Home › The Algarve
City toolkit
The Algarve, the practical bits
The Algarve stretches about 150 km along the south coast. Faro airport sits at the middle; a coastal railway and regional buses link the towns, but most visitors hire a car.
From the airport
Bus to Faro. City bus line 16 (operator Próximo) links the airport with Faro's bus station in about 15 to 20 minutes. Fares quoted online differ, so check at the stop or on the airport's website. Source: Faro Airport (ANA) · checked 6 Nov 2026
Further along the coast. For Albufeira, Lagos or Tavira, take a regional bus or the train from Faro, or pre-book a transfer. A hire car is often simpler.
Tourist tax
€2 per person per night in Faro
€2 per person per night (€1 November to February), up to 7 nights; guests under 16 pay nothing.
Source: Barlavento, Nov 2024 · checked 6 Nov 2026The phrase you'll use
Onde fica a praia?
Where is the beach?
🗣 OHND FEE-kuh uh PRY-uh
Open the phrasebook →Weather and warnings
Warnings for the Algarve
Loading from IPMA…Yellow: be aware. Orange: dangerous weather, take care. Red: extreme, follow official advice. Official live map: ipma.pt. Civil protection: prociv.gov.pt.
Source: IPMA open data · checked 6 Nov 2026Good to know
The coastal railway
Regional trains run between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António, calling at Faro, Albufeira (the station is a bus ride from town) and Tavira.
Beach safety
Cliffs along the western Algarve crumble: don't sit directly below or on the edge of them. Read the beach flag before swimming.
Tourist tax varies by town
Faro, Albufeira, Loulé, Portimão, Lagoa and Olhão charge, with lower rates in winter; Lagos, Tavira and Silves did not when we checked.
Driving
The A22 motorway along the Algarve has been toll-free since 1 January 2025.
Emergency
Police, fire and ambulance. For health advice that isn't an emergency, call SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24. Pharmacy on duty: farmaciasdeservico.net. More on health, beaches and lost property →
