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This page is unofficial. The information has been obtained from printed timetables and other local sources and is given in good faith.
The planes, trains and buses on this page are operated by numerous different companies, so some sections will be more up to date than others.

Travel by plane, bus or train between the Algarve and Spain

IT CAN BE A BIT DIFFICULT!!

The main focus of information is travel between the Algarve and Seville.
I have added such information on travel between the Algarve and certain other parts of Spain, either gained through personal experience or contributed by others.

I accept no responsibility for any problems caused by errors or changes made by the operators that I can’t find out about.
I will of course update when new information becomes available. If you have any contributions to this information, please email me!
Thanks again to Barlavento Expert for the information on buses between various parts of Spain and Portugal - summarised here.

PLANE - checked 27th September 2013

There is now only one Spanish destination that can reached by scheduled flights direct from Faro.

Air Berlin operates between Faro and Palma de Mallorca four times a week.
Flying to Palma de Mallorca might sound a bit odd, but there are connections there for Barcelona, Bilbao and many other places

There are currently no flights between Faro and anywhere in mainland Spain.

TRAINS

See below. There are no trains between the Algarve and Spain. The lines do not cross or even meet up at  the border.

The nearest station in Spain is in Huelva, some 60km /36 miles from the border. Huelva has only four trains a day, three to Seville and one direct to Cordba and Madrid.
In fact there are now only THREE trains a day between anywhere in Portugal and anywhere in Spain. And none of them go anywhere near the Algarve.

COACHES/BUSES LAGOS - ALBUFEIRA - FARO - HUELVA - SEVILLE

This information checked 7th December 2013

This bus service between Lagos and Seville is operated jointly by Eva Bus (Portugal) and DAMAS (Spain)
There are also buses between Lisbon and Seville via the Algarve, operated by the Spanish company ALSA – see below
One way fare Lagos to Seville is €21; return/round trip €35. To print the timetable below click here.
THESE TIMETABLES ARE CHANGED WITHOUT WARNING SO PLEASE CHECK ON THE WEBSITES!
PORTIMÃO STOP CHANGE - these buses now stop in the Avenida Guarané, near the Repsol petrol station. It's stop A on the Plan

Connections

Ticket Purchase

These are the only stops. Tickets are not sold on board. This is an 'all-reserved' service. Tickets can be bought on line for all journeys.
Go to www.eva-bus.com for journeys starting in Portugal, www.movelia.es for journeys starting in Spain.
A correspondent noted that when you book ON LINE your ticket may show the departure in SPANISH TIME even if you are leaving from Portugal.
Spanish websites definitely do show the times in Portugal in Spanish time! Do double check.

Otherwise, you must buy your ticket at the ticket office before the bus arrives, so allow sufficient time or go there a day or two earlier.
Warning - a correspondent travelled on the 1330 Seville - Lagos last year. There were tickets available at the DAMAS ticket office but by the time the bus arrived it was obvious that some 15 - 20 more tickets had been sold than there were seats on the bus. Those who had bought tickets on line were not given priority. Late arrivals had to wait for the next journey. This has, they said, happened before. Advice - arrive early even if you have booked on line! 

These buses usually have on-board toilets you will be pleased to know!

# for information about onward connections at Seville please click here. Plaza das Armas is 2km from the main Santa Justa Railway Station and the other main bus station at Prado San Sebastian.

COSTA DEL SOL, GRANADA, JEREZ AND ALGECIRAS - ALGARVE - LISBON DIRECT

Service operated by ALSA - www.alsa.es - the website is in English - item checked and updated 22nd October 2013

If you used this route before, note that the ALBUFEIRA stop is now the main bus station at Caliços.
WARNING - I have noticed on two recent occasions the afternoon ALSA buses leaving Albufeira before the scheduled departure time.
This I can only assume is because all ticketed passengers are on board. You CANNOT buy tickets at the last minute!!

