Car Rental in Faro

Why rent a car in Faro?

Faro is a great place to visit. Busy but friendly, it offers great restaurants, varied accommodation opportunities, and long sea coast. As the gateway to southern Portugal, it is a great base for exploring the rest of Algarve, and Spain just to the east.

While Faro is a fairly walkable city, exploring the rest of the region and the amazing beaches that the Algarve is renowned for, will require a car rental.

Top ways to enter Faro

• Faro Airport: Also known as Algarve Airport, it is especially active during summers when many low-cost carriers connect it with destinations all across Europe.
• Lisbon Airport: About 275 km (170 mi) north, Portugal’s largest airport is among the 20 busiest airports in Europe and hosts flights to and from all continents of the world. 
• Seville Airport: Located in neighboring Spain about 200 km (125 mi) east of Faro, Seville Airport is another great way to reach Faro if your rental car provider permits crossing the border in the rental car.

City facts

• Summers are warm to hot and sunny with average daytime temperatures of 27–35 °C (81–95 °F). The weather in the autumn and winter is generally mild with temperatures around 8–17 °C (46–63 °F). Winters are much more humid than summers.
• Faro is the southernmost city of Portugal and the capital of the Algarve region, with the population of about 65,000 people.

Top sights and activities

• Old town (Centro Historico). Better preserved than many other old towns of Portugal, the historic center is a place where you walk the maze of narrow streets, observe varied architecture, and see what living in Faro was like more than 200 years ago.
• Bone Chapel. Chilling to some and fascinating for others, Capela dos Ossos is made out of bones taken from a nearby monk graveyard. The chapel is inside the beautiful Carmo church.
• Praia do Faro. Although not as famous as some of the other beaches of Algarve, Faro’s main beach is a great place to enjoy the sun and the sea. There are many other, more secluded beaches near the city that you can reach with your rental car.
• Estói Palace. Known for its extravagant combination of Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical architectural styles, as well as the pinkish hues of its facade, Estói is one of the most recognizable buildings in all of Faro. The interior of the palace halls is as fancy as the exterior, and the building is surrounded by a beautiful garden.
• Rio Formosa Natural Park. Next on the list is the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a series of lagoons and marshlands stretching over 60 km along the coast. This unique ecosystem is a paradise for bird watchers, boasting over 20,000 birds during the winter migration. Take a boat tour, paddle a kayak, or simply walk along the trails to experience its beauty firsthand.
• Museu Municipal de Faro. Finally, if you’re interested in cultural enrichment, the Museu Municipal de Faro is not to be missed. The museum, located in a 16th-century convent, holds an impressive collection of artifacts dating from prehistoric times to the present, including Roman mosaics and Islamic ceramics.

Traffic and parking

• You can only enter the roundabout after giving way to cars already on it.
• The car documentation and insurance always has to be inside a vehicle.
• Drivers can only use a mobile phone if it is a hands free or an earpiece.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers.
• Safety cameras are in use.
• When parking in a street, your car must be parked facing the direction of travel

Toll roads

A lot of motorways in Portugal are subject to toll fees. See Portugal's official toll road website site for maps and fees. For ease and convenience, you may ask the car rental provider to include a Via Verde electronic toll tag to your car rental. The electronic tag allows you to easily pass through the designated Via Verde toll booths and have the charges automatically charged to your credit card afterward. 

Ideas for day trips

• Ria Formosa Natural Park. Less than a 30 minute ride from Faro, Ria Formosa is a system of barrier islands in a lagoon next to the Atlantic Coast. Green and calm, it is home to countless bird species, as well as a few cozy little villages that are fun to visit.
• Albufeira, Lagos, and Sagres. Perhaps even more famous than Faro, this small beach towns each have their unique atmosphere and characteristics. Albufeira and Lagos can be reached in about an hour, and Sagres is just a bit further along the coast. Visit all three of them and pick your favorite!
• Algarve beaches. From Faro, Portugal, the stunning beaches of the Algarve are within easy reach. Praia de Faro is a must-visit, boasting miles of sandy shores and vibrant boardwalk eateries. Visit Praia da Marinha for its iconic rock formations and crystal-clear waters, ideal for snorkeling. Praia da Rocha, framed by majestic cliffs, offers breathtaking views. Praia do Camilo, known for its beautiful staircase descent, is perfect for romantic sunset strolls. Lastly, Benagil Sea Cave, accessible only by water, offers a unique beach experience inside a natural dome. These beaches embody the scenic beauty that makes Algarve a coveted destination.
• Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. A long and green stretch along Portugal’s southwest coast, this nature park spans two regions of Portugal. Most of its territory is not accessible by car, but you can conveniently park at one of the entry points and go on a long hike. Here you will find the Rota Vicentina, a network of hiking trails spanning around 400 kilometers in total.
• Inland. Never visited by perhaps 95% of tourists who come to the Algarve, the region’s interior is truly off the beaten track — even if it’s just a short drive away. Made up of steep hills, historic estates, and bucolic farmland, the region is home to several stations and lodges that offer fantastic views of the sea below. 

Most popular cars

The most popular rental cars in Portugal are the VW Polo, the Ford Fiesta, and the Fiat 500. The most popular rental car types are economy, mini, and compact.

Further destinations

• Alentejo. Algarve’s northern neighbor is a fun place to visit not only for its great winemaking traditions, but also for picturesque towns, bucolic countryside, panoramic landscapes, and historical sites. While Alentejo gets its fair share of both domestic and foreign tourists, the region is significantly more laid back than the coastal areas of the Algarve. Its lovely capital, Évora, is a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Faro, with other destinations in Alentejo even closer.
• Lisbon. Portugal’s busy yet hospitable capital is considered one of the most interesting cities in Europe for a reason – it boasts immense history, an interesting cultural scene, charming neighborhoods, and great nightlife. Located in the center of the coastal portion of the country, Lisbon is also surrounded by a wealth of amazing day trip destinations. The drive from Faro takes under three hours.
• Seville. The capital of the Spanish region of Andalusia, Seville is also one of the most interesting cities of Portugal's large eastern neighbor. The city’s fascinating history is mirrored in its architecture, and Seville also boasts stunning cuisine and local wines. A car trip from Faro takes only about 2 hours and 20 minutes, although keep in mind that you will be crossing a national border, so it’s a good idea to ask your rental provider in advance if they permit it.

Car rental prices in Faro

• SUVs - from $8 per day
• Medium cars - from $10 per day
• Convertibles - from $14 per day
• Station wagons - from $16 per day
• Premium cars - from $34 per day
• Vans - from $27 per day
• Small cars - from $8 per day
• Large cars - from $16 per day

Money-saving and other tips

There are things you can do to get a good rental car deal in Faro:

• Compare rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Faro is the cheapest in January when renting a car is about 50% cheaper than the yearly average. The month of August is typically the summer shutdown in Portugal when most locals go on summer vacations, mainly to the Algarve. During these peak times car rental prices increase drastically.
• Check out our list of the best rental companies in Faro.