Faro Airport: the #1 guide

Faro Airport (FAO) is the main international airport in the Algarve, Portugal. Just 7 km from the city, Faro Airport is where most travelers start their Algarve adventure, whether you’re here for the beaches, resorts, or charming towns. In this complete guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about arrivals and departures, transportation options, parking, car rentals, hotels nearby, and airport facilities. Whether you’re planning a holiday, picking someone up, or preparing for departure, this page has you covered.

Check live arrivals and departures

You can find out the estimated time of arrival or departure of flights at the official website of Faro Airport. If your flight is delayed, you can track the status in real time there:

Check information on arrivals and departures

 

General information

Though modest in size, Faro Airport handles nearly 10 million passengers annually, making it one of Portugal’s busiest regional airports. In total, there were 63.530 aircraft movements in 2024. In 2022, the official name of the airport changed to Faro – Gago Coutinho International Airport, named after a famous Portuguese geographer.

The airport only has one runway, which is 2490 metres in length. There are 60 check-in desks and 36 boarding gates. It was inaugurated in 1965 and enlarged in 2001. Recent expansions, including a second terminal added in 2017, have significantly increased the airport’s capacity. Currently, it is the third biggest airport of Portugal when it comes to the number of passengers, after Lisbon and Porto.

When you arrive at the airport of Faro by plane, you will see the ocean and the wetlands of the Ria Formosa natural park. The airport is actually located within walking distance from the beach of Praia de Faro.

 

Parking at Faro Airport

Kiss & fly drop off

At the Kiss and Fly zone, you can drop off passengers. You can stand free of charge for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes you will be charged € 1 for every 10 minutes.

Short-term parking: P1 & P2

Perfect for stays of a few hours or a single day.

P1 – closest to departures

• €1,30 for the first 15 minute

• €0,85 for each additional 15 minutes

• Daily maximum: €19

P2 – best for arrivals

• €1,40 for the first 15 minutes

• €0,95 for each additional 15 minutes

• Daily maximum: €20

Long-term parking – P3

Ideal for extended stays of several days or more.

• €5 per day up to 5 days

• €9.80 daily maximum after day 5

• A bit farther from the terminal, but easy to reach on foot or by shuttle

Tip: If you’re going on a longer trip or want to save on costs, book your long-term parking spot in advance via the official Faro Airport website.

Here is a map of the airport, so you can see where these parking areas are:

 

Transport to and from Faro Airport

Faro Airport is situated 4 kilometers from the city of Faro. Traveling to the city is easy with bus, car, taxi and Uber.

Taxi

A taxi ride from Faro Airport to the city of Faro costs between € 10 and € 15. The taxi companies in Faro are reliable and have a meter. The taxi cabs have a black and green design. Right outside the airport exit, you can find the taxi cabs waiting. The taxi platform is well indicated by the signs. The travel time to the city centre is about 15 minutes.

Bus

 A bus ride from Faro Airport to the centre of Faro costs € 2,25. The bus line number is 16 and the name of the bus company is Próximo. The buses have a light blue and white design. The travel time to the city centre is about 20 minutes. Busses run twice an hour, 7 days a week. For the exact hours of departure, check the timetable.

Uber

Uber is widely used in the Algarve. From Faro Airport, you can easily request a ride using the Uber app. Just order through the Uber app. Pickup is fast and clearly marked outside the terminal.

Car rental

The easiest way to move around in the Algarve is by car. At Faro Airport there are 10 car rental companies located within a short walking distance from the exit. Check our comparison of the best car rental companies in the Algarve.

Hotels near Faro Airport

There are a couple hotels within walking distance from the airport. If you want to stay near the airport, we recommend any of the following hotels:

• Sleep & Go Faro Airport Guest House. This guest house is clean and comfortable and has all basic facilities. There is a shared kitchen so you can cook your own meal if you want to. The property also features a pleasant terrace, perfect for relaxing before or after your flight.
• Hotel 3K Faro Aeroporto. This three star hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site bar and good rooms. There is a nice garden as well and the staff will make sure you won’t miss your flight.
• Coloured Studio. This bright coloured studio near the airport will make you smile when you enter it. Great choice if you are travelling with kids. You can even play table tennis in the studio.

