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

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 coaches on this page are operated by numerous different companies, so some sections will be more up to date than others.
CHECKED AND UPDATED 22nd May 2023

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

The main focus of this page is travel between the Algarve and Seville.

I accept no responsibility for any problems caused by errors or changes made by the operators that I can’t find out about.
Note - the vehicles used for the long journeys in this page are called COACHES in the UK, called bus anywhere else. In all cases you MUST have a ticket before boarding coaches / long distance buses.

FLYING

You can fly between Faro and Barcelona with Vueling Air two or three flights each week from early June until late October. IBERIA Faro - Madrid route has two or three flights each week in summer 2023, from 16th June until late October. Complete information on all scheduled flights at Faro airport can be viewed here - the link will open in a new window.

TRAIN TO SPAIN

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 currently has only four trains a day. Two run to and from Seville and one runs direct to and from Cordoba and Madrid. In fact there are only eight trains a day (normally) between anywhere in Portugal and anywhere in Spain. And none of them in the Algarve.

TRAIN LISBON <> MADRID VIA BADAJOZ

A daytime train journey between Lisbon and Madrid is just about possible. However this takes about 10 hours, requires four different trains and a fairly tight connection in Badajoz, Spain. It is not possible to buy one ticket for the whole journey! I have the details here.

COACHES/BUSES LAGOS <> PORTIMÃO <> ALBUFEIRA <> FARO <> HUELVA <> SEVILLE

Two different coach / bus companies operate cross border services between the Algarve and Seville, also between Lisbon and Seville via Albufeira and Faro. These are : ALSA and Flixbus. Follow links to see their details.

GETTING ON OR OFF AT PORTIMÃO?

The long distance bus station is 1.5km from the town centre. Very few local buses go there. Do allow enough time to get there. Location details etc here.

GETTING ON OR OFF REDE EXPRESSOS OR ALSA AT ALBUFEIRA?

Albufeira's bus station is 1.6km from the town centre. All local and regional buses use the bus station. A few also go closer to the town. More information here.
Flixbus use a stop in Avenida da Liberdade in the old town part of Albufeira. Local bus connections are available to take you to and from the main bus station, which is about 1 mile /1.6km distant. Please go to this page for more information.

EARLY MORNING DEPARTURES - TICKET OFFICE HOURS
BUS STATION TICKET OFFICES ARE NOT OPEN FOR THE NIGHT-TIME OR MOST VERY EARLY MORNING DEPARTURES

Travellers intending to get a very early service should buy their tickets from the website or at the bus station prior to the day of travel.

ALSA / REDE-EXPRESSOS SERVICE SEVILLE <> ALGARVE <> LISBON

THIS SECTION UPDATED 5th JUNE 2023

Tickets may (normally) be purchased up to one month in advance at either www.rede-expressos.pt or www.alsa.es (both are available in English) or at bus station ticket offices. Other operators vehicles are sometimes used. Your vehicle may not have ALSA or Rede Expressos written on it, so do pay attention!

There are NO on board services and not all vehicles have on board toilets. There are rest stops about every 2 hours.

There are three or four local buses every hour between Seville (Plaza de Armas) and Seville airport. Click here for details.

Also, Spanish Railways (RENFE) sell combined rail / bus tickets between their stations in Spain and those places in the timetable below.

Go to www.renfe.com for further information and purchases.

LAGOS <> SEVILLE - service jointly operated by ALSA and Rede Expressos

FOR INTERNATIONAL JOURNEYS ONLY

One way tickets Lagos <> Seville from €10 advance purchase, no refund, no exchange. Normal price €31

Lisbon <> Seville from €20 advance purchase, no refund, no exchange. Normal price €48 daytime, €63 night.

