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Nestled in the beautiful Portuguese region of the Algarve, Portimão is a city brimming with charm. It’s also a sporting hub, renowned for its Autodromo race track dedicated to Formula 1. This attracts a diverse range of tourists. Despite the beachfront resorts and facilities catering to mass tourism, the city has retained its unique character and authenticity. To save you time upon landing, here’s how to get from the nearest airport to Portimão’s city centre in various ways.
🔝 Only the Best… If you’re unsure of what to see in the city, we’ve compiled a list of must-visit spots in Portimão.
📍 Where is the nearest airport to Portimão?
To be honest, to reach the lovely port city of Portimão, it’s best to fly into Faro Airport. This is simply because Portimão doesn’t have its own airport, and Faro is the capital of the Algarve region (📖 check out our guide on Faro).
The airport is just 52 km from Portimão as the crow flies (70 km by road). There are various transport options (bus, train, taxi, etc.) available for the journey from Faro Airport to Portimão. So you’ll have plenty of choices. Your decision will depend on your desired comfort, how long you want to spend travelling, and of course, your budget.
🚉 How to get from Faro airport to Portimão by train?
The train is a viable means of transport to reach Portimão after landing at Faro Airport. It’s quite accessible as there’s often available space. Not many people opt for it, but it’s always a pleasure to journey by train and admire the beautiful landscapes between the two cities.
Trains departing from Faro Airport to Portimão cover a distance of 55 km. Typically, there are eight active trains daily, including direct services. Although the train is the cheapest option, it’s not the fastest. A train ticket for this route costs between 7 and 10 euros, with the journey taking about 1 hour 30 minutes on average.
🚌 How to get from Faro airport to Portimão by bus?
The bus is perhaps the most affordable way to make this journey. There’s even a direct bus line from Faro Airport to Portimão. The trip will cost you between 5 and 10 euros on average and takes approximately 1 hour 25 minutes, which is almost the same as the train.
These direct buses are operated by Eva Transportes, departing from Faro Airport and arriving at Portimão station. Other providers, focused on inter-city connections, offer quicker journeys, like Flybus.
🚗 How to get from Faro airport to Portimão by car or taxi?
If you have a car available, you might consider driving to the Portuguese city of Portimão without using public transport. If you’re prepared to cover the 70 km distance between the two locations, the car is the best option: it will take you only 45 minutes.
Alternatively, you could take a taxi. It’s ideal if you don’t plan on travelling out of Portimão later on. However, be warned: it’s not necessarily cheap, with fares starting at 70 euros.
💸 How much tip should you leave? Often in Portugal, be it in restaurants or taxis, it’s unclear how much to tip. Here’s our little guide for you.
We hope this helps you understand how to get from the airport to Portimão city centre. If you have other travel route suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments.
