Car rental in Faro at the Best Prices

Located in the District of Algarve, southern Portugal, the city of Faro is the district capital and largest in the region. A vibrant city during the day with numerous restaurants, coffee houses and bars, by night it calms down to a relaxing pace. Portugal’s southern-most international airport is located near Faro – a major gateway into Algarve for millions of tourists per year. Many tourists use Faro as connecting city, however, Faro shouldn’t be overlooked for its more popular adjacent towns, for the city itself has plenty to offer.

Having partnered with local, national and international car hire suppliers means that Auto Europe is well poised to offer great car rental deals from a large selection of vehicles. With an abundance of local knowledge our reservation agents are on-hand to provide you with up-to-date information and aid in your planning. Along with being able to collect your car from the airport, you can also pick-up your car rental at Faro city. From the city you can effortlessly connect via the motorway to other parts of the region.

How is the traffic in Faro?

Cities in Portugal tend to be much smaller than your average European city. This in term means that generally traffic isn’t a major issue - this is so for the city of Faro. It is recommended to avoid rush hour as roads out of the city towards the A22 can become slightly congested. The A22 is Algarve’s major motorway, connecting east to west Algarve. This road was converted into an electric toll road and thus traffic now mainly uses the alternative EN125 route. The EN125 as a national road was never designed for heavy traffic which unfortunately has made it a more dangerous road to drive on.

If you plan to use the electric toll A22 motorway, you’ll be pleased to know that many car rental suppliers provide vehicles with the toll transmitter already installed. With this device present, you can use the tolls without stopping, as payment will automatically be taken out of a bank account. To have your device activated you may be charged a daily fee. Alternatively, tolls can also be paid at Portuguese post offices or at a Pay Shop. You can make payment 48 hours after usage, up to 5 days. Pre-paid toll cards are available from all major post offices.

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 with the letter P. A pay-&-display system exists, with relevant pay machines spread out along the street. Purchased tickets must be clearly displayed on the vehicles dashboard. Please be aware that if there is a road sign with the “Residentes” wording, this is reserved only for residents and you should not park. If you do, you may be fined and even clamped.

A good alternative to paid on-street parking is an underground parking garage located in Avenida 5 de Outubro. This parking garage is centrally located, secure and a great option for those wishing to walk less to get into downtown Faro. For a free-parking option, try parking near Largo de São Francisco. This parking option is perfect for those wishing to check out the wonderful city due to its location near the city walls and proximity to the centre.

Lastly, it is important to note that although free car parking is available, you may find individuals helping people to find parking spots, it is customary but not compulsory to give them a tip.

Faro Airport

Faro Airport is around 4 km west from Faro city and within the Algarve district. Opened in 1965, Faro Airport now handles an estimated 6.4 million passengers per year. Due to its location, the airport is the main international aviation hub for tourists to the Algarve and often Alentejo regions.

Aeroporto de Faro (FAO)
Address: Aeroporto de Faro. 8006-901, Faro, Portugal
Website: www.aeroportofaro.pt
Telephone: +351 289 800 800 (Free number from Portugal: 800 201 201)
Information Telephone: +351 28 9818582
E-mail: info_faro@ana.pt

What to do in Faro

Faro has much to see and do, from Ria Formosa to the beautiful old town, you're free to explore as you wish. If you head further out you'll also come across amazing beaches, jaw-dropping cliff views and seaside fishing villages:

• Museu Municipal de Faro: Containing much of the regions archaeological artefacts, this municipal museum displays its large collection over three rooms. Understandably focusing on the local history, the museum takes you through how locals lived during the Roman Era, Iron Age and Islamic Period up until the present day. A small but quaint museum which will entertain you fully.


• Forum Algarve: If you’re looking for a great shopping experience, then check out Forum Algarve. Containing a total of 120 stores, 20 restaurants, a cinema complex and a major shopping market, this Forum is the region’s largest and most popular. The Forum is located west of Faro and with its 2250 car parking spaces, you shouldn’t have much trouble parking your car rental from Faro. The Forum contains many of the top international brands, including an Apple store, Zara, Gant and Mango.


