How to Get from Seville Airport to Faro Airport: Transfers, Transport Options and Travel Tips

Seville Airport (SVQ) and Faro Airport (FAO) are two important gateways to southern Spain and Portugal. Although they are in different countries, travelling between them by road is straightforward and can be a useful part of a holiday itinerary in the Algarve.

If you are flying into Seville but continuing to Portugal, you have several transport options. You can arrange a private airport transfer, use coach services between Seville and Faro, or hire a car and drive yourself. The best choice depends on your arrival time, budget, luggage and plans for the rest of your trip.

There is also a less obvious travel arrangement worth considering. Some holidaymakers fly into Seville, travel to Faro Airport to collect a hire car, explore the Algarve and then return the vehicle to Faro before travelling back to Seville Airport for their flight home.

At Radio Taxi Huelva, we arrange pre-booked transfers between Andalusia and Portugal. In this guide, we explain the main ways to travel between the two airports, what to check before booking and how to plan both directions of the journey.

Why travel from Seville Airport to Faro Airport?

When booking a holiday in the Algarve, Faro Airport is usually the first arrival point travellers consider. However, flying directly to Faro is not always the most convenient or economical option.

Depending on your departure airport, preferred dates, flight availability and ticket prices, flying to Seville and continuing to Portugal by road may be worth comparing.

This is particularly relevant for travellers from the UK and other European countries who have a wider choice of flights to southern Spain or are combining their Algarve holiday with time in Andalusia.

The same situation can arise at the end of a holiday. You might spend a week or two in Portugal but have a return flight departing from Seville rather than Faro.

Travelling directly between the airports makes it possible to organise these itineraries without needing an overnight stay in an intermediate city, provided your flight times leave sufficient room for the road journey.

Faro Airport as a gateway to the Algarve

Faro Airport serves the Algarve, a popular holiday region with destinations including Tavira, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Albufeira, Portimão and Lagos.

Once you reach Faro, you can continue to your accommodation, collect a hire car or make an onward transport connection.

However, if your final destination is an Algarve hotel or holiday apartment and you do not need to visit Faro Airport, a direct transfer from Seville Airport to your accommodation may be more practical than travelling via FAO.

The airport-to-airport journey is most relevant when you need to collect or return a rental vehicle, catch another flight or attend a specific appointment at Faro Airport.

Distance, driving time and route between Seville and Faro airports

The usual road route from Seville Airport towards Portugal follows the A-49 motorway through Huelva and onwards towards the Spanish–Portuguese border near Ayamonte.

After entering Portugal, the journey continues through the Algarve road network, including the A22 motorway and the roads leading to Faro Airport.

Radio Taxi Huelva uses a reference distance of approximately 235 kilometres and an estimated driving time of 2 hours and 15 minutes for the Seville Airport–Faro Airport route.

This is an estimate rather than a guaranteed arrival time. Traffic, roadworks, incidents and busy holiday periods can affect the journey, so additional time should be allowed when connecting with a flight.

Are there tolls on the A22 motorway in the Algarve?

One useful change for drivers is that tolls on Portugal's A22 motorway, also known as the Via do Infante, were abolished from 1 January 2025.

Older travel websites may still describe the electronic toll system previously used on this motorway. That information is no longer applicable to the A22.

Other Portuguese motorways may still charge tolls, so check the specific roads you intend to use if you are driving beyond the Algarve.

The change is covered by Portuguese Law No. 37/2024, published in the Diário da República.

How to travel from Seville Airport to Faro Airport

There are several ways to make the journey, but the important distinction is whether a service connects the actual airports or merely operates between Seville city and Faro city.

1. Private airport transfer

A pre-booked private transfer provides a direct journey from Seville Airport to Faro Airport, without changing buses, carrying luggage between stations or arranging an additional local journey at either end.

This can be particularly convenient for families, groups, travellers with several suitcases and passengers who need to reach a car hire office at an agreed time.

With Radio Taxi Huelva, you can arrange a private transfer from Seville Airport to Faro Airport, using a standard taxi for one to four passengers or a Taxi Van for groups of five to eight, subject to vehicle availability and luggage requirements.

2. Coach or bus services

Coach travel can be a more economical option, especially for solo travellers with flexible schedules and limited luggage.

There are coach connections between Seville and Faro, but departure and arrival points vary between operators and services.