SPANISH TIME IS 1 HOUR AHEAD OF PORTUGUESE TIME

CURRENT TIMETABLE. There may be more journeys in July and August. All subject to change of course! Please confirm times for your exact date of travel at the official website. Check the official website for times of the other possible Lisbon <> Seville journeys, changing en route. ↓ - does not stop here
Lagos Bus Station	From	0700	0800	From	1030	A	1530	From	B	Seville Santa Justa Railway Station	2330	0730	0930	1030	1300	---	1530	1645	1800
Portimão see note here	Lisbon	0730	0830	Lisbon	1100	A	1600	Lisbon	B	Seville Plaza de Armas Bus Station	2359	0800	1000	1100	1330	1500	1600	1715	1830
Albufeira Bus Station (1.6km from centre)	0145	0800	0900	↓	1130	1500	1630	1800	1900	Huelva Bus Station	0100	0900	↓	↓	1430	1600	↓	↓	↓
Faro Airport	0300	0845	0945	↓	1215	1545	1715	1845	1945	CHANGE TO PORTUGAL TIME - 1 HOUR
Faro Bus Station	0245^	0900	1000	1045	1230	1600	1730	1900	2000	Tavira Bus Station (Portuguese time)	0100	↓	1100	1200	↓	1600	1700	1815	1930
Tavira Bus Station	0330	0945	1045	↓	1315	1645	1815	↓	↓	Faro Airport (Portuguese time)	0145	0930	1145	1245	1515	1645	1745	1900	2015
CHANGE TO SPANISH TIME +1 HOUR										Faro Bus Station	0130^	0945	1200	1300	1530	1700	1800	1915	2030
Huelva Bus Station (Spanish time)	0500	↓	↓	1315	↓	↓	↓	2130	2230	Albufeira Bus Station (1.6km from centre)	0215	E	1240	1345	1615	1745	1845	2000	2115
Seville Plaza de Armas Bus Station	0630	1245	1345	1415	1615	1945	2115	2230	2330	Portimão see note here	to	to	1315	C	D	to	1915	2030	2145
Seville Santa Justa Railway Station	0700	1315	1415	---	1645	2015	2145	2300	2345	Lagos Bus Station	Lisbon	Lisbon	1345	C	D	Lisbon	1945	2100	2215
Notes : A - connecting bus (Vamus route 57) from Lagos at 1235, Portimão (Avenida Guanaré) 1310. Separate ticket needed NOT available on line. B - there is a local bus (Vamus route 51) from Lagos at 1615, Portimão (Avenida Guanaré) at 1704 but an hour to wait in Albufeira. Separate ticket needed. C - on WEEKDAYS there is a local bus (Vamus Route 51) from Albufeira to Portimão and Lagos leaving at 1415. Buy ticket on arrival at Albufeira Bus Station ticket office. There is no bus at the weekend until 1455. D - there are VAMUS buses to Portimão and Lagos daily at 1640 (Route 56) and 1700 (Route 57). Buy tickets on arrival at Albufeira. If you are mad enough to get off the bus arriving at Albufeira at 0215, there are no buses to ANYWHERE before 0700. The bus station building will not be open. E - if you use this bus Seville - Faro, it does NOT stop in Albufeira. There is a VAMUS bus (route 56) to Albufeira, Portimão and Lagos but not until 1100. There is a train to Portimão and Lagos at 1023 daily. The railway station is two minutes walk from Faro Bus Station. That train stops at Albufeira - Ferreiras station, but that's 6km / 4 miles from the town, a 20 minute bus ride or 10 minutes in a taxi.

CHECK THE OFFICIAL WEBSITES FOR FULL DETAILS.

FLIXBUS LAGOS <> SEVILLE VIA ALBUFEIRA, FARO AIRPORT, FARO AND HUELVA

Flixbus runs  between Lagos and Seville via Albufeira and Faro twice each day until late June, more frequently in July and August. CHECK THEIR WEBSITE OR APP!!!