Airport facilities

Faro Airport offers plenty of amenities to make your visit easy. From free Wi-Fi and restaurants to lockers, shops, and even a VIP lounge.

Wi-Fi

Faro Airport offers free and unlimited Internet connection, throughout the airport. To connect to the Wi-Fi you have to follow these steps:

1. Turn on the Wi-Fi option on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
2. Select the network VINCI Airports wifi and open your Internet browser.
3. Write a valid email address and select your country.
4. Accept the terms and conditions.

If you have issues with the internet, you can call the customer support office. The office is open every day from 7.00 until 19.00. The phone number is +351 707 502 267.

Restaurants and cafés

From fast food to quick healthy meals and complete dinners, at Faro Airport you can choose from 16 different restaurants and cafés. Some of the restaurants/cafés are Burger King, Café Delta, Costa Coffee, Paul, Subway and Carlsberg Sports Bar.

There is also a nice cafe just outside the airport.

Shopping

At Faro Airport you can find a range of stores, selling everything from gifts to fashion. You’ll find major international brands such as Sunglass Hut, Swarovski and Victoria’s Secret. Also you will find the popular Portuguese brand Parfois and buy Portuguese souvenirs at Portfolio. At the Duty Free Store you can score great deals on beverages, perfumes and make up. For a complete list of stores check here.

Lockers

At Faro Airport there are lockers where you can safekeep your bags. The lockers are located outside the terminal, near Car Park P5. Payment is done per item and the rates are:

• Small €1.50 per 4 hours
• Medium €2.50 per 4 hours
• Large €2.50 per 4 hours

Financial services

At Faro Airport there are two companies that can assist you with currency exchanges, international money transfers and travel insurance. At the first floor, before security, you can find the desks of Unicâmbio and Santander (for customers banking at Santander). The openings hours for these services are 07.00 – 23.00.

First Aid

The First Aid station at Faro airport is the place for all medical help. The station is operated by the Portuguese Red Cross. The staff will provide assistance on the spot in case of emergencies. For severe cases, a permanent ambulance is present for transportation to the hospital.

VIP lounge

Want to relax before your flight? The VIP lounge is a private place to relax before taking off. It offers comfy seating, snacks, drinks, and Wi-Fi for a calm pre-flight experience. The lounge is open to everyone. The entrance fee for the VIP lounge is € 30 for adults and € 15 for children (between the ages 3 to 12). Included in this price is the usage of all the following facilities:

• Alcoholic, non-alcoholic and hot beverages
• Assorted sandwiches, sweet and salty snacks
• TV, free internet and computers with internet connection
• International newspapers and magazines

You can reserve your spot once you are on the airport, or already online in advance. To reserve a spot now please check the website of Faro Airport:

Reserve your spot at the VIP lounge

Special assistance for passengers of reduced mobility

MyWay assistance is the service of Faro Airport that assists passengers with reduced mobility. The service offers mechanical mobility facilitators, and skilled professionals that enable a safe and comfortable passage through the airport. You have to book the MyWay assistance at least 48 hours upon departure time, via your airline or travel agent. Passengers with reduced mobility can bring guide dogs to Faro airport, including in boarding terminals. Check with your airline or travel agent to confirm that guide dogs are allowed on the aircraft.

Lost and found items

Items that have been lost on the plane, are handled by your airline. If you have issues with your luggage, it is best to go to the airline desk first. The airline will contact the handling agent that took care of the ground operations of your flight. Lost luggage is handled by your airline’s ground service provider, like Portway, Groundforce or GroundLink.

Airlines flying to Faro Airport

There are 29 airlines that are travelling from and to Faro airport. The airlines that have the most frequent flights throughout the year are TAP, Ryanair, EasyJet and Transavia. The complete list of airlines can be found below.

Contact information

This is the contact information of the airport:

Faro Airport
8006-901
Faro, Portugal

Phone number: +351 289 800 800
E-mail: faro.airport@ana.pt