Faro Travel Guide

If you travel to Portugal via the Algarve, there’s a good chance you’ll pass through Faro. With its international airport, massive shopping center, and ring of high-rise apartments, the city has a bit of a big-city buzz.

That said, the old town’s compact and easy to explore – think mosaic-paved pedestrian streets and marinaside gardens. Thanks to the local university, there’s also a solid nightlife scene, especially during term time.

In summer, boats and buses run from the centre of town out to some excellent local beaches: the closest to town is the generous swathe of sand at Praia de Faro, while a ferry makes the short hop to the village of Farol on the Ilha de Culatra.

Where is Faro?

Faro lies on Portugal’s southern coast, at the edge of the Ria Formosa lagoon in the Algarve region. It is about 280km south of Lisbon and sits just east of some of the best beaches in the Algarve.

Often overlooked in favor of the larger resort towns, Faro deserves a spot among the best places to visit in Portugal. The city is perfectly situated for exploring the barrier islands of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, with ferries to Ilha Deserta, Ilha de Faro, and Ilha da Culatra departing directly from the marina. Inland, you can visit the whitewashed town of Estoi with its Roman ruins, or head west to coastal hubs like Albufeira and Lagos. To the east, the quieter sands of Tavira and Cacela Velha are within easy reach.

How to get around Faro

Faro’s city center is small and flat, making it easy to explore on foot. Most hotels, restaurants, and bars are within a short walk of each other. For the beaches and islands, you will need to use a ferry, bus, or taxi, while the airport is just a short ride from town.

• On foot: The old town’s cobbled streets, marina promenade, and main shopping avenues are best enjoyed at walking pace. You can cross the historic center in under 15 minutes.
• Ferries: Boats to Ilha Deserta, Ilha da Culatra, and Ilha de Faro depart from the marina and Porta Nova pier. Services are more frequent in summer and can sell out on hot weekends, so book ahead if you are visiting in July or August. Crossing times range from 20 to 45 minutes.
• Local buses: The town bus service links the center with the airport and Praia de Faro on Ilha de Faro. Bus stops are marked, but timetables can be limited in the evening. The main bus terminal on Avenida da República is just behind the marina.
• Long-distance buses: The RENEX terminal, across from the main station, has express services to Lisbon, Porto, and northern Portugal. Tickets are best booked in advance in summer.
• Trains: Faro’s station on Largo da Estação connects to towns along the Algarve coast, including Olhão, Albufeira (via Ferreiras), Portimão, and Lagos, as well as Lisbon and Porto.
• Taxis and rideshares: Easy to find around the marina, train station, and airport. They are useful for reaching the ferry terminals quickly or if you are traveling late at night when buses stop running.
• Driving: Parking is available at the Largo de São Francisco, just east of the old town, and along streets near the train station. Around the harbor, most spaces are metered. Driving in the center is straightforward, but you will not need a car unless you are planning day trips beyond Faro.

How long to spend in Faro?

To make the most of your visit to Faro, it is recommended to spend at least three to five days in the city. This duration allows you to explore the historic center, visit cultural attractions such as the Faro Cathedral and Municipal Museum, and experience the local beaches.

It also fits neatly into a Portugal itinerary by giving you time for excursions to the Ria Formosa Natural Park, where you can enjoy boat tours, island hopping, and discover the region’s coastal highlights.

Where to stay in Faro

Accommodation in Faro ranges from boutique hotels in centuries-old buildings to modern stays by the water. Staying in the historic center puts you steps from cafés, shops, and the marina, while a beach base means waking up to the sound of waves.

• First-time visitors: Cidade Velha. Inside the old city walls, you will find cobbled lanes, traditional guesthouses, and boutique hotels in restored mansions. Everything is within walking distance, from the cathedral to the ferry pier. Evenings are calm once the day-trippers head off.
• For couples: Near the Marina. Hotels here often have waterfront views and a more relaxed atmosphere, with easy access to boat trips and sunset strolls along the promenade. Restaurants and bars are close, but the area stays peaceful at night.
• For beach lovers: Praia de Faro. A narrow strip of sand lined with casual guesthouses and beach apartments, perfect for a low-key seaside escape. You can swim, surf, or walk for miles along the shore, but getting back into the city at night will require a bus, taxi, or car.
• For budget travelers: Streets around the train station. These have small hotels and hostels at lower prices, still within a 10-minute walk of the old town and ferry terminals.

