Faro Airport to Lagos: car, bus, train and taxi compared

Lagos sits at the western end of the busy south coast, about 90 km from Faro Airport. Every option below works, but they differ a lot in time, cost and, above all, in how well they fit your arrival time.

By rental car

Most rental companies have desks at the airport, while some of the cheaper ones are off site and collect you by shuttle bus. From the airport you join the A22, the main motorway along the Algarve, and follow it west until the exit for Lagos. The drive takes about an hour outside rush hour.

The A22 has been free of charge since 1 January 2025. You will still drive under the old toll gantries and some navigation apps still warn about tolls, but nothing is charged. We explain this in our guide to toll roads in the Algarve.

If you are spending more than a couple of days in or around Lagos, we think a car is worth it for the beaches alone. The coves west of Lagos and the wild beaches of the west coast are hard to reach by public transport. See Do you need a car in the Algarve? for the full picture, including the rental traps to avoid.

By Aerobus (Vamus line 56)

The Aerobus is a coach that runs from the airport to Lagos bus station, stopping at Albufeira, Lagoa and Portimão on the way. The airport stop is outside the arrivals hall. You can pay the driver in cash, buy a ticket at the machine at the airport stop, or use the Vamus website or app.

The fare from the airport to Lagos is €17. The coach takes about 1 hour 55 minutes, almost twice as long as driving, because it leaves the motorway to call at each town on the way.

Summer timetable, 1 May to 31 October 2026: departures from the airport at 08:30, 09:30, 11:15, 12:30, 14:30, 16:00 and 18:15. They arrive in Lagos at 10:25, 11:30, 13:15, 14:25, 16:25, 18:00 and 20:15.

Winter timetable, 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027: only two departures from the airport, at 11:15 (arriving in Lagos at 13:15) and 18:15 (arriving at 20:15).

The winter timetable is the part that surprises people. If your flight lands at 13:00 in January, the next coach to Lagos is not until 18:15. Check the current timetable on the Vamus website before you rely on it.

By bus and train

There is no railway station at Faro Airport. To take the train you first need to get to Faro station in the city, about 6 km away:

1. Take bus 16 from the stop outside arrivals to Faro railway station (it is the stop before the main bus terminal). The ride takes around 20 minutes and the fare is a few euros, paid to the driver.
2. Take a regional train from Faro towards Lagos. The fare is €8.30 on a Regional train or €9.15 on an InterRegional.

Trains between Faro and Lagos run roughly every two hours, with the first at 06:34 and the last at 20:40, arriving in Lagos at 22:28. The line was electrified in July 2026 and some services are now faster, but the journey still takes between about 1 hour 30 minutes and 1 hour 50 minutes.

Do not expect a modern intercity train. This is a regional line that feels much closer to an old suburban commuter service, with simple carriages and stops at small stations along the way. It is cheap and it works, but most visitors find the bus-and-train combination slow once you add the wait at Faro station.

By taxi, Uber or Bolt

Taxis wait outside arrivals. The meter has a daytime rate from 06:00 to 21:00, and a higher rate at night, at weekends and on public holidays, plus a small charge for luggage in the boot. For Lagos, expect roughly €90 to €130, depending on the time and the size of the car.

Uber and Bolt both operate at Faro Airport and are often cheaper than a taxi, although prices rise when demand is high. For a group of three or four, a taxi or ride-hailing car can cost about the same as several coach tickets and saves almost an hour.

By private transfer

A pre-booked transfer gives you a fixed price and a driver waiting with your name, which is reassuring if your flight is delayed. Shared and private transfers to Lagos start at about €80 for a car. Book directly with a company that shows the total price including luggage and child seats.

Arriving in the evening

Plan the last part of your journey before you fly if you land after about 17:00:

• The last Aerobus leaves the airport at 18:15 all year round.
• The last train from Faro to Lagos leaves at 20:40, and you still need time to get from the airport to Faro station.
• After that, your options are a rental car, a taxi, Uber or Bolt, a pre-booked transfer, or a night in Faro and an onward trip in the morning.

Which option we would choose

For a holiday of more than two or three days in Lagos, we would pick up a car at the airport. You will be in Lagos in an hour, and you will need the car anyway for beaches such as Praia do Camilo, Praia da Luz or the west coast. For a short city break without a car, the Aerobus is the easiest choice as long as your flight lands in time for it. For an evening arrival, especially with children, book a taxi or transfer before you travel.