Transfers in Faro

About Faro

Faro is the capital of both the Algarve region and Faro District, and the southernmost city on mainland Portugal. Its walled old town, Cidade Velha, is a quiet cluster of cobbled streets, the cathedral and orange trees behind a Moorish-era gate, in contrast with the marina and modern shopping streets just outside the walls. Around 70,000 people live in the wider municipality, though far more pass through as the gateway to the whole Algarve coast.

Just south of the old town, the Ria Formosa lagoon system, a protected natural park of salt marshes, islands and sandbars, separates Faro from the open Atlantic and is one of the region’s best-known nature reserves.

Getting around

Faro’s old town and marina are easily walked, and a regional train line links the city to Albufeira, Lagos, Portimão and the Spanish border at Vila Real de Santo António. Buses cover the resort towns but run less frequently outside peak hours, so for a group with luggage or a flight landing outside the daytime window, a pre-booked private transfer is the simpler option straight from the terminal.

Best time to visit

April to June and September to October offer the Algarve’s best balance of warm, sunny weather without the crowds and peak prices of July and August. Winter stays mild by northern European standards, with many restaurants and attractions in the smaller resorts closing for the season, while high summer brings the heaviest charter traffic through the airport.

Transferring from Faro’s airport

Faro Airport (FAO) is the Algarve’s main gateway, a single terminal about 4 km west of the old town, and one of Portugal’s busiest airports thanks to the region’s British, Irish, Dutch and German package-holiday market. Pre-booked private transfers reach every part of the coast, with flight tracking, 60 minutes of free wait time and a fixed price that holds regardless of arrival time.

Common transfer routes

Typical Faro routes include:

• Faro Airport to Faro old town and marina, around 10 minutes.
• Faro Airport to Vilamoura, around 20 to 25 minutes.
• Faro Airport to Quarteira, around 20 to 25 minutes.
• Faro Airport to Albufeira, around 45 minutes.
• Faro Airport to Lagos, around 55 minutes.

Most visitors head straight from the airport to a resort rather than stopping in Faro itself, though the old town makes an easy half-day trip for anyone based nearby in Vilamoura or Quarteira.

Booking your Faro transfer

Compare licensed Algarve operators on this site for any FAO route. You get one fixed price up front, meet-and-greet at the terminal, flight tracking and free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, iDEAL, Wero and PayPal are all accepted.