What to do in Faro

From glorious sweeps of golden sand to wandering around the historic Cidade Velha, these are the best things to do in Faro.

#1 Explore the Cidade Velha

The Cidade Velha, or Vila-Adentro, is Faro’s most atmospheric quarter and the only part of the city to survive its long history of raids, sieges, and earthquakes. Enclosed by thick medieval walls, it feels quieter than the rest of the city, especially in the late afternoon when tour groups vanish and the streets fall into shadow. Here, whitewashed houses wear balconies of curling ironwork and tiles patterned in deep blues and greens. A few façades still bear marks from past cannon fire.

Enter through the Arco da Vila, an eighteenth-century gateway built over a medieval arch, and follow Rua do Município to the orange-tree-lined Largo da Sé. This square, framed by the cathedral and former bishops’ palace, is the best spot to pause with a coffee and simply watch the rhythm of Faro slow to a whisper.

#2 Marvel at Sé

Faro’s Sé has been rebuilt so many times that it is almost a palimpsest of the Algarve’s history. First raised in 1251 on the site of a mosque, it became the region’s main cathedral in 1577. Less than two decades later, English forces under the Earl of Essex looted it, taking treasures back to London. The earthquake of 1755 then shattered much of the structure, and the reconstruction that followed gave it today’s blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.

Step inside for the cool hush of its tiled chapels, where eighteenth-century azulejos depict saints and floral motifs, and gilt woodwork glows in the half-light. The climb up the bell tower is steep, but the reward is a sweeping view that stretches from the terracotta rooftops of the old town to the shifting channels and sandbanks of the Ria Formosa: a reminder that this cathedral has always watched over a city shaped by both land and sea.

#3 Geek up at the Museu Municipal

Faro’s Museu Municipal is one of the oldest museums in Portugal, founded in 1894 as an archaeological collection and still a treasure trove for history buffs. It occupies the quiet cloisters of the sixteenth-century Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, a Renaissance building whose white arcades frame a serene courtyard. Its star exhibit is a remarkably well-preserved Roman mosaic, almost nine meters across, depicting Neptune surrounded by the Four Seasons. Dating from the third century, it was unearthed near the train station and is displayed in near-perfect condition.

The galleries also hold marble statues from the Roman villa at Milreu, delicate Moorish ceramics, and religious art from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. A small but fascinating section is dedicated to the Futurist paintings of Carlos Porfírio, a Faro-born artist who helped shape modern Portuguese art in the twentieth century. Out front, a statue of King Afonso III, the conqueror who claimed the Algarve in 1249, stands watch with a cross held high.

#4 Learn about the area at the Museu Regional

The Museu Regional may be small, but it offers a window into the Algarve before the arrival of package holidays and beach resorts. This unpretentious collection focuses on everyday life, with displays of traditional farming tools, hand-carved fishing gear, and musical instruments once played at village festivals. Room sets recreate the interiors of rural homes, complete with heavy wooden furniture, embroidered linens, and the faint suggestion of woodsmoke.

One corner holds model fishing boats built to scale, each painted in the bright colors typical of Algarve ports. The real gems are the black-and-white photographs, which capture Faro’s streets, islands, and beaches in the decades before tourism transformed them. On a rainy day, it is the kind of place where you can slow down, wander at your own pace, and picture the Algarve as locals once knew it.

#5 See the Chapel of Bones at Igreja do Carmo

The Baroque Igreja do Carmo, with its twin bell towers and gilded interior, is one of Faro’s most striking churches, even if it stands in an otherwise unremarkable part of town. Built in the early eighteenth century by the Carmelite order, it is a showcase of ornate woodcarving and gold leaf, much of it financed through wealth brought back from Brazil.

Tucked away in the overgrown garden behind the church is the Capela dos Ossos, the Chapel of Bones. Here, the walls are lined from floor to ceiling with the bones and skulls of more than a thousand Carmelite monks, exhumed from the adjoining cemetery. They are set into the plaster in careful geometric patterns, a stark reminder of mortality and the fleeting nature of worldly beauty. It is quiet inside, almost unnervingly so, and stepping back out into the sunlight can feel like waking from a vivid dream.

