Duty Free Shop airport | FAO | Faro Algarve airport

Portugal

FAO | Faro Algarve airport

Duty Free shopping on arrival at Faro airport in Portugal is not permitted. For travel within the EU, on arrival or departure, you cannot shop Duty Free, because this was abolished some years ago.

Many regional tourist airports like this one for the Algarve region, cater for flights from other EU States, so the prices you pay in the airports are all Tax-Paid, even though they are sometimes described as Tax Free (discounted).

Domestic prices for spirits, wines and beers are quite low in Portugal, this means that they will almost certainly be cheaper than many northern european countries. Duty Free cigarettes, tobaccos or cigars is a misnoma for those travelling to or from EU countries, they are all sold at Tax-Paid prices.

If you arrive from a non-EU Territory, like Norway or Russia, you can buy at Duty Free prices, but only when you depart, not when you arrive. On arrival, you must pay the Tax-Paid pricing.

Airlines flying routes between EU Countries do not sell cigarettes on board their flights and usually only liquors for consumption, rarely in Litre bottles. So when you hear the phrase 'Duty Free Shopping' for travel to Portugal, Spain, Greece or other EU countries, this is not correct in the strict sense. 'Tax Free' refers to the VAT (IVA/TBW/GSM) sales tax, which is levied on products like cosmetics, watches, sunglasses etc.

Retailers often discount these product ranges and sell them at the same price to everyone, regardless of your destination. This practice was introduced over 10 years ago when the EU Commission abolished duty free shopping.

The solution is to compare prices before you travel and as more retailers go online, this becomes easier to check.

Some airline and airport retailers are yet to publish their online duty free prices and catalogues, others have now started incorporating online pre-order facilities.

We will publish the details for this airport as soon as they are available and where relevant to this airport, publish the airline in-flight price list, enabling you to make a comparison of the available products and prices.

If no local sites are available, we will provide links to a site where you can best check prices.