Car Hire Porto Airport

Car Hire

Located in northern Portugal, Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport, also known as Porto Airport, is the second-busiest airport in the country. It is situated less than seven miles northwest of the city centre of Porto and is easily accessible. Car hire in Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport is one of the most popular transportation options because driving in Portugal is easy and a good way to explore the coastal areas of Porto. Other public transportation options from the airport include buses, taxis and metro.

Who to Book With
Numerous international car hire companies offer their services at Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport. These include: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt and National. The desks of these companies are all located in the Arrivals terminal. Generally, for long distances, car hire is cheaper than using taxis.

Need to Know Essentials
Passengers will have to show the following paperwork to pick up a rental vehicle:

- UK driver’s licence (both parts) or an International Driving Permit
- Credit card with which the car hire booking was made
- A passport or photo ID
- Booking confirmation number

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers while driving in Portugal. It is a requirement for all drivers to have their driver’s licence and vehicle registration (or car hire documents) documents on hand. Petrol stations are generally open between 07:00 to 22:00. However, there are 24-hour petrol stations on motorways and in major cities. Portugal has a variety of toll roads and renters who plan to drive long distance should ask their car hire company if an electronic toll device is available. If not, tolls can be paid by cash or credit card at the toll booth. Children 12 years and under cannot be a front seat passenger, while the use of a car seat is compulsory for toddlers under the age of three.

See our guide to Portugal for more information on driving here.

Transport

The city of Porto is close to the airport and many passengers decide to self-drive. Another convenient transportation option is the metro, which is clean, safe and reliable. Local buses also service the airport, providing connections to different parts of Porto. Taxis are also an option, but are considered the most expensive means of transportation. The journey to the city centre of Porto takes less than 30 minutes regardless of transportation choice.

Trains
There are no trains from the airport, but there is a metro. Operated by Metro do Porto, the metro is a convenient transportation option. There are six metro lines, from A to F, with line E, or the Purple Line, operating the airport route. The airport metro station is located just a 50 metre walk from the Arrivals zone. The metro trip to the city centre takes roughly 40 minutes and costs just over £1. Visitors may consider buying an Andante, which is a re-chargeable ticket. From the city centre station of Estacao de Camphanha, connections are available to Lisbon, Minho and Douro, while Estacao de S. Bento station serves connections to Aveiro, Coimbra, Douro, Galicia and Minho.

Taxis
Taxis are readily available just outside the Arrivals area of the airport. All taxis are metered and the trip to the city centre takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Rates are roughly 20 per cent higher during evenings, bank holidays and weekends.

Taxi prices:
Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport to Porto city centre is about £18
Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport to Leca da Plameira is about £20
Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport to Viane do Castelo is about £70
Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport to Braga is about £60

Buses
There are shuttle buses from Porto Francisco sa Carneiro Airport to Porto city centre. The Terravision bus service from the airport travels to Boavista and Aliados (city centre locations). The journey takes roughly 25 minutes and tickets cost £4 (children under the age of four travel for free). Buses run about once every hour. There are also public STCP buses, and routes 601, 602 and 604 operate from the airport to the city centre. Tickets cost roughly £1.

Facilities

Terminals
The single terminal airport is an important airline hub for the northern region of Portugal. The airport handles over five million passengers a year, with connections to major European cities. Both seasonal and scheduled flights fly into the airport with Iberia, Lufthansa, Luxair and Ryanair.

Parking
The airport offers ample 24-hour parking, with over 2,000 spaces on offer. The car parks are: P0, P1, P4 and P6. All car parks offer both short- and long-term parking options. Parking is free for the first 30 minutes, each additional 30 minutes is charged at around £0.60 and full-day parking is £9. Long-term parking is cheaper at the P3/P4 car parks, which charge daily rates of about £5.

Wi-Fi
Wireless internet is available throughout the airport. Information on flights and airport facilities are free of charge. However, additional internet access is not free. Travellers should contact the information desk for rates and to obtain a password.

Information Services
There is one information desk located on the third floor of the Departures area. The desk is open from 05:00 to 23:00. Travellers can also use the 24-hour information kiosks.

Useful Numbers
Service Centre: +351 229 432 400
Parking Information: +351 229 410 787

Accessibility
The airport complies with EU regulations on disabled access, with specially equipped toilets, lifts, ramps and telephones. Wheelchairs are available free of charge upon request, but must be booked directly through the traveller’s airline.

Restaurants and Bars
There are plenty of restaurants and bars at the airport for travellers to choose from. Whether it is self-service, fast food or full-service, there are options both before and after security check.

VIP Lounges
Navigator Lounge

Money and ATMs
There are ATMs, a bank branch and a bureau de change on all floors of the terminal building.

Shopping
Most of the shopping at the airport is in the Departures area on the third floor. Travellers will find shops selling, fashion, electronics, books and Portuguese souvenirs, as well as duty-free items and a pharmacy. Duty-free shopping is only available for those flying outside the EU.