#6 Check out Igreja de São Pedro

The Igreja de São Pedro began as a humble fishermen’s chapel in the late sixteenth century, a place where sailors prayed for safe passage before heading to sea. Much of what you see today is the result of rebuilding after the devastating earthquake of 1755, which gave the church its more elaborate Baroque touches. Inside, sunlight filters through small windows, catching on the gold leaf and painted woodwork.

The highlight is to the left of the main altar: a carved and gilded relief of the Last Supper, its figures rendered in striking detail, each expression frozen mid-conversation. The church still serves an active parish, so you may hear the low murmur of prayers or the rustle of hymnbooks during your visit, adding to its sense of continuity with Faro’s seafaring past.

#7 Chill out on Praia de Faro

Praia de Faro, the city’s closest stretch of sand, sits on the Ilha de Faro and is the only beach here connected to the mainland by a bridge. This long ribbon of golden sand has two distinct sides: the open Atlantic, with steady waves and salty breezes, and the calmer lagoon-facing shore that looks over the Ria Formosa.

In summer, it can be busy, with beach bars, seafood restaurants, and holiday villas lining the narrow strip, yet walk a little farther from the bridge and you can still find quiet space. Out of season, it feels almost deserted, a peaceful reminder of why it ranks among the best beaches in Portugal. Its location just southwest of town, close to the airport, makes it an easy escape for a few hours or a full day in the sun.

#8 See the Roman site of Milreu

Just outside the elegant village of Estói, the Roman site of Milreu is the Algarve’s most important Roman excavation and one of the few places where you can trace nearly two millennia of history in a single walk. The remains belong to a grand villa inhabited from the first century AD, built around a peristyle courtyard lined with columns and once decorated with vivid mosaics. In the sixth century, part of the complex was transformed into one of Portugal’s earliest Christian churches, repurposing the original Roman temple walls.

To the southwest lies a remarkably well-preserved bathing complex, complete with an underfloor heating system and walls adorned with fish-themed mosaics that shimmer in the sunlight. The apodyterium, or changing room, still has arched niches where bathers would have stored their clothes. A small visitor centre helps bring the site to life with reconstructions of the villa in its prime, when wealthy landowners looked out over fertile fields that are still farmed today.

#9 Take a boat trip

From the jetty just below Faro’s old town walls, boats set out into the channels of the Ria Formosa, a maze of tidal flats, salt marshes, and shifting sandbanks. The most popular trip is to Ilha Deserta, also known as Ilha da Barreta, the southernmost point of mainland Portugal. Here, there are no shops, no traffic, and only one café, which can be pricey but is handy for a cold drink in the heat.

The real draw is the beach: a wild, windswept stretch of sand where you can walk for more than seven kilometres without seeing a single building. The water is clear, the birdlife abundant, and the sense of isolation addictive. It is the kind of place where you quickly lose track of time, lulled by the sound of the surf and the calls of seabirds.

#10 Try some watersports (or birdwatching)

The Ria Formosa is one of the Algarve’s most rewarding places for outdoor activities, offering both adventure and wildlife in a single setting. Its calm lagoon waters are ideal for kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, and you can explore winding channels that lead to deserted sandbanks and quiet coves. Sailing is another option, with the breeze carrying you past oyster beds and fishing huts on stilts.

For nature lovers, the park is a birdwatching hotspot, especially in spring and autumn when flamingos, spoonbills, and ospreys migrate through. Walking and cycling trails follow the lagoon’s edge, giving you a slower, more immersive way to experience this protected landscape.

Weather in Faro

Faro enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters, plus plenty of sunshine year-round. Thanks to its coastal position in the Algarve, sea breezes keep peak summer heat more bearable than inland areas, though shade can be scarce on the beaches. Average highs range from 61°F (16°C) in January to 84°F (29°C) in August. Many travelers consider late spring or early autumn the best time to visit Portugal, as Faro offers warm weather, fewer crowds, and easy access to the islands and beaches. For current conditions, check the IPMA (Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere).

