All drivers originally from the UK.
Click picture to visit the website
Pricematch Guaranteed, book your
return transfer and get a free gift!
Click the logo to visit
yellowfishtransfers.com
Airport, golf and local transfers
Bring your team to
the Algarve!! Click to visit our website
Alternatives to satellite dishes also supplied and
installed
BESPOKE GOLF HOLIDAYS -
CLICK AD TO VISIT THEIR SITE
Family friendly holidays and baby equipment to hire
click the logo to visit their site
Useful website for visitor information on safety and
security.
Click logo to visit
Bike rentals, tours, sales and service. Click to see their
site.
Located on the N125 near Algarve Shopping, Guia.
VISITING THE ALGARVE? WANT TO PLAY LAWN BOWLS?
THE BALAIA BOWLS
CLUB NEAR ALBUFEIRA WELCOMES YOU
WE HAVE RESUMED ROLLUPS. VISITORS WELCOME BUT YOU MUST LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE.
Please visit this page for the details
Roll-ups Tuesday and Friday mornings, meet at 1045 for
1100 start. Visitors pay €10
per person. We can provide woods, but not shoes at this time.
We are also happy to welcome touring sides and can provide
our own team as your competition. Four rinks on natural
grass. Bar adjacent! Open (almost) all year around. CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE CLUB
WEBSITE HOLIDAY RENTAL
MODERN TWO BEDROOM
APARTMENT FOR HOLIDAY RENT LONG OR SHORT STAYS IN THE
VERY CENTRE OF ALBUFEIRA OLD TOWN
No pool, no parking, but 2 minutes walk from the beach
area, 1 minute walk from the old town's main square.
The apartment is NOT suitable for those who cannot manage
46 stairs up from the street! No lift / elevator.
Long lets available in winter. Price around €250 a week,
negotiable, minimum 'long' let is three weeks. Unlimited
wifi, fully equipped kitchen. Large balcony. I know
the owner!
Bookable at Booking.com - click here. SHAMELESS BOOK PLUG!
available as a paperback and Kindle at Amazon.
Paul Marsh has lived in the Algarve for fifty years.
This is the first part of Paul's story – how he threw away the opportunity of
a privileged education and a glittering career in accountancy and opted
instead to bum his way around Europe for a few years until finally
settling in the Algarve, where he had a stroke of good fortune, became
emotionally attached to a local street dog – that’s him in the title of
this book – and fell in love with the country and its people.
The Algarve region of Portugal - information on bus
and train services
This is an unofficial website compiled by a
resident of the Algarve. It has come about as a result
of many enquiries in various forums. No responsibility
can be accepted for any problems caused by errors or
omissions. This site is not connected with, nor endorsed
by, any official operator or organisation. I welcome any
feedback, comments and
suggestions. In all cases I strongly recommend that you
check times locally at the bus terminal etc as timetable
changes are usually made without prior warning!
Timetables are NOT posted at most bus stops. They still
wonder why few people use the buses here.
Contents - summary
YOU ARE STRONGLY
ADVISED TO READ THE GUIDANCE NOTES first as,
at first sight, the operations here can seem a bit
complicated.
For example, most buses in the Algarve do not have
route / line numbers as they do in many countries.
IMPORTANT
- WEARING A MASK IS COMPULSORY BY LAW ON ALL
FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT WITH BIG FINES IF YOU
DO NOT. THIS INCLUDES TAXIS AND FERRIES.
One rural
bus timetable has been changed three times this week! It's one really
only for students but it must be very difficult for them to keep aware
of the changes. Many recent changes have been announced with 24
hours notice.
Although not as numerous as over the previous four weeks, the changes are still
causing a lot of work. Apologies in advance if I get something wrong or
miss a change. The good news is that the timetables for the main routes do now appear to be fixed.
In some areas, where buses were
operated mainly for the benefit of students and schoolchildren, they
have been removed from the public timetable.
Buses here do not
take contactless debit or credit cards for
fares paid on board. This situation did not push
them towards it. Unless you have a pre paid pass, it's cash only on board.
