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Getting around using Algarve busesIf you’ve decided that you want to get around the Algarve by bus, either to get to your resort from the airport or for travel between towns, then bus travel is certainly a viable option. However you should be armed with enough information first. This is where we can help. Most Algarve buses are modern air-conditioned vehicles, which are reasonably comfortable and generally clean. Whilst they are generally quite slow (apart from the express services), they are cheap, and depending where you are (or going), fairly regular. A return fare from Faro to Lagos is around € 10 (2007), so it won’t break the bank. The Eva bus company is the main operator of buses in the Algarve. Some buses are operated by Frota Azul (a division of EVA), mainly in the western Algarve. EVA operate the express (Transrapido) as well as normal (Interurban) bus services. There are other bus services to and from the Algarve from other parts of Portugal and Spain. These are not covered here. Algarve buses don’t leave from the airport!If you have stepped off the plane at Faro airport and want to use the bus to transfer to your holiday destination, you’ll first have to get to Faro bus station, as buses do not serve the Algarve directly from the airport. The bus station is 6 km from the airport, so you can either get a taxi there or one of the regular shuttle buses available at the airport.These airport buses leave every 15 minutes during the week and every half an hour at weekends and holidays. They run from 7am until mid-evening, so if you have a late flight, a taxi may be your only option. The bus stop is just outside of the main terminal building. To find it, walk outside the terminal building and turn right. Between June and October, a special Aerobus service operates between the airport and the city centre, but check at the airport beforehand to make sure it is operating. Faro Bus StationOnce you have reached Faro bus terminal, (which is located in the Avenida da República) you then have a couple of choices to get you to your holiday destination (depending where it is).These are the express Transrapido service or the slower Interurban bus service. Whichever service you use, you must buy your ticket from the ticket office inside the terminal building before boarding the bus. The Transrapido bus leaves from inside the terminal building, whereas the Interurban buses leave from the stop right outside the bus station entrance. If you are going to use the buses for more than just your transfer to resort, it may be worth considering buying a tourist pass (Passe Turístico). This gives unlimited travel on EVA and Frota Azul buses for three days for € 23.30 Transrapido Bus ServiceThe quickest service is the express Transrapido service, but this only operates in a westerly direction towards Albufeira and Lagos. This is faster then the Interurban service, but stops at fewer destinations. It has two disadvantages:The Transrapido service stops at the following towns in both directions: Albufeira is a 50-minute journey, Lagoa a 1-hour 30-minute journey and Lagos just over 2 hours. Interurban Bus ServiceA slower service is the Interurban service. This is what you would consider a ‘normal’ bus service. These buses connect the various towns in the Algarve. It is best when travelling between coastal towns, with a more infrequent service to inland destinations. If you are travelling from Faro at the weekend, this is the only service in operation.While slower than the Transrapido, it does stop at more locations. It also has services east from Faro, with stops on the way to Vila Real de San Antonio on the Spanish border. Some of the Interurban buses between Faro and Albufeira are marked DIRECTA. This service is quicker than the ‘normal’ service because it stops at fewer places. There are also some DIRECTA buses between Faro and Olhão. These buses do not operate at weekends. Other Algarve bus servicesLinha Littoral is an express coastal service between Albufeira and Lagos, and so faster than the normal buses. This travels via Armacao de Pera, Lagoa, Portimão, Praia da Rocha, Torralta and Lagos.Local Algarve buses in your holiday resortThe main towns in the Algarve have local buses run by local operators. These buses are known as Urbanas.Urban and Interurban buses sometime use the same stops in towns and tickets are not transferable, so make sure you ask the driver and get on the right one.Generally buses usually operate between about early morning until early evening and until mid-afternoon on weekdays on Saturdays. Albufeira Giro Bus ServiceThe Giro is a local bus that travels around Albufeira. It has three routes (Green, Blue and Red). Tickets can be bought either on the bus or in some shops. These buses operate every 30 minutes until about 9pm. (11pm in the summer).If you have arrived at Albufeira on the Transrapido bus from Faro, then you’ll find that the bus station is a little way out of Albufeira, at Caliços, north-west of the town. So to get to your accommodation, you’ll probably have to use the Giro bus (or grab a taxi). The Interurban buses from Faro stop at various points throughout the town, potentially avoiding this problem. Algarve Buses – Useful Information
Eva bus company contact Tel: 289 899 700
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