Top things to do in Faro
Attractions, tours, and activities in Faro
Faro: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Faro
About Faro
Including tips for the best time to visit Faro
As the sun-soaked capital of Portugal’s Algarve region, Faro is a popular holiday destination for those in search of pristine beaches and al fresco dining. The coastal city is also filled with ancient architecture comprising medieval walls, Roman ruins and a chapel made of bones.
Faro’s coastal setting and abundance of sunshine make it perfect for outdoor activities like dolphin-spotting cruises, touring the nearby Ria Formosa Natural Park or strolling around the Cidade Velha (old town). There’s also some great nightlife to explore, such as barhopping along Rua Conselheiro Bivar – Faro’s liveliest street. If you simply want to lay on the beach all day, head for the soft golden sands of Praia de Faro.
The food in Faro is a combination of regional Algarve offerings and national favourites such as bacalhau (dried and salted cod). As fresh fish is a staple in the Algarve, it’s worth trying the local fishermen’s stew known as caldeirada, usually consisting of whitefish and locally caught shellfish like clams and mussels. For a sweet treat, you can’t beat a traditional pastel de nata – custard tarts dusted with cinnamon.
If you stroll through Faro’s old town, you’ll be transported back in time as you explore the cobblestone streets filled with Portuguese, Iberian and Western Islamic architecture dating back to the 18th century. Go back even further with a visit to Sé Catedral de Faro, a Roman Catholic church built in the late 13th century.
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| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | € 1 = $1.17 |
| Language | Portuguese |
| Average weekend price | $133 per night |
| Average weekday price | $134 per night |
| Average stay | 1 night |
Points of interest in Faro
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Faro
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Culatra Island
5.5 miles from downtown
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Desert Island
2.5 miles from downtown
Faro reviews
What other travelers say about Faro
Small and perfectly formed, good location for ferries to the...
August 26, 2025
Small and perfectly formed, good location for ferries to the Ria Formosa islands, and Praia Faro beach Cute little old town, good range of restaurants to satisfy all tastes, good transport to and from airport, train services to other towns along Algarve coast For boat trips go along to the yellow house further to the east of the marina and look for all the HOHO and ferry providers. Do not fall for the "group trips" by the central marina - there are many more much better value providers where the ferries depart from! The HOHO to the 3 islands for 35 euros is very good value, valid all day until the final ferry goes back to Faro, and great fun in the bright yellow RIB boats Just be aware that all pavements throughout the old town (sidewalks for the US readers) are all of very shiny stones, little cubes set into cement, which can be very slippery, and therefore not very accessible for those with mobility difficulties. However with a slowed walking pace, they are totally manageable, and obviously you can see more of the town at a slower walk! Roads themselves are cobbled, so use of scooters or push bikes could find it hard going.
We are a family of four and really enjoyed Faro with its...
August 25, 2025
We are a family of four and really enjoyed Faro with its cobbled streets and passageways. The people are very friendly with a good variety of restaurants and cafes. There is a bus and train station in Faro and we used Uber a lot which was excellent. We would never travel to Faro in August as the airport is a nightmare, we landed at 8.16pm and never got out of the airport until 10.20 pm. This was caused through Passport Control with only three people in attendance to deal with hundreds. Our luggage had been moved to another caroursel so we had to go looking for it. We missed our transfer as the driver had waited over an hour . I don't know how bad it is in July and September
Where i stayed felt very safe .
July 25, 2025
Where i stayed felt very safe .... even when it was late. There are many fantastic restaurants nearby. Did notice that they've removed some of the public seating which is a pity. I was on crutches so those seats were useful.
I was robbed by 5 guys - the stole my phone and my wallet,...
July 23, 2025
I was robbed by 5 guys - the stole my phone and my wallet, when I refused to give them my pin numbers they threatened to kill me, I ran to a hotel and asked them to phone the police, the police were dismissive, and when I refused to leave (because the gang were waiting for me) the police officer beat me unconscious, I was taken to hospital with a lot of injuries. I attended the police station 5 times and at no point did I have any faith that the police would take action, they didn't even record the beating by the officer in the first statement (everything was in Portuguese), I suspect this has happened before and they expect to get away with it. I will make sure they don't. I would never return to Faro and wouldn't recommend it to anyone, it is not safe at night, especially for solo tourists.
Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.
July 21, 2025
Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed. If Benidorm is Spanish Blackpool then Faro is Portuguese Skegness. The locals definitely make it an enjoyable place to visit, but only if you at least learn to say hello and thank you in Portuguese, purely out of respect
The restaurants in the old city are really good, there's...
July 17, 2025
The restaurants in the old city are really good, there's lots of fish and seafood on offer but also good choice of meat dishes. Coffee, wine and beer is a lot cheaper than in UK. Restaurant prices in the old city are a bit cheaper than the Uk but for an equivalent price the quality is better, we did not explore the restaurants outside the main tourist area but there seemed to be a lot of bargain places to eat. The marina area and old city is compact and easy to walk around. Praia de Faro is world class beach although not suitable for children to swim because of currents and a steep fall on beach. The ferry there is reasonable price (4 Euros return). For adults would recommend the free guided walking tour, the"Bone church", boat trip to nature reserve. There is a lot of the city around the marina area needing renovation and a bit run down but that adds to it's charm, it's definitely not a place which feels over run with tourists or designed to take tourist money, it feels relaxed and friendly. We visited last year as well and caught a train to Tavira, so if you're happy to navigate the public transport system or hire a car it opens up the surrounding area.
Popular places to stay in Faro
Stay in some of the best accommodations Faro has to offer
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Cosy Avenida Apartment Faro City Centre, Faro
From $200 per night
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Cardeal Suites & Apartments Faro City Centre, Faro
From $203 per night
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Terrace Barqueta Studio Faro City Centre, Faro
From $170 per night
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Blue Barqueta Studio Faro City Centre, Faro
From $153 per night
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Other accommodations in Faro
Pick from a wide variety of places to stay in Faro
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Apartments
From $29 per night
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Villas
From $115 per night
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Cottages
From $21 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From $84 per night
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Vacation Homes
From $21 per night
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Guest houses
From $14 per night
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Hostels
From $8 per night
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B&Bs
From $41 per night
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Homestays
From $33 per night
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Boats
From per night
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Self-catering Accommodations
From $20 per night
