How to get to Canelas Portugal by train
With an excellent railway network and good bus routes, public transport is a convenient way to explore Portugal. A decent long-distance train service connects most major towns and cities, while urbano trains – also called ferrocarril – are a great way to discover smaller villages. An IC or AP ticket is valid for one journey, and can be bought on the spot or in advance from local stations or ticket machines (at larger cities you’ll often find a ticket office).
Car hire is an option in large cities and some coastal areas, with rates usually around EUR40 per day. Driving conditions aren’t ideal everywhere – Portugal has some of the worst road-accident statistics in the EU, so defensive driving is essential. Smaller country roads are often less crowded, but local drivers tend to disregard rules and drive fast, especially around blind corners.
Scooters can be rented in most larger cities and along the Algarve coast, though you’ll need a valid driver’s license to rent one. The N379-1 across the vertiginous Serra de Arrabida provides dramatic coastal views, while the N265 from Serpa to Mertola offers a bucolic back-route through the Alentejo.
Local buses are cheap by European standards, with a ride across Lisbon or Porto costing around EUR10. Taxis are reasonably priced too, though prices rise at peak times, on weekends and after 10pm. Look for a sign in the window that says ‘taxi’, and always check the meter before agreeing to a fare.
