22 October 2026
The Algarve has long been a favourite with Irish holidaymakers, and it is easy to see why: Faro is only around three hours from Dublin, and from the airport most villas in the Golden Triangle are a short drive away. Here is our guide to the direct flights from Ireland, north and south, from our team in Almancil. Faro Airport at a glance Faro Airport sits about 4 km west of Faro city, on the edge of the Ria Formosa lagoon. It is the gateway to the whole Algarve and handled around 10.4 million passengers in 2025, so it is busy in summer but compact and easy to get through. From arrivals, Quinta do Lago is about 15 minutes by car, and Vale do Lobo and Dunas Douradas around 15 to 20 minutes. Direct flights from Ireland AirportAirlinesWhen DublinAer Lingus, RyanairAll year CorkAer Lingus, RyanairAll year Belfast InternationaleasyJet, Ryanair; Jet2 in seasonAll year ShannonRyanairSeasonal Ireland West (Knock)RyanairSeasonal KerryRyanairSeasonal Routes and timetables change from season to season, so always check the airline's own website for the dates you want. Dublin Dublin has the most choice, with Aer Lingus and Ryanair both flying to Faro, often more than once a day between them. The flight takes around three hours. Cork Cork also has flights with both Aer Lingus and Ryanair, and Faro has featured in Cork Airport's winter schedule as well as its summer one, which makes it a handy option for autumn golf trips and winter sun. Belfast From Northern Ireland, Belfast International has flights with easyJet and Ryanair, with Jet2 adding services in season. That gives travellers from the north a good choice of days and times, especially in summer. Shannon, Knock and Kerry The west of Ireland is served by Ryanair on a seasonal basis. Faro was part of Ryanair's summer schedule at Ireland West Airport Knock, with extra flights added on the route, and it is also on Ryanair's Kerry schedule for summer 2026. Shannon has seasonal Ryanair flights too. These routes usually run less often than Dublin, sometimes only a few days a week, so check the timetable before you fix your villa dates. Tips for planning your trip Match your villa to the flight days. From the regional airports, flights may run on set days only. Look at the flights first, then choose villa dates to suit, and ask us if a villa's changeover day does not fit. Book early for the school holidays. Flights at Easter, in the summer holidays and around the October midterm break fill quickly from Ireland. Golfers: book your golf bags when you book your seats, as they are added per bag and space can be limited. See our guide to golf in the Golden Triangle. Think about the time of year. Spring and autumn bring warm days and quieter beaches, and more of the year-round routes. Our Algarve weather guide can help you choose. Plan your arrival. Hire car, taxi or pre-booked transfer: our guide to getting from Faro Airport to Vale do Lobo, Quinta do Lago and Dunas Douradas covers the options. Where to stay Because Faro is so close, a short flight from Ireland can have you by the pool in the afternoon. Browse our villas in Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Dunas Douradas, all within about 20 minutes of the airport. If you would like help matching a villa to your flights, get in touch with our team in Almancil.