Car rentals at Porto Airport

How to Find Your Car Hire Desk at Porto Airport (OPO)

• In-Terminal Desks — Arrivals Hall Level 0: Porto Airport, officially named Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, operates a single modern terminal, making it straightforward to navigate on arrival. All car hire desks are located on Level 0 — the ground floor Arrivals Hall. After collecting your bags from one of the four baggage carousels, follow the car hire signs and turn right as you exit the baggage reclaim area. You will find all major supplier desks grouped together in the dedicated car hire zone, clearly signposted from the main walkway. The compact layout of the terminal means you can be at your desk and ready to collect your keys within minutes of clearing customs.
• Shuttle to Car Park P4 — On-Airport Suppliers: Once your paperwork is completed at the in-terminal desk, several suppliers require a short transfer to Car Park P4 to collect your vehicle. P4 is the dedicated on-airport car hire facility and is located a short 5-minute walk from the terminal exit, or accessible via a frequent shuttle service running directly from the arrivals area. Follow the signs for the rental car area as you exit the terminal and your supplier's representative will direct you from there.
• Shuttle to Off-Airport Suppliers: A number of car hire companies at Porto Airport operate from off-airport branches located a short distance from the terminal. For these suppliers, after completing your desk paperwork in the Arrivals Hall, make your way outside to the designated shuttle pick-up area on the pavement to the right of the terminal exit. Shuttles run frequently — Enterprise and Guerin, for example, operate a combined shuttle every six minutes. Your booking confirmation will specify whether your supplier requires a shuttle transfer and where exactly to wait. Always read this before you travel to avoid any confusion on arrival.

Pick-Up, Drop-Off, and Refuelling at Porto Airport

• Out-of-Hours Returns: If your flight departs early in the morning or late at night, most car hire suppliers at Porto Airport accommodate out-of-hours returns through a secure key drop box. For in-terminal and P4-based suppliers, drop boxes are located at or near their desks or parking bays within the airport complex. For off-airport shuttle-based suppliers, return your vehicle to the off-site branch and use their designated after-hours drop box. Always confirm the exact out-of-hours return procedure with your desk agent when you first collect the vehicle — and allow sufficient time before your flight if you are returning to an off-airport location, as the shuttle journey back to the terminal adds extra time to your pre-departure routine.
• Nearest Petrol Station: The most convenient place to refuel before your car hire return is Jumbo Gasolineiras, located on Avenida Fernando Távora 1570, just 1 minute from the airport by car — approximately 550 metres from the terminal. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, making it a reliable option regardless of your departure time. Search for "Jumbo Gasolineiras Porto Airport" in any maps app for a direct route. Fill up here before heading to the return bay to comply with a full-to-full fuel policy and avoid any refuelling surcharges from your supplier.

Toll Roads — Important Information for Porto Airport Car Hire

Porto Airport sits in close proximity to several major motorways, and drivers should be aware that Portugal's motorway network operates a widespread electronic toll system. The A1 (Lisbon), A3 (Braga), and A4 (Amarante) are all accessible directly from the airport and are all subject to tolls. Most hire cars at Porto Airport are fitted with an electronic toll transponder — charges are billed to your credit card, often with a daily or per-journey administration fee added by the supplier. If you prefer to avoid motorway tolls entirely, the parallel national road network provides free alternatives to most destinations, though journey times will be longer. Always ask your desk agent at pick-up exactly how your vehicle handles tolls and what charges apply before you drive off.

Top Car Hire Agencies at Porto Airport (OPO)

Porto Airport is Portugal's second busiest international gateway and is served by an excellent mix of global car hire brands and well-regarded local Portuguese operators. Suppliers with desks in the Arrivals Hall on Level 0 include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Goldcar, Guerin, Enterprise, Alamo, National, Dollar, Thrifty, Firefly, and Payless, giving you one of the widest selections of any airport in the country. Additional local and regional suppliers such as Drive4More and International Car companies operate from the off-airport Car Hire Avenue facility nearby, often offering the most competitive daily rates available. Use eCarBookers to compare live rates across all in-terminal and off-airport suppliers in a single search and book the deal that suits your trip, budget, and vehicle preference.

Getting from Porto Airport to Porto City Centre

Porto Airport is located approximately 13 kilometres north of Porto city centre, in the Maia district. Once you leave the car hire pick-up area, follow the signs for the N107 southbound, which connects onto the N13 and N14 leading directly to the A20 ring road around the city — a straightforward drive of around 20 to 25 minutes under normal traffic conditions. From the A20 you have easy onward access to the A1 motorway southbound for Lisbon, the A3 northbound for Braga and Viana do Castelo, and the A4 eastbound for the Douro Valley wine region.