Car Hire in Faro

Why hire a car in Faro?

Faro is a great place to visit. An entry point for many visitors to the Algarve, it can serve as a hub for exploring that fascinating Portuguese region but is also an interesting travel destination in its own right.

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 car.
• Ria Formosa. Located just a 15-minute drive southeast of Faro, Ria Formosa is a lagoon, a protected zone, and one of the most beautiful nature areas in this part of the country. Made up of six islands, saltpans, wetlands, and inlets that connect the area to the city, it is a prime bird-watching destination, the area is home to the Marim Center of Environmental Education and can be explored by following one of its several hiking trails.

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.

Ideas for day trips

• Albufeira. Located just a 40-minute drive west of Faro is one of the most scenic coastal towns in all of Portugal. Although best known for its beautiful seacoast, Albufeira has been inhabited since prehistory, a fascinating heritage that is honoured in the Municipal Archaeological Museum. The 12th century Almoada Castle (sometimes called the Castle of Paderne) is also worth a visit.
• Sagres. Most visitors to Portugal will know the name of Sagres as one of the most popular beer brands in the country, but those who make their way to the Algarve also discover a scenic coastal destination. The southwesternmost point of continental Europe, Sagres is a little quieter than its more central coastal counterparts, making it the perfect place for a relaxing day outdoors. The drive from Faro takes about an hour and 30 minutes.
• Portimão. As known for its well-preserved historic centre as it is for the many recipes of grilled sardines, Portimão is the second-largest city of the Algarve and one of its most interesting travel destinations. Landmarks include Praia da Rocha, one of the most famous urban beaches of Portugal, and Alcalar, a Neolithic site that’s about 5,000 years old. The drive west of Faro is about 70 km (43 miles) and can be done in an hour.
• Monchique. If you’ve made it to Portimão, you could do worse than also travel to the nearby municipality of Monchique. Part of the interior Algarve that remains unexplored by the vast majority of foreign visitors, Monchique is known for its hill stations, traditional terrace farming, mineral baths that have been in use since the Roman days, and cliff tops for watching stunning sunsets. The trip back to Faro will take only about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Most popular cars

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

Further destinations

• Alentejo. Algarve’s less glamorous neighbor is a fun place to visit not only for its great winemaking traditions, but also for historic towns, beautiful countryside, and leisurely pace of life.
• Lisbon. Portugal’s busy yet hospitable capital is considered one of the most interesting cities in Europe for a reason. Go there for history, architecture, music, and people.
• Andalusia. Spain’s southernmost region is a great place to visit, both because of its close proximity to Portugal and because of its fascinating Moorish buildings, strong regional character, and great food. Note that you’ll have to cross a national border, so check with your car hire provider first to make sure they permit it.

Car hire prices in Faro

• People Carriers - starting at US$33 per day
• SUVs - starting at US$10 per day
• Station wagons - starting at US$16 per day
• Premium cars - starting at US$48 per day
• Medium cars - starting at US$10 per day
• Convertibles - starting at US$19 per day
• Large cars - starting at US$28 per day
• Small cars - starting at US$8 per day

Money-saving and other tips

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

• Compare rates of different car hire providers
• Book your car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Faro is the cheapest in January when hiring a car is about 50% cheaper than the yearly average.
• Check out our list of the best car hire companies in Faro.