Some bus station ticket offices are keeping reduced hours.
Full list on the EVA website here. Encerra =
closed.Tickets for long distance trips, eg to Lisbon
can be purchased on line, but not local tickets.
EVA and Frota Azul stops in the region are now
marked on Google Maps! Major breakthrough!
Click on a bus stop symbol and you will see the NORMAL
times of the buses and their destination. The route
numbers on the departure board are however fictitious.
They are not shown on the front of the bus. Some stops
do not show up on the map unless you zoom right in.
Some information is not correct following the big changes made during
September, so treat with caution..
INTERNATIONAL
BUS / COACH SERVICES BETWEEN ALGARVE TOWNS AND SPAIN
A very limited
service of just two daytime journeys each way now
operates on the Rede Expressos Lagos Albufeira - Faro - Seville
route. The overnight Lisbon - Seville
service is also running every night. This stops in
Albufeira and Faro around 0200hrs in each
direction.
Flixbus
appears to be operating a daytime service every other day between Lisbon and
Seville which calls in Albufeira, Faro and Faro airport. I cannot find
any other journeys operating on a regular basis.
TRAINS
Trains are running to the 'normal' timetables, with one exception on the Lisbon - Algarve line. Information here.
Ticket sales on Alfa Pendular (AP) and Intercidades
(IC) trains are limited to two-thirds of the normal
capacity. Remember that reservation is COMPULSORY on
these trains. Those travelling elsewhere in Portugal should check
times FOR THE EXACT DATE OF TRAVEL at the official website www.cp.pt
GOOD NEWS - tickets for REGIONAL trains can now be
bought from the CP website or using their 'app'. You
must either print your ticket or keep it on your
mobile device. There is no 'collection' option, if
only because most stations have no ticket office and
there are no ticket machines.
LONG DISTANCE BUSES / COACHES
REDE EXPRESSOS (coach / long distance bus) is now
operating about 90% of normal scheduled service on
main routes.They are currently selling tickets only up
to three weeks in advance. Any journey must be
carefully checked at www.rede-expressos.pt
TAXIS INCLUDING UBER
Taxis and Uber (normal 4
seater size) are limited to TWO passengers per
vehicle. Most taxis here do NOT accept card payments.
FURTHER DISCOUNTS TO 'SEASON TICKETS' ON
REGIONAL BUSES
A promotional drive has further reduced the cost of
monthly passes to 50% of the base fare and with a
maximum price per month of €40 ie equivalent to €2
each working day. Might be useful to long term
visitors staying outside towns or in places not served
by the purely urban networks. Details at http://eva-bus.com/pdf/tarifas_inter_2020.pdf
Are official bus timetables up to date?
People asked whether the timetables on the
official sites are up to date. So far as I am aware
they are. It is just that despite a huge increase in
population and general demographics, some timetables
had not generally changed for 15 or even 20 years!
NEW WEBSITE FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT IN THE ALGARVE
- USEFUL MAP OF BUS ROUTES AND STOPS
A new website has been created with the aim of
promoting sustainable transport in the Algarve. Among
the early features is a map, overlaid onto Google
Maps, which shows every inter-urban bus route and all
stopping places. A commendable start and at first
glance you may think it's a comprehensive network, but
remember that many routes run only once or twice a
day. The site offers no timetable information that I
can find. The map will be a useful cross reference to
other information. It can be found at https://algarve.city-platform.com/app/?a=carreiras
- link will open in a new window. The main website
itself is www.vamus.pt and is available in
Portuguese and English.
TOURIST PASS FOR ALGARVE
LINE REGIONAL TRAINS
Available from STAFFED stations only. (Lagos,
Portimao, Tunes, Albufeira, Loulé, Faro, Olhao, Tavira
and Vila Real de Santo António) and are NOT VALID ON
ALFA PENDULAR OR INTERCITY TRAINS. Do the maths first.
