Car rental at Faro Airport - Discovering Southern Portugal

Faro International Airport is one of the main hubs hubs for short-, medium- and long-haul flights into Portugal, along with Lisbon and Porto. Due to the touristic nature of the Algarve (where the airport is located), dozens of European budget airlines fly into Faro from cities all over Europe, the majority offering attractive rates, even during the peak summer months. Located just 6 kilometres (4 miles) from the city centre, Aeroporto Internacional de Faro - Gago Coutinho (as it is known locally) serves both domestic and foreign carriers from all over the world and is the most common entry and exit point for travellers visiting the region.

A land of lively beach resorts, world-class golf courses and some of the most magnificent beaches in southern Europe, the Algarve is a true paradise for people looking for the best place to recharge their batteries in a sunny, relaxing environment right through the year. A car rental from Faro Airport provides quick and easy access to the entire region (including its lesser-known west coast) with many of the top destinations such as Vilamoura, Tavira and Albufeira less than 30 minutes away by car. Having your own transport allows you to explore Faro and its charming Old Town extensively before embarking on an exciting road-trip around the Algarve in total comfort and at a leisurely pace.

As one of the world's longest-established car hire companies, Auto Europe has managed to establish the strongest possible working relationships with the most prestigious vehicle suppliers all around the globe, including Faro and the rest of Portugal. We are constantly striving to offer our customers the best deal for their trip to the sunny Algarve, as well as the widest selection of vehicles. You can book online straight away through our high-tech search engine with just a couple of clicks of the mouse by selecting your car category and supplier, after which you'll receive your booking confirmation in just a few seconds. Besides offering the best deals and widest choice of vehicles for low-cost car hire at Faro Airport, we also give our customers the chance to can save even more money by taking advantage of our special promotions running throughout the year.

Airport Information

Gateway to southern Portugal, Faro Airport is a compact, single-terminal air transportation facility well located a short drive to the east of the famed tourist resorts of Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Albufeira. Catering for almost ten million passenger movements every year, the airport is particularly busy during the months of June through mid-September when the majority of people arrive to enjoy the region's sea and sunshine. Named after the aviation pioneer Gago Coutinho, it was officially inaugurated in 1965 and his since benefitted from a series of improvements and expansion projects to establish the airport as one of the most modern in southern Europe.

Faro Airport (FAO)
Address: Aeroporto de Faro, 8006-901 Faro, Algarve, Portugal
Telephone: +351 289 800 800
Airlines operating at Faro Airport: The list of the most important airlines operating at Faro Airport currently includes Aer Lingus, Air France, Air Transat, Animawings, Azores Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Chair Airlines, Condor, easyJet, Edelweiss Air, Eurowings, Finnair, Iberia, Jet2.com, Lufthansa, Luxair, Marabu, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair, Scandinavian Airlines, Smartwings, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, Transavia, TUI Airways, TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Deutschland, United Airlines, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizz Air.

Where to pick up a car rental at Faro Airport

Most of the top international car rental companies are represented with their own desks in the dedicated car rental zone just outside the main terminal building. Once the check-in has been processed, you'll find that the vehicles are parked close by for your convenience with the chance for a rapid pick-up and drop-off process. In a place like the Algarve, a good option is to take advantage of Auto Europe's popular one-way car rental (subject to an additional fee) which offer travellers the chance to collect their car in one place (such as Faro Airport) and drop it off somewhere else (like Lisbon, for instance). Please always remember to read your rental voucher very carefully prior to arriving to collect your vehicle and present it to the car hire staff, along with your passport, valid driving licence, credit card (with enough credit to cover the deposit) in the name of the main driver and details of any coverage you have pre-purchased.

Car rental operating hours

	Avis at Faro Airport Car Rental Zone, Faro, Portugal 8000 +351 289 810 120	Opening Hours: Daily 7am-11pm
	Budget at Faro Airport Car Rental Zone, Faro, Portugal 8000 +351 289 810 120	Opening Hours: Daily 7am-11pm
	Hertz at Faro Airport Car Rental Zone Faro, Portugal 8000 +351 219 426 300	Opening Hours: Daily 6am-midnight
	Sixt at Faro Airport Car Rental Zone Faro, Portugal 8000 +351 255 788 199	Opening Hours: Daily 7am-midnight

Terminal

Faro Airport has seen a steady increase in passenger numbers over the years and has therefore undergone many phases of renovation and expansion, one of which is still underway. One major advantage for visitors who book their car rental at Faro Airport is that it is compact and very easy to find, consisting of just one main terminal building with four boarding gates labelled A to D. On the ground-floor you'll find all the check-in desks to the right of the entrance with security control situated opposite with access to boarding gates C and D. Access to boarding gates A and B is located on the first floor. In total, the terminal currently facilities 22 aircraft stands (of which 16 are remote) served by 60 check-in desks and 36 boarding gates.

Airport Facilities

Most of the catering options are located in the middle of the Faro Airport's main terminal building. The airport offers its visitors cafés and fast-food options, as well as pubs, bars, cafés and sit-down restaurants. Shops can mainly be found after passing through security, including kiosks and travel accessory shops plus shops selling luxury products and handicrafts. The airport has a number of recognisable brands like Burger King, Costa Coffee, Pizza Hut, Subway and the ever-popular Carlsberg Sports Bar, along with numerous shops (including Victoria's Secret, Vodafone, Sunglass Hut, Parfois and Ale-Hop) which are available for passengers looking to purchase last-minute gifts, not to mention a spacious Faro Duty-free store featuring perfumery, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes/cigars and a large selection fo local Portuguese delicacies. The airport also has free unlimited WiFi throughout the airport, a first aid station, post office, baggage-wrapping service, currency exchange outlets and a wide range of services for travellers of reduced mobility.

How to get to and from Faro Airport

Navigating your car hire at Faro Airport to and from the centre of Faro is very simple because the journey only takes around 10-15 minutes along the N125-10 national road. It also offers easy access to other destinations along the Algarve's sandy coastline, such as Albufeira which is a 30-minute drive to the west along the A22 motorway, with the famous beach resort of Lagos reachable in about an hour. It's important to bear in mind that the A22 motorway is subject to tolls, and we strongly recommend that you ask your hire company for more information when you pick up your car about the best way to pay the tolls. There are also regular trains and buses (Faro has stations for both) that can take you from Faro Airport to the city centre where there are several regional and national connections to destinations all over Portugal. Taxis are also on hand at the main taxi rank outside the Arrivals Hall to make the short journey to Faro.

Parking Tips

Once you have collected your affordable car rental at Faro Airport, there's a strong possibility that you will want to explore the city, which means that you'll need to find somewhere to park. If you want to park on the street, in most cases you will have to pay for the space using a parking meter. Please pay attention to all the parking-related street signs in the vicinity of the parking space in order to avoid parking in an unauthorised area. Parking in a secure car park is another popular option and one good option is the large underground car park located on Avenida 5 de Outubro, which is close to many of Faro's top tourist attractions. With FAO so close to the city centre, another popular option for travellers looking to maximise their time in the Algarve is to park their vehicle at Faro Airport and take the bus into town. From low-cost and premium to roofed and open-air car parks, the airport has a wide range of parking options for all tastes and budget requirements. Another advantage is the fact that you can always You can always find a parking space at the airport right through the year, whatever the time of day or night.

Useful links

Faro Airport