Flights to the Algarve

Vacation in the Algarve, the southern region of Portugal that stretches from east to west along its entire southern coast with the Atlantic Ocean, is probably the ultimate vacation you've been dreaming of for years. The sun, the views, the beaches, the sites, the people, the towns, the capital and countless other advantages, all of these make this region of Portugal a dream vacation destination, whether you are traveling as a couple or with a more extended family. This part of Portugal is suitable for travelers of all types, ages and backgrounds. You can find here hiking trails, museums, bathing and sunbathing beaches, surfing beaches, historical sites and more Many points of interest and attractions to adapt the place especially for you.

Although this is true Algarve cable It mainly attracts travelers of the third age, which makes the trip there relatively expensive, but this does not mean that there is no place for backpackers and other travelers on a low budget. With proper preparation and pre-booking of the tourist services, you will be sure that you will be able to arrive in the Algarve and leave it fully satisfied, both because of the experience and because of its cost. 

Please note - the Algarve region and Faro are terms used interchangeably to describe the same part of Portugal. The district of Faro overlaps with the Algarve, and is named after the city of Faro, the capital city of the province.

When is it recommended to come to the Algarve?

Due to the southern location of the Algarve region, you will be happy to hear that it is characterized by comfortable weather for a trip all year round. Both the winters and the summers there are not too harsh, so as far as the weather is concerned, you don't have much to worry about. In this respect at least, you can be flexible.

However, due to the fact that this region is a powerful magnet for vacationers from all over Europe (and really not only), it is no wonder that the tourism season reaches its peak in the summer months. The holiday at the educational institutions brings here tourists in droves, who spend time in the area during the tourist season that starts on June 21 and ends on September 21 (at least these are the official dates). Just for the sake of illustration, in these months there are more than twice the population of the Algarve, who live there throughout the rest of the year. This mass influx of tourists from all over the world to the Algarve in the summer months leads to a rise in the prices of tourist services, including flights, Accommodations and the attractions. This is even before talking about the heavy traffic on the beaches and the various tourist sites of the district. 

For those who have time in hand, the warm recommendation is to come in the spring or autumn months, or even in the winter if you dare. The spring months are better for beach lovers, since in winter the sea is most likely not accessible to you. In the spring and autumn the beaches are still active, and the breeze allows for leisurely trips that become even more attractive due to the sharp decrease in the number of tourists. This decrease also of course affects the costs of hotels and flights to the Algarve, which will make your vacation even more perfect.

Flights and airports

Due to the popularity of the district, the city of Faro boasts a large and impressive international airport (Faro International Airport - FAO), one that can accommodate flights from the many destinations in the world from which tourists come to visit the Algarve region. This field is the third largest in Portugal, after the fields in Lisbon The capital and in Porto the northern In 2019 alone, more than 9 million passengers passed through it, with the vast majority arriving between the months of March and October. Flights arrive at the airport in Faro from all over Europe and beyond, with many of the routes being seasonal only. This is why it is difficult to point to a specific destination from which you can catch a flight to Faro, so you have to check each case according to the situation and the date of the vacation. There are no direct flights from Israel to Faro, and you will have to stop at some intermediate destination in Europe in order to arrive by flight to the Algarve region.

It is important to note that there is another tiny airport in the Algarve, located near the town of Portimao (Portimao Airport - PRM) in the west of the province. This is an internal field of Portugal, and the frequency of flights there is very low. It is only relevant if you are already in Portugal, and if you manage to get a seat on one of the few weekly flights that operate there.

In order to arrive in one flight to the Algarve, which is an option that could be preferred by me Traveling with children Or in an extended group, you will have to fly to Lisbon and from there travel by land. The airport in Lisbon is the largest in Portugal and one of the twenty largest in Europe, with a traffic of more than 32 million passengers a year. Therefore, you can be sure that you will be able to find everything you need and more. Companies from all over the world operate in this field, and flights from Israel to it and back are operated by both El Al and the Portuguese TAP company throughout the week. 

From the airport in Lisbon you will have to take a short train to the eastern train station of the city (Lisboa - Oriente), from which four trains depart directly to Faro per day. The trip on these trains takes about three and a half hours, where you can enjoy the beautiful Portuguese landscape. 

Another option for arrival, especially if you are already traveling in Spain, is to fly via a connection flight to the airport in Seville, Spain (Seville Airport - SVQ). From this city you can take a bus that will take you to Faro airport, a journey that takes about two and a quarter hours. This is an excellent option for those who are already traveling in Spain, or who found a cheap flight to Seville and prefer to arrive from there.

As far as prices are concerned, the costs of getting to the Algarve region are heavily influenced by the tourist season and rely on the fact that many of the travelers in the province are wealthy. If you choose to fly directly to Faro (with a layover, of course), the price range of your flight will probably be between 150-400 US dollars. Flights to more common destinations like Lisbon or Seville will generally be cheaper, and will usually range from $90-$350.