Driving From Porto to Faro, Algarve – A Road Trip in Portugal

Driving From Porto to Faro, Algarve – A Road Trip in Portugal Category: Portugal Travel Guide Posted Date: 16th August 2019

Road trip from Porto to Faro in rental car

Every year, millions of domestic and international tourists visit Portugal. Travelers arrive in Portugal to see its vibrant cities, famous landmarks, pristine beaches, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Though Portugal is a small country, it offers a great variety in terms of sightseeing. Whether you’re planning to see a splendid seaside, a medieval castle, an old Portuguese town with cobblestone streets, or a neon-lit metropolis, this road trip, starting from Porto and ending in Faro, will cover everything. Driving about 618 km (384 miles) in a rental car, you will halt at Coimbra, Fátima, and Lisbon, before entering Faro. You can book a one-way car rental from Porto Airport to Faro Airport at cheap rates from portugalrentalcars.net. You may choose different pick-up and drop-off locations. Given below are our rental car suppliers’ locations in Porto and Faro.
City Rental Car Pick-up/Drop-off Locations
Porto Campanha Railway Station, Porto Downtown, Porto Airport, Maia, Ramalde
Faro Faro Airport, Faro Downtown, Faro Montenegro

Do you need to rent a car in Portugal?

The answer to this question is definitely yes. Road trip in Portugal is incomplete without a rental car. While public transport is decent, its limited reach makes it feasible only for a few city-centric locations. Moreover, the freedom that a rental car in Portugal brings is unmatched. Roads in Portugal are in excellent condition. Also laudable is the fact that the country’s road infrastructure ranks among the best in Europe. Hiring a car in Portugal will also allow you to plan your itinerary on your terms. Read our guide on driving rules in Portugal for detailed information on general driving regulations, required documentation, etc.

Rental car suppliers in Portugal

Ace Rent a Car, Alamo, Bravacar, Centauro, Dollar Rent a Car, Dollar Thrifty, ECHO Rent a Car, Enterprise, Europcar, Firefly, Hertz, Keddy by Europcar, Movyng Rent a Car, National, Sadorent, Sixt, and SurPrice are our rental car partners in Portugal. Following are our top car hire suppliers in Portugal.
Supplier Car Rental Locations in Portugal
ACE Rent a Car Porto Airport, Lisbon Airport, Faro Airport
Sixt Amadora, Algarve, Angra, Azores, Bandeiras, Braga, Faro, Funchal, Horta, Lisbon, Madalena, Madeira, Maia, Moreira da Maia, Ponta Delgada, Porto, Praia de Vitória, Santa Cruz, Sintra, Velas, Vila do Porto, Vilamoura, Guimarães, Marco De Canaveses, Prior Velho, Paredes, Vila Real, Horta Airport, Santa Cruz Airport, Pico Airport, João Paulo II Airport, Santa Maria Airport, Sao Jorge Airport, Lajes Airport, Faro Airport, Lisbon Airport, Madeira Airport, Porto Airport
Surprice Porto, Faro Airport, Lisbon Airport, Madeira Airport. Porto Airport
Centauro Lisbon Airport, Faro Airport, Porto Airport, Madeira Airport
Europcar Lisbon, Maia, Faro, Porto, Albufeira, Angra, Coimbra, Horta, Pico, Sao Jorge, Lisbon Airport, Porto Airport, Faro Airport, Madeira Airport
Do you need help in selecting the right supplier with a roadworthy car? Make an informed choice after going through these useful tips on hiring a car in Portugal. Whether you need a compact car or a 4-wheel drive SUV car rental, portugalrentalcars.net offers high-quality rental vehicles at lower prices. Based on user ratings and extensive reviews from our customers, stated below are the most booked rental cars in Portugal.
Car Rental Category Car Model Seats Luggage Capacity
Mini Volkswagen Polo 5 3 large suitcases
Fiat 500 4 2 small suitcases
Economy Renault Clio 5 2 small & 1 large suitcase
Chevrolet Spark 4 1 small & 1 large suitcase
Compact Ford Focus 5 1 small & 1 large suitcase
Opel/Vauxhall Astra 5 2 small suitcases
Van/Minivan Mercedes Vito 6-9 2 small & 2 large suitcase

Porto to Faro, Algarve – A brief overview of the road trip

Your road trip will start from Porto. From Porto, you’ll drive to Coimbra and then Fátima before entering Lisbon, the Portuguese capital. Your road trip will end in Faro, the capital of Portugal’s Algarve region. Here is a road map of your Portugal road trip.
Road Trip Details
Starting point Porto
Ending point Faro
Distance 618 km
Recommended duration 8 days
Transportation Rental car
Are you looking for a shorter road trip? You may try Lisbon to Faro road trip that takes just half the time.

