Markets may not be held if the day is a holiday

FOR A LIST OF THE SOME POPULAR MARKETS, VISIT THIS SITE WHICH WILL OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW

These are the several big markets popular with tourists. They are in the mornings only. Mostly the same stalls go to each of them.

Albufeira's outdoor market is twice monthly on the first and third Tuesdays. It's next to the main bus station thus easy to get to from anywhere in town or nearby.
Location map for Albufeira market here. All buses in and around town go there.
Loulé outdoor market is every SATURDAY - on the road to Boliqueime about ½ mile / 0.8km from the town centre.
Quarteira outdoor market is every WEDNESDAY - this is about a mile / 1.6km out of town on the road to Almancil near LIDL.
Local buses on the route between Albufeira, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Almancil and Faro stop about 50 metres from the entrance at a stop called Fonte Santa.
Lagos outdoor market is the first Saturday of every month next to the municipal stadium.

More detail below.

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Many local tour operators run half-day trips to these markets.
However in some cases the local bus will be cheaper and you can escape if bored!
For and index of places and links to the bus timetables, please click here.

Also, almost every community has an indoor market trading in the mornings during the week. These are signposted 'Mercado'.

QUARTEIRA MARKET - SOME ADDITIONAL DETAIL

Most people will drive or take an excursion trip. If you wish to take the local buses from the Albufeira area, here are the details.

BUSES SUITABLE TO GET TO THE MARKET ARE THESE
Yes, there are two buses from Albufeira at 0930 and 1045! Times in italics are the faster Directa buses. All buses you need will be going to FARO.

ALBUFEIRA BUS TERMINAL		0725	0730	0840	0930	0930	1000	1045	1045
Albufeira Continente/Modelo		0729	0734	0844	0934	0934	1004	1049	1049
Areias São João (The 'strip')		0732	0737	0847	0937	0937	1007	1052	1052
Oura (Estrada de Sta Eulalia)		0735	0740	0850	0940	0940	1010	1055	1055
Balaia		0739	0744	0854	0944	0944	1014	1059	1059
Olhos D'Agua		0743	0748	0858	0948	0948	1018	1103	1103
Vilamoura Praia da Marina		0808	0808	0923	1008	1013	1043	1123	1128
Quarteira Bus Terminal		0818	0815	0933	1015	1023	1053	1130	1138
Quarteira market		0823	0820	0938	1020	1028	1058	1135	1143

BUSES TO COME BACK TO ALBUFEIRA LEAVE THE STOP AT LIDL AT 1012, 1135, 1250, 1355, 1425 and 1507.
THERE IS NO BUS SHELTER NOR EVEN A SEAT AT THE BUS STOP LAST I KNEW

There is also a local minibus from Vilamoura and Quarteira which stops at the same place by LIDL.
The timetable is here, the stop is number 38 on the list ie the one served at 10 past the hour.
It is though a very complicated route and they do not list the times at intermediate stops.

Location map - click the map to see it full size.

For bus times from the Almancil direction, please go to this page. Buses back here, these leave the market about 5 minutes after leaving Quarteira.

LAGOS MARKET

Outdoor market on the first Saturday of the month next to the municipal stadium just on the edge of town.
About 10 minutes walk from bus station or railway station. Bus times at Lagos www.algarvebus.info/lagos.htm - train times here.
Click the map to see it full size

LOULÉ OUTDOOR MARKET every Saturday

click the map to see it full size. Bus times at Loulé - to / from Albufeira, Quarteira, Faro
There is no bus from Vilamoura, but the bus from Quarteira stops a few minutes walk away on the other side of the stadium - map.