Algarve-365 transfers
All drivers originally from the UK.
Pricematch Guaranteed, book your
return transfer and get a free gift!
Click the logo to visit
yellowfishtransfers.com
Airport, golf and local transfers
Bring your team to
the Algarve!!
Click to visit our website
Alternatives to satellite dishes also supplied and
installed.
BESPOKE GOLF HOLIDAYS -
CLICK AD TO VISIT THEIR SITE
Family friendly holidays ad baby equipment to hire
click the logo to visit their site
Useful website for visitor information on safety and
security.
Click logo to visit
Bike rentals, tours, sales and service. Click to see their
site.
Located on the N125 near Algarve Shopping, Guia.
VISITING ALBUFEIRA? WANT TO PLAY LAWN BOWLS?
IMPORTANT!!!
The bowling green at Balaia is now permanently closed.
The owners have turned it into a putting green. Balaia
Bowls Club have made arrangements to play at Valverde
Bowling Club, near Almancil. Details are shown at http://balaiabowls.org/
Visitors of
all abilities are welcome Please visit this
page for the details
CLICK HERE
TO VISIT THE BALAIA BOWLS CLUB WEBSITE
There are other lawn bowls clubs based near Alvor, Cabanas
and Floresta BC at Aldeia Azul near Lagos. Floresta has a
matting surface, the others are natural grass.
HOLIDAY
RENTAL
MODERN APARTMENT
ROOMS FOR HOLIDAY RENT LONG OR SHORT STAYS IN THE
CENTRE OF ALBUFEIRA OLD TOWN
ROOM only! Shared kitchen (brand new) and bathroom.
The whole apartment of two double bedrooms and one room
with sofa bed + balcony can be booked if desired.
No pool, no parking, but 2 minutes walk from the beach
area, 1 minute walk from the old town's main square.
The apartment is NOT suitable for those who cannot manage
46 stairs up from the street! No lift / elevator.
I know the owner and can put you in touch with him direct!
Bookable for holidays at Booking.com - click here.
SHAMELESS
BOOK PLUG!
available as a paperback and Kindle at Amazon.
Paul Marsh has lived in the Algarve for fifty years.
This is the first part of Paul's story – how he threw away
the opportunity of a privileged education and a glittering
career in accountancy and opted instead to bum his way
around Europe for a few years until finally settling in
the Algarve, where he had a stroke of good fortune, became
emotionally attached to a local street dog – that’s him in
the title of this book – and fell in love with the country
and its people.
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The Algarve region of Portugal - information on bus
and train services
This is an unofficial website compiled by a
resident of the Algarve. It has come about as a result
of many enquiries in various forums. No responsibility
can be accepted for any problems caused by errors or
omissions. This site is not connected with, nor endorsed
by, any official operator or organisation. I welcome any
feedback, comments and
suggestions. In all cases I strongly recommend that you
check times locally at the bus terminal etc as timetable
changes are often made with little or no prior warning!
Timetables are NOT posted at some bus stops.
Contents - summary
YOU ARE STRONGLY
ADVISED TO READ THE GUIDANCE NOTES first as,
at first sight, the operations here can seem a bit
complicated.
There are separate bus companies with separate tickets
and fares for long distance, regional and local
operations in the cities and towns.
A list of all the timetables on the site
Alphabetical list of all places in
the Algarve served by train or bus
Timetable pages carry the date on which I was last able
to verify the times as being correct.
I have used almost all the buses and trains myself.