Some journeys require you to travel from Seville Airport into Seville city first. Depending on the service selected, you may also need to make a separate journey between Faro city and Faro Airport.

Before buying a ticket, check the exact stop locations, current timetable, total journey time, luggage allowance and whether the connection fits your flight or car hire collection time.

3. Hiring a car at Seville Airport

Hiring a car when you land at Seville Airport allows you to drive directly to the Algarve and gives you the flexibility to stop along the way.

It may be a good option if you also plan to explore Seville, Cádiz, Huelva or other parts of Andalusia during your holiday.

However, do not assume that every Spanish car hire agreement permits travel into Portugal under the same conditions.

Check whether cross-border driving is authorised, what insurance cover applies, whether additional charges are involved and what happens if you intend to return the car to a different office.

4. Travelling by train

There is no direct train connecting Seville Airport and Faro Airport.

Rail-based itineraries would involve additional transport connections and are not generally the most practical option for travellers who simply need to get between these two airports.

For a direct airport-to-airport journey, road transport is the more useful starting point when comparing alternatives.

5. Is flying between Seville and Faro worthwhile?

There is no regular direct flight connection that provides a practical alternative to the road journey between these airports.

Flight itineraries involving a connection elsewhere can take considerably longer than travelling by road once airport waiting times and transfers are included.

For this route, it generally makes more sense to compare private transfers, coach services and car hire.

How much is a taxi from Seville Airport to Faro Airport?

Radio Taxi Huelva publishes a fixed fare for the journey between Seville Airport (SVQ) and Faro Airport (FAO), applicable in both directions.

The published fare is €250 for a standard taxi carrying one to four passengers and €346 for a Taxi Van carrying five to eight passengers.

These are vehicle fares for the specified route, not prices per person. Any special requirements, such as child seats, should be discussed when booking and may involve an additional charge.

You can review the journey details and current prices on our Seville Airport ↔ Faro Airport fixed fare page.

Flying into Seville and collecting a hire car at Faro Airport

One travel arrangement worth exploring is flying into Seville and collecting your rental car at Faro Airport rather than at the Spanish airport.

Some holidaymakers prefer this approach because they have found suitable flights to Seville but intend to spend their entire holiday in Portugal.

Hiring and returning a vehicle at Faro Airport can also make it easier to compare Portuguese car hire providers and their conditions for driving within the Algarve.

However, the transfer from Seville must be included in your overall travel budget. The right choice depends on the total cost, convenience and the itinerary you have planned.

How to organise the journey and car collection

1. Book your flight to Seville. Check the scheduled landing time and allow for passport control, where applicable, and baggage collection.
2. Compare car hire options at Faro Airport. Review the total price, insurance, deposit, fuel policy, collection hours and return conditions.
3. Arrange transport from SVQ to FAO. Include the estimated road journey and a reasonable allowance for possible flight delays.
4. Check the exact car hire collection point. Some providers have desks at the airport, while others may use nearby facilities or shuttle services.
5. Collect your vehicle and continue your holiday. You can then drive to your accommodation and explore the Algarve at your own pace.

Car hire companies at Faro Airport

Car rental providers listed in the airport's official information include Avis-Budget, Europcar, Goldcar, Guerin, Hertz and Sixt.

Opening hours and collection arrangements can vary by company and may change over time. This is particularly important if you arrive at Seville Airport late in the afternoon or in the evening.

Make sure your chosen company can hand over the vehicle at your expected arrival time in Faro, rather than relying solely on its standard office hours.

For current information, visit the official Faro Airport car rental page.

Is it better to hire a car in Seville or Faro?

Neither option is automatically better. Your decision should reflect your route, holiday plans and the actual terms offered by the rental company.

Hiring a car in Seville

Collecting your car at Seville Airport lets you start driving immediately and is particularly useful if you want to explore parts of Spain before heading to Portugal.

You will need to check cross-border authorisation, insurance coverage, any additional fees and whether a different return location is permitted.

Hiring a car in Faro

If your holiday will be entirely in Portugal, hiring the car at Faro Airport and returning it to the same location may be worth considering.

Although you will need to arrange transport from Seville to Faro, this avoids relying on the cross-border conditions of a rental vehicle collected in Spain.

