Car hire in Faro - best offers in the Algarve

Auto Europe would like to assist you with planning your next wonderful trip to the Algarve and its capital Faro. Often dismissed as a mere entry point to the Algarve, Faro should, in fact, gain more popularity as this is a city full of history with lovely weather and fine cuisine.

We can help you explore not only Faro, but all the other popular places in the Algarve. Book a car hire in Faro for your next holiday and profit from the lowest prices on the market and amazing flexibility when it comes to changing or cancelling your reservation. Due to extremely high demand for rental cars in the summer, we highly recommend booking several months in advance to secure the best deal and car class. Do not worry if your plans change as we offer free cancellation up to 48 hours before the planned pick-up. Browse through our network of suppliers, their fleets in Faro and the affordable prices, so keep reading to find out more about the city.

How is the traffic in Faro?

Driving in Portugal is on the right-hand side and, unlike in bigger cities such as Lisbon or Porto where traffic can get hectic, driving in Faro should not be too heavy. However, pay attention to the impatient style of driving often committed by the locals. The A22 electronic toll road and the local road EN125 tend to see more traffic than the rest of the city. The police have almost zero tolerance where alcohol is concerned. Just one glass of beer or a small glass of wine is enough to reach the alcohol limit of 0.05%. We suggest staying completely alcohol-free when driving.

Where can I park my car hire in Faro?

The majority of parking spaces in Faro are paid and on-street. Ample parking space can be found near the Marina and the old town. You could also park your car hire in Faro in the underground car park situated in Avenida 5 de Outubro. If you would like to save some money on parking, try finding available space near Largo de São Francisco and the city walls, ideally located for sightseeing in the centre. Although parking here is for free, there are often people navigating you and ushering you to this car park, who expect to be given some change.

Faro Airport

Faro Airport is situated only 2.5 miles from the centre of Faro in the Algarve region. This airport serves over six million passengers a year as the Algarve is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southern Portugal.

Aeroporto de Faro (FAO) or Algarve Airport
Address: Aeroporto de Faro, 8006-901 Faro
Official website: Faro Airport
Phone number: +351 289 800 800 (Free number when in Portugal: 800 201 201)
Email address: Info_Faro@ana.pt

What to do in Faro

Faro is a photogenic town. Be ready to take snaps of the many churches, lovely gardens and historic houses while exploring this charming Portuguese town.

• Cidade Velha: Marvel at the local architecture on a walking tour around the city centre. The narrow, paved pedestrian zone is wonderfully charming while the historic centre is ringed by ancient well-preserved walls. Enter the old town through the Arco do Vila, the famous stone arch leading into the historic part of Faro, Cidade Velha. Walk to the Sé Cathedral built in the Gothic style and make a stop at one of the charming cafés on the way. You will probably want to take photos of storks nesting on the church towers and bells across the old town.


• The Marina: Have lunch at the Marina and enjoy the blissful view of the anchored boats. You will be spoilt for choice with all these tantalizing aromas of grilled seafood and Portuguese wine coming from local restaurants. After a break, visit Faro’s Maritime Museum which houses many items of memorabilia and tells a tale of the ancient Portuguese seafaring tradition.


• Ilha Deserta: To reach Ilha Deserta, you will need to take a ferry. Ilha Deserta is the perfect place to unwind; an island with turquoise water and sandy beaches all around. Its name meaning desert island suits it well. Come here for a day to relax and enjoy sea and sun activities. Take photos of the rocky pier with a lighthouse and of sand dunes standing in contrast to the crystal clear water.


• Praia de Faro: Southwest of the city, Praia de Faro is a long stretch of soft white sand inviting you to while away hot summer days swimming and sunbathing with other sun-seekers. If you enjoy plane-spotting, watch airplanes take off above the water.

Best day trips with my car rental in Faro

Faro is a great starting point for exploring the wonderful region of Algarve. Here are our tips:

Ria Formosa

Rio Formosa is famous as an ecotourism destination in southern Portugal. In Rio Formosa Natural Park you can admire the salt water lagoons, enjoy some peace and quiet away from all the hustle and bustle simply watching birds and studying the wildlife. Diverse flora and fauna as well as migratory bird species have their natural habitat in this protected area.

Lagos

The Algarve is largely synonymous with the rugged Cape St. Vincent, fine sandy beaches and weathered cliffs. The southwestern coast of Portugal is also home to Lagos, a popular tourist resort. Rent a car in Faro and drive to Lagos. After exploring its Moorish heritage, drive to Cape St. Vincent and spend a day relaxing on the beach.

Loulè

Louléis a popular resort which also boasts Moorish architecture. The main highlights are its historic centre with a maze of winding alleys and the market selling fresh produce and various artisan products such as leather bags, shoes and jewellery.

Seville

Pick up your car rental in Faro and be sure to include Seville in your itinerary. Located in just a two-hour drive from Faro, Seville is ideal for a day trip. If time permits, spend one whole weekend in Seville where you will get acquainted with the stunning architecture, iconic squares and Andalusian culture at its finest. Do visit Alcazar, a UNESCO-protected site with beautiful arches, tiled walls, ponds and flowers.

Geographic Information & History

The Algarve region is located in the south of Portugal, at the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Faro is the capital of the popular tourist destination Algarve. The Faro municipality consists of two areas. One area is the coast, which is part of Ria Formosa Natural Park, a salt water lagoon with a beach. The other part of the municipality consists of hills and valleys. Faro enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot and sunny summers and mild rainy winters.

The history of Faro stretches back to pre-historic times when the Ria Formosa lagoon was the first fortified settlement long before Roman rule. The Romans came along and transformed the original settlement into a town named Ossonoba with fortified city walls, temples and a Roman Forum. The town gradually expanded and it was home to the main clergy back in the day. However, it was occupied by the Moors in the 8th century whose rule lasted 500 years, which has left indelible traces in the local culture, language and architecture.

Faro became part of Portugal in the 13th century when the city was conquered by King Alfonso III. Although the local mosque was destroyed and replaced by a Christian church, the Moorish population was not denied civil rights and they were able to carry on their daily duties and activities. The earthquake in the 18th century destroyed much of the city. Afterwards the city underwent a restoration with the majority of buildings built in neoclassical style.

How to get around Faro

The city of Faro is served by several bus routes, numbers 14 and 16 connecting the airport with the beach. There are bus routes serving not only the town, but also its suburban areas Tickets can be purchased directly on the bus. The main railway station is located near the Marina quite close to the Old Town. There are train connections to the other towns in the Algarve as well as to the Portuguese capital Lisbon.

Useful links

Tourism Information