Faro, Portugal

The city of Faro in the Algarve is a cosmopolitan hub, with plenty of entertainment, shops and restaurants. And it still holds on to its original charm, as you'll notice wandering through the old town.

It's the capital of the Algarve, and the third city in Portugal to receive the most visitors by air after Lisbon and Porto thanks to being home to the only airport in the Algarve the third busiest in the country.

It's one of the towns with the most services and places to stay. If you decide to base yourself here, have a look at hotels in Faro.

What to see in Faro

Within the district of Faro you'll find some of the most visited municipalities in the area: Albufeira, Lagos, Portimão, Tavira.

The historic centre of Faro, ringed by walls dating back to Roman times, draws visitors from Portugal and abroad alike.

 

Stroll through the old part of the city and visit the Sé Catedral de Faro

Although the most interesting buildings were restored after the 1755 earthquake, the city still has plenty of remains from the region's Roman and Arab past.

Ria Formosa

The city of Faro has a slice of one of the region's natural wonders: the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

 

The Ria Formosa is a protected area stretching more than 60 km, made up of lagoons, dunes and magnificent beaches, where migratory birds and other rare species find refuge.

You can enjoy BirdWatching, boat trips, SUP, kayaking, cycling routes and other activities in this nature park in the Algarve.

Golf in Faro

For lovers of golf, Faro has some of the best courses in the country. Almost all of them sit within resorts that include accommodation.

Faro Airport

In Faro you'll also find Faro International Airport. It has flights to the main European capitals. From here you can travel on by bus, train or car to the rest of the region and the country.

See how to get from Faro Airport to your hotel in the Algarve.

Beaches in Faro

To reach the beaches near Faro, you'll need to take a boat across the lagoon, since it separates them from the mainland. Don't let that put you off, they're some of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve.

 

Only one beach has road access: Praia de Faro. It sits very close to the airport. It's actually a small island you reach by crossing a bridge. Once there, you can choose between the sea side or the lagoon side.

 

• Praia de Faro (lifeguards – easy access – facilities)
• Praia da barrinha (no lifeguards – access on foot or by boat – no facilities)
• Praia da Culatra (lifeguards – access by boat – no facilities)
• Praia do Farol (lifeguards – access by boat – some facilities)
• Ilha Deserta (lifeguards – access by boat – some facilities)

The boats to the islands from Faro leave from Cais da Porta Nova (Portas do Mar). You can see the map here.

 

Tours and activities in Faro

 

Hotels in Faro

If you want to be close to the airport and in the middle of the the Algarve, your “base camp” could be a hotel in Faro.

Faro is the city with the third busiest airport in Portugal after Lisbon Airport and Porto Airport. And it's where many international visitors arrive in the Algarve.

The city centre of Faro is forty minutes by car from Faro Airport and two and a half hours from the capital, Lisbon.

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Reasons to choose a hotel in Faro

• It's in the middle of the region, so you can explore both sides of the Algarve from here
• Its closeness to the beautiful Ria Formosa Natural Park
• This is where the airport is
• Major train station
• It's the main city in the Algarve
• Nightlife
• A historic centre to wander around
• Historic monuments

Bear in mind that to reach the closest beaches to Faro centre you have to cross the Ria.

Best area to stay in Faro:

The area around the marina, the train station and the historic centre are the most popular areas to stay in Faro.

 

Click the image to see the map of hotels in Faro

You can see the hotels in Faro laid out on the map by clicking here or on the image above

Recommended hotels in Faro

Stay Hotel Faro

Luxury Guest House

Hotel Eva

Hotel 3K Faro Aeroporto

Happy House

Casas Adentro