Compare the complete holiday transport cost, not just the daily rental price. Include airport transfers, insurance, additional charges, collection and return arrangements, and the time involved.

How to plan the return journey from Faro Airport to Seville Airport

The journey from Faro to Seville needs particular care when you have an international flight to catch.

If you are returning a hire car at Faro Airport, do not arrange your transfer collection for the exact time you expect to arrive at the rental return area.

Consider the time needed for:

• refilling the fuel tank if required by your rental agreement;
• locating the correct vehicle return area;
• inspection and handover of the vehicle;
• getting from the rental facility to your agreed meeting point;
• the road journey from Faro to Seville;
• possible traffic disruption or delays;
• the airport check-in and security time recommended by your airline.

Radio Taxi Huelva's published airport-to-airport fare applies to both directions of this route, subject to the stated booking conditions.

Important: Spain and Portugal have different local times

One of the most important details to remember is that mainland Portugal is one hour behind mainland Spain.

For example, when it is 12:00 noon in Seville, it is 11:00 am in Faro.

This can cause confusion when arranging an airport transfer, booking a car hire collection or calculating how early you need to leave for a flight.

Example: Seville Airport to Faro Airport

If you leave Seville Airport at 12:00 noon Spanish time and your journey takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, your expected arrival would be around 1:15 pm Portuguese time.

Example: Faro Airport to Seville Airport

If you leave Faro at 10:00 am Portuguese time and your journey takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, your expected arrival would be around 1:15 pm Spanish time.

These examples are illustrative and do not include traffic delays or additional stops. When booking, always specify the local date and time at the actual collection location.

How early should you leave Faro for a flight from Seville?

Your departure time from Faro should be calculated backwards from your flight's scheduled departure time in Seville, allowing for the road journey and the airport arrival margin recommended by your airline.

For example, if your airline recommends arriving at Seville Airport two hours before departure, you need to add those two hours to the estimated driving time and allow a sensible additional buffer.

Remember that the departure time printed on your airline booking is the local time at the airport where your flight leaves.

For flights with strict check-in deadlines, travelling during busy holiday periods or returning a rental car immediately beforehand, organising the transfer well in advance is particularly important.

Travelling with children, groups and luggage

Passenger numbers alone do not tell the whole story when choosing a vehicle. The amount and size of your luggage matter too.

Four people travelling with hand luggage may need less space than four people carrying large suitcases, a pushchair and sports equipment.

When booking, it helps to provide:

• the total number of passengers, including children;
• the number of large and small suitcases;
• pushchairs and other baby equipment;
• any child seats required;
• oversized items such as golf bags;
• flight numbers and scheduled times;
• car hire company details if you are collecting or returning a vehicle at Faro Airport.

Radio Taxi Huelva offers standard taxis and Taxi Vans for up to eight passengers. The suitable vehicle depends on both the number of travellers and the luggage being carried.

Do you actually need to travel to Faro Airport to visit the Algarve?

Not necessarily. If you arrive at Seville Airport and your final destination is a hotel, villa or holiday apartment in Portugal, you may be able to arrange a direct transfer to that address instead.

Travelling to Faro Airport first could mean making an unnecessary detour, particularly when your accommodation is in a different part of the Algarve.

It helps to distinguish between two types of journey:

• Seville Airport to Faro Airport: for car hire collection, a flight connection or another airport-related appointment.
• Seville Airport to an Algarve destination: for travelling directly to a hotel, resort, villa or holiday accommodation in Portugal.

If you are travelling directly to an Algarve town or resort, explore the available fixed transfer fares and check the route for your actual destination.

Practical tips for travelling between Seville and Faro airports

Book your transfer before travelling

Arranging transport in advance helps coordinate the flight, collection point, vehicle and destination. Booking is subject to confirmation and availability.

Check where your car hire company is located

Not every provider uses the same collection and return arrangements. Some operate within the airport, while others may use nearby facilities.

Confirm which country's time zone applies

When arranging an international journey, use the local time at the actual collection point and make it clear whether you mean Spanish or Portuguese time.

Leave a sensible margin before your flight

Do not calculate the return journey using driving time alone. Allow for traffic, airport check-in, security and any car hire return formalities.

Give complete luggage information

Include all suitcases, pushchairs, golf equipment and other bulky items when choosing between a standard taxi and a Taxi Van.