Top Must-See Attractions in Faro, Portugal August 16, 2024 – Posted in: Portugal, Travel – Tags: Algarve, Attractions, Faro, Hiking, History, Holiday, Portugal, Vacation

Faro – a Gem on the Algarve Coast

Faro, the main city on the Algarve coast, is an often overlooked gem among tourists in this part of Portugal. While Lisbon and Porto are loved for their trams, architecture, and port wine, Faro also has plenty to offer when it comes to exciting attractions.

If you are looking for suggestions for exciting sights in Faro, then you have come to the right place! Here we will tell you all about some of the things you simply must see on a visit to this charming coastal town. Look forward to a walk through the old town with its cobbled streets, Sé Cathedral, and the tile museum. For nature lovers, there’s the Ria Formosa Natural Park with its own paradise of birdlife and beautiful lagoons. If you need even more inspiration for things to do in Faro, you can also read more here: Algarve-Tourist – Faro.

8 Wonderful Attractions in Faro

1. The Old Town: History and Architecture

Faro’s old town is like an open-air museum, where cobbled streets and colorful houses bear witness to centuries of history. You can experience Faro best by strolling through the historic center, where the small streets lead you through a maze of old churches, castles, and museums. Be sure to stop and enjoy the storks by the old Moorish city gate, Arco da Vila. The beautiful picture was taken by photographer Heidi Kirk Nissen.

The beautiful gate was built in the 19th century on the remains of one of the city’s medieval gates. If you walk through the gate, you can still see the old Moorish entrance. During Moorish rule, Faro served as an important trading post, and their architectural influence can still be seen in the city’s architecture today.

2. Defensive Structures: Porta Nova and Castelo

If you follow the solid city wall all the way along the water, you will reach Porta Nova. This city gate provided fishermen from the lagoon easy access to the city in the Middle Ages. Continuing around to Mirador Ria Formosa, you can also pass through another of the city’s gates.

Just inside and to the right lies Castelo, the old Moorish castle, which for many years housed Fábrica da Cerveja, the city’s brewery. Today, the old brewery is being transformed into an art and cultural center.

3. Sé Catedral de Faro: With Views, Bones, and a Moorish Clock

If you head back through the winding streets, you will arrive at Largo da Sé, the city’s main square, where you will find Faro’s cathedral, Sé Catedral de Faro. The cathedral is likely situated on the site of a Roman temple, then a Visigoth cathedral, and later a Moorish mosque. From the top of the tower, there is a fantastic view over the lagoon, and back down, you can get a chill from the eerie bone chapel in the courtyard. If you want even more spookiness, you can find an even larger bone chapel in Igreja do Carmo.

On the northern side of the cathedral, you can see the Moorish clock, a remarkable historical gem. The clock was probably installed during the Moorish period or shortly after the conquest of Faro in 1249.

4. Museums in Faro: Tiles and Antiquities

Right across from the cathedral, in the old bishop’s palace Paço Episcopal, there is a lovely little museum with an exhibition of azulejos, the beautiful Portuguese tiles. Here you can admire the richly decorated tile-clad walls, and especially the staircase inside the palace is worth the visit.

You can also continue out into the sunshine, past the statue of Afonso III, the first king of Portugal. In 1249, he drove the Moors out of Faro, and the city became part of Portugal. Next to the statue is 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 several beautiful azulejos.

5. The Beaches: Miles of the Most Beautiful Sandy Beaches

Faro is a warm city in the summer months, and if you need to cool off, it’s good to know that the Algarve coast offers some of the best beaches. Faro itself is hidden in the lagoon, but it’s easy to get out to the water and the lovely beaches. Praia de Faro, the city’s popular beach, is located behind the airport and can be reached by bus no. 16. Click here for more information: Algarve-Tourist – Praia de Faro.

6. Ria Formosa Natural Park: The Magnificent Lagoon

The Ria Formosa Natural Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, is a paradise for nature lovers. The complex lagoon system is home to rich birdlife, including migratory birds and rare species like the purple heron and flamingos.

If you prefer nature over museums, Faro also offers great outdoor experiences. Just outside the city wall at Porta Nova, you will find numerous tour operators that will take you on a boat trip into the lagoon. The five small islands that protect Ria Formosa Natural Park from the Atlantic Ocean also have some wonderful beaches, where there are not as many people as on the coast.

7. Hiking in Faro: With Planes and Flamingos

If you want to go on a small hike in Faro, follow the harbor promenade around and cross the little bridge over the railway at 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 landing and taking off, you can walk out into the landscape around Faro. In the large natural area, you can spot flamingos, and we also found a tiny turtle along the way. If you meet a turtle now named Ronaldo, be sure to say hi!

If you love hiking, you can also take the little 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.

8. The Harbor: Promenade Walk and Cool Cocktails

End the day with a lovely cocktail at one of the many bars lined up along the waterfront. As the sun begins to set, it’s time for a little promenade walk towards the water.

Follow the harbor promenade around and cross the small railway bridge again. Instead of turning onto a longer hike, continue out onto the small wooden bridge. Here you can see the overwhelmingly beautiful sunset over the lagoon.

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:

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