THE MOST
FREQUENTLY CONSULTED PAGES
Fast Buses Faro
<> Albufeira <> Portimão <>
Lagos
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Buses along the
coast between Faro, Almancil, Quarteira,
Vilamoura, Albufeira, Lagoa, Portimão and Lagos
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Buses along the
coast between Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa, Albufeira,
Vilamoura, Quarteira, Almancil and Faro
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Buses between Faro,
Olhão, Tavira, Monte Gordo, Vila Real de Santo
António
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Travel
between the Algarve and Seville (Spain)
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Buses between Lagos and
Sagres
Diagram of Algarve bus and train routes
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List of
timetables on the site
Notes
on the bus systems |
Alphabetical list of towns and
villages with links to timetables
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Public
Holidays in Portugal 2024/2025
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Outdoor
markets in the Algarve
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Local
buses between Albufeira and other towns
and villages
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Bus maps of Albufeira |
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Buses in other parts of
Portugal
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Long-distance buses (coaches) in
Portugal
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Albufeira Giro Bus
town network
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Football
(soccer) in the Algarve |
OFFICIAL MAP OF ALGARVE INTER-URBAN BUS ROUTES
this can be viewed and downloaded here. |
MAP SHOWING THE 'ON DEMAND
RURAL BUS ROUTES HERE
List of routes, links to timetables and the
booking process here
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Trains in the
Algarve and to/from Lisbon |
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Beer price
conversion table - download and save this
MS EXCEL
file then find out how much your
beer here really costs!
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EMAIL ME
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News as of 29th December 2024
Bus and train fare increase announced on 20th December
to come into effect from 1st January. Fares increase by
an average 2%. Information on fares is being updated
asand when I can find new information. However, many
city transport systems have not announced any increase.
Lisbon fares are increasing.
TRAINS AND BUSES OVER NEW YEAR
Local buses -
December 31st mostly normal service although some late
journeys cancelled in Portimão. On January 1st the Sunday
service will operate.
Long distance buses
(coaches) - December 31st normal service with
some late and 'overnight' journeys cancelled.
January 1st normal service with some early journeys
cancelled. CHECK AT OFFICIAL WEBSITES BEFORE MAKING FIRM
PLANS.
Local trains on the
Algarve line - December 31st - last trains
cancelled. January 1st - first trains will not run.
Timetable page updated here. These changes were announced on
16th December.
Long distance trains
- December 31st - the last train down from Lisbon will not
run. January 1st, the 0700 Alfa Pendular train Faro to
Lisbon will not run. Otherwise normal service.
WINTER BUS TIMES
VAMUS buses between the main towns on routes 47, 51, 56
and 57 run to the winter times until 30th April 2025.
Winter weekend and holiday service on these routes is
very poor. Local buses in the main towns are now on
winter times until 1st July next year. Long distance
buses (coaches to British readers) are now also
operating their service to winter levels. Actual changes
are sometimes hard to spot, so please do check at
official websites before making firm plans. I will
update pages as and when I notice changes, but I cannot
check every day!
ALGARVE RAILWAY LINE MODERNISATION PROJECT
Work continues on the installation of overhead power
lines and ancillary equipment. Work on the eastern end
of the line, between Faro and Vila Real de Santo António
is well advanced. Station reconstruction work is almost
complete. It is expected that electric trains will begin
running during the Spring of 2025. This will include the
extension of the three Intercidades (Intercity) trains
to and from Lisbon to stop at Olhão, Tavira and Vila
Real de Santo António thus restoring links lost 30 years
ago after the original electrification and modernisation
project was opened as far as Faro. Work on the western
end, between Tunes and Lagos, is a few months behind.
SAGRES - TRAVEL TO AND FROM FARO, ALBUFEIRA, PORTIMÃO
VIA LAGOS
I added a page to summarise the connections, or rather
lack thereof, for those travelling between Faro,
Albufeira, Portimão and Sagres via Lagos. Click or tap here
for this information.
CROSS BORDER COACH / LONG DISTANCE BUS SERVICE TO
SPAIN
The cross border coach / long distance bus
service of Rede Expressos / ALSA between Lagos and
Seville is currently operating three journeys daily,
calling at Portimão, Albufeira, Faro Airport, Faro and
Tavira in Portugal. The
night-time journey and two daytime journeys Lisbon -
Albufeira - Faro - Tavira - Seville are also
operating. Some journeys also stop in Huelva.
Times here.
Flixbus
is also operating between Lagos and Seville via
Albufeira, Faro Airport, Faro and Huelva. They also run
daytime journeys between Lisbon and Seville, with stops
in Albufeira, Faro, Faro Airport and Huelva. CHECK THE
TIMES AT THEIR WEBSITE! They are not operating overnight
journeys between Seville and Lisbon during the winter.
