Coach connections
The bus service of EVA Transportes connects the major cities in the Algarve, from Aljezur in the west to Vila Real de Santo António on the eastern border with Spain.
- Transrápido: Lagos - Faro
- Carraeira Interurbana: Aljezur - Vila Real d.S.A.
- Linha Litoral: Albufeira - Lagos
The service includes several urban links in Faro as well as long distance routes to Seville in Spain and Lisbon.
Railway Linha do Algarve
This single lane railway runs for almost 140 kms between Lagos in the west and Vila Real de Santo António on the eastern border of the Algarve with Spain and was inaugurated in 1912. The track width of the Portuguese railways (1.668 mm) is compatible with the Spanish railway system, although there are only three border crossings in the entire country. The former connection to Huelva via a train ferry between Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte does not exist anymore.
The section between Tunes and Faro has been electrified and is also used by modern Inter City and Alfa Pendular trains, so the journey from Lisbon to Faro is only about 3 hours. The other sections can only be used by trains with 3 carriages, and due to the many stops the journey from Lagos to the Spanish border will take up to 3:45 h. Many train stations are situated outside the city centres.
Ferry boats
Ferry boats run regularly between the inhabited islands of the Ria Formosa and the cities of Faro, Olhão and Tavira. In addition there are several links between other villages and the beaches on the opposite islands.
There are also ferry links to Spain across the river Guadiana between Vila Real de Santo António and Ayamonte as well as between Alcoutim and Sanlúcar de Guadiana.