Bus timetables Albufeira summary of connections to nearby towns and villages

The information has been obtained from printed timetables and other local sources (like taking the bus) and is given in good faith.
The GIRO bus winter service ends at 2000hrs / 8pm every day.
From 1st June to 30th September, GIRO buses run until 10pm / 2200hrs.

MOST WEEKEND BUS SERVICE TO PLACES OUTSIDE THE TOWN REMAINS SUSPENDED
BUS TIMES APPLY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BUT MAY CHANGE WITH ALMOST NO WARNING
BUS FARES FOR THE VAMUS ROUTES ARE MY BEST GUESS. SINGLE FARES ARE NO LONGER POSTED ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
ANY INFORMATION GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. i HAVE A PRE PAID PASS WHICH OFFERS DISCOUNTED FARES.

Local buses between Albufeira and nearby places - summary

Albufeira Bus Terminal is on the outskirts of town about 1.6km / 1 mile from the old town.

Most of these buses DO NOT pass through the town centre or the main hotel areas.

Allow yourself enough time to get to there! There is more information here.
Maps for Albufeira including location of the bus station / terminal, are here.
Large map of old town showing different bus stops and other transport information here.

When boarding at the Bus Terminal, you must buy your ticket from the ticket office, except when boarding the Frota Azul bus to Messines or the local GIRO buses. Allow a few minutes for this. If boarding elsewhere, pay the driver as usual. Change is given, but try to have small change or at most a €10 note!

DIRECT LINKS TO TIMETABLE PAGES For more detail about these routes scroll down the page.
Ferreiras and Railway Station	Algoz and Silves	Messines via Paderne	Loulé / Mar Shopping / IKEA	Páteo
Algarve Shopping Mall and Albufeira Retail Park	Vilamoura, Quarteira and Faro	Lagoa, Portimão and Lagos	Guia	Messines via Guia and Algoz
São Rafael and Galé	Açoteais, Falésia and Rocha Baixinha	Albufeira Local Buses - Giro Network	Vale Navio, Quinta da Balaia	Camping Albufeira
Vale de Parra	Balaia and Olhos D'Agua	Albufeira Marina	Carvoeiro	Armação de Pêra
DIRECT BUS TO AIRPORT	For the bus times between Albufeira and the other main coastal resorts, click here. Coaches (Long distance buses) To Lisbon and beyond International services to Huelva and Seville, Spain

All buses towards Ferreiras and beyond also stop at Camping Albufeira (the stop on the main road, not the grey one just outside) about 5 minutes after leaving the bus station. Camping Albufeira is also served by the GIRO Red Route (Linha Vermelha) number 1 - click here for timetable and the Linha Laranja which runs between the main bus station, Ferreiras and the railway station - timetable. The entrance to the Clube Albufeira resort complex is opposite Camping Albufeira.

Albufeira Local Bus service – GIRO - serving Bus Station, Albufeira Camping, Ferreiras, Albufeira Railway Station, Old Town centre, Montechoro, Oura, Santa Eulália, Páteo, Marina, 'The Strip'.

For full detail including links to maps and timetables, please click here. Official GIRO route map here.

Bus times are shown on Google Maps but are sometimes inaccurate, especially for the two Red (Vermelha) routes. All buses complete the circuit within 1 hour or leaving the bus station.

Maps are available locally. They are not on display at many bus stops. Timetables are NOT published, even though the buses run only every half hour at best. Buses normally used have low steps also a wheelchair ramp and are accessible to disabled persons. Fifteen seat minibuses are now being used on some journeys on weekdays and most journeys at weekends. These have a wheelchair and buggy space at the back with a ramp. new_Giro_minibus

Picture to right >>>>>

Cash Fare is €1.40**, a one day ticket is €4.00. If you intend to use the service a lot, you can buy a re-chargeable pre-pay pass at the Bus Station. You can buy ten rides for €8 (ie 80 cents instead of €1,40) or 20 rides for €16, but you do have to pay a fee of €3 for the card itself. A monthly pass with unlimited journeys is €18, photo required. A Seniors monthly pass (you must be over 65) is €11 per month, photo and proof of age required. At the time of writing, card re-charges are only available at the Bus Station. You can also pick up the route map there. There is currently nowhere else to obtain and recharge passes. How customer unfriendly is that! Pre-pay passes will deactivate if not used for 3 months. Adding credit will reactivate them. Pre-paid cards are refunded if you return them, but unused fares are not refunded.

** single tickets are valid for one hour after first issue. You can use the same ticket to change to another GIRO bus to complete your trip. If you are asked to change buses at the bus station, show your ticket to the second driver. You do not pay again.

