Faro is the capital of the Algarve in Southern Portugal and its largest city. It can trace its origins back over 2000 years and was occupied by the Moors for 500 years. For many visitors it is the gateway to the region because of its international airport but not everyone chooses to spend time here. It is a shame as it has a lovely old town that is well worth exploring and it makes an ideal base for visiting other parts of the Algarve as it has good transport links.
The Old Town.
The Old Town (Cidade Velha) is a wonderful place to wander aimlessly around its cobbled streets and just see where it takes you. It isn’t very big and you can easily take in the sights here in an hour or so.
Cranes nest on some of the buildings of the old town down by the water front. They make an amazing sight. As they leave and return to the nest on fishing trips.
Ria Formosa
The Ria Formosa is the coastal lagoon which divides Faro from the Atlantic Ocean. It was made a National Park in 1987 and it is of great ecological importance as a refuge for countless species of coastal birds. The waters here are flat calm and relatively shallow. A number of companies offer tours departing from the quayside in Faro (not the marina). You can read about our experience here.
Ilha Deserta.
The Ilha Deserta (deserted island) is a short ferry ride from Faro. It is deserted because no one lives here but it can still get very busy, especially in the summer. It is a beautiful island and lovely to visit off season when there aren’t so many people around.
The Marina.
The marina is only small but is a very popular place and is great for photos.
Eating and Drinking.
Epicur is a wonderful wine bar located at Rua Alexandre Herculano 22. It is only small but has a superb selection of Portuguese wines and some excellent small plates. The staff here are incredibly knowledgeable about both the food and wine and very helpful. I can’t recommend this place enough.
Close to the marina is Boheme (Avenida da Republica) which is a super little craft beer bar. With seating inside and out it makes a great venue for a beer after a day spent sightseeing. The beer selection is excellent with a plenty of choice either on draught or in bottles. The prices are very reasonable also.
Columbus Cocktail and Wine Bar (Praca Dom Francisco Gomes 13) is a very popular place for both locals and tourists. It offers a great range of cocktails as well wines and small plates. Not a restaurant as such but it serves excellent small snacks.
For me a trip to the Algarve would not be complete without sampling the grilled fish and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Do check opening as many are closed on Sunday.
Faro is well worth a visit and it can easily be done in a day trip.
