The information has been obtained from printed timetables and
other local sources (like taking the bus) and is given in good
faith.
Most GIRO bus winter service ends at around
2000hrs / 8pm every day.
From 1st July to the second Sunday of September, GIRO buses on
some routes will run until 1030pm / 2230hrs.
BUS TIMES APPLY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BUT MAY CHANGE
WITH ALMOST NO WARNING
Albufeira Bus Terminal is on the outskirts of town about 1.6km / 1 mile from the old town.
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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 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! Timetables for VAMUS buses are posted on a noticeboard in the middle of the waiting room. On one side is a small TV screen listing the next few buses. Timetables for local Giro buses were posted at the bus stops outside but all have now been torn down.There is therefore NO INFORMATION TO BE SEEN AT ALL about local buses for those arriving from elsewhere. You can find information at www.vamusalgarve.pt or the VAMUS app. No mobile phone? Sorry, you are deemed unworthy of knowing. The ticket office staff do have some English if you need to make an enquiry. Picture to the left is the Bus Station interior. Click or tap to see larger size. |
LINKS TO TIMETABLE PAGES FOR PLACES OUTSIDE ALBUFEIRAClick or tap for more detail about these routes and links to timetables. All routes go to and from the main bus station.Places served by the Albufeira town Giro buses are in bold type. VAMUS regional buses in plain type. Vamus buses except those on fast routes 51, 56 and 57 stop at other places in town. |
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Camping Albufeira |
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| Vale de Parra |
Balaia and Olhos D'Agua |
Albufeira Marina |
Carvoeiro |
Armação de Pêra |
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For the bus times between Albufeira
and the other main coastal resorts, click here. |
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All buses towards and from Ferreiras and beyond also stop at Camping Albufeira
(the stops up on the main road, not the one just outside) about 5
minutes after leaving the bus station. These are Giro routes 5, 7
and 11 plus VAMUS routes 4 and 17. The entrance to the Clube
Albufeira resort complex is opposite Camping Albufeira. Giro route 3
runs from the Bus Station to Camping Albufeira, thence to the old
town and the marina.
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Infos en français, auf Deutsch, em Portugues içi, hier, aqui
Bus stops and times are shown on Google Maps. I cannot say
whether the information is accurate everywhere, but it is for the
stop I use most of the time.
All GIRO buses normally used are now electric.
Buses have low steps also a wheelchair ramp and are accessible to
disabled persons.
GIRO TICKETS AND PASSES CANNOT BE USED ON OTHER BUSES, nor can tickets from VAMUS buses be used on GIRO.
GIRO hours of service - winter
first buses at around 0700, last buses mostly between 1900 and
1930. Summer times apply from 1st July to the second Sunday of
September when some routes will run until 2230hrs. All
GIRO routes run daily. Some have a reduced service at weekends
and on public holidays.
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 2145 and 2215. For a summary of bus times in the
old town area, click here. Will open in a
new window. For a summary of last Giro buses from the Bus Station,
click or tap here.
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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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A PRE PAID PASS OR AN ACCOUNT USING THE VAMUS APP
WILL REDUCE FARES BY 33%. VAMUS TICKETS CANNOT BE USED ON
GIRO BUSES,NOR VICE-VERSA
SEASON TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR UNLIMITED TRAVEL BETWEEN ANY TWO
PLACES FOR 1 CALENDAR MONTH. INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT https://vamusalgarve.pt/#/pt/vamus%20algarve/pre-purchase-fares
Six buses each way on weekdays, just three at weekends and
holidays. Journey times Ferreiras 8 minutes, Algoz 24, Silves 45.
.jpg)
One way fare Albufeira to Silves €5,60, to Algoz €4,15, Ferreiras
€2,85. There is a cheaper and more frequent service between
Albufeira and Ferreiras on the local Giro buses. Click here for details.
For a weekday visit to Silves you can only leave Albufeira at
0715, 0800 or 1200 with buses back at 1345, 1715 and 1845. For a
weekend trip, the ONLY buses to Silves are at 0800 and 1430hrs,
with the only buses back at 1345 and 1830. FULL TIMETABLE CLICK here
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The general reduction in bus service means that 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. One-way fare Albufeira to Messines €5.40, Albufeira
to Paderne €4,15.
The complete timetable is here
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.
