Faro “Gago Coutinho” International Airport (FAO) is the third biggest airport in Portugal after Lisbon Airport and Porto Airport. It is the primary international gateway to the country’s Algarve region - a popular tourism destination. The airport is situated 4 kilometers west of Faro, the capital of the province.
In 2024, Faro Airport served almost 10 million passengers, making it an important mid-sized European airport.
Major Airlines - Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2.com
Faro Airport is predominantly served by low-cost airlines with routes to European cities. Traffic intensifies in the summer when seasonal charters bring more holidaymakers to the Algarve beaches.
Ryanair uses Faro as a hub offering regular flights to two dozen cities in Europe. Other low-cost airlines using Faro are the British Jet2.com and easyJet and the Dutch Transavia.
TAP Air Portugal, the national carrier, connects Faro with Lisbon
Other full-service airlines include British Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, and Lufthansa, while a major provider of charter flights is TUI Airways.
To see all airlines that fly to and from Faro Airport, click here.
Terminal Layout of Faro Airport
Faro International Airport has a single terminal that handles both domestic and international flights.
The terminal is organized as follows:
Ground Floor: Arrivals, baggage claim areas, and various passenger services like car rental offices and ATMs.
First Floor: Departures, check-in counters, security checkpoints, and boarding gates.
Generally, Faro Airport is small and efficient but gets busy in the summer. If you’re traveling between June and September, it’s recommended to arrive at the airport well in advance of your departure time.
Check out the list of destinations from Faro Airport.
Dining Options
Faro Airport has a few different options for food, from fast food kiosks to sit-down restaurants. These are places to eat both before security and after it.
Some of the dining establishments at Faro Airport include:
Before Security:
Carlsberg Sports Bar: The place to be for tapas, light meals, and of course, chilled beers.
Delta Café Central & Da Sua Vida: Serves Portuguese coffee, traditional pastries, and drinks.
Paul: A French bakery and patisserie.
The Travellers Rest: A large terrace among lush greenery - the perfect ambiance for a light meal or a refreshing drink.
These venues remain open until the arrival of the last flight for the day.
After Security (Schengen):
Costa Coffee: A beloved UK coffee shop chain that also offers light snacks and pastries. It has one outlet in the non-Schengen area too.
Eating Point: While pizza is their main offering, you can also choose from a variety of international meals and fresh brewery drinks.
Mulligan’s: A famous Irish pub serving typical pub food and beers on tap.
After Security (non-Schengen):
Burger King: Internationally renowned fast food chain famous for its flame-grilled burgers.
Pizza Hut: Offers both traditional pizza tastes and unique new variations.
Carlsberg Bar: Tapas, light meals, and plenty of beer.
Subway: Freshly made sandwiches, soft drinks, small desserts, and coffee.
Lounges
Faro Airport has only 2 lounges - one for each of the Schengen and non-Schengen areas.
These lounges accept most of the premium passes and lounge keys. They are also accessible to most premium credit card holders and business travelers.
Unfortunately, the CIP Lounges leave a lot to be desired. They are small and have very limited opening times. The food is not up to par with the price paid to enter. There are barely any other facilities, and a few other minor details make them low value for money.
Transportation
You have multiple options for getting to Faro Airport from the city or vice versa.
- Bus Services: Local buses connect the airport to Faro city center and other regional destinations. Services typically operate from early morning until late evening.
Lines 14 and 16 connect the airport to Faro.
The Aerobus Get On (Vamus) has regular bus services to Albufeira, Portimão, and Lagos.
Rede Expressos offers connections to Seville in Spain.
Flixbus operates several routes to regional destinations with stops at Faro Airport.
Taxis: Available 24/7 outside the terminal. Taxis are metered. A quick trip to Faro costs about 10 EUR but is more expensive during the night.
Car Rentals: Major car rental companies, including Hertz, Avis, and Europcar, have counters within the terminal.
Currently, there is no train station at Faro Airport, although the government has plans to build one. To connect to the Portuguese train network, the airport shuttle bus, a taxi, or a private transfer to Faro railway station.
See private transfer options at Faro Airport.
Parking
Faro Airport offers plentiful opportunities for affordable parking, both short-term and for longer stays.
For very quick stops, where the driver doesn’t exit the vehicle, you can use the Departures curbside - the Kiss&Fly zone. It is free to use for up to 10 minutes.
All regular parking lots are outdoors. In total, there are 6 airport car parks at Faro Airport situated near the terminal building:
P1: short stays near Departures. The fee is 0.95 EUR per 15 minutes up to a maximum of 13 EUR per day.
P2: short stays near Arrivals. Same price as P1.
P3: long stays. Located 8 minutes on foot away from the Terminal. It costs 5 EUR per day to park here.
P4: the car park for rental cars. To access it, turn left as you leave the Arrivals area, then walk approximately 250 meters.
P5: the car park for larger vehicles and coaches.
P6: the car park for private transfers, shuttles, and meet & greet services.
Hotels
Faro Airport does not have any airport hotels directly on the premises.
The closest accommodation option is the Walk in Hostel Faro Airport just a 10 minutes walk away from the terminal building. The property is clean and comfortable but the dormitory style rooms may not suit most travelers.
A few minutes away is the Hotel 3K Faro Aeroporto: a modern hotel with a swimming pool, and shuttle services to and from the terminal. It is a good hotel for transit passengers and those with early flights.
Faro, Portugal
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