECK24) at least 4–6 weeks in advance — in the high season (July/August) the best deals are quickly gone. Recommended providers: Europcar, Sixt, Hertz (reliable, good condition) and local providers like Guerin and Goldcar (cheaper, but pay close attention to the condition). Always book full insurance without excess through the comparison portal — not at the counter, where it is significantly more expensive.

Highways & Tolls

Portugal's highways are toll roads, and the toll system is notoriously complicated. There are three systems:

• Manual toll: Classic toll booths with barriers. Pay cash or card. In the Algarve (A22) and some other highways, there are no more barriers — here the electronic system applies.
• Via Verde: Portugal's electronic toll via transponder. Most rental car companies offer Via Verde as an option (3–5 €/day extra + toll fees). Be sure to ask when picking up!
• Electronic toll without transponder (SCUT): Some highways (especially in the Algarve, A22) only have electronic toll stations without barriers. Without Via Verde, you must register your license plate at a CTT post office or online (pagamentodeportagens.pt) and pay in advance. Otherwise, hefty back payments threaten!

Toll costs: Lisbon → Porto approx. 22 €, Lisbon → Algarve approx. 20 €, Lisbon → Évora approx. 8 €. Alternatively, you can take the toll-free national roads (N-roads) — significantly slower, but often more scenic.

Driving in Portugal

Portuguese drive on the right (as in Germany), and the traffic rules are similar. Speed limits: 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on country roads, 120 km/h on highways. The Portuguese generally drive briskly, and the highway police (GNR) like to use speed cameras — stick to the limits. Driving in Lisbon and Porto is unnecessary and stressful (narrow streets, one-way streets, lack of parking) — only take the rental car when you leave the cities. Alcohol limit: 0.5 per mille (0.2 for novice drivers under 3 years of license).

Parking

Parking in the cities is a challenge. In Lisbon and Porto, there are zones with parking meters (0.80–1.60 €/hour, max. 2 hours) and parking garages (10–20 €/day). In the Algarve, parking in the resorts is difficult in summer — arrive early. In Alentejo, in the north, and in the countryside, parking is not a problem and is usually free. Tip: The app "ePark" (Lisbon) and "Telpark" (Porto) allow cashless parking via smartphone.

Portugal's public transport network is better than its reputation — between the major cities, you can get from A to B quickly and cheaply, but it becomes sparse in the countryside. For travelers without a rental car, the combination of train and bus is the best strategy.

🚂 Comboios de Portugal (CP) — The Train

The Portuguese railway connects the main cities and offers some of the most scenic train routes in Europe. The network is manageable, but the main routes are modern and punctual.

Main connections:

The Alfa Pendular is Portugal's high-speed train — modern, comfortable, with sockets and Wi-Fi, and runs the route Braga–Porto–Coimbra–Lisbon–Faro. Book online at cp.pt for the best prices (promo fares up to 65% cheaper!). The regional train Porto → Pinhão along the Douro is one of the most spectacular train rides in Europe — the window is your panoramic cinema over the vineyard terraces of the UNESCO World Heritage.

🚌 Long-distance buses

Rede Expressos (rede-expressos.pt) is Portugal's largest long-distance bus network and connects virtually every city and larger village. The buses are modern, air-conditioned, and cheap. FlixBus complements the network on the main routes and is sometimes even cheaper.

Example prices (Rede Expressos):

• Lisbon → Porto: from 15 €, 3.5h
• Lisbon → Lagos (Algarve): from 15 €, 4h
• Lisbon → Évora: from 10 €, 1:45h
• Porto → Braga: from 6 €, 1h
• Faro → Lagos: from 5 €, 1:45h

Buses are often the better choice for the Algarve, as the train network there only serves the main line Faro–Lagos (and the stations are often outside the towns). The buses, on the other hand, go directly to the city centers. For the Alentejo and smaller towns in the hinterland, buses are often the only public connection — but with limited schedules (sometimes only 1–2 buses per day, especially on weekends).

Interrail & Saver Tickets

The Interrail Pass is valid on CP trains and can be worthwhile for multi-day rail tourism (daily rate from about 30 €). CP itself offers promo fares that are up to 65% cheaper than the regular price — book 2–4 weeks in advance on cp.pt. A Lisbon–Porto ticket at the promo price costs only 9 € instead of 22 €. However, these tickets are bound to a specific train and non-exchangeable.

Lisbon has an excellent public transport network that surprisingly well covers the city of seven hills — and some of the most charming means of transport in Europe. Metro, trams, buses, historic elevators, and ferries form a network that offers sightseeing and transport in one.

🚇 Metro

Lisbon's metro has 4 lines (blue, yellow, green, red) and is fast, clean, and cheap. It covers the main areas — Baixa, Marquês de Pombal, Saldanha, Oriente, airport — but leaves out Alfama and Belém (there, bus and tram are better). Many stations are decorated with impressive Azulejo artworks, especially Oriente (by international artists) and Olaias. Operating hours: 06:30–01:00. Single ride: 1.65 € (with rechargeable Viva Viagem card, which itself costs 0.50 €).

🚋 Tram 28 — Lisbon's Legend

The Eléctrico 28 is much more than a means of transport — it is a sight in itself. The yellow trams from the 1930s (Remodelado model!) rattle and squeak their way along one of the steepest and most winding routes in Europe through Lisbon's narrowest streets: from Martim Moniz through Alfama up to the Castelo, over Graça and Estrela to Campo de Ourique. The tram turns corners where you can almost touch the house walls, climbs gradients of up to 13.5%, and the driver honks continuously to warn pedestrians and parked cars.

The problem: The Tram 28 is the most photographed means of transport in Europe, and the queues at the terminus Martim Moniz are absurdly long in summer (45–90 minutes waiting time). It is also a hotspot for pickpockets — in the crowded trams, they like to help themselves.

