Faro

Old Town

The majority of the sights in Faro are concentrated within the walled Old Town (Cidade Velha). The Arco de Vila marks the entrance by the marina and the Moorish architecture within and the walls themselves are the oldest attractions. Other things to see include the Se Cathedral, a small house of worship with gothic-baroque mix of styles and the modern St Francis Fountain. The Museo Municipal and the Viva Science Centre provide places to learn about the history of the region or the science behind things around you.

Marina

As the focal point of Faro, the marina with its numerous ships, is popular with both locals and tourists and makes a great place for a relaxing stroll both day and night. Just behind the Marina lies the Jardim Manuel Bivar, a great place to get some shade from the sun and watch the world go by. For more active sightseers, the Museo Maritimo awaits, full of maritime history and plenty of boats used by the region's fishermen throughout the ages.

Town

With the majority of the attractions in the Old Town and the marina, there are plenty of places to stay within Faro town itself to suit all budgets, and it's easy to be close to the action. Beautiful architecture is all around and there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars to keep you entertained and well fed.

Further Afield

The huge expanse of the Ria Formosa beckons, particularly during autumn and spring when the migrating birds arrive for a stopover. A variety of tours are available highlighting the biodiversity, the salt flats, or even the traditional fishing villages along the lagoon. To the southwest of Faro and at the western end of the lagoon lies the Ilha do Farol and the lovely Faro beach, popular for its pristine sands and known for great surfing waves.

Faro Airport serves the whole of the Algarve region, so for a lot of visitors Faro is a gateway to the beach resorts such as Vilamoura, Albufeira and Carvoeiro.