Algarve: Getting there & around

The Algarve's capital Faro is the region's transport hub. International flights connect Faro with Frankfurt and Amsterdam, and there's a veritable bandwagon of flights from the UK, including no-frills airlines.

Portugália and TAP have multiple daily Lisbon-Faro flights (40min). For flight inquiries call the Faro airport (tel: 289 800 800).

From Faro's Eva bus station (tel: 289 899 760; Avenida da República 5) hourly express coaches run to Lisbon (5hr). Bus services also run from Faro to Seville (5hr) via Huelva (3.5hr). From Lagos, buses run to Lisbon (7.5hr) and Seville (via Huelva)(5.5hr). Buses also run from Tavira to Lisbon (5hr) and Huelva (2hr), with connections to Seville (3hr).

Trains run from Lisbon to Faro (4.5-5.5hr, including the Tejo ferry crossing to Barreiro).

From Lagos, trains go daily to Lisbon (change at Tunes; 5.5hr). Six daily trains also connect Portimão with Tunes (via Silves) and Lagos. Change at Tunes for Lisbon.

Buses and trains fan out west and east from Faro along the coast and to some rural towns. Regular buses run east from Faro to Vila Real de Santo António (1.75hr), via Tavira (1hr); and west to Albufeira (1.25hr) with some going on to Portimão (1.5hr), Lagos (1.75hr) and Olhão (20min). For Sagres, change at Lagos.

Smaller bus lines connecting coastal and rural towns include Caima, Renex and Frota Azul. If you're going to travel by bus, buy the Passe Turístico, available from major bus stations. It gets you three days of unlimited travel on most main routes between Lagos and Loulé.

Trains run daily from Faro to Albufeira (30min); Vila Real de Santo António (1.25hr) via Olhao (20 min); and Lagos (1.75hr).