Buses at Albufeira (Continente/Modelo Shopping) near Brisa Sol etc

to and from Vilamoura, Quarteira, Almancil and Faro
to and from  Açoteais, Falesia and Rocha Baixinha
to and from Guia, Algoz and S.B Messines
Local GIRO bus service towards Montechoro and Oura
Local GIRO bus service towards the main bus terminal also here (two routes)

Albufeira Old Town is served only by the local GIRO bus service - details here

This stop is the nearest to many of the major hotels and is also the nearest stop to the old town centre for  the EVA Interurban buses. It is close to the 'Watches' roundabout and several of the large hotels.

NOTE 1 – there is NO bus service from Modelo down into the old town. Either walk to the stop outside the Camara (Town Hall) or walk the whole way (downhill) in six or seven minutes. Map here.

NOTE 2 – there are NO direct buses from Modelo towards Armação de Pera, Lagoa, Portimão, Lagos. These all leave from the main bus station in Albufeira, so you must change buses or walk (uphill)  to the terminal - about 8 - 10 minutes.

Click here (external link) for the official map of the local GIRO buses in Albufeira in PDF format.

Also, the  Albufeira tourist train operates a frequent daily service all year from outside Brisa Sol hotel to 'The Strip' area.

Buses at Alcantarilha and Pera

Towards Albufeira via Guia or Vale de Parra
Towards Armaçao de Pera, Lagoa and Portimão
To and from Silves
To and from Alcantarilha Railway Station

The village of PERA is adjacent to Alcantarilha and most of the same buses go there. Local buses between Albufeira and Portimão via Guia stop on the main road (N125) just outside Pera but do not go into the village. Times eastbound 1 minute after Alcantarilha; westbound 1 minute before Alcantarilha. Buses running via Vale de Parra stop in the centre of the village.
The railway station called Alcantarilha is 4 miles/6 km from the village. The buses between Alcantarilha and the station are very infrequent and do not connect with the trains.

Buses at Algarve Shopping, Guia on N125

official website (English version)

Please see the information on this page, Algarve Shopping is about 4 miles (6km) from Albufeira and about a mile (1.6km) from the village of Guia. Bus services are infrequent and irregular especially at weekends. There is a free bus on weekdays in summer from certain hotels in Albufeira and Olhos D' Agua - click here for more.

A taxi to / from Albufeira will cost 8 - 10 Euros. There is a taxi rank at the mall for the return journey.

I advise against walking from Guia village. Traffic on the road is very fast, very busy and there is no footpath for most of the way.

Buses at Algarve Stadium

website including event info. The stadium is in open country between Faro and Loulé; about 5 miles /8km from each.

There are no scheduled buses actually at the stadium and they are rarely provided for events. The closest you will get by bus is Almancil Nexe (about 1 mile / 1.6km) on the Faro to Loulé route.  Almancil town is about 2 miles / 3.2km distant. There is no bus between the two places.

The nearest railway Station is Parque das Cidades, about 12 – 15 minutes walk away. Scheduled train times here; there are no extra trains or buses for matches. A taxi or driving are the only practical means to get there and back. Tip – when leaving DON’T queue for the motorway if you can avoid it, find one of the back ways out of the car park.

Algarve Zoo and Krazy World

website – open daily April to September, limited opening remainder of year. Closed mid - December to mid - January.

There are no buses to this location, which about 6 miles (10km) from Albufeira The park can arrange transport.

Buses at Algoz

To and from Albufeira via Ferreiras
To and from Albufeira via Guia
To and from S.B Messines
To and from Silves

The main bus stop in Algoz is near the Post Office on the main road through the village. There is a shelter only on one side of the road; stand outside the pasteleria 'Tita' opposite if heading towards Albufeira. There is no actual bus stop sign but they do stop there, by the pedestrian crossing.

Trains run about every 2 hours between Algoz and Portimão, Lagos and Faro – for times click here. The station is a few minutes walk north of the village centre on the road to Messines.

Algoz outdoor market is just to the north of the village centre and next to the railway station.

Buses at Almancil

Towards Faro
Towards Quarteira, Vilamoura and Albufeira
To and from Loulé, Vale de Lobo and Quinta do Lago

The mainj bus stop at Almancil is in the village centre. There are others.

The railway halt at Almancil is just to the north of the town centre and offers direct services about every 2 hours to Silves, Portimão and Lagos also Faro and beyond. Almancil outdoor market is on the south edge of the town near the Estadio Municipal.

Buses in Alvor (including Hotel Dom João II and Hotel Delfim)

Local mini-bus 'Vai e Vem' services to Praia de Alvor (Alvor Beach), Praia do Vau and Portimão

There are no buses after about 2000hrs even in summer. Last bus to Albufeira is at 1820hrs daily.

The main Alvor bus stop is at the roundabout on the edge of the village, as the roads in the village itself are too narrow for buses. It is the same stop for all buses in all directions. There is a taxi rank at the bus stop in case you need a taxi for the last leg of your journey.

The Vai e Vem local buses do not go the Delfim Hotel; they stop in the main road a few minutes walk away. Vai e Vem routes serve the Dom João II hotel and the waterfront area close to where the picture left was taken.

There is a local agent selling Vai e Vem bus passes called Papelaria d'el Rei nearby at Rua Marquês de Pombal, nº 3. Open every day.

Buses to and from Lagos and Albufeira no longer go up the hill to the Hotel Delfim; they stop on the main road only.

Picture to the left is the old village near the river front, about 5 minutes walk from the bus stops at the roundabout. The monthly open-air market stretches from the Dom João II hotel almost to the Alvor roundabout.

Aqualand

website – open end May to mid-September

The Aqualand theme park is about 2 miles / 3.2km west of Alcantarilha on the N125. Although local buses do pass by, they are very infrequent. You will find it much more convenient to use the park’s own buses. There are two runs out in the mornings from Albufeira and the main hotel areas; one from Alvor and Portimão and one from Vilamoura/Quarteira and also Armação de Pera.  Trips can also be reserved from more distant resorts. Check their website and leaflets for details.

Aquashow Family Park

website – open mid-May to end September

Aquashow is north of Quarteira on the road to Loulé.  Local buses stop outside. The website has pages in English and a location map. They also run their own buses from all major tourist resorts.

Buses at Areias São João (the ‘Strip’ area of Albufeira)

to and from Vilamoura, Quarteira, Almancil and Faro
to and from  Açoteais, Falesia and Rocha Baixinha
to and from Branqueira
to and from Guia, Algoz and S.B Messines
Local GIRO bus service towards Montechoro, Bus Terminal and a very long way round to old town centre
Local GIRO bus service towards Oura, Inatel and close to old town centre from 'Globes' roundabout about 2 minutes walk away.
Local GIRO bus service towards Quinta da Balaia, also Modelo and Bus Terminal

There are NO direct buses from Areias São João towards Armação de Pera, Lagoa, Portimão and Lagos. These all leave from the main bus station in Albufeira, so you must change buses there. Bus maps of the area here

The Albufeira tourist 'train' operates every 20/40 minutes every day all year between Areias São João (the 'strip') and the escalators above the old town centre. Details here, official tourist train website here.

Buses at Armação de Pera 

Towards Guia, Albufeira and Faro
Towards Lagoa, Portimão and Lagos
To and from Silves
To and from Alcantarilha Estacao

Picture is the beach at Armação de Pera, looking east towards Galé.

If intending to travel between Armação de Pera and Vilamoura, Quarteira or Loulé you must normally change buses in Albufeira Bus Station.

Armação de Pera to/from Alcantarilha and Pera - journeys are possible by any of the routes shown! Beware stopping arrangements in the town. Map here.

The ticket sales point for Rede Expressos long distance buses is a short walk from the bus stops at a shop :
ANA CATARINA CARVALHO PONTES
Edifício Caravela - Rua José Prudêncio Vieira, Lote-9, Armação de Pêra
Tel.: 282312560 - open weekdays 0930 - 1330, Saturdays 1000 - 1300. Long distance tickets are also sold at the Holiday Inn Hotel.

For all local journeys buy your ticket from the driver when boarding the bus.

Autodromo do Algarve - Algarve Motor Racing Circuit

Official website

Buses at Ferreiras

Bus times to and from Algoz, Silves and Messines click here but please read the note to the right. For buses to and from Albufeira click here. There are no buses to Guia, Algarve Shopping, Portimão or Faro.

There are different bus stops in Ferreiras  - map here. 

If you are staying in or near Ferreiras, trains give you the best options to get to and from Faro, Tavira, Vila Real, Portimão and Lagos. The ALBUFEIRA railway station is just outside Ferreiras, about 10 minutes walk from the village centre. For train times click here.  Picture is Ferreiras centre, click for larger size

Buses at Forum Algarve Shopping at Faro

NB this is NOT the Algarve Shopping Mall, which is  the one near Guia/Albufeira!

Forum Algarve website

This shopping mall is about 1 mile / 1.6km west from the centre of Faro on the N125 towards the airport. It is served by the local Proxima buses, also the Albufeira – Faro routes including Transrápido and also the buses between Faro and Loulé.

Buses at Guia

Towards Albufeira and Faro via N125 (the most frequent service)
To and from Albufeira via Páteo
To and from Albufeira via Galé
Towards Armacao de Pera, Lagoa, Portimão and Lagos
To and from Algoz and S.B Messines

See this map for details of bus stops at Guia and Algarve Shopping Mall. The Algarve Shopping Mall and Albufeira Retail Park are about a mile/1.6km from the village of Guia - uphill along a very busy road with no footpath!

Picture to the left is the roundabout in the centre of the village with its chicken sculptures. Guia is the 'Chicken Capital' after all!. Picture below is the Algarve Shopping mall.

Buses at Lagoa

All services towards Armaçao de Pera, Guia, Albufeira and Faro

Fast services towards Portimão and Lagos

Local service to and from Portimão
To and from Silves and S.B Messines

To and from Carvoeiro, Vale Covo and Praia do Carvalho

To and from Monte Carvoeiro, Sesmarias, Benagil and Praia da Marina

Lagoa bus terminal is just off the main road on the edge of the old part of the town.

The bus stops are arranged by ROUTE, so for example buses to Portimão can leave from any one of three stops! Check which one yours leaves from to avoid being stranded.

Buses at Lagos

To Huelva and Seville
Fast services to Portimão,Lagoa, Albufeira, and Faro
Fast services from Faro, Albufeira, Lagoa and Portimão
Local service to Portimão
To and from Budens, Vila do Bispo, Sagres and Cape St Vincent
To and from Bensafrim, Aljezur and Odeciexe
To and from Barão São Miguel
To and from Colinas Verdes, Luz and Burgau
To and from Meia Praia

Diagram of the local bus routes etc here.

For longer distance journeys to Faro and beyond check the train timetable as an alternative. Lagos Bus Terminal is by the river a few minutes walk from the old part of the town and also about five minutes walk from the railway station. Many buses also stop along the ‘Esplanade’ alongside the river and closer to the historic town centre. Diagram of the local bus routes etc here.

The quickest route between bus station and train station is to take the footbridge over the river then walk through the fish docks (not as horrible as it sounds) and the station is right in front of you. From the train station to bus station, turn sharp left and go into the docks past the long white building and the side of the marina to the bridge. Click picture for larger version.

Lagos outdoor market is on the eastern edge of the town next to the football stadium – look for the tall floodlight towers. It’s maybe 10 minutes walk from the bus terminal.

Buses at Loulé

To and from Faro
To and from Albufeira
To and from Quarteira
To and from Almancil, Vale de Lobo and Quinta do Lago
To and from Salir
To and from S.B Messines via Benafim and Alte
To and from Touriz via Querença
To and from Paderne (schooldays only)

Click here for a map of Loulé centre showing the bus stops etc.

There are NO direct buses between Loulé and places west of Albufeira except at weekends – a change of bus in Albufeira, Quarteira or Faro is necessary at most times.

Loulé Saturday OUTDOOR market is on the Boliqueime road, a few minutes walk from the town centre. 

The INDOOR market is in the city centre, in the nicely restored market hall.

Loulé railway station is about 3 miles/ 4.8km from the town, it is near Quatros Estradas. There is a bus stop about 300 yards from the station on the main road.  The EVA buses to and from Albufeira and Quarteira stop there.

Local minibuses in Loulé -  two routes are operating around town, each with a bus every 20 minutes. Buses run from 0740  to 1920 on weekdays and from 0740 to 1400 on Saturdays. There is no service Saturday afternoons, Sundays or holidays. Timetables at most stops. There is also a very limited service between the town and railway station. The details are here in Portuguese only.

Buses at São Bartolomeu Messines

To and from Albufeira via Algoz and Guia
To and from Albufeira via Paderne and Ferreiras
To and from Portimåo via Silves and Lagoa
To and from Loulé via Alte and Benafim
To and from São Marcos de Serra and Foz de Ribiero

Messines has three daily train services to and from Lisbon. These start from Faro and provide local service at regional prices to and from Faro.  The railway station is only about five minutes walk from the town centre. The picture is Messines town from the railway station - the bus stops are in the middle!

The main bus stop is behind the market hall near the football ground and school.

Buses at Montechoro

Local GIRO bus service towards Modelo and Bus Terminal
Local GIRO bus service towards Oura, Inatel and Old Town
Buses to and from Loulé -these go from the Montechoro (X) stop in Vale das Pedras

For all other destinations you must first go to the bus terminal.

Picture is the Montechoro Hotel.

Buses at Olhão

Main route to and from Faro, Tavira, Monte Gordo and Vila Real de S. Antonio

To and from Alfandanga, Fuzeta and Moncarapacho

Other local routes including ferries to outlying islands

Olhão Map

Olhão has good train services to and from Faro, Fuzeta, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António. You can also, usually with a change of train in Faro, travel to Portimão and Lagos. Train times are here.

Olhão is also the point from which scheduled passenger ferries leave for the outlying islands of Armona, Culatra and Ilha Farol. The ferries are about a ten minute walk from the bus and train terminals, going through the old part of town.

Picture is the old dockside waterfront seen from the ferry pier.

Buses at Parchal

To and from Portimao and  Lagoa
To Arm. de Pera and Albufeira
From Albufeira and Arm. de Pera
To and from Ferragudo and Praia dos Caneiros

Buses from Portimão stop in Parchal about 5 minutes after leaving; towards Portimão about 5 minutes before the arrival time shown for Portimão. Also the buses to and from Ferragudo stop at Parchal (X), which is on the main road near LIDL. The railway station called Ferragudo is actually in Parchal. The 'Bela Vista' football stadium is about ten minutes walk from Parchal, at the top of the hill towards Ferragudo  along Rua da Escola - School Street..

Buses at Portimão - click here

The link to the left opens a detailed page about the buses in Portimão including local city buses between Portimão, Praia da Rocha, Alvor, Praia do Vau etc.

Buses at Praia da Rocha

Local buses stop at various locations in Praia da Rocha including Hotel Jupiter, the Marina and Clube Praia da Rocha. The buses to Lagos and Albufeira  only stop on the main avenue at the Clube Praia da Rocha stops.

Buses at Quarteira

Towards Almancil and Faro
Towards Vilamoura, Olhos de Agua and Albufeira
To and from Loulé
Local town services - external link

Part of the tiled mural at Quarteira bus station.

If you are intending to travel from Quarteira to anywhere WEST of Albufeira (eg Portimão or Lagos) you must change buses in Albufeira Bus Station. There are no through services.

The Wednesday morning outdoor tourist market in Quarteira is now about a mile out of town on the road to Almancil, past the camping site. The nearest bus stop is about 100 metres from the entrance at Fonte Santa, outside LIDL.  Details here.

The Parque Campismo de Quarteira (camping site) is on the road to Almancil about 3 minutes before/after the bus terminal in Quarteira.  Buses stop outside.

The bus station at Quarteira is about three minutes walk from the beach.

Buses at São Bras de Alportel

To and from Faro via Estoi
To and from Loulé
To and from Alportel, Martim Longo, Sta Barbara de Nexe and nearby villages
To and from Tavira

The bus terminal in São Bras de Alportel is a couple of minutes walk from the town centre.

Click the picture to view full size. The ticket office is often closed. The clerk appears a few minutes before each bus leaves and then writes out your ticket by hand! There is a waiting room if it's raining, also toilets.

Buses at (Estrada) Sta Eulália, Albufeira

– map here This is the Estrada da Sta Eulália near the Oura Praia Hotel.

Local GIRO bus service towards Montechoro, Modelo and Bus Station
Local GIRO bus service towards Oura, Inatel, old town and Bus Station
to and from Vilamoura, Quarteira, Almancil and Faro
to and from  Açoteais, Falesia and Rocha Baixinha

There are NO direct buses from Sta Eulália towards Armaçao de Pera, Lagoa, Portimão and Lagos. These all leave from the main bus station in Albufeira, so you must change buses there.

Times at Santa Eulália are only a minute or two different from those at Areais São João.

Buses (not GIRO) also stop outside the Santa Eulália resort hotel on the road towards Balaia.

Buses at Silves 

to and from Albufeira
to and from Messines, Lagoa and Portimão
to and from Silves Railway Station
to and from Armaçao de Pera

NOTE – Silves Railway station is just over a mile from the town but the train does give the best direct options to get to Faro, Tavira etc. The bus stop is in the town centre, near the football ground and by the river by the tourist office. There is no enquiry/ticket office at the bus stop itself, but there is an office at the town's indoor market building about 100 metres away. In all directions, outbound buses first stop across the road  from where you are sitting, go up to a roundabout, turn round and then come back, so do not panic.

Map.

Slide’n’Splash

 Website

This popular theme park is on the N125 between Lagoa and Estombar. There is a bus stop about 200 yards/metres from the entrance. This is served by all LOCAL buses between Lagoa and Portimão (NB but not the Transrápido or Albufeira - Lagos routes). Slide’n’Splash run their own buses from all the major resort areas, which can be booked through your hotel or local agents. These are the recommended means of getting there and back if you don't have a car. They can though be very slow because of the many stops.

Buses at Tavira

Tavira - Olhão -  Faro also Vila Real
Tavira – Santa Luzia – Pedras d’el Rei
Tavira – Cabanas
Tavira – Quatros Aguas and Ilha de Tavira
Tavira – Sta.Caterina – S. Bras de Alportel
Tavira - Cachopo

Tavira Bus Terminal is only three or four minutes walk from the historic town centre and various attractions. Click the picture to view full size.

Buses at Torralta Hotel Pestana Delfim and Dom João II

Fast service towards Portimão, Lagoa, A.de Pera and Albufeira
Fast service towards Lagos
Vai e Vem Local buses

EVA buses in Torralta stop on the main road near Hotel Delfim and also the Dom João II.

There are no local buses serving Torralta except that Routes 14 and 1P of the Vai e Vem local network, which stops on the main road at the bottom of the hill from Hotel Delfim and Route 10 about 100 metres further away and elsewhere in the area.

The local open-air market stretches from the Dom João II hotel almost to the Alvor roundabout.

Buses at Tunes (Gare) (Railway Station)

All bus times here but please read note to the right. Bus service is very irregular.

If you are staying in or near Tunes, trains give you the best options to get to and from Faro, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portimão and Lagos. For train times click here

Buses at Vale de Parra

Towards Albufeira direct
Towards Armaçao de Pera, Lagos and Portimão
To Guia, also Albufeira via Galé

Buses to and from Guia and via Galé stop on the road towards Galé; direct buses to and from Albufeira etc on the main road near the roundabout. On the direct route, there is only one bus each way on Saturday afternoons and one bus each way all day Sundays and Holidays.  The buses via Galé do not run in the evenings and not all on Sundays and Holidays except in summer.

Buses at Vila Real de Santo António

Main coastal bus route to and from Monte Gordo, Tavira, Olhão and Faro
Local bus connections to Castro Marim, Azinhal and up into the hills
Coaches run to Huelva and Seville and there are ferries across the river to Ayamonte.

Vila Real has a good train service along the coast to Tavira, Olhão and Faro with connections there to Portimão, Lagos also to Lisbon. Train times here.

There are no trains across the border into Spain. There is no railway station across the river in Ayamonte. The railway station there was closed and converted into the bus station.

Buses at Vilamoura

Towards Quarteira, Almancil and Faro
Towards Olhos de Agua, Balaia, Areais São João and Albufeira
Local town services - external link

Aerial photo of Vilamoura Marina area

Vilamoura map

There are two bus stops near the tourist part of Vilamoura around the marina. See the map. Because of the one way street system ALL BUSES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS stop  at the same stops, so you get back on exactly where you got off, not on the other side of the road etc. Long distance buses to / from Lisbon etc (both Rede-Expressos and Renex)  stop outside Jafer's supermarket ( top of the map) which is also the ticket sales point.

To get from Vilamoura to anywhere west of Albufeira eg Portimão and Lagos, you must change buses in Albufeira Bus Station. There are no through services. For Loulé; you will have to change buses at Quarteira or walk to the stops on the other side of the stadium - again see the map.

Quarteira / Vilamoura also has an ‘Urbanas’ local mini-bus service that does a circuit round the towns once or twice an hour weekdays from 0730hrs to 1800hrs, on Saturdays until about 1400hrs. Daily, all day, service operates during July, August and until the second weekend of September. This service runs well into the evenings.

Route diagrams, maps and timetables here. Times at intermediate stops are not shown, you have to guess them. Normal fare is €1, day ticket €2,00 two-day ticket €3.

(I cannot find the timetable current for winter 2017 - 2018.)

There is also a road 'train' that does a circuit of the town in summer every day about once an hour. Details here. Select Vilamoura to view timetable. Route Map here, again select Vilamoura

Zoomarine

Official website - the park is open (2017) March 28th to 26th November. NB only open Friday, Saturdays and Sundays after 5th November. Closed on Mondays in May and October.

Transrápido Faro - Albufeira - Lagos buses now call here on request.

From Albufeira via Guia
From Lagos, Portimão and Lagoa

Zoomarine theme park runs its own visitor buses, which pick up at all major tourist locations. These include Tavira, Portimão, Alvor, Armacão de Pêra and Albufeira.

These buses can be booked at your hotel or through one of the 'ticket shops'. Zoomarine  transport leaflet with all pickups and times is here. Transport from many places must be pre-booked. Please do double check times and  pick up places to avoid being left behind. Some stops are very badly described in the official information. You can book on line at http://ecommerce.zoomarine.pt/en/

The local bus stops nearest the park are about 150 metres from the main entrance, along a busy road with no footpath.