The closest international airport to Alvor is Faro’s (FAO). It’s in a fairly central location in Algarve’s main city, about 75km (47 miles) to the east. There’s no direct public transportation from the airport, so the fastest way to reach your hotel in Alvor is renting a car, booking a transfer, or taking a taxi or Uber. To take a bus or train, you need to go to the center of Faro first. Public transportation is cheap, but departures are not very frequent and journeys are slow, so it can take hours to go from the airport to Alvor. Below are complete details about all your options.
From the Airport to Faro Bus or Train Station
Buses 14 and 16 of the local “Próximo” network stop at the airport at irregular intervals throughout the day (once or twice per hour). They terminate at the bus station in the city center in about 15 to 20 minutes. You’ll find the bus stop outside the arrivals hall, close to the taxis. You buy the tickets from the driver. If you don’t want to wait for the bus, take a taxi. It should cost between 10 and 15 euros, and takes only 10 minutes to reach the bus or train station.
Bus from Faro to Alvor
There’s no direct bus to Alvor from Faro, you have to connect in Portimão. At Faro’s bus station, head to the ticket office inside, and buy your ticket for bus 57 (you can’t buy it from the driver), operated by Vamus. Each passenger is assigned a seat number, which you see printed on the ticket. If you have luggage, you must store it in the compartment. This bus has the city of Lagos as its final destination, but stops at several towns, including Portimão, which it reaches in 1 hour and 45 minutes. The departure times vary throughout the year (there are just a couple on weekends and about half a dozen on weekdays), so always check the Vamus website and at the station. The station in Portimão is found to the north of the city center, and although buses stop by, none of them go to Alvor. The bus to Alvor (number 13 or 14 on weekdays and the 1P on weekends) departs from Largo do Dique, which is 2km (over a mile) to the south. It’s recommended that you take a taxi to Alvor from the bus station in Portimão. It’s just 7km (4 miles) or 15 minutes away.
Train from Faro to Portimão/Alvor
Alvor doesn’t have train service, but you can take the train from Faro to Portimão, and then take a bus or taxi to Alvor. The train station in Faro is down the road (a 5-minute walk) from the bus station. About 10 trains per day stop in Portimão, taking about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Tickets can’t be bought onboard, you need to buy them at the station or online at cp.pt. They cost €6.10 and have no assigned seats. This train is never crowded, and you have enough space for luggage. The train station is about a 15-minute walk from Largo do Dique, the square with the stop for the buses to Alvor. These buses are the 13 and 14 on weekdays and the 1P on weekends. There’s a bus around every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hour on weekends (the weekend frequency increases to every 30 minutes in the months of July and August). To avoid the walk from the train station to the bus stop, simply take a taxi or Uber. The ride from the train station to the center of Alvor takes less than 15 minutes.
Uber or Taxi from Faro Airport to Alvor
A taxi from Faro’s airport to Alvor is quite expensive, costing as much as 100 euros, depending on the time of day (it’s more expensive at night), day of the week (it’s more expensive on weekends), traffic, and whether you have luggage (which tourists do). You find taxis lined up outside the arrivals hall. Each vehicle takes as many as 4 passengers, so if you’re traveling in a group and everyone shares costs, it can turn out to be an affordable option. Uber operates in Algarve and the cost is usually similar to a taxi. The journey time is about 55 minutes.
Faro Airport to Alvor by Car
There are car rental offices outside the arrivals hall (just follow the signs). From the airport, head west on highway A22 to Portimão and eventually you’ll also see signs to Alvor. This highway has a toll, so if you want to save some euros, take road N125 instead. Note, however, that this alternative road goes through different towns and there’s usually traffic, so the journey takes longer. It’s recommended that you always take the A22.
Transfers from Faro Airport to Alvor
A pre-booked transfer is the most convenient and fastest way to go to your hotel in Alvor from the airport. When you add up the cost of the car rental, gas, and tolls, or the public transportation tickets and taxis, it just may be the more affordable option as well, especially if you’re travelling as a family or in a group: