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Car rental in Faro – Gateway to the Algarve
Located in the sun-drenched Algarve district of southern Portugal, Faro is the region's capital and the largest city in the region. A vibrant tourist destination with numerous restaurants, cafés and bars, it is one of the area's most enjoyable places to visit at any time of the year, with the an international airport close by and some of the country's best beaches and golf courses a very short drive away. Faro has much to see and do, from the wetlands of Ria Formosa (a bird-watcher's paradise) to the city's preserved historic centre. A key attraction is the municipal museum whose archaeological artifacts portray thousands of years of local history right back to the Iron Age. And beach-lovers visiting the area shouldn't miss the chance to relax in the crystal-clear waters of Ilha Deserta just a 40-minute ferry ride from Faro marina.
Faro is the district capital city of the Algarve region in the south of Portugal. It has a mild Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers. Despite being on the Atlantic, sea temperature is warm due to its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa. Beaches are beautiful, with white sand and fine grains. The water is for the most part calm but it is good to note that only main beaches and those within the city limits have life-guard coverage. This is however, only during the official summer beach season. Originally founded by the Phoenicians, local traces of human inhabitants date back to the Palaeolithic era, especially in the Ria Formosa lagoon area. Faro has an extremely rich history, with influences from its previous Roman, Byzantine, Visigoth and Moorish rulers. Tavira (a short drive to the east of Faro) was conquered by the Kingdom of Portugal in 1143 and grew in prosperity due to its salt minerals. It wasn’t until 1540 that Faro was granted city status and subsequently Algarve’s district capital following the 1755 earthquake and tsunami.
With an affordable car rental in Faro you can enjoy everything this delightful coastal city has to offer before embarking on a leisurely road -trip along the spectacular Algarve shoreline. A popular day's excursion by car is the lovely seaside town of Albufeira only 40 minutes west along the A22 motorway from the centre of Faro. Once a quaint little fishing village, Albufeira today is a lively tourist resort with plenty of night-life even during the winter months. To the east of Faro lies the charming town of Tavira just a half-hour drive along the A22, a place whose history dates as far back as the Bronze Age. With an exquisite architectural mix comprising several old churches, a ancient castle and a Roman bridge, Tavira was also a thriving Phoenician settlement and an important town in Roman times.
Having partnered with all the most prestigious local, national and international vehicle suppliers for over seventy years, Auto Europe is the best company to offer you great car rental deals featuring the widest selection of cars on the market. With an abundance of local knowledge, our highly-trained rental specialists are on hand to provide you with the most up-to-date information in order to aid you in the planning of your trip. We currently have over 28,000 convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in more than 190 popular destinations around the world (including Faro) which means that we can always offer you the right vehicle in the right location, and always at the right price! Book your cheap car hire in Faro online now and find yourself the best deal for your trip to southern Portugal.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Faro, click on the car rental related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs |
Where to Pick up a Car Hire in Faro
When booking a low-cost car hire in Faro with Auto Europe, you will notice that most of the top rental companies have their offices on the premises of the airport. Faro is the hub of a very popular tourist region (the Algarve) so you'll find plenty of choice for collecting your vehicle close to the airport's Arrivals Hall, with the rest situated not too far away. It is also possible to pick up your car in the heart of the city centre.
Should you prefer to pick up your vehicle at Faro Airport, then please keep reading!
Faro Airport
As previously mentioned, Faro Airport (located approximately four kilometres west of the city centre) is the capital of the Algarve, one of the busiest tourist regions in southern Europe. Inaugurated in 1965, it quickly grew in popularity with travellers from all over the world who flocked to Portugal to spend their holidays in the sun. Aeroporto de Faro (a it is known locally) caters for around 10 million passenger movements each year, the majority arriving from the European countries, most notably France and the UK. A major hub for Ryanair, the airport has a single terminal divided into different levels, and many of the main car rental check-in desks can be found within the main terminal building, with some of the local providers located a shuttle bus journey away just outside the airport's perimeter.
Faro Airport (FAO)
Website: faroairport.pt
Address: Aeroporto de Faro. 8006-901, Faro, Portugal
Telephone: +351 28 9818582
Book with the Best Car Rental Suppliers in Faro
Faro is a major European tourist destination and for this reason we can provide our customers with a wide variety of affordable car rental offers from many different providers. Amongst them you will find renowned global brands such as Budget, Avis, Europcar and Hertz, but there are many other reliable choices like Guerin, Centauro and Interrent available. Have such a wide selection of rental cars in Faro allows us to offer the best service at the lowest rates, which is something that we have been doing since Auto Europe first started trading in 1954! Thanks to our extensive network of partners, we can also offer you a great range of promotions, including free additional drivers and offers with GPS included.
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If you have any questions or concerns about our amazingly priced car rental deals in Faro, rest assured that our excellent reservations team is on hand to answer any of your questions either by phone or e-mail. Nevertheless, we have compiled a section of some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) to aid customers looking to book an affordable car rental in Faro, covering a wide range of topics from insurance coverage and toll payments to traffic and parking information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Renting a Car in Faro
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding our car hire offers in Faro then please know that our excellent reservations team is available throughout the week to answer any such queries over the phone or by e-mail. Below we have also compiled some of our most frequently asked questions from clients renting in Faro for you to peruse. They cover queries such as insurance coverage, paying tolls, as well as traffic in parking information.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Faro?
Yes. Whenever you rent a car in Faro, one of the things you'll need is a major credit card (ie Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Diners) in the name of the main driver listed on the car rental contract. This is because supplier of the vehicle will want place a hold on the value of the deductible for the car that they rent to you for the duration of your car hire contract, the amount of which is promptly returned when the vehicle is dropped off undamaged in any way. For those booking cars in the Premium or Luxury categories, it's important to keep in mind that the supplier might ask for a second credit card (also in the main driver's name). Please note that cash, debit or pre-paid cards will not be accepted when you arrive to collect your car hire in Faro. You can easily find out which credit cards are accepted and the amount of deposit required simply by clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) in the results after making a quick search through the Auto Europe booking engine. Just keep scrolling down through the T&Cs until you come to the Mandatory Deposit Information and Supplier Payment Policy Information sections where all the necessary credit card details are included. For more advice, please consult our blog post on credit cards and deposits.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Faro?
All the prices for car rental in Faro promoted on the Auto Europe website comprise the minimum amount of legally required car rental coverage, including Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), civil liability and theft protection (TP). For customers looking for total peace of mind during their trip to southern Portugal, we strongly recommend our very popular Full Damage Protection policy which offers extensive coverage in case the worst happens such as theft or an accident. Please take into account that certain restrictions might apply for younger or older drivers planning to rent a car in Faro. In Portugal, the minimum age is 18 but the local vehicle supplier may impose other restrictions, so please consult our dedicated blog post on the subject of age restrictions before taking to the road in the sunny Algarve.
How is the traffic in Faro?
Cities in Portugal tend to be a bit smaller than your average European city and Faro is no exception. This means that generally speaking traffic isn’t usually a major issue for visitors, although it is always best to avoid the morning and early evening rush-hours because the main Algarve’s major motorway) roads into and out of the city connecting with the trans-regional A22 motorway (the Algarve’s main highway) can become slightly congested. The A22 is an electric toll road and thus, some traffic now uses the alternative EN125 route which is a national road but never originally designed for heavy traffic. If you plan to use the electric toll to access the A22 motorway, you’ll be pleased to know that many car rental suppliers provide vehicles with the toll transmitter already installed. With this device you can use the tolls without stopping as payment will automatically be made and added to your account. Alternatively, the tolls can be paid at Portuguese post offices or at a Pay Shop (look out for the sign in the shop window). You will receive the bill 48 hours after using the motorway, after which you will have up to 5 days to pay. Pre-paid toll cards are also available from most post offices across the region.
Where can I park my car rental in Faro?
Street parking in Faro is mainly metered and can be identified by a blue square road sign emboldened with the letter P. A pay and display system exists in most parts of the city, with pay machines situated at intervals along the street. Purchased tickets must be clearly displayed on the vehicle's dashboard and drivers need to be aware that if there is a road sign with the word 'Residentes' then parking is reserved for residents only, meaning that you should not park in that zone (if you do, then you may be fined and even clamped!). A suitable alternative to paid on-street parking is an underground car park (Faro has several, including a large one on Avenida 5 de Outubro). Many of these car parks are secure, centrally located and a great option for those wishing to visit the city's main tourist attractions. It is also important to point out that, although free car parking is available in and around the city centre, you may find individuals helping people to find parking spots, although it is not compulsory to give them a tip.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Faro?
Yes. As previously mentioned, when driving your car hire in Faro you will need to pay tolls to travel on the A22 motorway which stretches from one side of the Algarve to the other, as well as the A2 motorway which connects southern Portugal with the capital, Lisbon, approximately a 2.5-hour drive to the north. If you plan to drive around the Algarve, it's important to know that the highway A22 has electronic tolls and many local car rental companies offer vehicles with transponders already installed in the car in order to make toll payments a lot easier. In order to activate this device, a daily fee is usually required but you also have the option of paying the tolls at a Portuguese post office or at a Pay Shop (please note that you must wait at least 48 hours for the bill to arrive, after which you will have 5 days to pay. If you prefer, you can also purchase a pre-paid card at a post office. You will find more information on the Portugal tolls website.
Can I hire a motorhome in Faro?
Besides being able to offer our customers the right car rental in Faro at the right price, Auto Europe also specialises in campervans and modern motorhomes for hire in Faro and other parts of Portugal. There's nothing better that being able to explore this charming city and its beautiful coastal surrounding with your very own hotel room on wheels with friends or your closest family members at any time of the year!