Car Hire in Algarve - Getting to Algarve

Faro international airport is the main gateway to the Algarve, with regular flights to many European cities and additional charter flights in the summer. The modern terminal has all the facilities and conveniences expected by tourists, and a regular bus as well as taxis service the nearby city. Transatlantic and long-haul visitors usually connect via Lisbon, Madrid, or European hubs.

Several trains a day depart from Lisbon, the journey taking roughly five hours, some terminating in Faro and others turning east and west to the coastal towns. There is no rail service from the Algarve to southern Spain however.

Buses run frequently between all Algarve towns and several companies offer various daily options from various towns to Lisbon, Seville, Malaga, Gibraltar, and other destinations throughout southern Portugal and Spain (Andalusia).

By car, the roads are well maintained with good routes to Lisbon and Andalusia, while smaller roads can be slow and poor. The route along the coast is good though sometimes busy and Portugal has a reputation for poor road safety. It is possible to catch a ferry from the UK to Northern Spain and drive overland.