Tavira local bus and ferry connections

The information on this page has been obtained from printed timetables and other local sources (like taking the bus) and is given in good faith.

Bus service until further notice. Ferry times will be further updated for summer 2023
The bus route / line number may not always be shown on the front of the bus

Buses operated by VAMUS

Route 105 Tavira <> Santa Luzia <> Pedras d'el Rei

There are no longer any buses at weekends or public holidays

Ferry Santa Luzia to Praia Terra Estreita

A ferry operates across the lagoon to the island beach of Terra Estreita.
Thanks to Michiel for the information below. Ferry runs from 29th April until 15th October 2023
https://www.passeios-ria-formosa.com/en/destinations/ferry-in-santa-luzia/

Operates 8 - 10 times a day from 1000am until 12th May, from 0930 after that.

Ticket, there and back, is €2.25 , children 5- 11 years €1,70.

ROUTE 41 Tavira <> Conceição <> Cabanas

One way fare Tavira and Cabanas is €3,55
There are other buses (daily) between Tavira and Conceição - click here for times
The little railway station at  Conceição is an easy 12 -15 minutes walk from the centre of Cabanas, also Cabanas Park. Train times
There are no longer any buses at weekends or on public holidays. Buses shaded grey run only on schooldays

Ferries and Water taxis from Cabanas to the Ilha Cabanas

Bus Tavira <> Quatro Águas for the ferry to Ilha de Tavira

Service discontinued

The Tavira tourist road 'train' also goes to Quatro Águas, about once each hour. This did run from early February to end October. I cannot confirm details for this year.
Some previous information here which is posted on the company website. Please revisit the website or ask at the tourist office about this.

FERRY DETAILS - OPERATED BY SILNIDO LDA

Ferry Quatro Águas <> Tavira Island

Quatro Águas is about a mile (1.6km)  from town. The bus service along that road no longer operates.

The ferry between Quatro Águas to the island operates daily all year, except probably no service Christmas Day and New Year's Day.  As of 13th May of l 2023 this ferry is running ten times daily from 0930. Last ferry back from the island is at 1930. Current timetable here. There is a more frequent service, once or twice an hour every day, during the summer months. Times change frequently, only the current timetable is posted at the website.

Return fare (adult) is €2.50, children aged 4 to 12 €1,10 those under 4 years free.

Ferry Tavira (town) to the island

These leave from the quayside in Tavira just beyond the old market building, the Doca da Pesca and the fishing boats, going towards the tall bridge over the river.   As of 27th April running right times every day from 0930. Last ferry back from the island at 1835. Timetable here. A much more frequent service operates in the summer months.

Fare €2.50 (adult) return, children  aged 4 - 12 €1.10. Those under 4 go free.

THESE ARE FOOT PASSENGER FERRIES ONLY. BIKES AND DOGS ARE NOT CARRIED AS NEITHER ARE ALLOWED ON THE ISLAND.

BOARDING AND ALIGHTING IS VIA A SHORT FLIGHT OF STONE STEPS. BABY BUGGIES MUST BE FOLDED AND CARRIED, BABIES LIKEWISE. WELL, CARRIED AT LEAST

THOSE LESS ABLE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTIES. WHEELCHAIR ACCESS TO THE FERRIES IS NOT POSSIBLE.

Water Taxis

There are also water taxis available to take you to the island from Tavira and Quatro Águas, also to and from Cabanas etc. These operate restricted hours outside the main holiday season. For prices and contact details please click here. This company website may be useful https://sequatours.com/en/tour/water-taxi

Route 121 Tavira <> Santa Catarina <> São Bras de Alportel

THE ROUTES BELOW HAVE NO SERVICE ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS OR HOLIDAYS
aucune services les weekends/dias úteis somente/nicht am wochenende
Check carefully for which days the buses operate. A scenic ride but come back a different way!
MON - Mondays only - what is the purpose of this bus?   TTF - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays only
MFO - Mondays to Fridays (weekdays) only SCH - Schooldays only
The 0715 bus from Santa Catarina also the 1345 and 1750 from Tavira run via Tavira railway station. The others do not.

Route 49 Tavira <> Santo Estevão <> Esteiramantens

One bus each schoolday - from Esteiramantens at 0740; From Tavira to Estiramantens at 1720.
Transport on demand - route 943 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during school holidays only, from Estiramantens at 0945 return from Tavira at 1430. MUST be pre booked not later than 1300 on the previous weekday via Customer service number +351 300 074 830

Route 40 Tavira <> Luz de Tavira <> Amaro Gonçalves

From Tavira on WEEKDAYS (MFO) at 1325 and 1840. Also on at 1630 SCHOOLDAYS. The 1840 bus continues to Brejos (Cruz.) arriving at 1900.

From Amaro Gonçalves on WEEKDAYS (MFO) at 0705 (starts at Brejos at 0700) and 1340 also at 1650 on SCHOOLDAYS.
Journey time 15 minutes

There are more buses between Tavira and Luz de Tavira - click here for times.

Tavira Urbanas - TUT local minibus around town

TICKETS ISSUED BY VAMUS ARE NOT VALID ON THESE BUSES

Tavira has two overlapping, local urban minibus routes from the Bus Station.They make a couple of loops around the town and suburbs, at very irregular intervals, between 0800 and 2000 MFO (weekdays) only. Five journeys also run on Saturdays on Linha Azul between about 0800 and 1400. There is no service at all on Sundays or Holidays. Times are posted at the most of the bus stops. Bus stops are marked on Google Maps together with bus times.

Official maps and timetables on line here. Click either Descarregar Horário Linha Azul or Descarregar Horário Linha Vermelha for a printable timetable.

On both routes, stop 0 is the bus station, stop 2 the railway station. There is a stop outside the Tavira Gran Plaza shopping centre, number 23 on the map.
The routes are very complicated with many stops only served on a few journeys.

NOTE ABOUT TAVIRA BUS STATION

Tavira Bus Station is situated in the Rua dos Pelames, on the riverbank, about 3 minutes walk from the town centre, the old arched bridge and the Praça da Republica.

It is about six or seven minutes walk from the Railway Station  - signs to it say "Terminal Rodoviário".
The building itself is rather anonymous, but you will see buses going in and out.

My map of Tavira here.

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

Site home page here

Pedras d'el Rei tourist train across to Praia do Barril - it has a diesel engine	Santa Luzia

www.algarvebus.info