A correspondent has informed me that the overnight service Lisbon - Seville was almost full on the night of 11 /12 October 2013.

I have removed the details as the times keep changing. In summary, there is an overnight journey every night from Seville Plaza das Armas at 2359 to Tavira, Faro, Loulé, Albufeira, Setubal, Lisbon and Porto.

There is a daytime journey Seville - Lisbon via the Algarve as above at around 1500hrs, but this runs only on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in winter daily in July and August.

Similarly there is an overnight journey Porto - Lisbon - Seville every night and daytime journeys on the same days as before, which pass through the Algarve during the afternoon.

As the overnight journeys pass through the Algarve during the early morning hours, there will be no local bus transport from or to the stops, possibly not even taxis.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS - THE OVERNIGHT BUSES DO NOT RUN ON THE NIGHTS OF 24th and 31st DECEMBER.
OTHER JOURNEYS MAY ALSO BE CHANGED OR CANCELLEDCHECK ON THE ALSA WEBSITE BEFORE COMMITTING YOURSELF

Tickets must be bought on line or at a bus station. I have been informed that tickets must be purchased at a main bus station and are only available during 'office hours' on weekdays!

They are not sold on board. It has been reported that ALSA do not accept other than Spanish credit cards on line and also that e-tickets are not available for journeys starting in Portugal.

None of this is obvious from the website. Further comments  would be appreciated! Email me

 When buying tickets at a bus station I have also been advised that it is a good idea to go the DAY BEFORE travel and that in Portugal they generally seem not sell ALSA tickets at weekends.

SEVILLE - CONNECTIONS - checked and updated 22nd October 2013

Connections within the city of Seville

The Plaza de Armas bus terminal in Seville is about 2km across the city from the Santa Justa railway station. It is also about 2km from the Prado San Sebastian Bus Station.  It is very busy, even on a Sunday morning, so allow ample time to buy your ticket. Perhaps go there a day or two earlier as I did, or book on-line if you can.

There is no direct bus between the Plaza de Armas and the Santa Justa railway station. You need to take bus C4 to Prado San Sebastian then change to the C2 for Santa Justa. The official website of the Seville city bus service is at www.tussam.es including a downloadable map. There is a lot more information about Seville generally, including maps, here.

The first line of Seville's metro (underground) rail network is in service. It does not serve either the Plaza de Armas bus station or the Santa Justa rail station. It does have a stop at the Prado San Sebastian, the other major bus station. The metro website is http://www.metro-sevilla.es/en/ - only in Spanish.

Most parts of Seville can also reached by city buses from outside the Plaza de Armas.

Buses to suburban and regional destinations

There is comprehensive information on buses in the Seville region (in Spanish only) at the 'Consorcio Transportes' website.

Buses to many suburban destinations leave from the Plaza de Armas, but some leave from the Prado San Sebastian. The C3 and C4 circular routes link the two bus stations. The bus station at Prado San Sebastian is the yellow painted building with the arches, just around the corner from the  tram/light rail stop**. The entrance is actually in the Plaza San Sebastian. The bus companies Casal, Los Amarillos, Linesur and Alsina Graells (ALSA)  use this terminal. They each have their own ticket/enquiry offices inside. Timetables were displayed when I last visited.

** The short tram line runs between San Bernado metro station via Prado San Sebastian (close to a lot of bus stops) to the old city centre at the Plaza Nueva, a distance of about 1km. Ticketing is integrated with the city buses operated under the Tussam banner.

Buses from Seville to many regional destinations (eg Cadiz, Jerez, Tarifa, La Linea and Algeciras) are operated by DAMAS and Transportes Generales Comes. TG Comes buses use the Prado San Sebastian bus station.