• Spring (March to May): Days warm quickly, with highs rising from about 64°F (18°C) in March to 73°F (23°C) in May. Rainfall is low, making it ideal for exploring the old town or taking boat trips in the Ria Formosa before summer crowds arrive. Beaches start to become inviting by late April, though the Atlantic remains cool. Mid-range hotels average €80-€120, with Easter week attracting more visitors.
• Summer (June to August): Expect long, sunny days with highs averaging 82-84°F (28-29°C) and minimal rain. It’s peak season for the Algarve, so beaches, ferries, and island cafés will be busy. Praia de Faro and the barrier islands are in full swing, with water warm enough for long swims. Mid-range hotels range from €110-€170 per night. Visiting early morning or late afternoon helps you avoid the strongest sun and largest crowds.
• Autumn (September to November): September often feels like an extension of summer, with highs around 80°F (27°C) and warm sea temperatures. By November, highs drop to 66°F (19°C), but it’s still comfortable for sightseeing. Autumn light is especially beautiful over the lagoon, and hotel prices fall to €70-€110. Rain becomes more frequent from late October, so pack a light waterproof layer.
• Winter (December to February): Winters are mild, with highs around 61°F (16°C) and lows near 48°F (9°C). Rain is more common, but sunny days are still frequent, perfect for old town walks and birdwatching in the Ria Formosa. The sea is too cold for swimming, but the beaches are quiet and peaceful. Mid-range hotel rates are at their lowest, from €60-€90, making it a good season for budget-friendly escapes.

Where to eat in Faro

Faro’s dining scene blends traditional Algarve flavors with modern touches, from no-frills tascas serving grilled sardines to waterfront restaurants where you can linger over fresh seafood while watching the sun dip behind the marina. You will also find pastelarias (pastry cafés) perfect for a morning coffee before heading to the islands.

Must-try dishes

• Cataplana de marisco: A fragrant seafood stew cooked in a clam-shaped copper pot, packed with clams, prawns, fish, and aromatic herbs. A signature Algarve dish best shared with friends.
• Grilled sardines: Served straight from the grill with coarse salt, a drizzle of olive oil, and a side of salad. Summer is the prime season, and the flavor is worth eating with your hands.
• Dom Rodrigos: Traditional Algarve sweets made with egg yolk threads, sugar, and ground almonds, wrapped in shiny foil. A colorful bite-sized souvenir.
• Ameijoas à Bulhão Pato: Clams steamed in olive oil, garlic, and cilantro. Simple, briny, and best enjoyed with crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
• Salada de polvo: Tender octopus salad dressed with olive oil, onions, and parsley, often served as a starter in local restaurants.

Top restaurants

• Faaron Steakhouse: Known for perfectly cooked steaks, generous portions, and attentive service. The menu also features fresh fish and vegetarian dishes, making it a reliable choice for mixed groups.
• A Venda: A charming, rustic-style spot in the city center offering regional dishes with a homemade feel, from octopus rice to pork with clams, plus an inviting terrace for warm evenings.
• Se7e Pedras: A lively Baixa district eatery with inventive petiscos such as octopus carpaccio, pork cheeks in red wine, and tuna tataki, all designed for sharing.
• Pastelaria Cinderela: A long-time local favorite for breakfast or an afternoon coffee, serving classic Algarve sweets like Dom Rodrigos and almond tart.
• Tertúlia Algarvia: Combines a cooking school with a restaurant serving traditional Algarve recipes such as cataplana de marisco and xarém (cornmeal stew). It’s also a good spot for culinary souvenirs.

Trips and tours from Faro

Here are some unique experiences you can add to a Faro trip, all private, flexible, and arranged by local guides who know the region inside out.

• Ria Formosa island-hopping: Spend a day exploring the barrier islands by boat. Swim at the deserted sands of Ilha Deserta, wander the fishing village of Culatra, and stop for a seafood lunch fresh from the lagoon. Ideal for combining nature, beach time, and local life.
• Eastern Algarve discovery: Head east toward Tavira, stopping at salt pans where flamingos often feed. Explore Tavira’s historic center and Roman bridge, then continue to Cacela Velha for sweeping coastal views and one of the prettiest beaches in the region.
• Western Algarve highlights: From Faro, travel west to the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade, the harbor town of Lagos, and the sweeping sands of Praia da Marinha. Great for those wanting a taste of the Algarve’s most photographed coastal spots in a single day.
• Coastal cycling and seafood lunch: Cycle from Faro along quiet roads skirting the Ria Formosa, passing fishing harbors and salt flats. End with grilled fish at a seaside restaurant before heading back by boat or bike.
• Birdwatching in the Ria Formosa: Join an expert-led tour to spot flamingos, spoonbills, and other migratory birds in one of Europe’s richest wetland habitats. Best in spring and autumn when the lagoon is alive with seasonal movement.