Do you need a car in Faro?
No — not for Faro’s compact old town (Cidade Velha), where parking is more hassle than it’s worth, and not for the Ria Formosa islands, which you reach by boat anyway. Yes, rent a car to explore the wider Algarve: Tavira, Lagos, Albufeira, and the more remote beaches all open up once you have your own wheels.
- Skip the car for Faro’s old town and the Ria Formosa — walk one, boat to the other.
- Rent a car to explore the Algarve: Tavira, Lagos, Albufeira, remote beaches.
- The A22 motorway has been toll-free since 1 January 2025 — you no longer need a toll transponder.
- Confirm where you actually collect your car: many suppliers operate from Car Park 4 / Zest, a shuttle ride from the terminal, not the terminal itself.
The A22 is toll-free now — ignore outdated advice
The A22 (Via do Infante), the main motorway running the length of the Algarve, has been toll-free since 1 January 2025. You do not need a toll transponder on the A22 anymore — a lot of older content online still gets this wrong.
Skip the EN125
The EN125 is widely considered the most dangerous road in Portugal. With the A22 now free, there’s no longer a financial reason to choose the EN125 over the motorway.
Where do you actually collect your car? Car Park 4 / Zest
Many rental suppliers at Faro (Travelrent, Drive4fun, Masterkings, Luzcar) operate out of Car Park 4 / Zest, reached by a short shuttle (3–4 minutes) from Departures — not from a counter inside the terminal. Check your confirmation for the pickup location before you land.
High deposits and insurance pressure
Expect a deposit hold of around €1,500, and it must go on a credit card, not debit. Hard-sell insurance pitches are common; be cautious with Klass Wagen, Surprice, and Goldcar. Travelrent, Drive4fun, Masterkings, and Luzcar are generally better regarded locally.
Minimum age is just 18 at Faro
SIXT rents from age 18 at Faro — unusually low, and worth knowing if you’re a younger traveler who’d otherwise be priced out or turned away elsewhere.
Airport to city center without a car
Bus 16 costs about €2.70 (cash only, paid to the driver). A taxi runs roughly €10, or €7–10 with Bolt or Uber.
Day trips: the Ria Formosa needs a boat, not a car
The Ria Formosa islands (Culatra, Armona, Deserta) are only reachable by boat — a car won’t get you there. Save the rental for inland and coastal Algarve trips instead.