• Faro Old Town: If ancient architecture, monuments and beautiful building facades is your thing, then head into Faro’s old town for a day. The area is pedestrianized and thus makes it perfect for a wander around town. The old town is very vibrant with plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars to choose from, including a bone chapel and cathedral.


• Dolphin & Whale Watching: The perfect day trip for the whole family, boats depart from the Ria Formosa marina and head into the sea just off the coast. Once you arrive you will hopefully be lucky enough to view some amazing dolphins, whales, sea turtles and sea birds – all in their natural habitat. The boats are secure, sturdy and very safe, with bookings available from one to three hours.


• Ilha Deserta, Faro: With crystal clear turquois sea and seemingly endless golden sandy beaches, the Ilha Deserta is only a 40 minute ferry ride from Faro marina. A stunning island to visit, it is perfect for those wishing to disconnect from the modern world. It’s a very slow pace of life, with only one restaurant and a few beach bars. We would highly recommend taking a parasol umbrella and staying out of the direct sunlight.

Best day trips with my car hire in Faro

Sagres: Only 1 hour and 24 minutes westwards along the A22 you’ll come to a place called Sagres. Once known as the end of the world. Sagres is located as westwards on continental Europe as you can go. Sagres although very remote is overflowing with maritime history. Prince Henry the Navigator founded the world’s first ever nautical school here in the 15th century. Sagres drove the inspiration for the early voyages during the Age of Discovery.

With only 2,000 local residents, the landscape is extremely barren and windswept, with a handful of forts scattered around. Impressive cliffs rise up from the Atlantic Ocean and are home to two lighthouses, one in Ponta de Sagres and the other in São Vicente.

Albufeira: The popular seaside town of Albufeira is only 40 minutes along the A22 from Faro city. Known as the most tourist town in Algarve, Albufeira is especially popular amongst the British. The strip has an abundance of lively bars, clubs, restaurants and cafes that especially come alive during the night. Albufeira was once a quite fishing village but has since grown to 41,000 residents, with a further estimated 300,000 tourist visitors during the summer months. The excellent nightlife is not the only reasons tourists flock to this town, its great beaches, world renowned golf courses and excellent hotels also help.

Tavira: The seaside town of Tavira is only 32 minutes along east along the A22 from Faro city. With history dating back to the Bronze Age, Tavira was a major Phoenician settlement and an important town. With a wonderful architectural mixture, Tavira, has a total of 37 churches, a castle, a Roman and Moorish bridge, numerous 18th century buildings and strict building control in the old town, makes sure Tavira stays loyal to its architectural heritage.

Tavira has an estimated 26,000 local residents and is very calm compared to other towns in the Algarve. It is very close to the Spanish border and an ideal set off point should you wish to visit the Spanish Andalucian town of Huelva. Tavira itself spills over onto both sides of the River Gilão and is linked by bridges.

Geographic Information & History

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 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.

How to get around Faro

Bus

The local bus operator is known as EVA Transportes. They operate city, urban and intercity bus routes, with two bus lines serving Faro Airport and Faro beaches – number 14 & 16. Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver onboard or at a kiosk in any major bus garage. Intercity bus routes operate out of Avenida da República daily towards Porto and the capital city Lisbon.

Train

Located near Faro’s marina, on the Estação dos Caminhos de Ferro, the Estação Ferroviária de Faro is the city’s main railway station. A convenient walking distance from the old town, train lines run to along the Algarve to other main cities, such as Portimão, Tavira, Vila Rald de Santo António, Albufeira and Lagos. Intercity rail connections also exist from Faro to Portugal’s capital city Lisbon.

Taxis

Taxis in Faro are metered and look the same as other taxis throughout the country - black in colour with a green roof. A taxi sign is located on the roof with a green light - with available taxis having the green light lit up. Taxi ranks exist throughout the city and in general you can only pick-up a taxi from a taxi rank or by pre-booking. Hailing a taxi isn’t very common, but it does happen and they do sometimes stop.

Useful links

Tourism Information