FLIXBUS  LISBON <> ALBUFEIRA <> FARO AIRPORT  <> FARO <> HUELVA <> SEVILLE

There are other daytime journeys options between Lisbon and Seville via Badajoz. Check the website.

 Arrival of the overnight journey is very early in the morning in both Lisbon and Seville, when nothing will be open.

FLIXBUS DO NOT STOP AT ALBUFEIRA'S MAIN BUS STATION. THEY STOP IN THE OLD TOWN CENTRE AVENIDA DA LIBERDADE - THE 'SMALL' BUS STATION. Flixbus do not have a ticket office there! Their official re-seller agencies are elsewhere in the town.

SEVILLE - CONNECTIONS AT PLAZA DE ARMAS BUS STATION

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.  Official website for the bus station here. In Spanish mostly, some information is available other languages via the national flags at top right of first page.

There is a direct bus between the Plaza de Armas and the Santa Justa railway station.This is route (line) 21, which also stops at the Prado de San Sebastian bus station. The number 21 bus runs 4 - 6 times an hour on weekdays and Saturdays, 3 times every hour on Sundays and Holidays. Intervals between buses are slightly irregular.

The official website of the Seville city bus service is at www.tussam.es including a downloadable map. This is however only in Spanish. A useful site for Seville public transport information in English at https://en.redtransporte.com/sevilla/  which includes information about buses to places more distant. There is a lot more information about Seville, including maps,here

The single line of Seville's metro (underground) rail network 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 and at San Bernado rail and bus station, served by regional trains and where some regional buses start their journeys. The metro website is http://www.metro-sevilla.es/en/ - available in English.

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

Buses to suburban and regional destinations.

Buses to many 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 with buses every few minutes. 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 Autocares Casal, Monbus, IASA/Transtres, DAMAS, ALSA, AVANZABUS,  TG COMES, LEDA and SOCIBUS use this terminal. They each have their own ticket/enquiry offices inside. In particular this includes the popular DAMAS route for tourists Sevilla  – Ronda –  Chipiona – Málaga. Please therefore check times and buy tickets in advance if you can at the DAMAS website.

** 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 2km. Ticketing is integrated with the city buses operated under the Tussam banner.

A short extra note about the Prado San Sebastian bus station, personal visit 22nd March 2023. Not very busy! There is a small waiting area at the far end with luggage lockers of various sizes available maximum 24 hours for €2 or €3 depending on size. There is a small shop and bar, more of both just outside. There are various screens dotted around showing the next few buses and the stops they leave from. The whole building is on one level, no steps anywhere.

At Plaza de Armas there is a small waiting area with steps and escalators down to the bus stops. There is a small café and shop, also luggage lockers. City buses stop outside, to the left, in Calle Torneo.

The route M124 bus from Seville to Carmona, operated by CASAL, starts from San Bernardo, at the railway and metro station and runs via Avenida San Franciso Javier and Avenida Kansas City towards Carmona. This bus DOES NOT STOP at the airport. All the stops and times (check all the options!) can be seen at https://www.ctas.es/lineas.php?linea=124

Long distance buses (coaches) from Seville to elsewhere in Spain

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

You can check times of buses from the  Plaza de Armas bus station on this website http://www.autobusesplazadearmas.es/ with some sections available in more than one language.

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!

Seville Airport bus

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

At Plaza de Armas the airport bus now stops INSIDE the bus station building, at stand number 21.

First bus from the city to the airport is at 0430 daily, last bus is at 00.11.  From the airport the first bus is at 05.22, last bus at 01.00. Buses run every 12 to 15 minutes between 0730 and 2100. Earlier and later buses run every 20 - 30 minutes. Additional journeys may run in summer.

One way fare is 4 Euros, return fare 6 Euros. Journey is between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

The download of the information and timetable leaflet has vanished from the website. However times in detail can be checked at https://reddelineas.tussam.es/?lang=en

Gibraltar

ALGARVE - SEVILLE USING THE FERRY?

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. Train times are very irregular; the current times are here.