Long distance buses (coaches)

Long distance buses to many other parts of Spain leave from Plaza de Armas.  These companies use Plaza de Armas - ALSA, DAMAS, SOCIBUS, LINESUR, LEDA SA and EUROLINES

You can check times of buses from the  Plaza de Armas bus station on this website http://www.autobusesplazadearmas.es/ note that the site is in Spanish only

The ALSA and Eurolines sites are available in English, the TG Comes site has quite of a lot of its information in English (but isn't very easy to navigate!) but the other sites are only in Spanish.

Seville Airport bus

The airport bus (EA, Especial Aeroporto) now runs to and from the bus station at Plaza de Armas in the city centre, passing the Prado San Sebastian bus station and the Santa Justa railway station on the way.

At Plaza de Armas the airport bus stops in front of the bus station on Calle Torneo (not evident from the Tussam website). There are two city bus stops in front of the station, on the same side of Calle Torneo as the bus station itself. The airport bus stops at the one furthest away to the left from the bus station exit.

First bus from town is at 0430am daily, last bus at 0030. From the airport the first bus is at 0520, last bus at 0120. Buses run three times each hour between about 0730 and 2300hrs, earlier and later twice an hour, mostly at slightly irregular intervals. One way fare is 4 Euros, return fare 6 Euros. Journey is between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Check the times and route maps on the TUSSAM website. Or there is this PDF file here.

Gibraltar

TG Comes runs four buses each day from Seville (Prado San Sebastian) to La Linea, for Gibraltar. Seville - La Linea timetable here. There is no public transport across the Spain/Gibraltar border. You have to walk across the border between La Linea and the local buses and taxis on the Gibraltar side. This takes only a few minutes. Alternatively you can go to Algeciras by coach (bus) from Seville, then by local bus to La Linea.

ALGARVE - SEVILLE USING THE FERRY?

checked 7th December 2013

In the direction Algarve - Seville, you have to take the train or bus to Vila Real de Santo António (VRSA). This town is on the Portuguese side of the wide Guadiana river, which forms the border between Portugal and Spain.

The railway station at Vila Real de Santo António is at the end of the Algarve line from Lagos, which also serves Portimão, Faro and Tavira etc as do the buses above. Trains run about every two hours; train times are here.

The station in VRSA is about fifteen minutes walk (flat, no hills) from the ferry terminal. To get from the railway station to the ferry, walk out of the station, straight down the road, past the roundabout and on to the next junction. Turn left and pass through a rather dismal lot of mostly closed factories, until you get to a T-junction and can see the river. Turn right and you will see the bus station ahead of you. The ferry is just beyond. The Intermarché supermarket outside the VRSA train station is a good place to stock up. It’s open daily including Sunday afternoons. There aren't any other supermarkets until you get to Spain. The town centre of VRSA is off to the right when you get to the bus station – you will see bars, restaurants etc.

The ferry runs  every 30 minutes in summer, every 60 minutes in winter, between about 830am and 7pm only however - details below.

If you are staying somewhere (eg Faro, Tavira, Monte Gordo) there is a bus to Vila Real de Santo António and bus might be best, as the bus station at VRSA is at the ferry terminal

Seville - Algarve - I have used the bus/ferry/bus option from Seville to Albufeira! It was fairly painless except for a half hour delay caused by traffic congestion on the outskirts of Seville. The bus (cost now €12.80) took me from Seville to Ayamonte, on the Spanish side of the river. The Spanish railway line runs only as far as Huelva and there are only three trains a day, so unless you are coming from elsewhere, the bus from Seville is best. Then it's about 15 minutes easy walk through the town to the ferry terminal. This isn't signposted very well, so keep the river to your left. Then there's the ten minute ferry ride (€1.70) across to Portugal.

Ferry to Ayamonte (Spain)

A little ferry crosses the river between VRSA and Ayamonte.

I have used the ferry a few times. That’s a picture of it to the left. It can take two or three cars and maybe 50 passengers maximum. 

Summer service - every 30 minutes daily from 0830 to 1930 every 30 minutes. Summer service valid from 1st July 2014 to mid-September, subject to confirmation. In May and June ferries operate every 60 minutes between 1000hrs and 2000hrs.

