Renting a Car in Flores Island, Azores

Is it necessary to rent a car in Flores Island?

📍 Secondary Road Mosteiro - Fajãzinha · Flores Island

This is a question I see quite often being asked online, not just for Flores Island but for the Azores in general. On some islands, such as São Miguel, Terceira or Faial, renting a car is always a good idea as it gives you more freedom to move around, but by using public transportation, you might be able to move around the island. However, on Flores Island, if you are not booking with tour companies (for more details on these tour companies, you can acquire the Flores & Corvo Interactive Guide), I strongly recommend reserving a car; otherwise, you will feel stuck around your accommodation because public transportation is very limited.

Public transportation is limited, and taxis are busy during the high-season months doing island tours, so this option might be complicated as well when trying to move around. This reinforces the fact that you should always rent a car or scooter prior to your arrival. Also, the island has a very low number of cars, and the roads are scenic from another world, so you will feel a sense of great freedom to move around.

The best car rental companies in Flores Island

In Flores island you have more rent-a-car companies than the ones I will describe here but I want to point out the ones I recomend to rent you car and/ or scooter when traveling to Flores island. In general I always recomend renting with local companies not jsut to develop and help the local economy but because as a norm the customer support is usually more attentive which is important as part of any service offered in any destination.

My first choice for renting a car is the local company Rent a Car Nino. This company is currently one of the best-reviewed rental companies on Google, with a 5-star rating, and rents both cars and scooters. Prices can range from around €40 ($46) during the low season to €100 ($116) during the high season. One of the best parts is that a deposit is not required, which is one of the benefits of renting with a local company such as Rent a Car Nino.

Next, you can also choose Flores Rent a Car, which is another local company renting cars on Flores Island. This rental company, compared to the one mentioned before, offers more car options, such as Smart cars, Dacias and Mitsubishi, in case you want more variety. Prices can range from €55 ($64) during the low season to €165 ($191) during the high season. Mileage is unlimited; however, a deposit is required, unlike the first rental company mentioned.

Another option is Autatlantis Rent a Car, a larger rental company with a wide selection of vehicles, from small economy cars such as the Volkswagen Up! and Fiat Panda to automatic models, larger cars and vehicles that can accommodate up to 9 passengers. Their fleet gives you considerably more choice if you are travelling with a larger group or prefer a specific type of vehicle. Based on the available rates, prices can range from around €15 ($17) per day during the low season to around €159 ($184) per day during the high season, depending on the vehicle category. A deposit is required, and the amount depends on the vehicle group.

Another option is Ilha Verde Rent a Car, one of the larger car rental companies operating across the Azores. They offer a very wide selection of vehicles, from small city cars such as the Renault Twingo and Hyundai i10 to SUVs, automatic cars, 7-seater vehicles and even 9-seater minibuses. This gives you plenty of options if you are travelling with a larger group or prefer a specific type of vehicle. Based on the available rates, the average daily price is around €71 ($82) during the low season and €126 ($146) during the high season, although prices vary considerably depending on the vehicle category and rental dates. A deposit is required, and mileage is unlimited.

Renting a scooter in Flores Island

Driving a scooter on Flores Island gives you a feeling you will definitely not get by renting and driving a car. Flores Island, being a small island with approximately 141.7 km² (54.7 square miles), is easy to drive around, with distances not exceeding 20–30 minutes between the main villages of Santa Cruz, Lajes and Fajã Grande, which makes renting a scooter a great option as well. The downside is the weather, which can be unpredictable, and the lower comfort compared to a car, but the feeling of driving a scooter and breathing the fresh and pure air of the island, exploring the coast, and easily stopping the scooter at any point along the coast and at viewpoints is unique.

On Flores Island, I recommend renting your scooter from Rent a Car Nino, where prices can range from 30 euros in the low season to 60 euros in the high season (summer months in the Azores). Similar to a car, regardless of the season, it is strongly recommended to reserve your scooter before your arrival on Flores Island for more information about viewpoints in Flores Island, see this guide.

Petrol stations in Flores Island

In Flores Island, your petrol station options are very limited when compared with other islands such as São Miguel or Terceira, but you still have a few options situated in the south and east of the island. All petrol stations on the island will provide you only with the normal type of gasoline or diesel, and you can find two in Lajes village and two in Santa Cruz. In Lajes, you find one situated at the top of the village and a second petrol station on the road between Lajes and Fazenda das Lajes, which is fully self-service. In Santa Cruz, you find one at the beginning of the village, after crossing the Baden Powell roundabout, and a second petrol station right on the other side of the road, parallel to the airport parking area (sharing it on the map below).

When renting a car and driving in Flores Island, it is important to ensure you always have enough fuel in reserve to drive about 20–30 km in case you need to refuel the car, so you can reach the nearest petrol station. This is a mindset that locals grow up with, so for us, it is pretty normal. If you need to refuel the car during the night, I advise you to use the petrol station between Lajes and Fazenda or the one on the other side of the road from the airport parking area.

Tips for driving in Flores Island

📍 Ponta da Fajã Grande · Flores Island

To drive in Flores Island is not hard, and the main roads connecting the different villages and points of the island are well maintained, but there are a few factors I would like to point out as a heads-up for your trip to the Azores. If driving a manual car, you must have a minimum level of skill with the gears, especially if you come from a country or city with fewer cliffs, ups and downs. In Flores, you need to switch between fifth, second, and third gears for climbs or before turns constantly, so make sure you are ready for this challenge when driving there.

Next, in Flores Island you will notice a very small number of cars, and at times you might see more rabbits crossing the streets between Santa Cruz and Fajã Grande than actual cars. However, always be careful with your speed, despite the low amount of cars in the island. The maximum speed allowed is 80 km/h (about 50 mph) outside villages, but you must be careful with your speed due to the amount of turns on the island.

Next tip is to be prepared to drive through fog, especially in the central and highest parts of the island. The good part is that the island is small, meaning you will not spend too long driving under fog. However, make sure you reduce your speed under these circumstances, especially when driving at night in foggy conditions. Also, be careful with cows in the middle of the road when driving under foggy conditions. Sometimes they escape from their fields, so you must pay attention to them to avoid an accident.

When driving around the island, a dangerous mistake many travelers make is to park the car next to a turn so you can get out of the car to visit a place or a viewpoint. This is very dangerous because it can cause an accident. Locals tend to drive fast because they know the roads very well, so it becomes even more crucial to ensure the car is not parked next to a turn. The same happens inside villages. For example, in Fajã Grande, you will notice cars parked on the main road in front of the church, but at times they might obstruct other cars wanting to pass by. Lastly, when driving in Santa Cruz village, be aware that most of the roads there are one-way, so avoid driving in the opposite direction.