How to Get to Albufeira by flight, train or bus
There are many ways to get to Albufeira. Here are the several options you can follow to get there. We suggest flying there since it is possible to buy a cheap flight if you book it early enough.
How to Get to Albufeira by Train
If you’re coming from Oporto or Lisbon Airport, you can grab a train to the Albufeira station. From several different stations in both cities, or the rest of the cities in Portugal, you can get a direct train or a connection (the people at the station always explains the route) to the Albufeira train station. It is reasonably cheap and comfortable to cross the country by train.
To check the timetable and buy tickets, click on this link: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/buy-tickets
For more information, click on this link: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times/Stations/albufeira-ferreiras-station
How to Get to Albufeira by Bus
From several bus terminal throughout the country, you can take a bus to Albufeira. Just check the timetable on the website (link posted below), and buy the ticket that fits your needs.
To buy tickets, click here: https://www.rede-expressos.pt/en/tickets
For more information, click on this link: http://eva-bus.com/estacoes_rodoviarias.php or https://www.rede-expressos.pt/en/
How to Get to Albufeira by Flight
Faro international airport is located in central Algarve, the most southern region of Portugal. It is also known as Algarve airport and represents the central passenger hub and tourist gateway to the region. It is also the second largest outside entrance of passengers in Portugal after Lisbon airport. Faro Airport code is FAO.
The airport operates international flights and domestic flights, mainly tourist-oriented and with seasonal peaks. More than 90% of the air traffic at Faro airport consists of international flights with origin and destination in Europe. The countries with more direct routes between the Algarve are from the United Kingdom, followed by Germany, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland. Altogether, these countries account for more than 80% of the flights at Faro airport and represent the primary target markets for the Algarve tourism sector. In total there are 30 to 40 European cities with direct flights to Faro airport, although this number may vary according to the time of year. Most flights to Faro are provided by low-cost airlines.
Flying to Faro is, of course, the fastest route to Albufeira, and the one we recommend, since it is possible to book a flight for a low price if taken care of some time prior.
For more information, click on this link: https://www.aeroportodefaro.com/
Airlines that Fly to Albufeira
At the moment, Faro airport is used as a base by two companies, the Portuguese airline TAP, and the Irish low-cost Ryanair. The leading airlines with connections to Faro are:
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How to Get From Faro Airport to Albufeira
Our suggestion is to rent a car. It is, for us, the best choice, since you can rent one for approximately 40€/day, and that allows to have the independence to go wherever you want, whenever you want. Especially since the public transports in Albufeira aren’t very well developed yet. Nevertheless, here you have the other options possible.
Faro Airport to Albufeira by BUS
The public bus connection with Faro airport is provided by the circuit 16 bus also known as the pink lane, which establishes the connection between the terminal station at Faro city center and Faro beach (Ilha de Faro) back and forth, passing through the airport.
The location of bus stops at the airport is well identified. They are located under two large structures – arrivals and departures respectively – easily visible as you leave the terminal. Once outside the terminal after leaving the arrivals area, follow the signs to the bus stop. It’s a short walking distance as it stays practically in front of the terminal, next to the taxis rank. Regardless of your final destination, you will always have to catch the circuit 16 bus towards the terminal station at Faro city center. From there, the EVA Bus company provides several connections to Albufeira.
Click here to check the timetable and ticket price.
The following map shows the location of the two bus stops.
Bus 16 stops at the Faro Airport
For more information, click on this link: https://en.aeroportodefaro.com/buses
Faro Airport to Albufeira by TRAIN
Currently, there is no railway connection to Faro airport. The nearest train station is located 6 km away, in Faro city center. Since the closest train station to Faro airport is located 6 km, there are three ways of transport to complete the path from Faro train station at city center until Faro airport: taxi, bus or transfer.
Faro Airport to Albufeira By taxi
The taxi ride between Faro airport and the train station lasts about 10 minutes under normal traffic conditions and costs around 11€ to 16€.
Faro Airport to Albufeira By bus
Faro central bus station in the city is located 200 meters from the train station. Either from or to the airport, take the circuit 16 bus. The trip takes about 20 minutes, and the ticket price is 2,25€ per person.
Faro Airport to Albufeira by Private transfer
A private transfer between Faro airport and Faro train station in the city center takes approximately 10 minutes, and the average price for a transfer up to 4 passengers is 20€, no matter the time of day. The transport is private, not shared and requires prior booking via the Internet. It is the most convenient transport option as it avoids waiting time upon your arrival at the airport. For large groups, it undoubtedly represents the option with the best value for money. For more information about this private shuttle service see the section on transfers at Faro airport – service available every day for 24 hours.