The solution: Do not board at the terminus, but at one of the less frequented stops (e.g., Largo da Graça or R. da Conceição). Ride before 9 am or after 7 pm — then you almost have the tram to yourself. Or use the Tram 12E as an alternative: It runs a shorter, less known route through similarly narrow streets and is much less crowded. Single ride: 3.00 € cash with the driver, or 1.65 € with Viva Viagem card.

🛗 Historic Elevators & Funiculars

Lisbon's famous hills are served by three historic funiculars and an elevator — all listed and over 100 years old:

• Elevador de Santa Justa: The iconic, 45-meter-high wrought-iron elevator in the Baixa, designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel. More of a viewing platform than a means of transport — the view from above over the Baixa, the Castelo, and the Tejo is fantastic. Round trip: 5.30 € (or 1.65 € with Viva Viagem as a one-way ride). Tip: Walk to the Convento do Carmo and only use the viewing platform at the top — this saves the queue at the elevator below.
• Elevador da Glória: The most used funicular, which runs from Praça dos Restauradores up to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara and into Bairro Alto. 3.80 € round trip or 1.65 € with Viva Viagem.
• Elevador da Bica: The most photogenic of the three, which climbs a steep alley between Rua de São Paulo and Bairro Alto — with Tejo view in the background, the postcard format of Lisbon.

🚌 Buses

The bus network of Carris perfectly complements Metro and Tram and also goes where the Metro does not reach: Belém (Bus 714 or 728 from Cais do Sodré), Alfama, Parque das Nações. Same fares: 1.65 € with Viva Viagem.

💳 The Viva Viagem Card

The must for every Lisbon visitor. This rechargeable card (0.50 € deposit) is valid on Metro, buses, trams, and funiculars and costs 1.65 € per ride instead of 3.00 € cash with the driver. For intensive users, there is a 24-hour ticket for 6.85 € (unlimited Metro, bus, tram, funiculars — pays off from 5 rides). Available at Metro machines or newspaper kiosks.

⛴️ Ferries across the Tejo

The ferries from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas (south bank) are not only practical but offer one of the most beautiful views of Lisbon — the entire skyline with the seven hills and the Ponte 25 de Abril unfolds before you. The crossing takes only 10 minutes, costs 1.65 € (Viva Viagem), and runs every 10–20 minutes. In Cacilhas, there are excellent fish restaurants and the Cristo Rei — Lisbon's Christ statue with a panoramic view.

🚕 Uber & Bolt

Both services work excellently in Lisbon and are significantly cheaper than taxis. A ride across the city costs 5–8 €, to the airport 8–12 €. Fixed taxi prices to the airport: about 15 € from the city center. Taxis are always beige/cream-colored and operate by meter — make sure it is turned on.

Ferries play a different role in Portugal than in Greece — there is no large island-hopping network, but some important ferry connections that are both practical and scenically appealing.

⛴️ Lisbon — Tejo Ferries

The most important ferries in Portugal operate across the Tejo in Lisbon. The connection from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas (Almada) is the most popular: 10-minute crossing, every 10–20 minutes, cost 1.65 € with the Viva Viagem card. From Cacilhas, you can reach the Cristo Rei (20 minutes on foot or by bus), the Costa da Caparica (Lisbon's local beach — by bus 124 from Cacilhas), and some of the best fish restaurants in the region. Other Tejo ferries: Cais do Sodré → Seixal, Terreiro do Paço → Barreiro (connection to the train to Setúbal and the Algarve), Belém → Trafaria (quiet connection with a view of the Torre de Belém).

⛴️ Setúbal — Tróia

The ferry from Setúbal to the Tróia peninsula (15 minutes, 5.80 € for pedestrians, from 20 € with a car) takes you to one of the most beautiful and longest sandy beaches in Portugal — an 18 km long spit of land with white sand, turquoise water, and dolphins in the Sado estuary. From Lisbon, a perfect day trip: train to Setúbal (1h, from 4 €), ferry to Tróia, enjoy the beach, return in the evening. Bottlenose dolphins live in the Sado estuary — often visible from the ferry!

⛴️ Portimão — Ferragudo (Algarve)

A charming, short ferry ride (5 minutes, 1.50 €) over the Rio Arade between the touristy Portimão and the picturesque fishing village of Ferragudo with its white houses, small fortress, and quiet beach sections. Operates every 15–30 minutes from the quay next to the bridge in summer.

⛴️ Faro — Ria Formosa Islands

From Faro and Olhão, ferries regularly operate to the barrier islands of the Ria Formosa — one of Portugal's most beautiful nature reserves. Ilha Deserta (deserted beach, only one restaurant), Ilha da Culatra (authentic fishing village), Ilha de Tavira (endless sandy beach). Travel time 15–45 minutes, from 2–4 € per route. In summer every 30–60 minutes.

⛴️ Porto — Vila Nova de Gaia

The Rabelo boats (historic port wine transport boats) operate between the Ribeira in Porto and the shore in Gaia as a tourist connection. Not really a means of transport (the Dom Luís I bridge can be crossed on foot in 5 minutes), but a charming experience for 3–5 €. Much more worthwhile is a Six Bridges Boat Tour (15–20 €, 50 minutes) under all six Douro bridges — the best perspective on Porto's breathtaking riverside silhouette.

⛴️ Madeira — Porto Santo

The ferry of the company Porto Santo Line connects Funchal (Madeira) with the neighboring island of Porto Santo (the island with the 9 km long golden beach that Madeira itself does not have). Travel time: 2:15h, departure in the morning, return in the evening. Price: from 35 € round trip for pedestrians, from 100 € with a car. Daily in summer, less frequently in winter. The crossing can be rough in choppy seas — pack travel tablets!