Figueira da Foz – the lively Atlantic beach resort at the mouth of the Mondego – is best explored with a car, since the wider region's beaches, Roman ruins and mountains are spread out, with economy rentals from around €14–24/day ($15–$26) in low season. Most visitors collect in nearby Coimbra (40 min) or at Porto/Lisbon airports and drive in; the A14 from Coimbra uses booth tolls, while the A25 inland became toll-free in 2025. This guide covers renting a car for Figueira da Foz, the real prices, where to collect, and the practical tips for central Portugal.
Figueira da Foz's huge beach – a car opens up the coast, the Mondego valley and Coimbra.
Figueira itself is a small market, so most visitors collect in Coimbra (40 minutes east) or at the airports. Book early, especially for automatics. Expect roughly the following in 2026:
Average Daily Rates (Coimbra / region) by Season
Booked 3–5 weeks in advance, prices in EUR
| Season | Manual Economy | Manual Compact | Automatic Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (Nov–Feb) | €14–24 | €18–30 | €32–48 |
| Shoulder (Mar–May, Oct) | €22–34 | €28–42 | €42–58 |
| Peak (Jun–Sep) | €34–50 | €40–60 | €56–82 |
Figueira fills with Portuguese holidaymakers in August – book ahead.
Estimated rental cost by trip length
from €14/day
Illustrative — daily rate × days at the lowest 2026 starting price; real prices vary by season & demand.
Figueira da Foz Rental Budget Calculator
Rate prefilled with the lowest low-season rate – change it for your dates.
Figueira has limited on-site car hire, so you'll usually collect in Coimbra (40 minutes east, several branches and a fast-train station) or at Porto/Lisbon airports. Coimbra has the closest, widest choice; the airports suit a longer trip with a one-way option.
A car makes the Roman ruins of Conímbriga, the Serra da Estrela and the coast easy day trips.
A well-rated home-grown brand with a central-Portugal presence, transparent terms and a fair full-to-full fuel policy – often cheaper than the global chains.
Dependable majors with Coimbra branches and good automatic availability – safe choices for the Figueira region.
A reliable major with a Coimbra presence – compare its all-in price against Avis, Europcar and Guerin.
Best for a newer car, mostly via the airports. Pricier; decline the counter extras.
Aggressive upsells, fuel and damage disputes, and one of the lowest Trustpilot scores in the industry.
The very cheapest listings often carry strict fuel rules and excess disputes at return. Read the fine print or stick with an established brand.
Figueira da Foz is an easy, relaxed base for exploring central Portugal by car.
Basic CDW with an excess of €900–€1,600, blocked on your card. Tyres, glass and underbody usually excluded.
Super CDW to zero the excess is €14–22/day – €98–154 a week.
Standalone excess insurance (€4–7/day) bought before you travel covers the excluded items and refunds any excess charged. Buy it and decline the counter upsell.
Insurance Cost Comparison: 7-Day Rental
2026 pricing
| Option | Daily Cost | 7-Day Total | Covers Tyres/Glass? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic CDW (included) | €0 | €0 | No |
| Counter Super CDW | €14–22 | €98–154 | Sometimes |
| Third-party excess cover | €4–7 | €28–49 | Yes |
The A14, A17 and A1 use cash/card booths, while the A25 inland became toll-free in 2025. Fuel in mid-2026 runs about €1.92/L for petrol and €1.88/L for diesel.
| Route to/from Figueira | Road | Toll |
|---|---|---|
| Coimbra → Figueira da Foz | A14 | ~€4–5 (booth) |
| Figueira → Aveiro / Porto | A17 / A1 | Booth tolls |
| Figueira → Lisbon | A17 / A8 | Booth tolls |
| Petrol / Diesel | – | ~€1.92 / €1.88 per L |
The closest, widest choice – 40 minutes east.
August fills with Portuguese holidaymakers; automatics go first.
The region is compact; an economy car handles it easily.
Buy third-party excess cover beforehand.
Keep a card for the A14/A17.
Refuel before drop-off.
The historic university city and Portugal's best Roman ruins.
The “Portuguese Venice” and the striped beach houses.
Mainland Portugal's highest mountains.
The old fishing quarter and clifftop views just north of town.
A dramatic riverside castle on the Mondego.
Figueira has limited on-site hire, so most visitors collect in Coimbra (40 minutes east, several branches and a fast-train station) or at Porto/Lisbon airports. Coimbra has the closest, widest choice.
The town and beach are walkable, but a car is the best way to reach Coimbra, Conímbriga, Aveiro and the Serra da Estrela, which are awkward by public transport. A small economy car is plenty.
The A14 from Coimbra, the A17 coastal motorway and the A1 use cash/card booths. The A25 inland to Viseu became toll-free in 2025. Keep a card handy for the booths.
Low-season manual economy cars start at €14–24/day ($15–$26). Shoulder season is €22–34/day and peak summer €34–50/day, with automatics more. Book early for August.
For value, the Portuguese brand Guerin is a strong pick; Avis and Europcar are reliable majors with Coimbra branches. Avoid Goldcar and unknown cheap brokers.
It's cheaper to buy standalone excess insurance (€4–7/day) before you travel than the counter Super CDW (€14–22/day). Third-party cover also includes tyres, glass and underbody.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim participates in the DiscoverCars affiliate program. Our company reviews are based on Trustpilot scores, Google Maps reviews, traveler-forum feedback and direct experience. We only recommend companies we would use ourselves.
Last updated: June 2026. Prices and policies change – always verify directly with the rental company.