GIRO TICKETS AND PASSES CANNOT BE USED ON OTHER BUSES, nor can tickets from VAMUS buses be used on GIRO.

Weekday departures from the bus terminal on all routes (except Laranja) are at 0700, 0730 then allegedly every half hour until 1900 in winter and 2100 in summer. In practice the departures wait while the drivers finish chatting. On Saturdays buses leave every half hour from 0700 until 1400, then every hour until 1900 in winter, 2100 in summer. On Sundays and Holidays buses leave once an hour from 0700 to 1900 in winter, 2100 in summer.

Last buses are therefore passing through the main part of town, depending on where you are, in winter between 1915 and 1945, in summer between 2115 and 2145.

For a summary of bus times in the old town area, click here. Will open in a new window.

The Linha Laranja to Ferreiras and the railway station leaves at 0640 then every half hour until 2040 in winter, 2240 in summer.

Albufeira Bus Station – Camping Albufeira - Ferreiras (12 minutes journey) – Albufeira Estação (Railway Station) (17 minutes journey) GIRO Linha Laranja (Orange)

FOR A SUMMARY OF THE LAST BUSES BACK TO ALBUFEIRA FROM THE PLACES BELOW, PLEASE CLICK HERE

FOR A SUMMARY OF THE LAST BUSES FROM ALBUFEIRA TO THE PLACES BELOW, PLEASE CLICK HERE
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Albufeira Bus Station – Ferreiras – Algoz – Silves VAMUS route 17

Until further notice there are six buses each way on weekdays, just three at weekends and holidays.

For a weekday visit to Silves you can only now leave Albufeira at 0800 or 1230 with buses back at 1715 and 1830. For a weekend trip, buses to Silves are only at 0800 and 1430hrs, with the only buses back at 1345 and 1830. PLEASE CHECK TIMES just before you travel.

Albufeira Bus Station – Ferreiras – Paderne – São Bartolomeu Messines VAMUS route 4

Most buses on this route no longer operate. A trip to Paderne and back on Saturdays or Sundays is no longer possible.

Journey time Ferreiras 8 minutes, Paderne 21 minutes, Messines 37 to 45 minutes.

There are other three other daily buses (four on weekdays) between Albufeira and Messines via Guia and Algoz, click here Last bus back from Messines at 1630 weekends, 1815 weekdays. These buses also stop along the 'main road' across Albufeira at Areais São João (the strip end) and at the 'Watches' roundabout by the supermarkets.

Albufeira Bus Station – Loulé via Fontainhas and Boliqueime, also Mar Shopping and IKEA VAMUS route 10

Times at Mar Shopping / IKEA are about 15 minutes after Loulé. Check return times carefully as they vary, but will be 15 - 20 minutes before the time at Loulé.

Journey to Loulé is 45 minutes one way fare €4.70. Inbound buses stop a few minutes walk from the Saturday morning outdoor tourist market. For the indoor market go to the bus station and walk about 5 minutes. These buses run via the stop outside the Continente supermarket on the main road in Albufeira and also stop in the Montechoro area - see map.

Buses from Albufeira to Loulé for a day trip daily at 0800, 1045 and 1430. These buses continue beyond Loulé to Mar Shopping and Faro.
Buses back from Loulé on weekdays only at 1515, 1730 on schooldays and at 1825, at weekends only at 1515 and 1810.

Mar Shopping and IKEA, near Loulé SUMMARY OF BUSES BETWEEN ALBUFEIRA AND MAR SHOPPING HERE

Albufeira Bus Station - (near) Old Town – Sesmarias - (Praia de) Galé - Salgados (- Vale De Parra - Guia) VAMUS route 75

Service along this route has been drastically reduced. There are now only four buses each way on weekdays plus two extra buses on schooldays. There is currently no Saturday, Sunday or Holiday service.

Runs via Old Town (Avenida do Ténis) and São Rafael / Sesmarias. Most buses continue beyond Galé to Salgados, some further onwards to Vale de Parra and Guia.

Diagram of the route here. Fare Albufeira - Galé is €2.45 - these buses do NOT go to Algarve Shopping. The village of Guia where they stop is about 1.3km away, walking along a busy and dangerous road with no footpath. BUS

Albufeira Bus Station - Guia (Algarve Shopping and the village)

Guia Village is 1.3km or 3/4 of a mile from Algarve Shopping, along a very busy road with no footpath!

Guia is served by various buses operated by VAMUS bus company that run between Albufeira, Lagoa and Portimão – click here for times - these stop outside the Algarve Shopping Mall (but 300 yards from Albufeira Retail Park) which is about ¾ mile / 1.3km outside Guia village.