The station in VRSA is about ten 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 an area of small 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. There you will see bars, restaurants etc. Map here - opens in a new window.

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

Seville - Algarve - I have used the coach/ferry/bus option from Seville to Albufeira via the ferry! It was fairly painless except for a half hour delay caused by traffic congestion on the outskirts of Seville. The coach (cost now about €15) took me in three hours from Seville to Ayamonte bus station, on the Spanish side of the river. Times and tickets at www.alsa.es

From the bus station it's about 15 minutes flat 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 (€2,30) across to Portugal - see below.

The Spanish railway line from Madrid and Seville runs only as far as Huelva. There are only four trains a day between Huelvas and  Seville and one more between Huelva and Madrid which does not stop in Seville. For train times and tickets go to www.renfe.com

Ferry between Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte (Spain)

Spanish time is 1 hour ahead of Portugal

There is no service before 0930 weekdays and Saturdays,  1100 Sundays and holidays, depending on which version of the timetable you believe!

This information comes from the ferry company website. The Spanish site shows times in Spanish time, so deduct 1 hour for the correct time from Portugal

The crossing takes about 10 minutes. Fare for foot passengers is €2,30; children under 4 go free, ages 4 to 10yrs €1,40.The ticket office at Vila Real is within the restored former customs control building. The ferry dock is next to Vila Real's bus station, but about 10 minutes walk from the railway station.Location Map

The ferry is operated by Transporte Fluvial Guadiana. Their website is https://www.rioguadiana.com/ and Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/TransporteFluvialGuadiana

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. (Spanish time is one hour ahead of Portugal, so you gain or lose an hour in the 10 minute crossing of the river.)

TAKE YOUR PASSPORT OR ID CARD! PORTUGUESE FRONTIER POLICE SOMETIMES CHECK THEM BOTH OUTBOUND AND INBOUND. ALSO IT THE LAW HERE IN PORTUGAL THAT ALL ADULTS MUST CARRY PHOTO ID AT ALL TIMES INCLUDING TOURISTS.

Ayamonte to/from Seville and Madrid direct or via Huelva

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.

The DAMAS company runs several daily journeys between Seville (Plaza da Armas) and Ayamonte. LAB = weekdays, SAB = Saturdays, DOM = Sundays and Holidays. Salidas = departures. Timetable below valid until 30th June 2023, subject of course to any future alterations!

Times for winter 2022 - 2023 : Huelva to Seville (Santa Justa) at daily 0655, 1500, 1750 and 1900.

Seville (Santa Justa) to Huelva at 0845 (weekends and holidays), 1000 weekdays then daily at 1240, 1700 and 2050hrs

The RENFE site is available in various languages. Ticket prices from €10,15 one way. Journey time about 1 hour 30 minutes.

There is one direct fast ALVIA train between Huelva and Madrid Atocha. It does NOT call at Seville. The Huelva - Madrid train leaves at 0800 on weekdays arriving at 1143, Saturdays at it leaves 1025, arriving 1410 and Sundays and Holidays it leaves at 1615 arriving at 2003.

Journey time 16 to 19 hours. Daytime and night-time journeys each day, at night with a long wait in Madrid. In Barcelona these stop at the Sants railway station in the city centre, also the Barcelona Nord bus station. Ticket price from €54 to €80.

Two journeys every day, journey time about 18 hours. Most tickets are €53. Check times on the official websites. Stops at Porto airport, also Barcelona Sants railway station in the city centre. Ends at Barcelona Nord bus station.

MADRID - PORTO via Salamanca and Guarda

One daytime journey direct every day, one overnight journey via Lisbon. Ticket price €27 daytime, €54 night-time, journey time 8 - 9 hours. Stops at Porto and Madrid airports.

MADRID - LISBON with REDE EXPRESSOS / ALSA

Madrid <> Lisbon via Badajoz and Évora One-way fare from €27.  There is no exchange or refund on the lowest price tickets. These journeys now call at the airports in Lisbon and Madrid.

