Car hire companies
The best way to discover the Algarve region and its beaches and small villages is to hire a car. Hiring from one of the companies with offices at Faro Airport is probably the best way to enjoy your holiday with family and friends, visiting the many of beaches along the rocky coastline. There are lots of companies offering a wide range of vehicles at excellent prices but be sure to check both prices and reviews.
There are a number of car hire companies based at Faro Airport. These include national and international outlets such as Avis, Europcar, Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz, Goldcar and Thrifty. Local companies include Zitauto and Luzcar.
Lagos shops and markets
Lagos is a very pleasant town for shopping with an extensive range of both individual shops and some of the more familiar chain stores. There’s a daily fish market near the marina and every Saturday morning there’s a central, local produce market. The fish market is on the main road facing the town’s waterfront boardwalk, between the post office and the marina. If you don't see it, ask somebody for the "Mercado de Peixes". The Saturday market is adjacent to the bus station, off the main road facing the town waterfront boardwalk, almost directly opposite the footbridge that takes you over to the marina.
The nearest supermarket to the apartment, Intermarché, is a two-minute drive. Intermarché is an international supermarket chain with branches across the Algarve. It stocks both Portuguese and international products and you can find pretty much everything you could want here. In addition to the usual supermarket products there’s a bakery, butcher, fish stall, takeaway counter (rotisserie chickens, pizzas, fresh meals etc.), chemist and an extensive wine cellar. Other supermarkets in Lagos include Aldi, Lidl, Continente and Pingo Doce.
Further afield there is a large and very popular out of town shopping mall at Portimao some 20 minutes’ drive away.
Regional Markets offer a unique and intriguing experience, as you never know what surprises await you. These markets roam from town to town and offer their wares in the town centre or in designated wide-open grounds. Most open at 09:00 and start closing up at 13:00.
Markets tend to be either weekly or monthly based on the particular town. Regional markets operate on a calendar days basis (e.g. the 1st Saturday of the month). The Lagos tourist Information office should have a current schedule.