Visit the capital of the Algarve, Faro

Published on July 31, 2024 at 4:00 pm

A visit to Faro, capital of the Algarve, is a must on any trip to southern Portugal. It's a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture. The historic centre is full of charm, with its picturesque little streets, its large cobbled square lined with orange trees and its imposing gates. The Arco da Vila gate is sure to catch your eye as you pass through: at the top of the gate are huge nests of storks incubating their young.

Faro also has plenty to explore outside its walled city centre. Head to the marina to board a boat and discover the riches of the Ria Formosa Lagoon Natural Park. You can also make a few lazy stops on the many beaches and dreamy islets there.

A visit to the Algarve's capital without visiting its many churches would be unthinkable. In fact, several places of worship will feature prominently in your Portuguese city-trip: Faro's Carmel Church and its original Chapelle dos Ossos, Faro Cathedral or, a little further out, the Church of Saint Vincent de Almancil and its magnificent azulejos.

Summary

Visit Faro's historic centre
An excursion to the Ria Formosa lagoon
Faro's most beautiful beaches
Faro and its religious buildings
Where to stay in Faro?

Visit Faro's historic centre

Faro, also known as the "Pearl of the Algarve", certainly lives up to its nickname. All it takes is a stroll through its historic town centre, surrounded by fortifications, to immediately fall under the spell of this seaside town. The picturesque narrow streets lead to charming little squares where you can enjoy the sunny terraces of the restaurants. The beautiful coloured doors of the houses, the old azulejos on the facades of the houses and the many orange trees in blossom (or in fruit, depending on the season... 😉 ) will quickly make you appreciate the beauty of the place.

📝 Practical information

Depending on where your discovery of the city begins, you will enter or leave via theArco da Vila. This is the most beautiful gateway into the old town. As well as boasting superb architecture dating from the 19th century, it is also home to huge stork nests (and the storks that go with them, of course!). Don't hesitate to take a seat on one of the benches in the Manuel Bivar Garden to enjoy this beautiful aerial ballet!

Arco da Vila - Entrée historique de la vieille ville de Faro, Algarve, Portugal

An excursion to the Ria Formosa lagoon

From Faro marina, board a small boat for a magical excursion! For a day or a few hours, discover the local fauna in the Ria Formosa Lagoon Natural Park. This reserve is home to many species of birds, and your guide will be delighted to tell you all about them. You will then see the Santa Maria lighthouse, which marks the boundary between the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. The 2nd part of the excursion will be devoted to discovering several heavenly islets with translucent waters. Their vast stretches of fine sand will be your playground, where you can perfect your tan!

Vue aérienne du parc naturel de Ria Formosa, Algarve, au sud du Portugal

🛥️ How can I go on a trip to the Ria Formosa Lagoon?

It couldn't be easier! At the Faro marina, you'll find a number of small kiosks selling all kinds of excursions to discover the lagoon: from a few hours to a full day, private or group tours, with or without swimming stops on the small islets... The choice is yours!

Faro's most beautiful beaches

The city of Faro is the ideal place to enjoy the pleasures of the sea. However, the vast majority of them are only accessible by sea. But is that really a problem? Not really! That makes them even more special and precious! All you have to do to walk on their sands is take a ferry or taxi-boat. Once on board, the most beautiful islets are within your reach! The ilha Barreta, the ilha Deserta, the ilha de Farol, the ilha Culatra, Praia da Armona, Praia da Fuseta... Sounds dreamy, doesn't it?

Beautiful beach on the island of Praia da Ilha Deserta near Faro Portugal

But there are always exceptions! And yes, there is a beach that is accessible by car. Phew! It's called the Praia de Faro, and it's almost 10 km long. It's right next to the airport, making it a perfect spot to watch planes take off and land. Because it's so easy to get to, you won't be alone on the white sand (unlike ilha Deserta, for example, as you'd expect...) but because the beach is so extensive, you shouldn't be stepping on each other's toes either, I promise!

Faro and its religious buildings

Occasionally (but rarely), some days can be rainy in Faro. This is the perfect opportunity to take a tour of the Portuguese churches! Of course, you could just as easily take a tour in bright sunshine, as it's always cool in the cathedrals.

Faro Carmel Church in the Algarve

In our opinion, the prettiest church in Faro is theCarmel de Faro. Its beautiful white and yellow façade and typically Portuguese cobbled forecourt will delight your eyes. It also has a special feature that you won't find in the other churches in the area: its Chapelle dos Ossos. The walls of this tiny chapel are entirely covered in human bones!

Then, on our way out of town, we found a little church that's well worth a visit: theChurch of Saint Laurent de Almancil, coveted for its walls entirely covered in azulejos. The history of Saint Laurent de Almancil is recounted here in white and blue. A fascinating place!

Where to stay in Faro?

We recommend that you spend 3 days in the area around Faro, so that you can discover all its emblematic sites. You can also visit neighbouring Tavira while staying in Faro. To make sure your stay in the capital of the Algarve goes as smoothly as possible, we've found a charming hotel for you!