Journey about 10 minutes - fare is €3.55. Buses are irregular and at weekends quite infrequent. Last bus to Albufeira to Guia on weekdays is at 2040, at weekends and holidays at 1800. Last bus from Guia to Albufeira is at 1924 daily.

Guia village is also served by the route 28 bus towards Messines - see below - journey is about 15 minutes from Albufeira bus station, 20 minutes from Areais São João. This does not go via Algarve Shopping, which is ¾ mile / 1.3km and a dangerous walk along a very busy road with no footpath from Guia itself.

For Algarve Shopping, there are irregular buses from and to Albufeira on weekdays. On Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays there are at present only six buses each way therefore long intervals between them. Current times here.

All VAMUS buses to Guia (above) stop on request at Algarve Shopping 1 minute before Guia. Although the official timetable calls the stop 'Vale Verde' it is always called Algarve Shopping by everyone. Beware that coming from Albufeira the stop is the 'wrong' side of a very busy road. Use the bridge, even though it means an extra 200 metres to walk.

A taxi from Albufeira will cost €8 - €10. Uber or Bolt may be cheaper. A standard vehicle is permitted to carry only four passengers. If there are more of you, order a large vehicle or be prepared to take two or more small ones. There is a taxi rank at the mall.

There is a free bus (? maybe not yet running) between certain hotels in Olhos D'Agua and Albufeira to and from Algarve Shopping from mid May until mid September

The early bus goes around the stops in the 'opposite' direction and therefore may stop across the road where it's the VAMUS (local bus company) stop they use. Best check at the hotel. THIS WAS THE 2021 TIMETABLE. THIS BUS SEEMS TO BE NOT RUNNING THIS YEAR BUT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CHECK SINCE EARLY JUNE

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Albufeira Bus Station – Açoteias- Praia de Falésia (Alfamar resort) – Rocha Baixinha (Aquamarina and Adriana Beach Club resorts) VAMUS route 8

Daily service, but at very irregular times. There are only four buses each way at weekends and on public holidays. Last bus from Albufeira is currently at 1735, returning at 1800 except on schooldays when there is another bus at 1845 as far as Falésia. That returns to Albufeira at 1905 and is the last bus in that direction.

Journey 20 minutes to Falésia, 25 minutes to Rocha Baixinha.The buses run via the main road across town stopping at Albufeira Shopping, Areais São João (the strip), Santa Eulália, Balaia, Olhos D'Agua, Açoteias and Falésia, at the Alfamar Hotel. The stop for Rocha Baixinha is outside the Adriana Beach Club and Aquamarina resort complexes. Map of the stops in Albufeira town here.

FULL TIMETABLE CLICK here
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Albufeira Bus Station - Balaia - Olhos D'Água VAMUS routes 8, 9 and 66

Buses run on weekdays at very irregular intervals on three different routes. Weekend service is reduced to eight buses each way, with gaps of up to three hours between buses. Please check the timetable.

Journey 12 minutes to Balaia, 15 minutes to Olhos D'Agua. Runs via Continente / Modelo shopping, Areais São João, Santa Eulália

One way fare €2,45. Frequent but irregular service on weekdays, infrequent at weekends especially in the mornings towards Albufeira, in the afternoons going back. Times of all the buses between Albufeira and Olhos D'Agua in both directions HERE

Albufeira Old Town - Bus Station- 'strip'- Quinta da Balaia - Branqueira - Vale Navio (north end)

Served regularly by Albufeira GIRO Bus Vermelha 2. Every 30 minutes weekdays and also Saturdays until 1430hrs, every hour otherwise.
Cash fare €1,40. It's only 80 cents with a pre paid ten journey card.

Albufeira (Areais São João) – Albufeira Bus Station – Páteo – Guia – Algoz – S.B Messines

VAMUS route 28

Service reduced to four buses each way on weekdays, three at weekends. Starts from Areais São João (the strip) and stops at the Continente Modelo shopping centre near McDonald's then via Albufeira Bus Station. The nearest stop to the old town is near the 'Dolphins' roundabout at the Avenida do Ténis traffic lights.

FULL TIMETABLE click here. These buses do NOT go to Algarve Shopping, which is 1.3km from Guia village centre walking long a busy and dangerous road with no footpath.

Guia is also served by the various buses towards Lagoa and Portimão – click here for times

Páteo is also served twice every hour (hourly on Saturday afternoons, all day Sunday and Holidays) by the GIRO Linha Vermelha 1 bus - see below

TRANSRÁPIDO FAST BUS FARO <> ALBUFEIRA BUS STATION VAMUS route 57

THERE ARE SEVEN BUSES EACH WAY ON WEEKDAYS BUT ONLY TWO BUSES EACH WAY AT WEEKENDS AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Albufeira to Faro takes 55 minutes. In Albufeira this bus stops only in the bus station. It also stops at Guia and at Algarve Shopping. Fare from Albufeira to Faro is €5,10 on any bus.

