Lagos' closest airport is in Faro, the Algarve's largest city located a 90 minute's drive away. Travelers flying into Faro can rent a car from major companies including Avis, Budget and Hertz or a private airport transfer shuttle transporting travelers to Lagos. Southern Portugal's Autoroute 22 (A22) takes drivers from Faro directly to Lagos. Those traveling by rail can take an airport shuttle or taxi for the 10 to 15 minute drive to the Faro train station and take one of 10 daily trains to Lagos. Despite the airport's somewhat smaller size, it offers frequent daily flights to about five dozen different European destinations; 20 in Britain alone. Major airline carriers serving Faro Airport include British Airways, Aer Lingus and Lufthansa in addition to popular low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Ryanair and Thomsonfly.
Lisbon Portela Airport is Portugal's main airport, with flights from a number of major airlines serving international destinations in the US, Europe, Brazil and North Africa. Located a two to three hours' drive from Lagos, this airport provides a reasonable compromise between northerly Porto and the Faro Airport, which serves considerably fewer cities. Passengers flying out of Lisbon Airport not living within the European Schengen Zone and flying to another European destination are required to check in at least two hours ahead of their scheduled departure time, while non-Schengen residents flying to another continent must check in at least 180 minutes ahead. Those renting a car from the airport can take the Segunda Circular ring roadway to leave the Lisbon area and get onto Autoroute 2 (A2) to drive all the way south to Lagos. Or, travelers taking the train to Lagos can board Carris Aerobus 96 at the airport every half hour from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and exit at Oriente Train Station.
The northernmost of Portugal's three airports is in Porto, about a six-hour drive from Lagos. Slightly smaller in size than Lisbon Airport, Porto's Aeroporto Francisco Sa Carneiro also boasts numerous daily flights from major destinations throughout Europe plus New York and Boston. Major airline companies flying into Porto include popular low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Iberia Air and Ryanair. Passengers flying into Porto can reach Lagos via rental car, as there are numerous rental agencies on airport grounds. Drivers should take National Route 107 (N107) toward Autoroute 1 (A1) which connect to smaller regional roadways to Lagos. Travelers can also take a taxi or the Porto metro's Violet Line from the airport into the center of Porto where they can board a train or bus that will take them to Lagos. Or, board a local STCP bus at the airport on lines 601, 602 or 604 to head to the city center near the Sao Bento Train Station.
