Faro

Map of the city and surroundings of Faro, with main points of interest, useful locations and residential areas. Distances to the main locations in the south of Portugal

Faro is a city located in front of the Ria Formosa natural park in the southern Portugal. A historic city conquered from the Moors in 1249 by D. Dinis. A city surrounded by nature with the natural park, saltwater lagoons, nautical landscape, historical landscapes with the wall of the old city, ancient churches. Beaches accessible by boat, a glimpse of wildlife with migratory birds, a city of secular architecture, restaurant area, nightlife, 4 and 5-star hotels and a friendly environment.

View of an airplane approaching Faro International Airport, showcasing the stunning natural beauty of Ria Formosa below
Access to Faro is easy. International flights arrive at Faro airport from most European capitals. From Faro to other cities in Portugal, there is a train station in the city center with connections to Lisbon and Porto, a bus station, with connections to all cities in Portugal and to Seville in Spain. The international airport of Faro has direct flights to the main European capitals in approximately 2 hours. Faro has highway connection to all municipalities of the Algarve, Lisbon, Porto, Evora, major cities in Portugal, and Spain, with Sevilla only 2 hours drive away.

Faro Port, a quaint marina primarily designed for smaller boats
In Faro, the marina is designed for smaller vessels due to the location of a train line. The waterway’s exit passes underneath this rail line, allowing passage only during low and mid-tide conditions, limiting the size of boats that can safely navigate the area. In contrast, the marinas in Vilamoura, Portimão, and Lagos are equipped to accommodate larger vessels.

Faro has a front Ria Formosa rail train

The Algarve region, home to Faro, boasts an impressive 37 golf courses, over 150km of pristine beaches, 6 well-equipped marinas including those at Vilamoura, Albufeira, Portimão, and Lagos. It also houses 3 luxury resorts: Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, and Vilamoura. With an array of shopping malls, private hospitals, the esteemed University of Algarve, and international schools, this region is a vibrant mix of leisure, education, and lifestyle amenities.

Jardim Manuel Bívar
Faro is a place to walk and enjoy, with excellent conditions for walking and cycling in the city and in nature along the coast. From the Jardim Manuel Bívar in the coastal centre of Faro, to the west, we find the Faro Ribeirinho Park, with pedestrian paths and coastal cycle paths tens of km’s long connecting to the airport 7km away, and to Faro beach, 9km away. South of Jardim Manuel Bívar, there is a boat connection to the islands of Ria Formosa.

Jardim Manuel Bívar

Around the city centre, Portuguese cobblestone streets lead us to Santo António street, the main shopping street in Faro, with fashion clothing stores, goldsmiths, bookstores, themed restaurants with terraces, pastry shops, service offices.

Santo António Street, Santo António Street is the main shopping street in Faro, a place for walking, shopping, and a common route for local inhabitants.

View of the traditional Portuguese pavement in the shopping street. An important point in the trade of the region Faro

Arco da Vila in Faro, one of the doors to the interior of the Old Town of Faro, where we find the various entrances to the city walls, Arco da Vila, Porta Nova, Urban Fence, Arco do Repouso, and several other attractionsIn the northwest centre, we access Conselheiro Bivar Street, a street mainly occupied by restaurants and bars, some of them located on top of buildings, with terraces overlooking the Ria Formosa, the ocean, the surrounding city, and the airport on the horizon. The historical city area is located to the east, protected by walls, with terrace restaurants in a centuries-old protected environment. And to the south, the coastal area near the dock and the Ria Formosa.

Restaurants inside the walls of the old town of Faro

Aerial view of the charming, terracotta-tiled rooftops of Faro’s old town, showcasing the picturesque and historical urban landscape of this Algarvian gem.

Church of Santa Maria, Faro Cathedral, located in the old city of Faro, one of the must-visit points. From the top of the Cathedral, we can observe fantastic panoramic views over the city;

Largo da Sé – here we find the statue in homage to Bishop D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar. A notable character for the city, being responsible for founding the Seminary of Faro, the Infante D. Henrique Museum and built several monuments in the city. Bishop D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar built art schools for the inhabitants of the Algarve to learn a trade and be able to support their families. He had roads and bridges built, and taught cultivation processes. D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar was an intellectual man dedicated to transmitting education and good manners to the people.