Winter service 2013/2014 valid from 16th September until 30th April 2014 according to information available at Vila Real.

When the PORTUGUESE boat is running: 

From Vila Real de Santo António at 0815, 0900 then every hour until 1700 then at 1830

From Ayamonte Spanish time at 0930 then every hour until 1830 then at 1930.

When the SPANISH  boat is running :

From Vila Real de Santo António at 0900 then every hour until 1800 then last one at 1840. From Ayamonte Spanish time at 0930 then every hour until 1730.

There is unfortunately no way of knowing which boat it will be until you get there! Check times locally to avoid being stranded.

An English language website for Ayamonte has a timetable on line here. The information differs greatly from what is available in Portugal!

The crossing takes about 10 minutes. Fare for foot passengers is €1.70; children under 4 go free, ages 4 to 10yrs €0.85.The ticket office at Vila Real is within the restored former customs control building.

TAKE YOUR PASSPORT OR ID CARD! PORTUGUESE FRONTIER POLICE SOMETIMES CHECK THEM BOTH OUTBOUND AND INBOUND.

Note that the timetables issued in Portugal show all departures (including those from the Spanish side) in PORTUGUESE time.

Ayamonte to/from Seville – direct or via Huelva

CHECKED AND UPDATED 7th December 2013 PLEASE REFER TO THE TIMETABLE/TICKET WEBSITE FOR SPECIFIC BUS/COACH TIMES FOR THE DAY YOU WISH TO TRAVEL

For all BUS timetable enquiries around Ayamonte, Isla Cristina and Huelva go to the regional bus website here this site is only in Spanish. There are several different buses between Ayamonte and Huelva, so you will have to fish around a little.

For times, fares and tickets for longer journeys in Spain eg Ayamonte - Seville go to www.movelia.es - this site is available in English.

The DAMAS bus company runs between Seville (Plaza da Armas) and Ayamonte four times daily on weekdays, three times daily at weekends and on public holidays. Journey to Seville is about 2¾ hours. There are also buses between Ayamonte and Huelva about every two hours.  You have more options Ayamonte – Seville with a change of bus in Huelva. These buses are also operated by DAMAS.

Socibus also operate three times a day between Ayamonte, Sevllle and Madrid - details below.

Trains - times are subject to alteration from 15th December 2013

There are trains (www.renfe.com) between Huelva and Seville (Santa Justa). The railway between Ayamonte and Huelva closed long ago and the railway station in Ayamonte was converted into the bus station. Train times Huelva to Seville – trains leave daily at 0700, 1455 and 1920. Journey is about 90 minutes, one way 'Turista' fare is €11.75 but discounted fares are available for advance purchase. There is NO CONNECTION by bus Ayamonte to Huelva for the 0700 train or the 0800 to Madrid below. Trains leave Seville Santa Justa for Huelva at 0947, 1700 and 2050. Reservation is not needed.

Huelva <> Madrid direct by train

There is also a direct fast train between Huelva and Madrid Atocha NOT STOPPING in Seville. The Huelva - Madrid train leaves at 0800 arriving at 1140  Return train leaves Madrid at 1805 arriving in Huelva at 2145. These trains stop in Cordoba. Details and fares at www.renfe.es - normal tourist class fare one-way is €71,50. Reservation required.

There is an extra 'Especial' return trip between Huelva and Madrid via Cordoba on certain dates. Train leaves Madrid at 0945 arriving in Huelva 1230, returning to Madrid at 1750 arrival 2131.

VAN/TAXI/MINIBUS?

A number of companies and travel agents advertise that they will do airport transfers to Seville, so that could be an avenue worth exploring, especially if there is a group of you. For example, try www.yellowfishtransfers.com

OTHER BUSES BETWEEN PORTUGAL AND SPAIN

Section checked and updated 7th December 2013

Thanks to Barlavento Expert for much of this information about various other bus services between Portugal and Spain. There are a lot of enquiries about these buses, as there are almost no trains between Portugal and Spain, as already stated. Don't forget that Spanish time is one hour ahead of Portugal. All times given below are local time to the country and city concerned.

