Car Hire in Albufeira

About Albufeira

Albufeira is a coastal city located near Faro in Portugal. Albufeira has many great things to offer including amazing beaches. Albufeira is the perfect family holiday location as it has many activities and facilities made for children and their families. Albufeira offers great diversity with their beautiful beaches, you can also find great nightlife in Albufeira if that is what is in the travel plans. If you are looking for a holiday location that offers relaxation, great activities and cheap hotels. Then look no further as Albufeira has everything you are looking for! 

Hiring a car in Albufeira is simple and easy. If you did not hire your car in Faro, you can find great car hire companies such as AirAuto, Europcar and Enterprise Rent a Car with deals in Albufeira. Hiring a car is recommended as the Algarve area has so much to offer, and some fantastic driving routes that are worth trying out. 

Basic info and car hire in Albufeira

• Location: Southern Algarve region of Portugal
• Population: 37.244 (2021)
• Official language: Portuguese and Mirandese.  
• Currency:  Euro (€)
• Weather: The south of Portugal has a typical hot-summer Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and sunny (80 - 86 °F / 27 - 30 °C), while autumns and winters are mild (46 - 62 °F / 8 - 17 °C). The south of Portugal is a great, but quite underrated, year-round destination that can re-energise you with the sunny days in winter. If you are lucky, the swimming season can last into November, and by April temperatures can rise again to welcome you. If swimming is not your priority, the Algarve is just perfect for walking along the coast, and with a car hire in Faro, it's easy to explore the sleepy villages. And when you stop off, be sure to breathe in the fresh sea air. All of this is made easy with a car rental in Faro. Plus, during the off-season, prices drop, making some of the poshest accommodations very affordable. An opportunity not to be missed!
• Holidays in Albufeira:   For a full list of public holidays in Portugal, click here »
• Internet coverage: Most hotels, bars, restaurants and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions: Portuguese roads are well maintained and as frost and snow are rare, especially in the Portuguese South, you will not experience any major complications with your car hire in Albufeira even in winter. Road connections are also excellent and the highways are wide and modern, which is really good news for all car hire in Faro.
• Car hire in Albufeira: Prices vary, if you are looking for the cheapest car hire option we recommend looking at Faro Airport. 

 Driving in Albufeira

Road condition is very good in Portugal, especially in the southern part of Portugal. You will not experience any difficulties with your car hire in Albufeira. Road conditions are very good and the highways are wide and good to drive, which is great to keep in mind when getting a car hire in Albufeira. There are two toll systems in Portugal. The traditional toll road is called Via Verde (Green Lane). These toll lanes are marked with green V signs. To use a Via Verde lane, you must buy or rent an electronic transponder or vignette at all CTT Post Office and Via Verde shops. This way you can pay with cash, credit cards or prepaid cards while driving. Do not use the Via Verde lanes if you do not have a Via Verde transponder. Other roads only use electronic tolling, which means there are no toll booths and you can not pay as you drive. Instead, devices placed at the start of these highways detect passing vehicles. These toll roads are marked with a black car and three expanding bars. Most car rental companies in Portugal have Via Verde transponders installed in their vehicles, but if you want to rent a car in Portugal, it is a good idea to ask the company how their system works with both toll systems.

• Age limits: 21 (Minimum age may vary according to car hire companies. A Young Driver fee will apply to drivers under 25 years of age. To hire a car, it is required that a driver has held a licence for more than one year).   
• International Driving Permit: Yes, if you are a non-EU licence holder.   
• Additional papers: Identification(passport), a valid driving licence and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Portugal).   
• Additional requirements: Warning triangles, reflective vests, spare wheel, spare light bulbs are required as well as a hands-free equipment with hearing aids are required when talking on the phone while driving.
• Children in the car: All car occupants must wear a seat belt. Children under the age of twelve, or shorter than 4ft 11in / 1.50 meters, may travel in the front passenger seat if they are in a secured, rear-facing children’s seat.       
• Driving side of the road: Right side. 
• Lights: Headlights are turned on while in a tunnel or during conditions of poor visibility. 
• General speed limits: 75 mph / 120 kph on motorways, 55 mph / 90 kph outside cities and 30 mph / 50 kph in residential areas.
• Parking suggestions: It can be proven to be quite difficult to find parking lots in Albufeira, especially in the old town. There are a few parking spaces where you can park for free, for example near Avenida do Ténis. Finding parking will not be a problem so to say, but you have to be prepared to walk 5-10 minutes to get downtown. 

What to see in Albufeira

Whether you are looking for a relaxing holiday at the beach or a party with great wildlife or even a trip with the family, one thing is for certain and that is Albufeira has it all. Visit some of the whopping 25 beaches that are around Albufeira, we strongly recommend the Praia de São Rafael beach, located not too far from the old town. The old town, also known as "Old Albufeira" is a historical part of Albufeira that will take you about one hour to walk around and explore. This is truly a must-do while in Albufeira. On many of the beaches in Albufeira, some caves can only be entered by water, many companies offer kayak, canal and standing paddleboard trips to explore these magical caves in the ocean. If you are looking for a beach far from all the noise, Praia da Galé is the beach for you. Travelling with the children? Then we strongly recommend a day trip to Zoomarine Algarve. If you are looking to stay off the beach for a day, then you can visit the outdoor pursuit in Albufeira, don't worry it's totally safe as you are hooked to a safety line while playing around.