Silves is about 15 kilometres north of the coast, easily accessible from Albufeira, Portimão, or Lagos. By train, the Algarve line runs through the valley below town (Silves railway station is about 2 kilometres from the centre); trains are frequent from Faro, Albufeira, and Lagos.
By car, take the EN124 north from the coast — from Albufeira the drive is about twenty minutes, from Lagos about thirty. Parking is available below the castle walls and in the town square.
From Faro airport, the easiest connection is by train to Albufeira or Portimão and then a taxi or occasional bus to Silves. No direct buses run from the coast with useful frequency; a rental car or taxi is the most flexible option.