Algarve

Travel to the Algarve

Most people fly into Faro Airport to start their holiday in the Algarve, and with plenty of airlines offering routes from the UK and very reasonable fares it's the best way to arrive. Flights depart from all across the UK and flight times are between two and a half to three hours.
Faro Airport guide website

On arrival in the Algarve

From Faro Airport shuttle buses run to most of the major resorts, and there are also private shuttle buses for hire, which are useful if you're part of a big group travelling together. Local buses run into Faro and from there it's possible to continue on the bus network to reach some other destinations. There's car hire at Faro Airport which is necessary if you're heading away from the popular tourist sites.

Getting around the Algarve

Public transport is fairly limited and is concentrated around the main towns along the coast, with a small bus network and a trainline that runs between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António, near the Spanish border. If you want to head to more remote places then hiring a car is your best option, but beware, the road markings often disappear and the Portuguese love to overtake on blind bends!

Travelling further afield

Faro is connected to the Portuguese capital Lisbon by a high-speed rail line, there are connections from there to Spain and other destinations throughout Portugal. Intercity buses also leave from Faro and head to cities across Portugal and into Spain such as Seville and Huelva. You can also get a ferry from Vila Real de Santo António to Madeira island. It will take about 24 hours, and there's only one per week, so a flight might be simpler.