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.
CityRental Car Pick-up/Drop-off Locations
PortoCampanha Railway Station, Porto Downtown, Porto Airport, Maia, Ramalde
FaroFaro 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.
SupplierCar Rental Locations in Portugal
ACE Rent a CarPorto Airport, Lisbon Airport, Faro Airport
SixtAmadora, 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
SurpricePorto, Faro Airport, Lisbon Airport, Madeira Airport. Porto Airport
CentauroLisbon Airport, Faro Airport, Porto Airport, Madeira Airport
EuropcarLisbon, 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 CategoryCar ModelSeatsLuggage Capacity
MiniVolkswagen Polo53 large suitcases
Fiat 50042 small suitcases
EconomyRenault Clio52 small & 1 large suitcase
Chevrolet Spark41 small & 1 large suitcase
CompactFord Focus51 small & 1 large suitcase
Opel/Vauxhall Astra52 small suitcases
Van/MinivanMercedes Vito6-92 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 pointPorto
Ending pointFaro
Distance618 km
Recommended duration8 days
TransportationRental 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.
AttractionAddressHours OpenNearby Car Parking
Luís I BridgePte. Luiz I, Porto, Portugal24 hoursVila Nova de Gaia Metro Station
Clérigos Church + Clérigos TowerR. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto, Portugal9 AM to 7 PMParque Saba Praça de Lisboa
Livraria LelloR. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto, Portugal9:30 AM to 8 PMR. de São Bento da Vitória 135 Parking
Bolsa PalaceR. de Ferreira Borges, 4050-253 Porto, Portugal9 AM to 6:30 PMCarPark at R. da Bolsa 1834
Porto CathedralTerreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto, Portugal9:30 AM to 5:30 PMCarPark 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.
AttractionAddressHours OpenNearby Car Parking
Sé Velha – CoimbraLargo Sé Velha, 3000-383 Coimbra, Portugal10 AM to 5:30 PMParking Coimbra at R. Olímpio Nicolau Rui Fernandes 208, 3000-122
Portugal dos PequenitosLargo Rossio de Santa Clara, 3040-256 Coimbra, Portugal9 AM to 8 PMParking Convent San Francisco
Igreja de Santa CruzPraça 8 de Maio, 3001-300 Coimbra, Portugal9 AM to 5 PMParkhotel
Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha3040-249 Coimbra, Portugal10 AM to 7 PMParking Convent San Francisco
Roman City of ConímbrigaCondeixa-a-Velha e Condeixa-a-Nova24 hoursVillage 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.
AttractionAddressHours OpenNearby Car Parking
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima2495-401 Fátima, Portugal9 AM to 5 PMParking 9 at R. da Rainha Santa Isabel 26,2495-402 Fátima
Basilica of the Holy TrinityAv. de Dom José Alves Correia da Silva, 2496-908 Fátima, Portugal9 AM to 5 PMParking 10 at Praceta de Santo António 18, 2495-402 Fátima, Portugal
Moeda GrottosR. das Grutas da Moeda, 2495-028 São Mamede, Portugal9 AM to 7 PMOutdoor car parking
Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Nature ParkFátima24 hoursCasais Robustos Village
Basilica of Our Lady of the RosaryCova de Iria, 2496-908 Fátima, Portugal9 AM to 5 PMStaines 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.
AttractionAddressHours OpenNearby Car Parking
Tower of BelémGarden of Belem Tower10 AM to 6:30 PMFront of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
Jerónimos MonasteryPraça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal10 AM to 6:30 PMFront of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
Castelo de S. JorgeR. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal9 AM to 6 PMAlameda
Praça do ComércioPraça do Comércio, 1100-148 Lisboa, Portugal24 hoursParking Baixa-Chiado
Bairro AltoLisbon24 hoursR. 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.
AttractionAddressHours OpenNearby Car Parking
Ria FormosaAlgarve24 hoursAv 16 de Junho
Culatra IslandAlgarve24 hoursCar parking at R. das Prainhas 4, 8700-339 Olhão, Portugal
Cathedral of FaroLargo da Sé 11, 8000-138 Faro, Portugal10 AM to 5:30 PMDescargar y parking
Igreja do CarmoLargo do Carmo, 8000-148 Faro, Portugal10 AM to 5:30 PMParque de estacionamento
Faro Old TownPraça do Afonso III 15, 8000-149 Faro, Portugal24 hoursFree 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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