Enjoy a Wonderful Holiday in Faro, Portugal – Your Guide to Attractions, Dining, and Shopping august 15, 2024 – Posted in: Portugal, Travel – Tags: Algarve, Attractions, Faro, Hiking, History, Holiday, Portugal, Restaurants, Shopping, Souvenirs, Vacation

Great Tips for Your Vacation in Faro, Portugal

Faro, the capital of the Algarve coast in southern Portugal, is often an overlooked gem compared to more popular holiday destinations like Lisbon or Porto. However, this charming coastal city hides exciting attractions, plenty of nature experiences, and delicious culinary adventures.

A total of 5 million tourists visit Faro every year – and with all the wonderful offerings and the magnificent nature, it’s easy to understand why! Faro is also a city that many tourists pass through on a stop-over, on their way to a holiday elsewhere on the Algarve coast. During our long-term vacation in Ayamonte, Spain, Faro was the nearest airport, and we stayed in the city both on our way out and back from the holiday. Here are our very best tips for a wonderful vacation in Faro!

History and Culture in Faro

The city of Faro has been an important trading post since Roman times. Over the centuries, it has been a strategic hub for trade and cultural exchange between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. During the Moorish rule in the Middle Ages, Faro became a flourishing cultural and intellectual center.

After the reconquest of the country from the Moors, the city was rebuilt under Portuguese rule, adding beautiful Baroque churches to the cityscape. Today, the city remains a hub, but now for the large influx of tourists who visit both the city and perhaps continue on to a holiday along the Algarve coast.

Attractions in Faro

You experience Faro best by strolling through the historic center, where the cobblestone streets lead you around a maze of old churches, castles, and museums. Stop and enjoy the storks at the old Moorish city gate, Arco da Vila, where the solid walls guide you all the way along the coast.

From Porta Nova, you can re-enter the old town and follow the road around Largo da Sé, the city’s main square, where you’ll find the cathedral of Faro, Sé Catedral de Faro. From the top of the tower, there is a fantastic view over the lagoon, and back down, you can shudder at the eerie bone chapel in the courtyard. If you want even more chills, you’ll find an even larger bone chapel in Igreja do Carmo.

You can also continue out into the sunshine, past the statue of Afonso III, who was the first king of Portugal. In 1249, he drove the Moors out of Faro, and the city then became part of Portugal. By the statue, you’ll also find the Museu Municipal de Faro, Faro’s archaeological museum. The museum is housed in a former convent, and in the collections, you can see Roman statues and beautiful azulejos, the Portuguese tiles.

Nature Experiences in Faro

If you prefer nature over museums, Faro offers plenty of outdoor adventures. Just outside the city walls at Porta Nova, you’ll find numerous tour operators ready to take you on a boat trip into the lagoon. The five small islands that protect the Ria Formosa Natural Park from the Atlantic Ocean boast some of the best beaches on the Algarve coast.

For a short hike in Faro, follow the harbor promenade and cross the small bridge over the railway near Hotel EVA Senses. Instead of continuing onto the small wooden bridge, turn right instead. Follow the railway until you reach the parking lot at Parque Ribeirinho de Faro.

With views of the airport and planes taking off and landing, you can explore the landscape around Faro. In this large natural area, you can spot flamingos, and we even found a tiny turtle on the path. If you encounter a turtle, now named Ronaldo, be sure to say hello!

If you’re an avid hiker, you can also take the small train to Fuseta and hike back to Faro. The entire Algarve coast is one long hiking trail, and we’ve written much more about it here: Hiking on the Algarve Coast xx – click the link to read more.

Shopping in Faro

If you’re looking forward to a good shopping trip in Faro, it’s good to know that the Portuguese coastal city offers plenty of opportunities to find great deals. There are cozy pedestrian streets filled with shops, local markets, and modern shopping centers.

The old town is full of small shops offering everything from crafts to local products like ceramics and jewelry. Rua de Santo António is a popular spot with trendy shops and cafes. At the market hall, Mercado Municipal de Faro, you can buy fresh produce, while the Gypsy Market offers bargain finds on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Forum Algarve is the largest shopping center with a wide selection of shops and entertainment.

