Getting here
There is a wide range of flights available to Portugal from the UK and beyond. The closest airport is Faro, about 75km from Lagos. Faro is served by many of the major airlines, including Easyjet, British Airways and RyanAir as well as Monarch, FlyBe (from Southampton, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle) and Portugal's national carrier, TAP.
Flight-time from the UK is approximately 2.5 hrs out and just over 2 hrs on the return leg, depending on the airport. Portugal is also in the same time zone as the UK. Faro airport is about an hour's drive from Lagos. The route is straight and fast down the motorway that hugs the coast as it heads West - follow the signs for Portimao, Lagos or Sagres.
Alternatively, you may wish to fly into Lisbon, a fantastic city about 2.5hrs north of Lagos. The airport, a few minutes outside the city centre, is also served by a range of major airlines including BA and Easyjet.
Car hire
There is a wide selection of car hire companies available for all budgets and sizes, both at Faro airport and in Lagos. We'd recommend having a look at HolidayAutos or at Rental Cars, both of which collate the best prices and options available. Luz Car in Lagos is also an excellent local option that normally charges considerably less than the major hire companies.
UPDATE: AVOID GOLDSTAR CARS! We speak from personal experience! They'll charge you for a full tank of gas at time of booking and that applies whether you use a quarter of a tank or the whole lot! A bona fide swizz.
Trains
There is also a train, which runs from Faro to Lagos station at the end of the line. You'll need to take the free bus for the short ride form the airport to Faro station. The journey is a little...rustic but the route hugs the coastline and could give you your first glimpse of the ocean! The trip takes about 1hr and 40 mins and, if you're on a budget, is also extremely cheap! If you're planning your journey, please do bear in mind the trains don't run especially frequently - epa, this is Portugal! You can view an official timetable right here or a handy timetable summary here. Do double-check times before you travel.
Taxis
A taxi from Faro airport to Lagos will cost you approximately 90-100 Euros and takes about an hour.
Travel guides
You might want to check out The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet entries on Lagos and surrounds if you're after a little more information. There is also a wealth of information available on the internet about the region so do investigate!
The Wedding List **UPDATED**
Our wedding list is now up and running at John Lewis. Just visit the website and enter gift list number: 533544. Cheers!
There is a wide selection of car hire companies available for all budgets and sizes, both at Faro airport and in Lagos. We'd recommend having a look at HolidayAutos or at Rental Cars, both of which collate the best prices and options available. Luz Car in Lagos is also an excellent local option that normally charges considerably less than the major hire companies.
UPDATE: AVOID GOLDSTAR CARS! We speak from personal experience! They'll charge you for a full tank of gas at time of booking and that applies whether you use a quarter of a tank or the whole lot! A bona fide swizz.
Trains
There is also a train, which runs from Faro to Lagos station at the end of the line. You'll need to take the free bus for the short ride form the airport to Faro station. The journey is a little...rustic but the route hugs the coastline and could give you your first glimpse of the ocean! The trip takes about 1hr and 40 mins and, if you're on a budget, is also extremely cheap! If you're planning your journey, please do bear in mind the trains don't run especially frequently - epa, this is Portugal! You can view an official timetable right here or a handy timetable summary here. Do double-check times before you travel.
Taxis
A taxi from Faro airport to Lagos will cost you approximately 90-100 Euros and takes about an hour.
Travel guides
You might want to check out The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet entries on Lagos and surrounds if you're after a little more information. There is also a wealth of information available on the internet about the region so do investigate!
The Wedding List **UPDATED**
Our wedding list is now up and running at John Lewis. Just visit the website and enter gift list number: 533544. Cheers!