If you’re visiting the south of Portugal, there’s a good chance you’ll visit Faro. Not because it’s such a remarkable city, but because it’s home to the largest airport in the Algarve. Faro may not be particularly interesting, and if you want to explore Southern Portugal, it’s better to head to a coastal town like Lagos. However, it’s still a decent place to spend a day. Here’s what you can do in and around Faro.
Explore the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve
Heading towards the border with Spain, you’ll find the Ria Formosa wetland area. Here, you’ll discover blue-green lagoons, white sandy banks, and sometimes even flamingos. You can take a boat tour, spend a day at the beach, or go for a hike. It’s a delightful excursion from Faro! You can visit Ria Formosa with this tour from Faro. If you have your own car, you can also drive to the village of Fuseta, where you can park your car here. Next to the parking lot by the water, you’ll find a glass building where you can purchase tickets for a boat taxi or book a tour. With the boat taxi, you can choose from different beaches where they drop you off, and they will explain the differences so you can make your own choice.
Stroll Through Cidade Velha
The beauty of Faro can be found within the city walls of the old town, also known as Cidade Velha. It’s peaceful, with charming corners, alleyways with white-painted houses, and squares with orange trees. You might expect to find many shops here, but that’s not the case. There are a few restaurants where you can enjoy fresh fish, but not much more.
Buy Canned Fish at Comur
Sardines, octopus, swordfish, tuna, bass, and trout are staples on the menu at any good Portuguese restaurant. Portuguese people love seafood, and if you do too, you can get a typical Portuguese souvenir at Comur in Faro, namely canned fish. The cans are beautifully decorated with cheerful colors, and there is so much variety that you’ll want to take a bit of everything with you. You often have the opportunity to taste something before you buy it.
Visit Capela dos Ossos
Have you ever seen a human skull? In this chapel, the skeletons of 1,250 monks cover the entire surface of the walls and ceiling. In 1816, the bodies were exhumed from the overcrowded cemetery. The bones belong to the monks who served in the church next door. You can visit the church for free, and the chapel entrance fee is $1.
Faro Beach – Praia de Faro
One of the reasons why Faro is not a popular destination among travelers and holidaymakers is that it doesn’t have its own beach. The nearest beach is Praia de Faro, located 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Faro. It can get extremely crowded on weekends, and finding a parking spot can be challenging. If you want to go to the beach, it’s better to drive a bit further to Ria Formosa.
Explore the Rest of the Algarve
Our best tip for Faro is to rent a car and explore the rest of the Algarve. Faro is a great place to start or end your journey, but there are simply more charming towns from which you can explore the Algarve. Lagos is just an hour’s drive away and is close to many unique attractions and beautiful beaches.
Our Favorite Places to Stay in Faro
A fortunate aspect of Faro is that the hotels are generally more affordable than in the rest of Portugal. While the selection isn’t very extensive, there are two excellent places we can recommend. Lemon Tree Stay is a luxurious yet cozy B&B with beautiful rooms. A delicious breakfast is included in the price, and the rooftop terrace is a lovely spot to enjoy the sun. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly or if Lemon Tree Stay is fully booked, Sunlight House is also a great option. Here, you’ll find another beautiful rooftop terrace, and the cheerful colors make it a particularly inviting hotel.
  Lemon Tree Stay |
  Sunlight House |
