LONG DISTANCE BUS (COACH) STATION IN PORTIMÃO - INFORMATION
The information has been obtained from printed
timetables and other local sources (like taking the bus) and is
given in good faith.
It is many months since I have had any reason to go to Portimão!
Regional and local buses use the stops in Avenida Guanaré by the river, close to Largo do Dique. Map here
A different bus station in Portimão, to the north of the city centre, is used by all LONG DISTANCE buses (coaches) to and from Lisbon, Seville etc also the Aerobus route 56 to and from the airport.
The facility is located in Rua da Abicada near the Portimão Arena. Map here. NB there is no 'shortcut' between the railway station and bus station.Three local 'Vai e Vem' bus routes stop at this out of town bus station. Separate ticket is needed.Timetables and route maps in detail here
Route 12 to Bemposta and Montes do Alvor (nb not Alvor itself) weekdays only, every 30 minutes at peak times, once an hour otherwise
Route 31 to Largo do Dique (indirect route) weekdays only, every 40 minutes. Eighteen minutes journey.
Route 32 to/ from Largo do Dique via the Railway Station, weekdays only, every 15 minutes 0700 - 1930 ten minutes journey from Largo do Dique, eighteen minutes to Largo do Dique (you have to go via the Hospital in that direction)
Route 37 to and from city centre (stops at Praça Manuel T. Gomes, very close to Largo do Dique) weekends and holidays only, once each hour. Fourteen minutes journey
There is a taxi rank directly outside the bus station.
There is NO signposted walking route to or from this location. The walking route on my map is about 12 minutes walk, flat and alongside the river.
If you don't want to pay for a taxi to travel 1.5km (a bit less than a mile) and don't mind a walk, here's how to do it from the place where local buses stop and most of the city centre. It is flat and not unpleasant while you go alongside the river.
First head towards the two bridges, following the obvious marked paths by the river. Go under the first (road) bridge then under the second (railway) bridge.
You will see a vast almost deserted car park just to the left of you. Walk up the short ramp. Aim for the left hand end of the big shiny building of the Portimão arena.
You will see buses in front of you, but that is not it. That's the bus maintenance depôt.
Follow the red brick road and you will see a gate. It is open! Go through the gate and the bus station entrance is directly in front of you.
Inside is a ticket office and small waiting area, toilets and 18 bus stops with a roof.
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| If you get off at Portimão,
here's how to find the way to the centre once you have
finished wondering 'where on earth am I'? There is no
dedicated bus connection to the city centre. Some city
buses stop there. You can take a taxi, there is a taxi stand outside the gate. Or walk - read on! Come out of the bus station, look to your left across the road and spot the green gate. Go through the gate and follow the red brick road towards the trees. - picture bottom right - and head towards the river when you get there. Once at the other end you will see the way of the path around by the river and under the bridges. Follow that down by the river and you will come out at the Largo Do Dique for the city centre and a short distance beyond In Avenida Guanaré (past the petrol / gas station) the stops buses for places like Monchique, Lagos, Ferragudo etc |
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| RAILWAY
STATION - if for any reason you need to go to or
from the railway station, this is a pain. It is quite a
walk because of the railway line and industrial area in
between. Come out of the bus station, turn right towards
the industrial area and follow the road to the end, turn
left and go over the railway level (grade) crossing, then
turn left again and keep going. It's about a 10 minute
walk. Coming from the railway station, turn right and follow the road to the end, turn right again, go over the crossing and turn right again. Walk past the industrial units and the bus company maintenance depôt. The bus station facility is ahead as you reach the end of the road. There is a signpost just past the railway line to 'Terminal Rodoviário'. Bus 31 runs to the railway station, buses 32 and 37 from the railway station taking about 3 minutes but check times carefully. On the timetables the railway station is shown as Estação de Comboios, |
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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
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