Car hire in Portugal: Algarve
There are plenty of options for cheap car hire in Portugal. So, wherever you land for your holiday in the Algarve you can explore the coast, countryside and cities.
Why hire a car in Portugal?
Unless you’re intending to simply lie on the golden beaches of the Algarve, perhaps taking a snorkel or spotting some dolphins at most, hiring a car in Portugal will open out a world of delightful experiences to you.
Ancient crumbling castles perch above cobblestone villages, while dynamic cities are just a short drive from those surf-splashed sands.
And don’t get us started on the food!
Freshly baked bread, olives, cheese, red wine, port and the crispest vinho verde (young wine) await you. Next come the chargrilled fish, seafood stews and smoked meats. If there’s room you can enjoy a pastel del nata melting slowly into your mouth.
Where to hire your car in Portugal
Car hire in Lisbon for the Algarve
The capital’s Lisbon Airport is the busiest in Portugal. Why not book your car hire in advance and pick up your rental car on arrival with the minimum of fuss?
Before heading off on the three-hour drive down to the Algarve coast, do take some time to discover the charms of the capital.
A ride on the distinctive yellow trams that traverse Portugal’s hilly capital city is an experience to remember. Look out for the imposing São Jorge Castle and the picturesque pastel-coloured buildings of the old city.
Head out in your hire car to the nearby National Azulejo Museum, where five centuries of beautifully decorated ceramic tiles are held.
And not far from the refined, cultured atmosphere of the city, the wilder pleasures of the coast are lined up along the Atlantic, including resorts such as Cascais and Estoril.
Car hire in Porto for the Algarve
The second biggest airport in Portugal is further north of Lisbon. You may wish to consider an internal flight as it’s a five hour-drive down to the sunny Algarve. But, with a bit of planning, there are plenty of places to break your journey, including Lisbon, as you head for the surf.
Porto itself may give you plenty to linger over before putting your foot to the floor. This delightful coastal city in northwest Portugal is known for its stately bridges and its equally prestigious port wine. Enjoy a glass or two in the medieval Ribeira, the riverside district, before losing yourself among those winding cobbled streets.
Car hire in Faro for the Algarve
Faro Airport is also known as Algarve Airport, and serves as the international gateway to the southern Portuguese coast.
Just a couple of miles from the city of Faro itself, if you opt to book your car hire in advance you can be driving to your resort not long after clearing customs.
Car hire in the Algarve
It is also possible to arrange to rent a car in any of the major resorts and cities of the Algarve.
It’s hard to believe that Albufeira was once a quiet fishing village. Journey further along the coast, however, and it’s not hard to spot the fishermen still plying their trade, away from the bright lights, diving boats, cruises and dolphin-spotting excursions of the resort.
Wherever you are based on the Algarve be sure not to miss out on the scenic drive to Lagos. The atmospheric walled old town here is made all the more thrilling by the cliffs that drop down to the Atlantic beaches.
Tread carefully as you take the wooden steps that lead steeply down to the natural beauty of Praia do Camilo’s sandy cove. Drive just down the coast and you can enjoy the sweeping headland views, and the aloof lighthouse, from the cliffs of Ponta de Piedade.
After a bite to eat, in the restaurants that nestle among the ancient buildings and squares of the old town, you can explore the ornately decorated 18th century Catholic church of Igreja de Santo António.
Cheap car hire in Portugal
Portugal offers so much more than just a beach break, and arranging cheap car hire in Portugal allows you to enjoy its stunning natural scenery and cultural experiences.
Outside the resorts, Portugal’s rugged beauty unfolds. There’s hiking in the granite peaks of Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês or a host of cobbled old towns to admire.
With more than 600 miles of coast to discover you can always find a beach you can call your own. And, if you’re canny enough, it will be a dramatically cliff-lined beach where you can surf the waves before relaxing secluded by the sand dunes.
And that’s why you hire a car in Portugal if you are heading for the Algarve!
