On foot

It is fairly easy to walk around Vilamoura and Quarteira. Distances are manageable; for example, it is just over two miles from the western side of Vilamoura Marina to the eastern edge of Quarteira. While you can walk to most destinations, you will find that there are various buses and tourist shuttles to take you from your resort to any destination you'd like to see either in Vilamoura or Quarteira. For sights further afield such as water parks, you will need a more reliable form of transportation such as a car.

By bus

Transportes Urbanos Loule administers daily bus service to Vilamoura and Quarteira. The white line (`linha branca`) takes visitors to various sights around Vilamoura, such as the Marina and Casino Vilamoura. The green line (`linha verde`) links Vilamoura and Quarteira, starting at Casino Vilamoura and continuing on to Quarteira`s bus station. The green line begins service each day at 7:30 a.m., and the white line at 7:45 a.m. Both of these lines run every half-hour during weekday rush hours, and every 45 minutes to an hour any other time, until 12:30 a.m. (including weekends and holidays). The green line in particular offers nighttime service (`servico noturno`) every evening, on the hour, from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Tourist tickets (`bilhetes turisticos`) cost €2 for a one-day pass and €3 for two days. These tickets can be bought at the Bilheteira Aldeia do Mar on Avenida Tivoli in Vilamoura, and at the bus station (terminal rodoviario) in Quarteira. For more information on the white and green bus routes serving Vilamoura and Quarteira, visit www.lcglobal.pt/pt/transporte-urbano/loule (Portuguese).

By the Tourist Train

Delgaturis (www.delgaturis.com, website in both English and Portuguese) runs a tourist train ('comboio turistico') from March to November in Vilamoura. The tourist trains are either yellow and red or white and red in color. Depending on the time of year, tourist trains run every 20 minutes (high season) to an hour (low season).

The first train usually picks up at Vilamoura Beach around 10 a.m., with the last train leaving in the 6 o`clock hour. Stops along the way include a number of hotels, Praia da Falesia, and Cerro da Vila. (Note that there is a break in service between 12:50 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. for lunch.) An all-day adult ticket costs €6 with VAT included. To purchase tickets, consult the Delgaturis website or visit their offices on Avenida Tivoli in Vilamoura.

By taxi

Radio Taxis de Vilamoura (289 315 650) is the main taxi company serving Vilamoura and Quarteira. There is a taxi rank in Vilamoura at the end of Vilamoura Marina, near the Figo bar and Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Beware in the summertime: long queues can mean a wait of thirty minutes to an hour. Fares start at €4 for the first 1.8 miles, and then €1 for each 0.6 miles thereafter. Prices go up in excess of 20% after 10 p.m., all day on weekends, and on public holidays.

Flagging down taxicabs as they are driving down the road is not done in Vilamoura or Quarteira. Locals recommend calling for a cab when you need one, or approaching cabs parked in front of hotels or other tourist areas.

By bicycle

Vilamoura and Quarteira are very flat and lie on the Atlantic coastline. Coupled with the Algarve`s warm weather, the towns of Vilamoura and Quarteira are ideal for some great cycling. Vilamoura and Quarteira can be very congested with tourist traffic, so we recommend riding your bike along the waterfront, around the Marina, and outside of town as you go toward Praia da Falesia.

There is one bicycle rental service in Vilamoura. It is called Bike a Wish (289 316 059) and is located in the Marina Arcade just off the water, near Rua do Clube Nautico. It is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Sunday. Also, there is Go Cycling Portugal, a Lisbon-based company that will deliver your bike rental to you anywhere in the country -- including Vilamoura and Quarteira. Go Cycling Portugal`s fees start at €30 (including delivery). You can place your order at www.gocyclingportugal.com (online order forms available in English and Portuguese).

By car

Driving in Vilamoura and Quarteira is an option, although it isn't necessary as the vast majority of our recommended points of interest can be reached via bus, Tourist Train or taxi. If you do wish to rent a car, we recommend that you book your vehicle during the reservation process. This would mean that you would pick up your car at Faro Airport upon entering Portugal, and not in Vilamoura or Quarteira. If you decide to rent a car after arriving, Budget and Europcar are represented in Vilamoura.

There is one public parking lot in the area, located on Avenida Cerro da Vila on the northwestern side of the Marina, before The Lake Resort and Avenida da Praia da Falesia. Be sure to ask your booking agent about car parking fees; many resorts in Vilamoura and Quarteira charge daily fees to use their on-site parking lots or garages.