ELVAS - how to get there by train or bus and how to get around

INFORMATION CHECKED 28th OCTOBER I have no easy means to check or update so please confirm through sources given below.

Elvas (pop.16,600, urban area 23,000) is an historic town of eastern Portugal. It is not in the Algarve - I was visiting! The town is about 130 miles / 210 km by road from Lisbon. it is about 164 miles / 265km from Albufeira by the shortest route, but 210 miles / 338km by the quickest route.

From Lisbon Airport and City to Elvas by train 

Elvas has only ONE train a day. The ONLY possible journey from and to Lisbon is as below.  Train timetable in full here.
Elvas station is nearly 3km from the town centre.  Map here. Taxis are not available at the station unless you call for one. There are no buses.
This is the train. Click to see the picture larger size.Take some water with you at least!

If you are not planning to spend time in Lisbon, you will need to get from the Airport to LISBOA ORIENTE station. This is now very simple using the Lisbon metro (subway)  - trains run to Oriente station every few minutes from 0630 until 0100 every night. The journey takes about 5 minutes. There is also city bus 744 to Oriente.

Reservations for train trips in Portugal can only be made up to a MAXIMUM of 60 days in advance. You can reserve on line at www.cp.pt and print your own ticket. A big discount is available on many trains for tickets purchased more than 8 days in advance. DO NOT use RailEurope etc as they cannot issue the required seat reservation for which you will pay extra.

Lisbon - Elvas by bus (coach) - Operated by Rede Expressos

You will probably need to make your way to the SETE RIOS bus terminal. This is about 3 miles/5km from the airport and is linked to it by the underground metro line. Take any train to the end of the line at São Sebastião then change to the Blue Line for a two stop ride to Jardim Zoológico station, which is adjacent to Sete Rios. Trains run every few minutes from 0630 daily. The journey will take around 25 minutes and cost €2.

There is also a direct bus, Aerobus 2, from the airport to Sete Rios but running only once each hour from 0800 to 1900hrs. Consult the Aerobus website for details. For your bus options from elsewhere in the city check the city bus website at http://www.carris.pt/

From the city centre or elsewhere in Lisbon, make your way by metro to Jardim Zoológico station. The Rede Expressos bus terminal is outside the station exit, well signposted. By city bus you head for Sete Rios. Their bus stops are within 50 metres of the long distance terminal.

Consult the long distance bus website www.rede-expressos.pt for Lisbon - Elvas times, remember it's LISBOA on the timetable search. One-way fare is currently €17,60 and the journey takes about 3 hours. There are seven journeys each way daily. Extra journeys operate in both directions on Friday and Sunday evenings during University terms. One journey each way also calls at Lisbon Oriente bus station, which is closer to the airport. Currently this is at 1530hrs to Elvas, 0645 from Elvas, both daily.Tickets can be purchased up to 30 days in advance.

Porto - Elvas by train

One train a day. Consult https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/buy-tickets you can leave from either Porto São Bento (city centre) or Porto Campanhã, the main station in the eastern suburbs. You change trains at Entroncamento.

One way 2nd class ticket €28,40 or €25,60 depending on which train you take from Porto. Discounted fares may be available.

There is a metro connection between Porto Airport and Campanhã station, takes about 35 minutes and costs €2,60. Service runs daily from 0556 until 0042 every day, with trains every 15 minutes between 0830hrs and 2100hrs, every 30 minutes at other times. You need to change metro lines at Trindad station.

Please note that reservations for train trips in Portugal can only be made up to a MAXIMUM of 60 days in advance. You can reserve on line and print your own ticket. big A discount is available on many trains for tickets purchased more than 8 days in advance.  DO NOT use RailEurope etc as they cannot issue the required seat reservation for which you will pay extra.

Porto - Elvas by coach (bus) - Operated by Rede Expressos

From Porto (Campo 24 Agosto Bus Station) journey is about seven hours. There are no direct services, you go via Lisbon and change there.

One way ticket is €31,40. Tickets can be bought on line up to 30 days in advance at the Rede Expressos website www.rede-expressos.pt

The Campo 24 de Agosto bus terminal is a short distance outside Porto city centre, about two minutes walk from the Campo 24 de Agosto metro station (same line as for the Campanhã railway station) and is served by numerous city bus routes.

Badajoz (Spain) to Elvas

There are local buses between the two towns on weekdays. These leave Badajoz at 1315 and 1630 Spanish time, arriving in Elvas at 1245 and 1600 Portuguese time. They do not operate at weekends or public holidays. The daily train leaves Badajoz at 1624 Spanish time, arriving at Elvas 1548 Portuguese time.

So far as I can establish the long distance operators do not carry passengers for this short trip nor between Elvas and Spanish towns.

Algarve to Elvas

You can do what I did, take a train to Lisbon, stay overnight and get up early next day for the train. The ride is scenic. The sensible way is to go by train or coach (long distance bus) to Lisbon and on from there. Total journey time though 6 - 7 hours. From some places in the Algarve you can also go via Évora but it's the same journey time more or less.

Arriving in Elvas

Elvas is built on top of a tall and steep hill. The bus station is about 800 metres / 1/2 of a mile from the centre, down at the bottom. I don't know if taxis wait for arrivals there.  Map link  https://goo.gl/maps/4aUSfw65bfR9Nst6A

Getting around in Elvas

Once you are up in the old town it is walkable, although some streets are very steep. You cannot drive around there anyway! There is no bus service inside the walls except for  two 'urban' bus routes making their way between the bus station and around various suburbs. There are a total of seven buses each weekday. Times and routes here and here.

Further afield from Elvas - local and regional buses

Football Stadium in Elvas

Elvas has an impressive 15,000 seat stadium but as of now has no team to play in it.

Comments and updates

If you have any comments or updates for this page, I will be pleased to receive them by email. For more about Elvas as a city, please see this article in Wikipedia.

I take no responsibility for any inconvenience caused as a result of later changes to times etc. This page is for general guidance only and you must check details before making commitments and decisions!