Once in Faro’s train station, you need to take the regional train to Lagos and exit on the Albufeira-Ferreiras station, located 8 km from the Albufeira city center – the price is 3,30€ per person.
At the Albufeira-Ferreiras train station, take the bus from the urban orange line – 1,40€ – it will take you to the Albufeira bus terminal, located on Alto dos Caliços.
Depending on the location of your accommodation, you may have to take a second bus. Albufeira urban bus circuits are provided by the company Giro – see bus lines map in Albufeira – the ticket price is 1,40€ for all lines.
You can, on the other hand, just grab a taxi to the hotel once you’re in Albufeira. You will find taxi squares either on the train station or at the bus terminal. It will more expensive than the bus, but it will take significantly less time.
For more information, click on this link: https://en.aeroportodefaro.com/trains.
GIRO Urban Bus – Using it to get to Albufeira
Giro is the urban bus in Albufeira. It has the Green, Blue, Orange, Red and Red 2 lines, and it makes connections between the city center, the marina, the camping site, Ferreiras (train station), Montechoro and Santa Eulália.
Click here to see bus lines map in Albufeira.
Tickets Price:
Normal ticket: 1,40 € (valid for 1 trip)
Tourist ticket: 4,00 €
(valid for one day, limitless trips on all the circuits)
Timetable:[1]
Monday to Sunday
October to May – 7:00am to 10:00pm
June to September – 7:00am to 10.00pm
SHUTTLE Bus from Airport to Albufeira
A transfer between the airport and Albufeira will cost approximately 30€ per trip. You have to book it beforehand. To do that and see more details on this link: https://en.aeroportodefaro.com/transfers
TAXI Transfer and Cost from Faro Airport to Albufeira
A taxi will cost around 40€ for a group of up to 4; and 52 € for a group of 4/7 people. Click on this link to know more or to book or call a taxi: http://taxipinheiro.com/transfers-from-faro-airport-to/albufeira
UBER from Faro Airport to Albufeira
You can also choose the Uber service, which is now available in Algarve. The estimation for the distance between the airport and the Balaia Mar Hotel is between 32-43€.
Albufeira – Useful Telephone Numbers and Travel Information
Portugal’s country code is +351 or 00351, so don’t forget to type that if you want to make a call from or to a foreign mobile phone.
Telephone Numbers:
Lisbon Airport: +351 21 841 3500
Oporto Airport: +351 22 943 2400
Faro Airport: +351 289 800 800
Bus Station: +351 289 589 055
Train Station +351 707 210 220
Taxis: +351 289 583 230
Health Center: +351 289 598 400
Post Office: +351 289 580 860
Unicâmbio: +351 967819847
Emergencies/Police/Firemen: 112
Banks: Open from Monday to Friday 8-15pm.
ATM’s: Spread throughout the whole city
Currency: Portugal’s former official currency was the Escudo – PTE$. The current official currency, being part of the European Union, is the Euro – EUR€. The coins are issued in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, 1€ and 2€. All circulating coins have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, but each country in the Eurozone has its own design on the obverse, which means that each coin has a variety of different designs in circulation at once. Banknotes are issued in 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, 200€, and 500€. Each banknote has its own color and is dedicated to an artistic period of European architecture. The front of the note features windows or gateways while the back has bridges, symbolizing links between countries and with the future.
Credit Cards: Most internationally recognized credit cards are accepted at restaurants and shops.
Time Zone: Portugal’s time zone is WET (Western Europe Time) or UTC(Coordinated Universal Time) +0. During Summer, it is used in the WEST (Western Europe Summer Time) or DST (Daylight Saving Time), or UTC+1. The official format used is the 24hours format. So, every hour after 12 p.m. would just go on until the 24th hour, instead of just going back to 1 p.m. This way, the official way to say the time if it is 4 p.m. would be 16h since 1 p.m. – 13h; 2 p.m. – 14h; 3 p.m. – 15h. In spite of this, in informal conversations, it is more common to use «da manhã» or «da tarde/da noite.»
[1] Tip: Average waiting is of 30 minutes, except Saturdays starting at 2 pm, Sundays and holidays during all day, in which the average waiting time is of one hour.
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