Public Transport – Buses and Trains – in the Algarve
The coastal areas of the Algarve (ie the main tourist areas) have a reasonable network of bus routes but going inland, even a few miles, the network is sparse and services very infrequent.
Bus services on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Public Holidays are a lot less frequent than on weekdays. Most routes have no service after about 8pm.
There are frequent daily, long-distance bus services connecting all the towns in the Algarve with Lisbon and the rest of Portugal.
There are good urban bus networks in and around Albufeira, Faro, Lagos and Portimao, but they are very complicated at first glance! Also, especially in Lagos and Portimao, there is often NO information displayed at bus stops. Other smaller towns also have local bus networks, but most of these do not operate outside of commuting/shopping hours.
There is a railway line, with several daily passenger trains, running along the coast between Lagos, Faro and Vila Real de Santo Antonio and also a route up to Lisbon. Unfortunately, the local geography means that between Portimao and Faro the line runs several miles inland, away from the tourist resorts and some of the stations (eg Albufeira) are many miles from the towns they purport to serve.
Travel by bus and train is half the price or less than a comparable journey in the UK and much of Northern Europe. The long-distance trains are air-conditioned and very comfortable. Local (regional) trains are simple 3 car diesel trains with no air-con; open the window!
Sources of information including timetables and fares
To and from Faro Airport Unofficial website page Trip Advisor member. There is very little public transport at the airport.
Bus
services across the Algarve Unofficial website, Trip Advisor member, listing all known information about scheduled services.
Bus services across the Algarve EVA Bus Company Official website, some information in English
Bus services in the Western Algarve Frota Azul Bus Compnay Official website – Portuguese language only
Long distance buses (coaches) Algarve – Lisbon unofficial website Trip Advisor Member
Long distance buses (coaches) Algarve – Lisbon – official bus company websites
Renex (Portuguese language only)
Rede Expressos (Portuguese language only)
Trains in the Algarve
Trains across the Algarve and to Lisbon unofficial website, Trip Advisor member
Trains across the Algarve and throughout Portugal – Official Portuguese Railways Website partly in English
Travel between the Algarve and Seville and southern Spain. There are NO TRAINS across the border!
Travel between the Algarve and Spain (Seville) – summary of information – unofficial website Trip Advisor member