A return (round-trip) ticket from Faro to Lagos is
only €14,80.
Two days for €20,90 and three days for €31,90.
Reduced fares for children. Days must be consecutive.
The seven day pass is not being advertised, that I can
find.
Discounts for long distance train travel!
If you book more than
8 days in advance there are some really cheap fares
available on trains, eg between the Algarve stations
and Lisbon. These fares can be cheaper than coaches
(buses). These tickets might not be refunded if you do
not use them. Go to www.cp.pt
for all you need to know.
OTHER DISCOUNTS ON TRAIN TICKETS
If you are aged 25 or under, CP is offering a 25%
discount on all Alfa Pendular, Intercidades,
InterRegional and Regional train tickets. You can
use this discount in any class, any day of the week.
Just show official ID with proof of your age such as
a Citizen card, ID card, driving licence or
passport. You can buy your tickets from
long-distance ticket offices, netTICKET travel
agents. These tickets can be reissued or refunded.
Young people aged 26 or over can still enjoy the
Cartão Jovem discount for individual journeys.
In addition, a 40% or higher discount is available
to all travellers on long distance Intercity and
Alfa Pendular trains who make reservations on line
eight days or more in advance. Reservations open 60
days before travel. On some trains the number of
these discounted tickets is limited. These tickets
can be exchanged for a different train, but are not
refunded if you don't make the trip. You can buy
your print at home tickets at www.cp.pt and in English. DO
NOT buy tickets from RailEurope or any other site as
they cannot offer the discount and cannot provide
you with the mandatory seat reservations. These you
would have to obtain locally and pay an additional
fee for them. Anyone over 65 can travel half fare on
local trains so long they have ID eg passport.
STEP FREE ACCESS TO TRAINS - NOT POSSIBLE
I must emphasise that there is NO STEP FREE ACCESS at
any Algarve station to any train while it is in the
platform. All trains in use have steps up into the
carriage. Some platforms are very low, making it
difficult for some. I have added an item to the
'disabled page' with details
of the various stations.
TOURIST PASSES FOR ALGARVE BUSES
These are available as three day versions at €30,50
and seven days for €38,20. Days must be consecutive.
They can be bought at any bus station ticket office,
also the Albufeira old town Bus Shop and the EVA
ticket office in Largo do Dique, Portimão. They are
valid on ALL buses operated by EVA or Frota Azul
listed in timetables on this site. They are NOT
VALID on EVA Mundial Turismo (MT), Rede-Expressos or
other long distance services, international
services, the so called 'airport shuttle' between
the airport, Albufeira, Portimão and Lagos, nor on
the local urban buses in Lagos, Portimão, Albufeira,
Loulé, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Faro and Tavira. The
local buses in those towns have their own day
passes, multi-ride tickets and season tickets for
frequent or regular users.
BUS DELAYS
Traffic congestion and
unrealistic timetables mean that many buses cannot
be relied upon to run to time, especially on the
longer journeys.
The 1800 bus from Lagos to Albufeira is ALWAYS at
least 10 minutes late by the time it gets to
Albufeira, 20 minutes delay in summer is not
unusual. I regularly experience similar delays
returning from Lagos or Portimão to Albufeira in the
late afternoon and early evening.
On the longer routes eg Lagos - Faro and Albufeira -
Lagos, delays of 10 - 15 minutes towards the end of
the journey are commonplace, on any day of the week.
Delays are even more likely in summer.
TIMETABLES AT BUS STATIONS ETC
Timetables are posted at
most bus stations (except Faro or Loulé) but not at
most bus stops. Copies of the official timetables can
be downloaded from the various websites but finding
which one(s) you need can be a problem, for example
between Albufeira and Portimão there are four
different bus routes each with its own timetable.
Copies can be obtained from bus station ticket
offices.
DISABLED OR FIND IT HARD TO GET AROUND?
DEFICIENTE? BEHINDERTE? HANDICAPÉ?
Please click here
for some observations on this issue. You will
have problems using the buses and trains
in the Algarve. I am able-bodied by
the way!
