For many tourists, Faro (Portugal) becomes the starting point for a fascinating, exciting journey through the southern part of the country. Since the mid-18th century, the city has been the capital of the Algarve region and attracts vacationers with its ancient fortress.
General information
Faro is located in the southern part of Portugal, only a few dozen kilometers away from the Spanish border. It has 50 thousand inhabitants. Faro is the most important transport hub, where the air and sea ports are located. It is the largest city in the province, with an area of 202 square kilometers.
In the past, the city was known as Ossinoba, and it was a popular seaport. In the middle of the 13th century, the city gradually became a trading center, where trade was active. At the end of the 16th century Faro became the seat of the Bishop of the Algarve. In the period from the 17th to the 19th centuries, the settlement became the center of battles for the independence of Portugal.
Interesting! Faro acquired its status as a city in the middle of the 16th century.
The most active settlement developed after the earthquake in 1755. After that, Faro remains a successful and stable city in Portugal.
Faro holidays
Where to live?
The city has many hotels of different levels of star rating. The Palacio de Estoi is a luxury hotel located in a castle in the vicinity of Faro. Such apartments will be appreciated by fans of a comfortable stay.
There are many budget hotels, guest houses and hostels in the central part of the city.
If you want to experience the local flavor, pay attention to hostels where tourists are offered good service at quite affordable prices. In the nearest suburb of Faro, a bed in a room for 8 people with breakfast included can be booked for 12€, a private room for two-from 29€.
Useful information! You need to book a room in Pozad in advance, as there are not as many of them as private hotels and hotels. Pensioners get a discount.
As for prices, they range from 40€ in summer and 25€ in low season. A double room in a budget hotel in summer costs an average of 70-90€. In a luxury Faro hotel – about 150€. Luxury apartments can be rented for€ 100 per night.
Getting around the city
It is best to walk along the streets on foot, experienced tourists recommend spending 2-3 hours a day on this. This will allow you to experience the atmosphere of the resort, its color and originality.
Another popular method of transportation is urban transport. The most popular routes are buses # 16 and 14. Tickets are sold by bus drivers.
The cost of travel is from 1,9 to 2,3€. Intercity buses run between major cities in the Algarve region, and ticket prices vary depending on the distance. You can check the schedule and prices, as well as buy a ticket on the official websites of carriers.:
- Renex, Rede Expressos — www.rede-expressos.pt;
- Eva — https://eva-bus.com/.
If you prefer comfort, you can rent a car, but in this case, keep in mind that it is difficult to park in the central part of the Headlight.
Useful to know! A large, free parking lot is located near the marina. You will have to pay for parking near shopping centers.
If you want to take a taxi, look for black cars with green roofs in the city. The trip is paid according to the meter, as a rule, boarding costs 3,5€, each kilometer – 1€. You will have to pay extra for a night trip and luggage transportation. Don’t forget to leave 10% of the trip price as a tip.
If you plan to travel between cities, rent a car. This is the most convenient way to travel in Portugal. The capital of the Algarve region, and many noteworthy localities, are located on highway 125. Along the entire route, orange-colored telephones are installed, designed to call for help in case of a breakdown.
The rental price depends on the season, car brand and varies from 40 to 400€. A security deposit of between 1000 and 1500€is usually required for rental purposes.
Useful information! Parking in areas marked with a blue P sign is usually charged at 1-1. 5€ per hour. Parking is free in all other areas.
On a note! The first polar resort in the Algarve is Albufeira. Find out why travelers are too shy to visit here on this page.
Faro cafes and restaurants
Faro has many places where you can have a delicious meal, choosing dishes to suit your own taste. Almost all establishments close at 21-00. For breakfast, you need to come to 10-00, and for lunch from 12-30.
If you like fish dishes, visit the restaurants “marisqueiras” (translated from Portuguese “marisqueiras” means “seafood”).
Each restaurant offers an appetizer, which is charged only if the dish is eaten. The cost of meals depends on the class of the establishment.
- In the restaurant, you will have to pay an average of 40-45€ for dinner-for 3 courses .
- In Cafe Faro you can eat for 20-25€ (for two people).
- A light snack in a fast food restaurant will cost 6-9€ per person.
Tip amount-from 5 to 10 % of the amount in the invoice.
Most of the restaurants are located in the city center of Faro, namely near the Cathedral. Fish restaurants are concentrated in the port, but prices are higher here.
A tip! The cheapest way to eat is to visit the burger shop, where a portion of food will cost 4-6€. Also, a good way to save money is to buy a set lunch. Its cost varies from 9 to 13€. Includes soup, main course (fish or meat) and dessert, drinks are charged separately.
Active leisure
Faro will not disappoint fans of sports entertainment, noisy, night parties and shopping. Tourists are offered fascinating tourist programs, which include visiting interesting places.
- Algarve By Segway Center offers segway rides.
- Hidroespaco-the scuba diving center organizes trips to the best places for diving, where you can take part in master classes and rent the necessary equipment;
- Udiving-diving center in Faro.
If you’re attracted to the bustling nightlife, check out the Columbus Cocktail & Wine Bar. It serves the best cocktails in town, and the staff is friendly and attentive. CheSsenta Bar offers live music, delicious drinks and original parties.
