One of the top questions we get from people staying in our hometown of Lagos, Portugal is, “Do I need a car to get around Lagos?” And the short answer is, no – it’s a main factor of why we decided to live here in the first place. Even though Lagos is a smaller town, it’s also a hub for public transportation. Not in the way a capital city like Lisboa or Berlin is, but in a way that makes exploring town easy. This article covers public transportation in Lagos and tips for Portugal travel.
Before we get into getting around Lagos, I do already have a guide on the best ways to get to Lagos, Portugal – so check that out if you’re looking on how to end up here from nearby airports or anywhere in the world.
Does Lagos, Portugal have public transportation?
Yes! Lagos has a local bus line, regional bus line, train system, and other modes of local transportation.
Even though public transportation exists here, Lagos, Portugal is a small, relatively walkable town in the Algarve with a permanent resident population of about 30k people. In the peak of the summer, the population gets as large as 60k people. What makes Lagos a fun place to visit is it still has that small town feel yet all the amenities you’d expect of someplace larger.
Get to know the bus systems of Lagos, Portugal
I’m going to start with the bus systems because that’s how you’d typically get around within Lagos and to nearby towns if you want to expand your exploring.
There are three bus systems in Lagos, Portugal:
- local Lagos a’Onda bus
- regional Algarve routes through Vamus Algarve
- longer haul bus lines that take you across Portugal & internationally: rede expressos, FlixBus, and alsa
Fun fact: bus in Portuguese is autocarro
If you’re wanting to get from one side of Lagos to the other, you’re likely going to choose our preferred method of public transportation: the a’Onda bus lines. There are 10 bus lines, each with a corresponding color and daily route.
If you want to take day trips to nearby towns like Luz, Burgau, or Barão de São João (towns that often host great live music events), you can hop onto the bus in Lagos and it’s a quick trip to these smaller towns. We frequent the number 4 line between Lagos & Luz, which is about a 20-minute trip – just to give you an idea.
Some must-knows for taking the Onda Lagos bus:
- schedules vary from weekdays, saturdays, and sundays & seasonally- check the schedule ahead of time using Google Maps, on the posted schedule at stops, or on the a`Onda website.
- most lines extend their hours until after midnight during July & August
- cash only or pre-paid pay-as-you-go card when visiting – you can get a pay-as-you-go card at the main bus station in Lagos (Terminal Rodoviário).
- pay-as-you-go card costs €3 when you first purchase it, but it decreases your fare by 50% and you can top it off as you need to. We usually put €10 on it, which lasts us a while. You can share a card if you will always be traveling together and just ask the driver to charge 2+ tickets when you get on.
- fares are one-way only (no roundtrip) – save the receipt the driver gives you if you’re catching a connection on another Onda line during your one-way journey – you’ll show this to the next driver so you don’t have to pay twice for the same journey
- as of 2026, smaller bus lines (the ones that stay within the city center) are €1,20 and longer bus lines (like the 4 line) are €1,60 each
- This rate reduces to €,60 and €,80 when using the pay-as-you-go card
- buses are not always on time. I usually plan for +/- 5 minutes of the scheduled time. Sometimes, buses can even be 3 minutes early. If you’re on a tight schedule, plan accordingly. Like anywhere in Portugal, patience is needed and a part of life here.
- some lines change where they go based on the time of day. During school hours, buses will make more stops. At the end of the day, some buses will alternate between destinations. For example, the #4 line alternates between Burgau and Almadena at the end of the day. If you want to make sure the driver is going to your destination, just ask when you get on. It’s better than taking it the wrong direction (which I’ve done several times)
- when traveling in large groups, taking an Uber/Bolt may be faster and more affordable (check out our apps you should download for Portugal article)
I’m in the process of making a full video on this to show just how easy it is to ride the local bus lines, but I wanted to make sure I got the info out asap as I edit the video!
How to use the Vamus Algarve bus:
The Vamus Algarve bus line gets a little bit more complicated than the Onda line with several routes that span across the entire Algarve region. If you’re looking to get to Portimão, Marmalete, Tavira, or towns throughout the region that don’t have train access, see if the Vamus line is a good fit.
Some must-knows about the Vamus Algarve line:
- make sure you know where your bus stop is – these are not the same, nor are they as obvious as the Onda line. You can look up the different Vamus stops on the “network” section of their website of the “plan your route” section
- one-way or round trips routes are available
- schedules vary by weekdays, saturdays, and sundays
- the website partners with other bus lines too, so your bus may not say “vamus” on it – make sure to look at your ticket carefully when booking
- ticket prices vary depending on length of trip and destination – check the fares here
- you can purchase your ticket ahead of time, and most people on the vamus bus do this to ensure they have a spot
Overall, we don’t typically take the Vamus Algarve buses and prefer the train, rede expressos, or FlixBus for exploring the Algarve.
Long haul bus lines in Lagos
When we explore the Algarve region or are traveling to other areas of Portugal, we typically take the long haul bus lines. These buses leave from / arrive at the main Lagos bus station (Terminal Rodoviário). I’m going to share a bit of each of the main bus lines so that you can get an idea of which fits your needs best. If you want to check out all the lines at ones and choose the route that best fits your schedule, use the app omio.
