Travel information
A popular destination for sun-seekers from northern Europe and the UK, Faro has a reputation as being an overrun party beach town for much of the year. Visitors who use it as a base to explore the more remote areas of the Algarve in the off-season will experience much more of what southern Portugal has to offer; but those looking for no more than a tan and cocktails won't be disappointed. In winter, it is a beautiful, peaceful corner of Southern Europe with plenty of sun bleaching the white-washed town with colonial and Moorish-influenced architecture. The people are more friendly than other parts of Europe. Many speak a bit of English, but are very appreciative of any attempts at Portuguese.
Photos from Faro, Portugal
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- Centro Historico - The Old City, or Cidade Velha, is a well-preserved section of town off the harbor with cobblestone streets and 18th century Portuguese and Moorish-influenced architecture. It is great place for a peaceful and almost private walk back in time in an area that has been virtually untouched and uncorrupted by modernity.
- Rio Formosa - Take a boat trip into the Rio Formosa - a nature reserve that stretches along the tip of Portugal into Spain. A two and a half hour trip costs 20 Euros (in 2007) and includes a 40 minute stop-over on an island. The boat leaves from a jetty by the Centro Historico.
- Praia de Faro - This beach is several kilometers long and so should never get crowded, even in the height of summer. Most of the beach is gently sloping though it can take a sudden dip in places. There are the usual beach-side stalls and a public lavatory, but no showers. Praia de Faro is just past the airport, the airport bus stops there and costs 1.5 Euros (in 2007). A lot of people with early check-outs and late flights seem to go there on their last day.
Photos from Faro, Portugal
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- Fans of automotive engineering will be intrugued by some of the weird and wonderful vehicles on Faro's streets. These include pick-up trucks with motorcycle front-ends, and various mopeds and micro-cars that never made it across the Channel. Renault 4s, now almost extinct in their native France, are still a common site in Faro.
- If you're in a macabre mood then check out the Capela dos Ossos in the Igreja do Carmo church. This is a chapel decorated with the skeletal remains of over 1,200 former monks. There is a small admission charge.
Photos from Faro, Portugal
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By plane
- Faro Airport (IATA: FAO) (ICAO: LPFR), [1]. Many package tour and discount airlines arrive from the UK and Ireland, mainland Europe and Canada. There is a large group of Car hire agencies if you turn right after the main exit.
- Faro Airport Transfers [2]
- Algarve Transfers [3]
- Algarve Shuttle [4]
- Algarve Taxi Service [5]
By train
If you are flying into Lisbon, and wish to visit the Algarve, one of the cheapest and quickest ways to get there is in on the Alpha Pendular - the high-speed train that runs at least twice a day each way. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours from the main terminal in Lisbon (Oriente) to Faro, and costs roughly $25 each way. First class is about another $8 each way. The Inter City trains run more frequently but take a little longer - about 3.5 to 4 hours. The trains also make stops at many of the other principle tourist There are also reginal trains along the Algarve coast to Lagos.
By car
Car hire is an option for visitors. You can arrange car hire at the airport, however, as with many tourist locations it is wise to arrange your vehicle hire prior to arrival - this can save both money (the airport car rental desks can be far more expensive) and disappointment as availability during peak season may be very limited. Organising it from home before you arrive is now a very simple process with numerous companies specialising in pre-booking car hire in Faro.
List of car hire companies for before you arrive:
- AutoEurope - Discount Car Hire http://www.autoeurope.com"
Roads can be quite busy, but if you want to see a bit more of the city and indeed the Algarve region then driving by car is an easy option. Driving in the Algarve region is far easier than in the rest of Portugal, there are more non-toll roads and road-signs are plentiful and relevant.
By bus
There is a daily bus service from Lisbon and Porto in the north of Portugal, as well as from Madrid and Seville in Spain. A fare from Lisbon to Faro costs 18 EUR and can easily be bought at the bus station just before boarding. This bus station in Lisbon is next to a subway stop called Jardim Zoológico.
By boat
Main harbours: Portimao, Faro.
Photos from Faro, Portugal
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By bus
Buses 16 and 14 go around the city and the airport of Faro. Tickets can be bought at the driver.
By car
It can be difficult to find a parking slot in the center. Most of the parking stations near the restaurants and shopping malls are payable. However, there is a huge free parking station next to the ship yard from which tour boats depart.
On foot
Walking in the center is enjoyable.
Photos from Faro, Portugal
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