Faro Airport (IATA: FAO) is the official entry point to Portugal’s Algarve coast. From the championship golf courses of Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago to the dramatic sea cliffs of Lagos, Ponta da Piedade, and Sagres, renting a car is the only practical way to explore Portugal’s southern coast.
The A22 Toll Road (Via do Infante) & Transponder Advice
The main east-west motorway across the Algarve is the A22. Unlike Spanish toll roads, the A22 has no physical toll booths; it operates on an entirely electronic overhead gantry camera system.
Crucial Toll Advice: Always say "Yes" when the rental agent asks if you want the electronic toll transponder (Via Verde / electronic toll device). It typically costs €1.50 to €2 per day. As you drive beneath the gantries, tolls are logged automatically and charged to your card on file, saving you from having to pay at local Portuguese post offices (CTT).
Alternative: The Free N125 Road
If you wish to avoid toll fees entirely, you can drive the N125, which runs parallel to the coast. However, the N125 passes through numerous towns and roundabouts and can become heavily congested during peak July and August holiday weekends.