I have checked as much of the information as I can through the company websites. Advance reservation is required on almost all the buses (coaches to UK readers) so you must check all times etc before committing yourself.

Many of the buses between Portugal and Spain are operated by the ALSA company. This company is owned by National Express, a UK train and bus operator. Most of their website and on-line booking system is in English. Also, the INTERNORTE consortium website offers domestic and international services. EUROLINES - see below.

The timetables do not state so specifically, but services on holidays are usually as for Sunday times. Service does not usually operate on New Year's Day (1st January) and may be reduced on December 24th, 25th, 31st and subject to change around major holidays eg Easter. Also, according to my leaflet, you are supposed to 'present yourself' 45 minutes prior to departure. Tickets should be bought in advance if at all possible, especially in summer. I do not claim that this information is comprehensive. There may well be other links, especially in the north of the country, but this site is really about the Algarve.

BARCELONA - LISBON (CHANGE OF BUS REQUIRED IN MADRID)

Operated by ALSA. - Please check details on their website

Leaving Barcelona North Bus Station at 1230 (a) and 2300 (b) arriving Lisbon Sete Rios at 0700 and 1700 respectively. The 1230 departure also stops at : Barcelona (Sants), Lerida and Zaragoza. Change buses in Madrid (Est. Sur de autobuses) then it calls at Elvas, Estremoz, Evora, Montemor, Setubal and Lisbon Gare Oriente. The 2300 departure stops at the same places as far as Madrid then Evora and Lisbon only.

(a) the 1230 from Barcelona operates Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays all year plus Saturdays in summer. (b) the 2300 from Barcelona operates Tuesdays and Fridays all year, also Wednesdays in summer.

From Lisbon towards Barcelona buses leave at 1130 and 2100. The 1130 runs on SUNDAYS only, all year round and is the fast service arriving in Madrid at 2130, change buses for Barcelona arrival at 0700. The 2100 stops in all the towns and arrival in Barcelona is 1645 the next day. The 2100 runs every day except Sundays in summer; in winter it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays only.

BARCELONA - PORTO (CHANGE OF BUS REQUIRED IN MADRID)

Operated by ALSA -  please check details on their website.

There are one or two buses each day taking about 18 hours for the trip. Times vary according to season, so please check details on the website above and note that their English language section refers to Porto as 'Oporto'. There is a two hour wait in Madrid. Some journeys operate via Madrid Airport.

The Internorte bus company also operates Porto - Madrid - Barcelona three times a week; times and reservations at http://www.internorte.pt/

MADRID AND LISBON/PORTO

Madrid <> Lisbon via Badajoz and Évora operated by ALSA. One-way fare €40,00 - €48,00, return (round-trip) €66,00 - €82,00.

Two buses daily all year one daytime and one overnight bus, journey time 12 hours daytime, 11 hours overnight. Buses leave/arrive at Madrid's Est Sur de Autobuses and to/from Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Terminal but calling at Lisbon Gare Oriente 15 minutes later/earlier.

Madrid <> Lisbon via Badajoz, Elvas, Montemor and Setubal - Operated by Avanzabus

Three buses each way on weekdays, two each way at weekends and on holidays. One journey each day is overnight. Journey time about 8 hours. Full timetable on the Avanzabus website; in Spanish only. Downloadable timetables are available for all their routes across Spain under the 'horarios' tab. One-way fare Lisbon > Madrid is €41,50. Vehicles are configured with 33 seats only, including single seats.

