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.
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. |
|||||
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. |
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.
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Infos en français, auf Deutsch, em Portugues içi, hier, aqui
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.
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.
GIRO hours of service - summer
times apply from 1st June to 30th September
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.
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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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Until further notice there are six buses each way on weekdays,
just three at weekends and holidays.
Journey times Ferreiras 8 minutes, Algoz 24, Silves 45.
One way fare Albufeira to Silves €4.70, to Algoz €3.55.
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.
FULL TIMETABLE CLICK here
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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.
One-way fare Albufeira to Messines €4.50, Albufeira to Paderne
€3.55
The complete imetable 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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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
FULL TIMETABLE ALBUFEIRA AND LOULÉ CLICK here
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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.
FULL TIMETABLE CLICK here
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Guia Village is 1.3km or 3/4 of
a mile from Algarve Shopping, along a very busy road with no
footpath!
Map of Guia area and Algarve Shopping here.
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.
Algarve Shopping Mall (4miles or
6km from Albufeira)
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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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.
One way fare Albufeira to Falésia €2.45, Rocha Baixinha €3.55.
FULL TIMETABLE CLICK here
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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
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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
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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.
For a printable copy of the official timetable leaflet click here.
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.
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SIX BUSES EACH WAY ON WEEKDAYS, FOUR BUSES EACH WAY AT WEEKENDS
IN SUMMER
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
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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.
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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.
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MUCH OF THE WEEKEND SERVICE IS STILL SUSPENDED
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.
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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.
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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