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Try not to confuse VAMUS route 10 with GIRO route 10, both of
which use the main bus station. VAMUS route 10 buses are big white
diesel buses going to either Loulé or Faro via Loulé. Giro route
10 buses are little electric buses going down into the old town.
Journey to Loulé is 45 minutes one way fare €5.60. 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 then at 1825, at weekends only at 1515 and 1810.
Mar Shopping and IKEA,
near Loulé - bus journey is about 1 hour. Fare €5.95. Complete
timetable Albufeira <> Loulé <> Mar Shopping <>
Faro here
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(on the way back to Albufeira this bus also goes to
the Câmara stop before the Bus Station)
This route runs around a large circle, once every
hour on weekdays, every two hours at weekends and holidays. There
are buses between Guia, Algarve Shopping and Albufeira every hour
every day, including a late bus for cinema goers. Cash fare one
zone €2,05, two zones €2,65 or €1,65 with the pre paid pass. Route
8 times here.
Route 7 below runs in the opposite direction.
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Runs the opposite way around to Route 8 above. Once every hour weekdays, every two hours at weekends and on holidays except that there is a bus every hour every day between Albufeira and Guia via Algarve Shopping. Cash fare one zone €2,05, two zones €2,65 or €1,65 with the pre paid pass.
A taxi to Algarve Shopping 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.
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Daily service about once every hour between Albufeira Bus Station
and Laranjal with extra buses at weekday busy times. Very
irregular beyond Laranjal.
Unfortunately for some, this bus takes a very circuitous route
around Albufeira and takes twice between the Bus Station and Olhos
D'Água the remaining VAMUS buses. They go via Montechoro if you
are staying up around there. They rejoin the VAMUS route at the
Estrada da Santa Eulália stop near the old bullring and ALDI.
You cannot use Giro tickets and passes on VAMUS buses routes 9 and 66, nor vice-versa. Map of the stops used by VAMUS in Albufeira town here
One way cash fare on GIRO Albufeira to Olhos D'Água and beyond is
€2,65 or €1,65 with the pre paid pass.
COMPLETE TIMETABLE CLICK here
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THESE ARE FASTER THAN THE GIRO BUSES BUT YOU CANNOT USE
GIRO TICKETS ON VAMUS BUSES NOR VICE-VERSA
Try not to confuse VAMUS route 9 with GIRO route 9, which runs along some of the same roads and stops at some of the same stops. VAMUS route 9 buses (which are white) will always be going to QUARTEIRA or FARO.
Buses run on weekdays at very irregular intervals on the two
different routes. Weekend service is reduced to six buses each
way, with gaps of up to three hours between them. Please check the
timetable carefully.
Journey 12 minutes to Balaia, 15 minutes to Olhos D'Agua. Runs
via Continente / Albufeira shopping, Areais São João, Santa
Eulália and Balaia.
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Giro Linha 1
runs every 30 minutes daily between the Bus Station and Quinta
da Balaia, once an hour at Branqueira and Vale Navio on
weekdays, once every TWO hours at weekends. Return journey runs
along the main Avenida dos Descobrimentos and does not go to
Brejos, instead it stops at Arcadas São João and the Rotundas.
COMPLETE TIMETABLE HERE
Giro Linha 9 runs once
each hour daily between the Old Town (Avenida da Liberdade),
Câmara, Bus Station, Quinta da Balaia, Branqueira, Vale Navio
and Patã de Baixo. TIMETABLE HERE
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Four buses each way on weekdays, three at weekends. Starts from
Areais São João (the strip) and stops at the Albufeira Shopping
centre (Continente supermarket) opposite 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. Use Giro route 7, which runs from the main bus station
every hour every day and stops outside Algarve Shopping - see
below.
Guia and Algarve Shopping are also served by Giro bus route 7
times here
and the various buses towards Lagoa and Portimão – click here for times. Páteo is
also served every hour daily by Giro Route
9 and a few times a day by Giro Route
3.
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THERE ARE SEVEN BUSES EACH WAY ON WEEKDAYS BUT IN WINTER 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 €5,80 (cash) on any bus, about 40% less if you have
a pre paid pass or an account on the VAMUS app. Fare to Faro is
€6.00
For a printable copy of the complete timetable click here.
Buses from Albufeira to Faro on weekdays at 0700, 0820, 1005,
1235, 1410, 1650 and 1855. The 1005 and 1410 also run at weekends
and on public holidays all year. In summer, the 1855 Albufeira to
Faro also runs daily.