Why the site exists
I have built this site of local bus,
train and ferry information here in the
Algarve in response to many queries raised
through various forums.
The main idea is to allow visitors and
potential visitors to plan ahead by
getting an understanding of the local
public transport operations and the places
they serve and don’t! I recommend that
wherever possible you check times locally.
Updates are continuous. Whenever I go
somewhere, I check the information. Each
timetable bears the date on which I was
last able to verify it as being
correct.Schedule changes are not very
frequent, but do happen and often with
little or no advance warning.
Changes are rarely highlighted on websites
etc.
I live in the Algarve and use these buses
and trains as I do not drive. Not all
routes and services are included. I have
left out those unlikely to be of use to
visitors, for example some short
schooldays only runs.
I have not included full details of some
of the local 'city' bus type operations.
They have websites to which I can
redirect. You can make enquiries at the
local bus station or tourist information
offices if required. Please note that
tickets are NOT interchangeable between
these purely urban buses and the other
buses.
As much as possible has been checked on
the ground eg by using the buses concerned
and/or obtaining the printed timetables.
Official websites
The official website of the major
local operator, EVA, can be found at www.eva-bus.com ;
the other, smaller, company Frota Azul
also has a website. They have
'search' functions enabling you to find
which buses run between two places, but do
not list buses to and from all
destinations nor all the fares. The
official timetables are available for
download and printing. As neither site has
a map of routes, it can be difficult to
discover which route serves which place.
There are often differences between the
information on the websites and the
timetables at the bus stations etc. I use
the printed information.
The urban operators around the
larger towns also have websites, with
varying degrees of information, That for
Albufeira is the worst. No timetables are
published! Each site is mentioned on
relevant pages, with links to them.
I would be pleased to receive any
timetables not included here. If you can
scan or photo them please email
them to me. I can then include the
data in these pages.
CURRENT
ALBUFEIRA
WEATHER
ALGARVE HOLIDAY FUN
INFORMATION, ADVICE AND DISCOUNTED
BOOKINGS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY FUN - CLICK THE LOGO TO VISIT
THE SITE
CLICK THE PICTURE FOR
TRACY BURTON'S GUIDE TO THE VIA ALGARVIANA
RECOMMENDED BARS
IN OLD TOWN ALBUFEIRA As of 17th October bars are
open but must close at 1am with last admissions at midnight. This may
of course be changed at any time!
The Cavern Pub
English owned and run since 1991 Old town Albufeira, Rua
do MFA, two minutes walk from the square.
Open from 12 noon weekends and some UK Bank Holidays (for
the sports) , open from 6pm weekdays.
60's and 70's music plus all UK sport on TV. Free wifi for
customers
TUNES BAR
British owned
Old town Albufeira near the Sol e Mar Hotel
Up the steps by the tunnel and turn right to Praça Miguel
Bombarda
Good music, UK Sports on TV. Free wifi for customers
Open 11am until late, every day
Tel : 289 153 178 email :tunesbar2016@gmail.com
RECOMMENDED BARS IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN
These inserts are not paid for. Just places I sometimes go
to plus ideas from regular visitors. Hours may vary
according to season.
ARTE BAR, CERRO GRANDE - CLOSED DOWN
Open daily all year. Seating on large terrace. Quizzes and
barbecues in summer. Facebook page
Between the old town and marina. Close to 'Windmill Hill'
FAT CATS DINER, RUA DUNFERMLINE
Near Paraiso, Tropical Sol, Eirasol, Forte do Vale etc Facebook page
VICTORIA BAR, RUA SAMORA BARROS - CLOSED
Near Albufera Jardim, Windmill Hill, Páteo Village.
THE WANDER INN, AREIAS DE SÃO JOÃO
Facebook page
In Rua Alexandre Herculano. British owned. Closed
Tuesdays.
THE YORKSHIRE TAVERN
Facebook Page. Near the traffic
lights at the 'strip'. Closed Saturdays.