Great Restaurants in Faro

With all the wonderful experiences, it’s probably time to refuel. But where should you eat in Faro? For a start, you might visit Demo, which serves authentic Portuguese breakfast. Be sure to order a Pastel de nata, a small puff pastry filled with vanilla cream, along with a strong espresso. For lunch, you can continue up the long restaurant street, Rua Conselheiro Bivar, or explore Faro’s extensive seafood selection at the very local Moinhos do Grelha, which serves some of the best grilled fish.

In the afternoon, there might be room for a delicious cake at the cozy little bakery Cherry, located in the charming pedestrian streets. You can end the day with a crispy pinsa at the trendy pizzeria Sāo Pedro.

Please note that several places in Faro only accept cash and do not take credit cards.

How to Get to Faro

You can fly to Faro from many major cities in Europe and the USA, with multiple flights available each week. When planning your return from Faro, it’s useful to know what to expect at the airport. The airport is generally efficient, with short queues for check-in and security and a large duty-free shop. However, the food options are limited and not particularly remarkable, so it’s a good idea to eat before you arrive at the airport or pick up a sandwich in Faro city.

From the airport, bus number 16 goes directly to the Faro bus station, costing a few euros. You can find a good description here with links to timetables: Algarvebus.info. The bus station is only a few minutes’ walk from the train station.

Exploring Faro and the Algarve Coast

If you’re heading further along the Algarve coast, you can continue your journey from the bus and train stations in Faro. We visited Faro as part of our long-term vacation in Ayamonte, Spain, and it’s easy to take the train to Vila Real de Santo Antonio and then catch a ferry to Spain. From Faro, you can also travel by train westwards towards Lagos and Sagres. Sagres is especially popular with hikers as it marks the start of the Fisherman’s Trail.

Where to Stay in Faro?

Whether you’re spending a vacation in Faro or just passing through on your way further along the Algarve coast, it’s good to know about the top hotels in Faro. We stayed at two hotels right by the waterfront and marina: Hotel EVA Senses and Hotel Faro & Beach Club. Both offer a vibrant city atmosphere throughout the day and are very close to the marina and pedestrian streets where all the action happens. Both hotels are a 5-10 minute walk from the Faro train and bus stations.

Hotel EVA Senses

Hotel EVA Senses stands prominently above the marina and lively waterfront with its many bars and cafes. Here, you’ll be right in the heart of the city, just a few minutes’ walk from the pedestrian streets and museums. And don’t miss the hotel’s infinity pool on the roof! Relax with a cocktail on the rooftop terrace while enjoying the stunning views over the Ria Formosa lagoon.

And get ready to enjoy breakfast! The breakfast buffet stretches endlessly through the room, and from the large, beautiful space, you’ll also have the most fantastic view, complemented by popular melodies from the pianist at the grand piano. It’s so delightful that you might just have room for one more Pastel de nata!

Hotel Faro & Beach Club

Just across from the waterfront and still offering splendid views over the lagoon is Hotel Faro & Beach Club. The beautifully light rooms are newly decorated in a modern style, and during our stay in 2024, there was no noise from the street. Like Hotel EVA, the breakfast here is also excellent—with everything you could wish for, including freshly baked bread, fresh fruit, and small cakes. However, Hotel Faro has one advantage over Hotel EVA: from the bar on the rooftop terrace, you can look directly into the stork nest where the stork mother was tending her chicks when we visited!

If you’re not into the large rooftop pool or spa facilities, the hotel also offers a shuttle service to their beach club during the summer season.

Which Hotel Should You Choose?

We will definitely return to the Algarve coast and look forward to visiting Faro again. Whether we stay at Hotel EVA Senses or Hotel Faro & Beach Club next time is secondary, as both hotels offer excellent standards, breakfast, and locations.

There are many other great hotels in Faro, which you can explore by clicking here: hotels in Faro. You can also conduct your own search for hotels in Faro right here:

Booking.com