Coming back from Faro they leave on weekdays at 0800, 0930, 1230,
1445, 1600, 1745 and 1945. At weekends and on public
holidays at 1230 and 1605 all year, plus in summer, at 1945. There
are other, much slower, buses between Albufeira and Faro via
Vilamoura and Quarteira - see below.
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SIX BUSES EACH WAY ON WEEKDAYS, THREE BUSES EACH WAY AT WEEKENDS
IN SUMMER, TWO BUSES EACH WAY WEEKENDS IN WINTER. SUMMER TIMES
APPLY FROM 1st MAY TO 31st OCTOBER
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, 0910 and
1200. Buses come back from Lagos at 1615 and 1815, Alvor at 1638
and 1838, and in Praia da Rocha at 1654 and 1854, Portimão at 1704
and 1904 respectively.
Weekends and Holidays
- in winter the ONLY fast bus from Albufeira for a day trip to
Portimão, Praia da Rocha and Lagos is the 0910. The ONLY bus back
is at 1615, which stops in Alvor at 1638, Praia da Rocha at 1654
and Portimão at 1704.
In summer the 1200 bus from Albufeira to Lagos and 1815 return
journey run daily.
There are other buses between Albufeira and Portimão. The last
buses back from Portimão to Albufeira of any description are at
1659 DAILY then at 1745 and 1844 ON WEEKDAYS ONLY. Last bus from
Lagos to Albufeira in winter is at 1615, which stops in Alvor at
1638, Praia da Rocha at 1654 and Portimão at 1659. In summer the
1815 bus from Lagos to Albufeira runs daily, stopping at Alvor
1838, Praia da Rocha1854, Portimão 1859..
Fares : Albufeira - Portimão €6.00, Albufeira - Alvor €6,t0
and Albufeira - Lagos €6,70.
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SUMMER TIMES APPLY FROM 1st MAY TO 31st OCTOBER
These buses stop in Guia, Armação de Pêra, Lagoa, Portimão and
Lagos. They do NOT go to Praia da Rocha and Alvor.. Journey times
- Armação de Pêra 25 minutes, Portimão 1 hour, Lagos 1 hour 30
minutes.
Buses from Albufeira to Lagos on weekdays at 0900, 1030, 1330, 1545, 1700, 1835 and
to Portimão at 2055 . Complete timetable here. From
Lagos to Albufeira at 0645, 0830, 1100, 1235, 1500 and 1725. There
is a very early journey from Portimão to Albufeira at 0600. The
only buses at weekends and public holidays are the 1330 and 1700
from Albufeira plus in summer a later journey at 2045 .Returning
from Lagos, buses at 0830 and 1235 with a later bus in summer at
1720.
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Timetable here.
Journey times - Portimão 45 minutes, Lagos 1 hour 15 minutes,
Airport 40 minutes, Faro Bus Station 55 minutes.
In summer there are seven journeys each way, every day.
These buses stop only Faro Airport and the bus station, in the
other direction at Lagoa, Portimão (long distance bus station, out
of town) and Lagos. In winter the service is only two buses each
way.
Special (higher) fares apply on this bus, for example Albufeira
to Portimão is €11.00, Albufeira to Lagos €12.00
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WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY SERVICE IS VERY INFREQUENT,
WITH UP TO 3 HOURS WAIT BETWEEN BUSES. CHECK TIMES CAREFULLY
Try not to confuse VAMUS route 9 with GIRO route 9,
which runs along some of the same roads and stops at some of the
same stops. The big white VAMUS route 9 buses will always be going
to QUARTEIRA or FARO.
Journey to Vilamoura is about 40 minutes, one way
fare €5.40 Quarteira is about another 10 minutes journey fare
€5.60. The market site at Quarteira about 15 minutes after
Vilamoura - the stop is called Fonte Santa but bus drivers know
Quarteira market. 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 / evening buses back
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.
There are no direct buses. You must always change
bus In LAGOA. The journey can currently only be reasonably done on
weekdays, but even then sometimes with long waits. The weekend bus
service is very sparse. A weekend day trip to Carvoeiro and back
by bus is not possible in winter.
Fares - Albufeira - Lagoa €5,60 and Lagoa - Carvoeiro €2,85.
Separate tickets needed for each bus. Details here.
How to get to The Marina, Algarve Shopping Mall (near Guia) and Albufeira Retail Park
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