Algarve Holiday - Algarve Trains

All you need to know about using Algarve Trains

Algarve trains are run by the national rail company, Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses or CP for short. In the Algarve they run intercity trains from Faro to Lisbon and Porto and also a regional train service along the coast. This runs from Vila Real de Santo Antonio on the Spanish border in the east to Lagos in the western Algarve.

Intercity Algarve Trains

The Intercity trains travel between Porto and Faro and Lisbon and Faro. These trains stop at Tunes, Albufeira and Loul�, so you could use this service to travel between Faro and Albufeira for example. However, you should really book your seat on an intercity train to ensure you get on. These can be booked up to 30 days in advance.

Regional Algarve Trains

The regional line runs along the coast from Vila Real de Santo Antonio to Lagos, but they stop at many more places. Trains are pretty slow and old and as far as I can tell have no air-conditioning. There are, however, cheap and run pretty regularly. During the day they run around about every 2 hours.

Main Regional Stations

Faro to Lagos

Train Stations from Faro to Lagos

Faro to Vila Real de Santo Antonio

Train Stations from Faro to V. Real de St. Antonio

The above map only shows the main stations on the regional line. For other stations please refer to the CP website

Algarve train prices

Regional (the coastal line) ticket prices are comparable with the similar journey by bus. You can buy single or return tickets. Example fares (2007):

Single train fare from Faro to Vila Real de Santo Antonio is �4.90

Single train fare from Faro to Lagos is �6.40

Single train fare from Faro to Albufeira is �2.25

You can check these out on the CP website, by filling in the journey in the search timetable section.

Intercity train prices can be more than twice as expensive as the regional train for the same journey, although the journey time is shorter.

Half price tickets are available on intercity and regional journeys for those who admit to being over 65 years old.

Where to buy tickets

Some of the larger stations have ticket offices or ATM-style ticket machines at which you can purchase your tickets. At smaller stations, they may be no facilities to buy a ticket. If this is the case you can buy your ticket on the train from the guard (but you�ll need cash).

Trains do not run from Faro airport

If you�ve arrived in the Algarve via Faro airport, and you want to get to your destination using the train, you�ll first have to get to Faro train station. This is NOT at the airport. It is about 6 km away in Faro itself. You can either get a bus or a taxi there from the bus stop outside the terminal. A taxi will only cost a few Euros.

Faro railway station is close to the bus station, being only a few hundred yards away, but not so convenient if you are laden down with luggage. Better to get off at the stop before the bus station, which is much nearer. Ask the driver to let you know when you�re there.

The problem with Algarve Trains

Apart from being slow and having no air-conditioning, the main problem with the regional train service, is that the train stations may be some distance outside town they are serving. This means that you�ll then have to get a bus (if any stop near the station) into town or a taxi to your accommodation.

The stations outside the towns they purport to serve are:

Loul� Station 5km south of town

Albufeira 5 km north of town (Ferreiras)

Silves 1.5 km south of town

Est�mbar/Lagoa 3km west of Lagoa (in Est�mbar)

Alcantarilha 6 km north of town

Ferragudo 4km north of town

Castro Marim 8km soth of town

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