Porto

Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city and a major urban area. Also called Oporto, the city is known for its football team FC Porto and Port wine. Situated along the River Douro estuary, Porto’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As one of the oldest cities in Europe, Porto’s settlements date back to the era of the Roman Empire. Have a look at the major tourist attractions in Porto.
Attraction Address Hours Open Nearby Car Parking
Luís I Bridge Pte. Luiz I, Porto, Portugal 24 hours Vila Nova de Gaia Metro Station
Clérigos Church + Clérigos Tower R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto, Portugal 9 AM to 7 PM Parque Saba Praça de Lisboa
Livraria Lello R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal 9:30 AM to 8 PM R. de São Bento da Vitória 135 Parking
Bolsa Palace R. de Ferreira Borges, 4050-253 Porto, Portugal 9 AM to 6:30 PM CarPark at R. da Bolsa 1834
Porto Cathedral Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto, Portugal 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM CarPark at R. da Bolsa 1834

Coimbra

One of the largest urban centers in Portugal, Coimbra is a treasure trove of a glorious history. Among the numerous archaeological structures, which date back to the Roman era, cryptoporticus and aqueduct are the most visited sites. The University of Coimbra is another hub for watching historical structures, which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here are the most popular tourist attractions in Coimbra.
Attraction Address Hours Open Nearby Car Parking
Sé Velha – Coimbra Largo Sé Velha, 3000-383 Coimbra, Portugal 10 AM to 5:30 PM Parking Coimbra at R. Olímpio Nicolau Rui Fernandes 208, 3000-122
Portugal dos Pequenitos Largo Rossio de Santa Clara, 3040-256 Coimbra, Portugal 9 AM to 8 PM Parking Convent San Francisco
Igreja de Santa Cruz Praça 8 de Maio, 3001-300 Coimbra, Portugal 9 AM to 5 PM Parkhotel
Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha 3040-249 Coimbra, Portugal 10 AM to 7 PM Parking Convent San Francisco
Roman City of Conímbriga Condeixa-a-Velha e Condeixa-a-Nova 24 hours Village of Condeixa-a-Velha

Fátima

Fátima is a beautiful city in Central Portugal. Apparitions of the Virgin Mary reported by Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco, the three little shepherds, gave this city never-fading fame. Besides being an important site of religious tourism, Fátima also appeals to tourists looking forward to spending their vacations amid soothing solitude. Points of interest in Fátima include the following.
Attraction Address Hours Open Nearby Car Parking
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima 2495-401 Fátima, Portugal 9 AM to 5 PM Parking 9 at R. da Rainha Santa Isabel 26,2495-402 Fátima
Basilica of the Holy Trinity Av. de Dom José Alves Correia da Silva, 2496-908 Fátima, Portugal 9 AM to 5 PM Parking 10 at Praceta de Santo António 18, 2495-402 Fátima, Portugal
Moeda Grottos R. das Grutas da Moeda, 2495-028 São Mamede, Portugal 9 AM to 7 PM Outdoor car parking
Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park Fátima 24 hours Casais Robustos Village
Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary Cova de Iria, 2496-908 Fátima, Portugal 9 AM to 5 PM Staines Station

Lisbon

Lisbon is the largest city in Portugal. The sole European capital along the Atlantic coastline, Lisbon is among the world’s oldest cities. A major tourist destination, Lisbon is home to beautiful parks, museums, theatres, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and monuments that exhibit various architectural styles. The Portuguese Riviera in the Lisbon metropolitan area is an internationally renowned luxury destination.
Attraction Address Hours Open Nearby Car Parking
Tower of Belém Garden of Belem Tower 10 AM to 6:30 PM Front of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
Jerónimos Monastery Praça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal 10 AM to 6:30 PM Front of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
Castelo de S. Jorge R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal 9 AM to 6 PM Alameda
Praça do Comércio Praça do Comércio, 1100-148 Lisboa, Portugal 24 hours Parking Baixa-Chiado
Bairro Alto Lisbon 24 hours R. João Pereira da Rosa 7 Parking

Faro

A city in Portugal’s Algarve region, Faro is a historic place. Known for its rich culture, this southernmost Portuguese city features several fascinating attractions. From a legendary historic center and ancient monuments to colorful plazas, shopping streets, and iconic restaurants, Faro has got everything to please you. Have a look at the most visited tourist destinations in Faro.
Attraction Address Hours Open Nearby Car Parking
Ria Formosa Algarve 24 hours Av 16 de Junho
Culatra Island Algarve 24 hours Car parking at R. das Prainhas 4, 8700-339 Olhão, Portugal
Cathedral of Faro Largo da Sé 11, 8000-138 Faro, Portugal 10 AM to 5:30 PM Descargar y parking
Igreja do Carmo Largo do Carmo, 8000-148 Faro, Portugal 10 AM to 5:30 PM Parque de estacionamento
Faro Old Town Praça do Afonso III 15, 8000-149 Faro, Portugal 24 hours Free parking at Largo de São Francisco 37, Faro, Portugal
For the past few years, Portugal has been leisure tourists’ favorite destination. Besides the bubbling metropolises, which are on everyone’s must-visit list, Portugal takes pride in its invigorating countryside. The Portuguese countryside includes well-preserved medieval villages, small towns, and vineyards, which are largely inaccessible via public transport. That is why renting a car in Portugal is strongly recommended so that you don’t miss any of these on your way to Faro.

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