Albufeira – Vilamoura – Quarteira – Faro buses
This page was last checked on 1st November
2012
NORMAL or DIRECTA
Interurban buses in the Algarve do not carry
route numbers. It is sometimes hard to figure out the bus you
want, especially on these two routes. Here's how to tell them
apart and also at which places the DIRECTA does not stop. All this applies
for buses in both directions.
DIRECTA buses carry a small RED sign in the window; NORMAL buses a small BLUE one, in addition to the destination information.
The DIRECTA
buses between Faro and Albufeira do not stop at many of
the stops served by the NORMAL
buses. That’s why they are a bit quicker. If the DIRECTA
timetable is not shown at your bus stop, assume that it
does NOT stop there.
DIRECTA
buses do not run
on Saturdays, Sundays or Holidays.
Some NORMAL buses run
daily, many do not. Check the column heading of the timetable
– MFO means Mondays to
Fridays only, not running on Saturdays, Sundays or Holidays.
In Albufeira, after having left the Bus
Station, NORMAL buses stop at the Escola Secundaria (Secondary
School); DIRECTA buses do not. I have also noted that some
DIRECTA buses from Albufeira take passengers only for Vilamoura
and beyond only. Passengers for shorter journeys, eg to Olhos
D'Agua, are directed to the following NORMAL bus.
Between Olhos da Agua and Vilamoura
DIRECTA buses run non-stop between the 'Canas' stop and
the Praia da Marina in Vilamoura.
In Vilamoura, NORMAL buses stop along the Caminho do
Golfe (Aldeia do Golfe) and along the Avenida do Parque and at
Navegantes; DIRECTA buses do not. The bus stops in Vilamoura
show only the NORMAL timetable where the DIRECTA does not stop.
All buses stop at the Aldeia do Mar (Rua do Sol) and the
Vilamoura Marina. DIRECTA buses then run non stop to Quarteira
Bus Station.
Between Quarteira Bus Station and Almancil DIRECTA buses used to run non-stop. I don't know if they now stop at the new Quarteira Wednesday market at Fonte Santa.
Near Faro, NORMAL buses leave the N125
and go into Patacão; DIRECTA buses do not.
All these 'rules' apply equally for journeys
towards Albufeira.
Yes I know it would be simpler if the buses had route numbers!
Back to the eastbound
coastal timetable
Back to the westbound coastal
timetable
For a list of all the timetables on the site, click here
For an alphabetical list of places in the Algarve, click here
For some important general notes about buses in the Algarve,
click here
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