Official websites will have confirmed times. Check
times carefully if planning to travel over Christmas and
New Year Holidays.
ALBUFEIRA GIRO BUS SERVICE
Maps and timetables are posted at almost all bus stops,
but there is NOTHING currently posted at the bus
station. If you are somewhere there is nothing, you can
find times on line at www.vamusalgarve.pt/giro
- or find the VAMUS app. Click 'Idioma' to see the site
in American English, French and Spanish. So it's 'line'
not 'route' and 'schedule' not timetable. 'Business
Days' = weekdays, 'Non-Business days' = Saturdays,
Sundays and Holidays.
I have managed to construct unofficial timetables,
using that information, which can be found here.
I will keep checking and update as often as I can. I
apologise for errors or omissions!
TRANSPORT ON DEMAND BUSES IN VERY RURAL AREAS
I have added a page to list the 'on demand' buses that
operate in some of the Algarve's very rural areas.
Typically, these run two or three times a week to take
people into town during the morning and take them back
early afternoon. Some routes are available every day,
some only during school holidays. All 'on demand' buses
operate only on weekdays and must be pre booked. Check here.
VAMUS BUS TICKET MACHINES AT BUS STATIONS
VAMUS, the regional bus company, has installed ticket
machines at bus stations. These will make it easier to
purchase tickets and recharge pre paid passes. They are
now up and running at most bus stations, also at the
Faro Airport bus stop, Forum Algarve Shopping Centre in
Faro and Aqua Shopping in Portimão. They work in English
and Portuguese, but will not sell tickets and passes for
the urban networks such as Vai e Vem in Portimão and
Giro in Albufeira. I have read that these will be
available at some unspecified future date.
Bus Station ticket office hours
Bus station ticket offices
are open but some with limited hours. There is an
updated list here. If you need a ticket
for a long distance journey go to www.rede-expressos.pt
or if using Flixbus, to flixbus.com or find the 'apps'
for either or both.
Paying for the bus - local buses in the Algarve region
Most buses in the Algarve
do not take contactless debit or credit cards. The only
current exception I know of is the local Proximo bus
service in and around Faro. Unless you have a pre paid
pass or season ticket, for local journeys it's cash only
on board. Change is given, but bus drivers will not
thank you for a €20 note. You can pay for a pre paid
pass or season ticket at a bus station using a debit
card. The VAMUS bus company offers a pre paid 'pay as
you go' card valid for all its buses, which reduces on
board fares by 40 - 50%. Information in Portuguese and
English here
or you can have the same by downloading their app,
creating an account and paying on board via your mobile
device.
TOURIST PASSES FOR ALGARVE BUSES
These are available as three day versions at €35 and
seven days for €45. Days must be consecutive. They can
be bought using their 'app' or at any bus station ticket
office and the bus ticket office in Largo do Dique,
Portimão. They are valid on ALL buses operated by VAMUS
listed in timetables on this site. They are NOT
VALID on Mundial Turismo (MT), Rede-Expressos or
other long distance services or international services,
nor on the local urban buses in Lagos, Portimão,
Albufeira, Loulé, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Faro and Tavira.
The local buses in those towns have their own day
passes, multi-ride tickets and season tickets for
frequent or regular users.
TIMETABLES AT BUS STATIONS ETC
Timetables may not be currently posted at bus stations
and were not seen at Faro and Loulé. Most bus stops now
have a timetable panel showing the times VAMUS regional
buses leave and to where they go. But not at all stops,
including some in Albufeira I know of. Copies of the
official timetables can be downloaded from the VAMUS
website, but finding which one(s) you need can be
a problem. For example, between Albufeira and Portimão
there are five different bus routes each with its own
timetable. Copies can be obtained from bus station
ticket offices. The official timetables have information
in English as to which days buses do or do not run.
BUS STOPS ON GOOGLE MAPS
VAMUS regional bus stops in the Algarve region are
marked on Google Maps. Click on a bus stop symbol
and you will see the times of the buses and their
destination. The route numbers on the departure board
may not be shown on the front of the bus, just the
destination. Some stops do not show up on the map unless
you zoom right in. Warning - because of short notice
changes to bus times, if your journey is important I
recommend you check bus times and other details at the
official websites. The information on Google is not
necessarily going to be correct.