Three journeys currently running every day, two daytime and one overnight. Extra journeys run on some dates. Journey time is 8 to 9 hours. Check times on the official website which will possibly be different when you wish to travel.

MADRID ESTACION SUR <> LISBON ORIENTE via BADAJOZ AND SETUBAL - Operated by Avanzabus

One daytime journey each way, 7hrs 30 minutes, times vary and it does currently not run every day.

LISBON - SALAMANCA - MADRID - BILBAO AND SAN SEBASTIAN

LISBON (Oriente bus station) - BADAJOZ - MADRID (Sul Bus Station) WITH FLIXBUS

PORTO - ANDORRA VIA (Zaragoza, Burgos) NORTH WEST SPAIN also serves Bragança, Braga, Guimarães etc in Portugal

Fridays and Sundays all year in both directions, also operates on certain other dates. See http://www.interurbana.ad/contingut/linia_andorra_portugal/idMenu-3 in English. Journeys actually start / end in Vila Praia Ancora and stop also at Ponte da Lima, Braga, Guimarães, Amarante, Vila Real and Bragança. In Spain they stop in Valladolid, Burgos and Zarazoga, among others. Their website currently recommends checking times for short notice changes. Tickets are around €80!

There is a downloadable timetable at http://autocareslazara.com/servicios/#lineas

The same company also has a journey on Fridays from Monção and Valença do Minho across to Tuy and Vigo, returning on Sundays.

PORTO - VIGO - SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA  via Porto airport and Valença

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE OPERATED BY AUTNA BUS

They now use a new bus station in Vigo, the Estación Intermodal de Vigo (VIALIA). This is next to the Vigo Urzáiz Railway Station but about 1.3km from the other Vigo station at Guixar. Connections available at Vigo to and from Santiago de Compostela, also possible by train or local bus.  Trains are also available between Vigo Urzáiz station, Santiago de Compostela and La Coruña - www.renfe.com for times and tickets.

This route also stops in Viana do Castelo, but only for passengers who have purchased tickets at the website.

Tickets can be bought on line - one way fare Porto to Vigo €14,90 return (round-trip) €26,10 - small discounts available for those under 26 or 65 and over.

In Porto, these journeys stop at the Airport, Casa da Musica metro / bus station and the Campanhã Bus Station.

PORTO TO VIGO, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA AND LA CORUNÃ via Porto Airport and Braga

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE OPERATED JOINTLY BY ALSA and Rede Expressos

Four or five journeys each way every day. Check websites. Several stops in Porto including the airport.

FLIXBUS - PORTO - VIGO - SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Three journeys daily with FLIXBUS these also stop at Porto Airport. There are also direct services between Braga and Vigo.

FLIXBUS - OTHER ROUTES

Low cost buses / coaches between Spanish cities and major Portuguese cities and towns. Check their website www.flixbus.com

Socibus service Madrid Airport - Madrid - Cordoba - Ayamonte

Operated by Socibus

Madrid Airport stop is at Terminal One. Please check all times when buying tickets. There are no downloadable timetables on their website. One-way fare Madrid (City or Airport) <> Ayamonte €39 approx. purchased via website. Journey time almost 9 hours.

One daytime and one overnight journey each day, stopping at Isla Cristina, La Antilla and Lepe, then on to Cordoba and Madrid. These do not stop in Seville.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS  IN PORTUGAL AND SPAIN 2023

Click here for a list of Portuguese public and religious holidays until end 2023. In general, trains and buses run to Sunday times on these holidays. At Christmas and New Year public transport does operate, but services may be reduced and in very rural areas local bus service is nil. All Spanish holidays are listed here - external link in a new window.

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. Particularly in rural areas, bus service may not operate on these days. Do check locally if making an important journey.

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
Home Page

www.algarvebus.info