How Newcastle United fans can navigate tricky travel to Benfica friendly as tickets go on sale

Newcastle United fans will fancy a short summer break, but the logistics aren’t the easiest
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As the start of the new Premier League season draws closer and closer, Newcastle United are gearing up for their vital pre-season matches.

After a trip to Austria this week, the Magpies will fly to Portugal at the end of July to square up to European outfit Benfica.

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The fixture is in the calendar for Tuesday, July 27 and a number of Newcastle fans will be taking time off work for a short holiday to coincide with the match.

Tickets for the game go on sale to season ticket holders today, Monday, July 11 at 10 am.

It will cost supporters £17.50 to watch the match but, of course, there is the added expense of the trip abroad to factor in too.

The football club are not organising travel groups, so fans must get to Portugal on their own.

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There are no direct flights to Lisbon fromNewcastle Airport queues: Exact number of minutes it takes 99% of passengers to pass security"> Newcastle Airport, which may leave fans struggling to work out logistics for the trip.

NewcastleWorld runs through possible ways supporters could get themselves to Lisbon for the Benfica friendly.

Fly from Newcastle Airport to Faro

Newcastle Airport fared far better than most airports across the UK during a hectic AprilNewcastle Airport fared far better than most airports across the UK during a hectic April
Newcastle Airport fared far better than most airports across the UK during a hectic April

It is possible to get a direct flight from Newcastle Airport to Faro.

Ryanair, Tui and Jet2 fly to the coastal location nonstop from Newcastle.

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Plenty of flights are available in the days preceding the friendly and there is even a 6:45 am flight with Jet2 on Tuesday, July 27.

Travelling from Newcastle Airport is pricey, with the cheapest of flights around that date coming in at £150.

Of course, once in Faro you'll then have to make your way to Lisbon.

It's only a two-hour and 45 minutes drive from Faro to Lisbon, so renting a car is an easy way to get between the two.

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There are also daily trains that take around three hours and cheap coach tickets from £7 that take three and a half hours.

Fly from Newcastle Airport to Lisbon with a change

Lisbon, PortugalLisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal

There are a number of ways to fly to Lisbon from Newcastle with a stop elsewhere in Europe.

That stop could be in Faro, London, Paris, Brussels or elsewhere depending on what time you're travelling.

These journeys take at least five hours and 20 minutes and can vary hundreds of pounds in price.

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The most realistic of these options seems to be a 6:05 am departure on Sunday, July 24 with a stop in Faro to get a connecting flight that lands in Lisbon at 12:05 pm. That would cost £257 as it stands.

Fly direct to Lisbon from Manchester Airport, Edinburgh Airport, London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London Stanstead

The Estadio da Luz in Portugal (Image: Getty Images)The Estadio da Luz in Portugal (Image: Getty Images)
The Estadio da Luz in Portugal (Image: Getty Images)

Newcastle Airport may not fly direct to Lisbon, but there are plenty of UK airports that do.

If you are willing to drive or catch a train to Manchester Airport, Edinburgh Airport or the many options in London, you'll avoid having to change flights.

There are countless options across the days for direct flights from those airports, although prices are high given the time of year and short notice.