Also shown on Google Maps are the Albufeira local GIRO
system bus stops, routes and times plus some of the
other local operations such as those in Lagos, Olhão and
Portimão.
TRAINS - TICKETS AND RESERVATIONS
Remember that reservation is COMPULSORY on all long
distance trains (marked AP or IC in the official
timetables), even for the shortest journeys. Tickets are
sold up to 60 days in advance. Timetable changes may be
made at short notice. You should check times FOR THE
EXACT DATE OF TRAVEL at the official website www.cp.pt
Discounts for long distance train travel!
If you book more than 8
days in advance there are some really cheap fares
available on trains, e.g. between the Algarve stations
and Lisbon. These fares can be cheaper than coaches
(buses). These tickets might not be refunded if you do
not use them. Go to www.cp.pt
for all you need to know. Reserved seats are not available on other trains.
Tickets for regional trains can be bought from the CP
website or using their 'app'. You must either print your
ticket or keep it on your mobile device. There is no
'collection' option, if only because most stations have
no ticket office and there are no ticket machines.
Payment on board the train is cash only.
TOURIST PASSES FOR REGIONAL TRAINS IN THE ALGARVE
Available from STAFFED stations only - Lagos, Portimao,
Tunes, Albufeira, Loulé, Faro, Olhao, Tavira and Vila
Real de Santo António - and are NOT VALID ON ALFA
PENDULAR OR INTERCITY TRAINS. Do the maths first. A
return (round-trip) ticket from Faro to Lagos is only
€16,20
Passes cost €21,90 for two days and three days for
€32,90. Reduced fares for children. Days must be
consecutive. The seven day pass is not being advertised,
that I can find.
OTHER DISCOUNTS ON TRAIN TICKETS
If you are aged 25 or under, CP is offering a 25%
discount on all Alfa Pendular, Intercidades,
InterRegional and Regional train tickets. You can use
this discount in any class, any day of the week. Just
show official ID with proof of your age such as a
Citizen card, ID card, driving licence or passport.
You can buy your tickets from long-distance ticket
offices, netTICKET travel agents. These tickets can be
reissued or refunded.
Young people aged 26 or over can still enjoy the
Cartão Jovem discount for individual journeys.
In addition, a 40% or higher discount is available to
all travellers on long distance Intercity and Alfa
Pendular trains who make reservations on line eight
days or more in advance. Reservations open 60 days
before travel. On some trains the number of these
discounted tickets is limited. These tickets can be
exchanged for a different train, but are not refunded
if you don't make the trip. You can buy your print at
home tickets at www.cp.pt and in English. DO NOT
buy tickets from RailEurope or any other site,
especially not Rail Ninja! They cannot offer the range
of discounts and cannot provide you with the mandatory
seat reservations. These you would have to obtain
locally and pay an additional fee for them. Anyone
over 65 can travel half fare on trains so long they
have ID eg passport when purchasing tickets.
The GREEN PASS for Portugal railways is only
available to residents. Information can be found here.
In brief this gives unlimited travel costing €20 for
30 days on all trains, except on Alfa Pendular trains
and central parts of the Lisbon and Porto 'Urbanos'
networks covered by their separate tariffs. Do read
the information carefully!
STEP FREE ACCESS TO TRAINS - NOT POSSIBLE
I must emphasise that there is NO STEP FREE ACCESS at
any Algarve station to any train while it is in the
platform. Although platforms have now been raised, all
trains in use have steps up into the carriage. I have
added an item to the ' disabled
page' with details of the various stations. Access
will be easier when electric trains come into local
service some time next year.
TAXIS INCLUDING UBER ETC
Taxis, Uber, BOLT etc are available almost everywhere.
Most municipal taxis do NOT accept card payments. All
taxi companies have English speaking staff. In most
areas, they operate as co-operatives with a central
contact point by phone or app. A simple internet search
'taxi + (name of town)' will find this information.
