The gateway to the Algarve is often overlooked as a destination, most people leaving soon after arriving. However, this sleep Portuguese city has more than meets the eye.
At a glance…
- Days To Spend: 1 or 2 days
- Get Around: Walking will get you nearly everywhere
- Get In and Out: By train, or flying from Faro Airport
- Pay: With Euros
- Speak: Portuguese is spoken and appreciated, but most people will have passable English
- See: Ilha Deserta, Algarve Life Sciences Centre
- Should you go?: Yes, especially if you want a quieter Algarve experience
General Impressions
Faro feels like a sleepy quiet Mediterranean town, or at least it’s historical centre does. The actual city’s population is around 400,000, but you don’t really feel this in the centre.
There’s also not so many tourists as in the rest of the Algarve. Many people skip over Faro entirely, and go to some of the more glamorous towns in this beautiful region. This work’s to Faro’s benefit however, as it means it is much easier to enjoy this quiet city.
Public Transport
Getting Around
The historical centre is small and very walkable, so we never needed to use the bus network.
Getting In and Out
Faro has the main international airport for the Algarve, and it is the main entry point to Portugal’s southernmost region. Faro is served by a train station, which can easily connect you to other cities in the Algarve, and beyond to Lisbon or other Portuguese destinations.
Money
Portugal is a country that uses the Euro. Generally card is accepted everywhere, but small places will prefer or only take cash payments.
Language
Speaking Portuguese is definitely helpful in Faro, and locals will appreciate you using it. Nevertheless, locals working in the tourism industry will definitely speak English well.
Time
There’s not much to do in Faro, but you can definitely spend a good day or two here. You can probably extend this a little bit as well, if you rent a kayak and explore the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
My Favourite Spots
Ilha Deserta
There are a few beaches around Faro, but all require a ferry to get to. Ilha Deserta is one such beach. It was almost empty for us, and the island it’s located on is worth wandering around for a little bit. Just be careful of the currents, which can be quite strong here.
Algarve Life Sciences Centre
A museum dedicated to the science and geography of the adjoining Ria Formosa Natural Park. It’s fun and interactive, and the absolute highlight is the a guided tour of the various aquatic creatures that live in the park, including being able to touch and handle them. A unique experience!
Conclusion
If you are flying to or from the Algarve, you will inevitably pass through Faro, and when you do, definitely consider spending a few days getting to know the region’s capital.
We May Roam 