Faro Municipal Museum – also known as Archaeological Museum, it is an important cultural and historical centre in the city of Faro. The museum is located in a 16th century Renaissance building, which was once the old Convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção. The museum offers a wide variety of exhibitions that cover the history and culture of the Algarve region, with artefacts from the Roman era to medieval and modern art, including sculptures, paintings and ceramics. Among the highlights of the museum is the extensive collection of Roman artefacts, which includes the remarkable Ossonoba Stele, a Roman landmark dedicated to Jupiter.

D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar was responsible for redesigning the city of Faro in the early 19TH century

Arches of the old town of Faro. Here we can enter the city and walk through the old town. There are several restaurants and service areas

Aerial view of the walls of Faro.

Ria Formosa Natural Park – is a lagoon system, a protected area that we can visit on a boat ride, exploring the channels, lagoons and the various islands of Armona, Culatra, Hangares, Farol and Deserta. Along the way, you will be able to observe seabirds, including flamingos, and other rare migratory species. On a visit to any island, you can have lunch with fresh fish and seafood at the local restaurants, and dive into the deserted beaches with peaceful landscapes. We recommend the experience of tasting local products, especially oysters and clams. If you stay until the end of the day, you will be able to watch the spectacular sunset that this natural lagoon has to offer. The Ria Formosa is a living painting, with the tides dictating the activities. When the tide is low, the shellfish pickers appear in the shallows, for clam harvesting, the fishermen take their places, the oyster farms are revealed on the surface, the colours transform, the water movement changes… Here we can visit

Faro beach – with a unique location, it is located at one end of the Ria Formosa. There is a local population on a narrow strip of land only 150 meters wide that separates the natural lagoon from the sea. Here we find several restaurants with views of the lagoon, restaurants with sea views, some literally with their feet in the sand. Faro beach is a unique combination of sea beach and natural reserve. At the end of Faro beach, there is a wooden boardwalk that takes us to the far end of Faro beach, a deserted beach known as Barrinha beach, often visited by locals for surfing.

Chapel of Bones in Faro – is one of several bone chapels that exist in Portugal. The walls and ceiling are decorated with the bones and skulls of hundreds of monks. According to records, the purpose of this macabre decoration is to show the mortality and ephemerality of human life. When we enter, we can observe the bones arranged symmetrically and artistically, creating a strange and fascinating environment. Other bone chapels can be found throughout Europe, with the Chapel of Bones in Évora, Portugal being one of the most well-known. If you want to visit, the Chapel of Bones is located inside the Carmo Church in Faro, a beautiful baroque church.

Palace of Estoi – is a Charming Inn, an old rococo-style palace located on the outskirts of Faro, restored and adapted to function as a charming inn. The Palace of Estoi was classified in 1977 as a Property of Public Interest. The blue and white tile decoration is one of the great attractions, in addition to the copy of the Three Graces, a work by the Italian sculptor Canova. The palace also has a large pavilion adorned with colorful stained glass windows and decorative fountains, in which nymphs seem to emerge from the waters, complemented with tile niches, creating an atmosphere of charm and mystery. Estoi is an agricultural area of Faro. Today Pousada Palace of Estoi is one of the best known tourist spots in Faro, receiving visitors from all over the world in search of its beauties and its tranquility.

D. AFONSO III, conqueror of the city from the Moors in 1249
Faro (Ossonoba) is a Roman city from the 8th century Before the Modern Era. It is the capital of the Algarve since 1956. The old name of the city was Ossonoba, baptized by the Romans. The city of Ossonoba was conquered by D. Afonso III in 1249, having been baptized “Santa Maria de Faaron”, which originated the current name of the city, Faro. With 47,000 inhabitants, Faro holds most of the administrative services of the Algarve region.