DISABLED OR FIND IT HARD TO GET AROUND?
DEFICIENTE? BEHINDERTE? HANDICAPÉ?
Please click here
for some observations on this issue. You will
have problems using the buses and trains in
the Algarve. I am able-bodied by the
way!
Why the site exists
I have built this site of local bus,
train and ferry information here in the
Algarve in response to many queries raised
through various forums.
The main idea is to allow visitors and
potential visitors to plan ahead by getting
an understanding of the local public
transport operations and the places they
serve and don’t! I recommend that wherever
possible you check times locally. Updates
are made here whenever changes are found on
official websites or through personal
experience! Whenever I go somewhere, I check
the information. Each page bears the date on
which I was last able to verify it as being
correct. Timetable changes often introduced
with little or no advance warning.
I live in the Algarve and use these buses
and trains as I do not drive. Not all routes
and services are included. I have left out
those unlikely to be of use to visitors, for
example some short schooldays only runs.
I have not included full details of some of
the local 'city' bus type operations. They
have detailed websites to which I can
redirect. You can make enquiries at the
local bus station or tourist information
offices if required. Please note that
tickets are NOT interchangeable between
these purely urban buses and the other
buses.
As much as possible has been checked on the
ground by using the buses concerned and/or
obtaining the printed timetables.
Official website Algarve Regional Buses -
VAMUS
The official website of the regional
bus company, VAMUS, is at https://vamusalgarve.pt/
available in English, Portuguese and
Spanish. To change language, go to the
bottom right hand corner of the page and
click 'idioma.'
This has interactive maps for each
route, showing all stopping places. There is
a journey planner, but to use it you need to
know the reference number of the stops at
which you will board and alight. In many
cases it is a different stop number
depending on direction.
The urban operators around the larger
towns also have websites, with varying
degrees of information. Each local site is
mentioned on relevant pages, with links to
them.
I would be pleased to receive any
additional information you think would be
useful. If you can link to, scan or photo
timetables, leaflets etc, please email
them to me. I can then include the data
in these pages.
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CURRENT
ALBUFEIRA WEATHER
THE VIA ALGARVIANA
CLICK THE PICTURE FOR
TRACY BURTON'S GUIDE TO THE VIA ALGARVIANA HIKING TRAIL
CLICK HERE
FOR A MAP OF THE VIA ALGARVIANA
RECOMMENDED BARS
IN OLD TOWN ALBUFEIRA
Cavern Bar
English owned and run since 1991 Old town Albufeira, Rua
do MFA, two minutes walk from the square.
Open from 12 noon weekends for the sports, 6pm on weekdays
every day in summer. Winter weekday hours may vary.
60's and 70's music plus all UK sport on TV. Free wifi for
customers
TUNES BAR - under new ownership
Old town Albufeira near the Sol e Mar Hotel
Up the steps by the tunnel, turn right to Praça Miguel
Bombarda
Good music, UK Sports on TV. Free wifi for customers
Open Mondays 6m - midnight, other days 12noon to midnight.
RECOMMENDED BARS IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN
These inserts are not paid for. Just places I sometimes go
to, plus ideas from regular visitors. Hours may vary
according to season.
FAT CATS DINER, RUA DUNFERMLINE
closed 'until January'.
Near Paraiso, Tropical Sol, Eirasol, Forte do Vale etc
Facebook page
VICTORIA BAR, RUA SAMORA BARROS
Near Albufera Jardim, Windmill Hill, Páteo Village.
THE WANDER INN, AREIAS DE SÃO JOÃO
Sadly, must report the Wander Inn has closed down. May
re-open under new management.
THE YORKSHIRE TAVERN
closed during December,
re-opens 1st January.
Facebook Page. Near the traffic
lights at the 'strip'. Quiz night on Friday. Closed
Saturdays.
ARTE BAR, CERRO GRANDE
closed until 26th January 2025
Visit their website or
Facebook page for the latest news. Quiz nights and live
music. Barbecue on summer Sunday evenings. UK sports
channels on TV.
ALGARVE SENIOR LIVING
Buy your dream retirement home abroad
click the picture to visit their website
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