Buses from Albufeira to Faro on weekdays at 0710, 0815, 0955, 1210, 1400,1625 and 1840 and 1350. The 0955 and 1400 also run at weekends and on public holidays.

Coming back from Faro they leave on weekdays at 0815, 0930, 1230, 1430, 1600, 1730 and 1940. At weekends and on public holidays only at 1230 and 1605.

There are other, much slower, buses between Albufeira and Faro via Vilamoura and Quarteira - see below.

ALBUFEIRA - LAGOS FAST BUSES VIA PORTIMÃO, PRAIA DA ROCHA AND ALVOR (LINHA LITTORAL) VAMUS route 51

In Albufeira these buses stop only in the bus station. They also stop at Guia and Algarve Shopping. Current official timetable here.

Journey from Albufeira to Praia da Rocha is about an hour, Alvor 1 hour 12 minutes, Lagos 1hr 35 minutes. Weekdays - direct buses from Albufeira suitable for a day out leave at 0800 (weekdays only), 0910 and 1200. Buses back from Alvor at 1638 and 1820, these stop in Praia da Rocha at 1654 and 1839 respectively.

There are other buses between Albufeira and Portimão. The last buses back from Portimão to Albufeira are at 1659 and 1844

Fares (I think, no longer on the website): Albufeira - Portimão €5,05, Albufeira - Alvor €5,10 and Albufeira - Lagos €5,90

ALBUFEIRA - PORTIMÃO - LAGOS VAMUS route 57 (TRANSRÁPIDO)

These buses stop in Guia, Armação de Pêra, Lagoa, Portimão and Lagos. They do NOT go to Praia da Rocha and Alvor.

Buses from Albufeira on weekdays at 0910, 1025, 1325, 1525, 1655, 1825 and to Portimão at 2035 . Official timetable here. From Lagos to Albufeira at 0650, 0830, 1045, 1235, 1500 and 1715. There is a very early journey from Portimão to Albufeira at 0615. There are only three buses each way at weekends.

AEROBUS - VAMUS ROUTE 56 TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT

Until 31st October 2022 this runs five times daily - timetable here. These buses also go to Faro (Bus Station), Lagoa, Portimão and Lagos. Special fares apply on this bus, for example Albufeira to Portimão is €8.00, Airport to Lagos €11.

ALBUFEIRA TO VILAMOURA AND BACK VAMUS routes 9 and 66

Journey about 40 minutes, one way fare €4,50. Buses run about once an hour on weekdays, much less often at weekends. In Vilamoura all buses in BOTH DIRECTIONS use the exact same stops because of the one-way traffic system. The main bus stop in Vilamoura (Praia da Marina) is near the Casino and the Dom Pedro hotels - Vilamoura map here.

Buses leave from the bus station in Albufeira, then run via Albufeira Shopping (stop is outside the Pingo Doce and Continente supermarkets) along the main road, then stop at the 'strip', Santa Eulalia, Balaia etc. Click the map to see it larger size. They do NOT stop in the old town. The nearest stop from there is about 10 minutes uphill walk.

Buses from Albufeira to Vilamoura suitable for a day out (discounting those before 0800hrs!) leave on weekdays at : 0845, 1015, 1130, 1230 and 1335. At weekends and on holidays they leave only at 1015 and 1335. Coming back from Vilamoura on weekday afternoons they leave at 1422, 1517, 1632, 1747, 1902 and 2002. At weekends and on holidays the ONLY afternoon buses to Albufeira leave at 1517, 1747 and 2002.

Times in detail towards Vilamoura here and coming back here including times at the other places in Albufeira where these buses stop.

The buses to and from Faro also stop at the Quarteira Wednesday outdoor market at Fonte Santa, about 10 minutes after Vilamoura. Check the timetables etc here.

ALBUFEIRA AND CARVOEIRO

There are no direct buses. You must always change bus In LAGOA. The journey can currently only be reasonably done on weekdays but often with long waits. Because of the very sparse weekend bus service, there currently no practicable journeys at weekends, except for two journeys between Carvoeiro and Albufeira. Fares : Albufeira - Lagoa €4,50 and Lagoa - Carvoeiro €2,45. Separate tickets needed for each bus. Details here.

ALBUFEIRA TOURIST TRAIN

For a list of all the timetables on the site, click here
For an alphabetical list of places in the Algarve, click here
For some important general notes about buses in the Algarve, click here
Back to the main page here