Madrid <> LIsbon via Merida, Badajoz, Elvas, Evora and Setubal - operated by Anibal One way fare €35. Website not working 7th December 2013

One overnight bus in each direction leaving Madrid at 2245 arrival Lisbon Sete Rios at 0600, Gare Oriente at 0630; from Lisbon Sete Rios at 2030 and Gare Oriente at 2100 arriving in Madrid at 0600.  No bus from Lisbon or Madrid on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in winter.  No service December 31st. On-line tickets from their website

Madrid <> Porto via Salamanca with connection to Coimbra etc Operated by ALSA.

One daytime journey each way every day, journey time 9hrs 30 minutes. Check the ALSA website for times. One way fare €41,00, return ticket €77.

There is a connection at Madrid from and to Valencia daily in summer, four days a week in winter.

Porto - Vigo via Porto airport

Four journeys each way on weekdays, only one journey each way Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. One extra journey every day if pre-booked. Operated by AUTNA www.autna.com website is in Spanish only.

Socibus service Madrid - Seville - Ayamonte

Madrid Airport stop is at Terminal One
Please check all times when buying tickets as there are no longer any downloadable timetables on the website

Operated by Socibus	Daily	Daily	Daily		Daily	Daily	Daily
Madrid Barajas Airport T1	---	---	2115	Ayamonte Bus Station (*)	0800	1400	2100
Madrid Est. Sur de Autobuses	1100	1600	2200	Isla Cristina §	0810	1410	2110
Seville Plaza de Armas	D	D	0410	La Antilla	0820	1420	2120
Huelva Bus Station	1840	2340	0525	Lepe	0830	1430	2130
Cartaya	1900	0000	0545	Cartaya	0840	1440	2140
Lepe	1910	0010	0555	Huelva Bus Station	0915	1515	2215
La Antilla	1920	0020	0605	Seville Plaza de Armas	1030	C	C
Isla Cristina §	1930	0030	0615	Madrid Est. Sur de Autobuses	1640	2255	0555
Ayamonte Bus Station (*)	1955	0055	0640	Madrid Barajas Airport T1	1705	----	0625
Tickets for these buses can be bought on line at www.socibus.es * 15 minutes walk to the ferry to/from Portugal which, at best, runs 0900 - 2000 only! § There is an infrequent local bus service betwen Ayamonte and Isla Cristina C via Cordoba at 1800 or 0100 D via Cordoba at 1555 or  2055 One-way fare Madrid (City or Airport) <> Ayamonte €27,35 Socibus operate other buses between Madrid, Seville and Huelva.

Eurolines

The Eurolines company operates a number of routes connecting Portugal with the outside world. Their Portugal timetable can be found here - external link.
A number of these times are the same as routes operated by the ALSA bus company,  they are a 'code share' type operation.
Several of the routes involve a change of bus but through tickets are available.

Routes: Madrid-Mérida-Badajoz>>>>Elvas-Estremoz-Évora-Montemor - Setubal - Lisbon
Madrid-Ávila-Salamanca-Ciudad Rodrigo>>>>Guarda-Viseu-Porto-Fatima-Lisbon - Vila Real St. António
Algeciras-Huelva-Jerez-MálagaSevilla-Granada>>>>Faro-Setubal-Lisbon-Fatima-Porto
Barcelona-Lleida-Zaragoza>>>>Vilar Formoso-Guarda-Celorico-Mangualde-Viseu-Albergaria-Porto
Valencia>>>>Elvas-Estremoz-Evora-Setubal-Lisbon - V. Formoso-Guarda-Viseu-Porto

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS  IN PORTUGAL AND SPAIN 2013 / 2014

Click here for a list of Portuguese public and religious holidays until end 2014.

All Spanish holidays are listed here - external link in a new window.

Note that, as in Portugal, Spanish holidays are not ‘moved’ and are held on the given date regardless of the day of the week. Also, there are many local holidays and festivals.

For an alphabetical list of places in the Algarve, please click here
For a bus map of the Algarve click here
For a quick list of all timetables on the site click here
For some important general notes about buses in the Algarve, click here

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