Go shopping at the QM Country Shop and Garden Center. They offer a huge range of souvenirs and other goods.
Faro Beaches
From a geographical point of view, the city is coastal and it may seem that it is an ideal choice for a beach holiday – the coast is nearby, the airport is nearby. However, it should be noted that Faro is separated from the ocean coast by the Ria Formosa protected area.
There are two fairly comfortable beaches in the city area, which can be reached by ferry in 25-30 minutes. On the coastline there are cafes and restaurants, vacationers can rent an umbrella and sun beds. This is a popular place for locals to relax, and the Portuguese come here all day, stocking up on food and drinks.
Useful information! The marina has a schedule, but ferries leave as they fill up, so as not to create queues and quickly transfer tourists to the beaches of Faro.
Praia de Faro Beach
The beach is located 10 km from the city and is close to the airport. The recreation area is an island-a strip of sand connected to the mainland by a bridge. There are shops, hotels, cafes and restaurants here. During the high season, thousands of tourists and locals flock here.
On a note! Car parking may be difficult on weekends in summer.
The beach is popular with water sports enthusiasts. Here you can rent a jet ski, boat, go on a yacht or go windsurfing. On the beach there is a “Water Sports Center”, which in the summer holds many interesting events on the coast.
In the east and west of the island there are small fishing huts, behind which stretch sand dunes.
Useful to know! If you want to enjoy the wild scenery, take a walk from Faro Beach (Portugal) to Barigny. You can also rent a boat.
Praia de Tavira Beach
This beach is much less crowded. Given the length of the coastline – 7 km kilometers-it is not difficult to find a secluded place to relax.
Useful information! There is a ferry service between Faro and Tavira beaches. The fare is 2€.
The beach is located in the eastern part of the island of Ilha de Tavira. Vacationers are attracted by the wide coastline and calm sea, developed infrastructure-restaurants, camping.
The ferry takes tourists to the pier, from which the beach is no more than 400 meters away. If you are looking for the perfect place for a comfortable stay with your family, Tavira Beach is the perfect choice. Golden, fine sand stretches for 7 km, just walk 5 minutes and you will find yourself in peace and privacy. The main thing to consider is that the beach is located next to the cold Atlantic current, so it can be cool to swim.
You can stay at the campsite, which accepts tourists from May to September. Vacationers rent comfortable tents. The campsite is located in a picturesque pine forest and is equipped for a full, comfortable holiday in Portugal.
There are two other beaches near Praia de Tavira:
- Terra Estreit is 20 minutes away, much like Tavira;
- Barril is located 40 minutes away, there are restaurants and cozy cafes, and the entrance to the beach is decorated with old anchors.
Climate, when it’s best to go
The weather in Faro (Portugal) remains warm and comfortable throughout the season. In winter, the temperature almost never drops below +10°C, the average temperature is +15 °C.
Summer in the city comes quickly – in the middle of spring, the air warms up to +20 °C, in May the temperature is +23°C. The hottest months are July and August, when the temperature rises to +30 in the shade. In October, it again drops to a comfortable +22…+24 °C.
Please note that the city is coastal. The difference between day and night temperatures can be 15 degrees.
The high season in southern Portugal, including Faro, starts in June and lasts until the end of September. If you plan to visit the resort at this time, please book your hotel room in advance.
Faro is a unique city, because the rest here is comfortable throughout the year. If your goal is to relax on the beaches of Faro in Portugal, plan a trip for the summer. For hiking and sightseeing, spring and autumn are more suitable.
How to get there
The city has the largest airport on the southern coast of Portugal, which receives daily international flights. However, direct flights from Russia and Ukraine are not provided. You can only get to the resort with a transfer.
The most convenient option is a route through the capital of Portugal. In this case, there are two modes of public transport from Lisbon to Faro.
By train
An express train departs once a day, the ticket price is 24.65€ (32.55€ — in first class), the journey takes 3.5 hours. There are also simple trains from the capital to Faro, the journey takes 4 hours, but the ticket is slightly cheaper.
Please see the table below for the train departure schedule from Santa Apolonia station and ticket prices. You can also go to Faro from other railway stations in Lisbon. See the current schedule on the website www.cp.pt.
By Rede Expressos bus
Departure point: Oriente Bus Station.
A bus ticket costs€ 18.5 and can be purchased online at <url> rede-expressos.pt.
Droga takes about 4 hours. You can only get there without a transfer on one flight — at 15:30. The remaining flights involve changing the bus in Albufeira to route 91.
By EVA bus
Departure point: Eva-Mundial Turismo Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado Estrada das Laranjeiras-1500-423 Lisboa (next to Lisbon Zoo).
One — way fare is 20 EUR, round trip fare is 36 EUR. You can get there directly, but you don’t need to change trains. See the schedule in the table, check the relevance on the site eva-bus.com.
Faro (Portugal) attracts thousands of tourists every year. Of particular interest is the Chapel of Bones, which makes a rather creepy impression. In the city, you can take a walk in the port, taste traditional, local cuisine, soak up the beach, attend a fun party and go shopping.