All about Rede Expressos in Lagos
Overall, Rede Expressos is our favorite and most reliable long-distance bus to take throughout Portugal. They’re usually bright blue and offer a lot of different routes and times to/from Lagos. Here are some tips for your next trip:
- book tickets in advance using their app or website, especially if you’re here in the summer because prices increase with demand
- travel time can vary by 2+ hours depending on the route you book – I prefer routes with the shortest travel time between my departure and destination
- cities like Lisboa have several stops – look at the specific stop to make sure it’s the one you want as these can be on opposite sides of the city
- change your seats when booking – the default is the backmost seat
- if you have a NIF and Portuguese number, you can get extra savings by joining the RFlex rewards program for free
- you can only bring a small bag (think small tote/backpack) on board; the rest of your luggage will be stored underneath at no extra cost (FlixBus charges for extra bags). Even when I travel with just one bag, I bring an extra small tote with me for my carryon items.
- almost all buses have WiFi and charging ports on board. They recently renovated most of the buses to have USB-C ports, but some of them still have USB-A.
- seat numbers are usually located on the armrest of seats in the aisle or above the seats near the A/C vents
- most buses have footrests that kick down, which I love as someone with short legs
- look at the front window for a paper sign and the LED sign on the top of the bus to confirm the bus number
If you have questions, the drivers are very helpful but not all speak English. Be patient and respectful when speaking with the drivers and you’ll have a great ride!
Tips for FlixBus in Portugal
FlixBus are the bright green buses that can take you to/from Lagos and offer international routes as well. We’ve taken FlixBus to Madrid and Sevilla, Spain. It can be more affordable and even faster than flying sometimes. Here’s what you should know about FlixBus in Lagos:
- FlixBus picks up on the side of the Lagos bus station, not in the bus station building like Rede Expressos or Vamus
- there is an extra fee for selecting a seat – I usually skip this option and get assigned towards the front of the bus anyway
- there are fees for extra luggage beyond the 1 carryon and 1 larger luggage
- these buses have more predictable breaks in the route to use the toilets
Overall, FlixBus tends to be more expensive, but it has the benefit of having international routes.
The Spanish Bus – Alsa
alsa is a Spanish-based long haul bus line that tends to be our go-to when traveling between Lagos and Sevilla. This bus company can take you across Portugal, Spain, and even into France with a connection.
The alsa bus experience is similar to Rede Expressos, including the part where it has a rewards program and discounts available.
You don’t need to check each site individually to plan your Lagos trip. Omio is a great site and app to check all possible routes and plan your trip. It’ll show you all these bus lines and the train too. Sometimes, it’s even cheaper than booking directly on the site.
Usually, omio is about 1-2 euros more expensive as a convenience fee. My step-dad said he preferred using omio even though it was a bit more expensive so they could keep all their tickets in one app.
One note if you’re from the US where the bus system is sketchy, at best, in most areas. These buses are not like that at all. They are super nice, coach-style buses that offer a pretty comfortable and affordable mode of transportation.
The trains of Lagos, Portugal
Lagos has two train options to get you around: the main train system of Portugal: CP, and the seasonal choo choo aka tourist train that takes you to main points of interest around town.
Explore the Algarve with CP
The CP Algarve train line will take you across the region at an affordable price. You can book tickets for the CP train online, using the app, in person at ticket counters, or on the train itself (CASH ONLY – Algarve line only).
The Algarve train has no assigned seats, which is why you can pay for your ticket on the bus. If you’re taking the train to Lisboa or Porto, you’ll have assigned seats and need to book in advance of departure.
Supposedly, the Algarve line will launch its fully electric upgrade on July 19 of this year! I’ll report back when it’s up and running.
We often take the train to nearby towns like Loulé, Portimão, and Faro for boat tours, music events, or to go to the airport. For more tips on getting to/from Faro airport, check out our best way to get to is Lagos guide. Here’s one of our adventures to Carnaval:
I truly love taking the train, and try to convince everyone I know to use the train whenever possible. It’s affordable and can be faster than driving.
Beyond the Algarve, you can book a CP train to take you all across Portugal. Most of the routes outside of the Algarve region involve a transfer in Tunes.
Portuguese tip: train in Portuguese is comboio
Choo Choo! The tourist train of Lagos
When you come to Lagos in the peak season months, you’ll see this little train making its way around town. You might think it’s a kids’ ride, but it’s actually an easy way to get around town for visitors of all ages!
This train can be expensive with a group (especially because they’ve raised the prices each year), but it’s still cute and fun. The cost in 2026 is 5€/person for a one-way ticket or 6€/person for an all-day pass. It’s free for kids under 4 years old.
You can take it as a tour of Lagos – the whole route is about an hour long. Or you can treat it like a hop on/hop off bus, stopping at spots like Ponte de Piadade, Meia Praia, and the Lagos Marina.
When we had a friend visiting with mobility limitations, this was a great way to see all the sites without constantly ordering Ubers & Bolts. Check the schedule here.
If you prefer hiking, here’s a look at how to get to Ponte da Piedade by foot!
We hope this public transportation guide for Lagos, Portugal encourages you to explore all this town has to offer! But, public transportation isn’t the only way to get around. Walking, e-bike rentals, and rideshares are the other common modes of exploring here.
Our apps to download before arriving in Portugal article gives you a couple extra tips for getting around Portugal in general.
Follow along for more Portugal tips, and we hope to see you at Eyes of the Algarve Grateful Dead Weekend in Lagos this September!
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