Why go
- Municipality in Algarve, Portugal.
- Served by Faro Airport (FAO).
- Home to roughly 122,000 people.
History
Faro, officially the City of Faro, is a city and a municipality in southern Portugal. It is the capital of both the Algarve region and the Faro District, as well as the southernmost city on the Portuguese mainland. Faro municipality covers an area of 202.57 km2 (78.21 sq mi) and, as of 2024, had 70,347 inhabitants, making it the second most populous municipality in the Algarve after Loulé. The city proper had 46,299 inhabitants in 2021, the largest urban population in the region. Faro lies on the shore of the Ria Formosa lagoon, a protected nature reserve and hosts the region’s international airport and university.
Where to stay
Estr. da Quinta do Lago, 8135-106 Almancil, Portugal · hilton.com
R. Baptista Lopes 79, 8000-225 Faro, Portugal · solarmendonca.com
R. de Berlim 39, 8000-278 Faro, Portugal · altohouse.pt
R. Dom Francisco Gomes 27, 8000-238 Faro, Portugal · themodernist.pt
8900-057 Vila Nova de Cacela, Portugal · robinson.com
Praça Alexandre Herculano 27, 8000-160 Faro, Portugal · farohostel.com
R. Baptista Lopes 50, 8000-225 Faro, Portugal · happyhousefaro.com
Av. da República 1, 8000-078 Faro, Portugal · ap-hotelsresorts.com
Tv. Ivens 21, 8000-168 Faro, Portugal · hoteisfind.com
Praça Dom Francisco Gomes 2, 8000-168 Faro, Portugal · barcelo.com
Estrada Do Aeroporto EN125 10, 8005-146 Faro, Portugal · hotel3kfaro.com
R. Poe. Antonio Aleixo 204, 8005-174 Faro, Portugal · all.accor.com
Rua da Polícia de Segurança Pública 12, 8000-408 Faro, Portugal · alamedaexclusivehouse.com
R. do Bocage 66, 8000-296 Faro, Portugal · faroboutiquehotel.pt
R. Infante Dom Henrique n°52, 8000-363 Faro, Portugal · hotelsolalgarve.com
Estrada de Santa Rita, nº36, Vila Nova de Cacela · conversasdealpendre.com
R. Rebelo da Silva 78, 8000-247 Faro, Portugal · faroclarasuites.pt
Rua da PSP, Edifício do IPDJ, 8000-408 Faro, Portugal · pousadasjuventude.pt
Urbanização Monte da Ria, R. Baptista Severino, 8005-237 Faro, Portugal · hotelmonaco.pt
Tv. do Pé da Cruz 10, 8000-404 Faro, Portugal · lemontree.pt
R. de Portugal 17, 8000-281 Faro, Portugal · stayhotels.pt
Ombria Algarve, Number 9, Rua da Ombria, 8100-396 Loulé, Portugal · viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
R. Estácio Veiga 5, 8000-423 Faro, Portugal · casasdasilhas.com
R. Conselheiro Bivar 105, 8000-255 Faro, Portugal · riaterrace.pt
Quinta da Colina - One-Bedroom Cottage, R. de Amendoeira do Vale Telheiro 79, Loulé, Portugal
R. Fernando Pessoa 74, 8005-227 Faro, Portugal
R. Aristides de Sousa Mendes, 8005-178 Faro, Portugal
Largo de São Francisco 40, 8000-142 Faro, Portugal · riaviewguesthouse.com
R. Antonio Cabreira 11, 8000-394 Faro, Portugal · booking.com
R. Diogo Tavares 1, 8005-205 Faro, Portugal
R. da Boavista 8, 8000-231 Faro, Portugal · facebook.com
Av. Nascente Nº2, 8005-520 Faro, Portugal · goldenbeachguesthouse.pt
R. Sd. Ferrer 47, 8005-263 Faro, Portugal · hoteisfind.com
R. Ascensao Guimaraes Nº 7, 8000-197 Faro, Portugal · planbeguesthouse.com
R. de Sao Francisco 2, 8000-428 Faro, Portugal
R. Infante Dom Henrique 55, 8000-363 Faro, Portugal · hoteisfind.com
R. Ascensao Guimaraes 55, 8000-353 Faro, Portugal · adaavo.pt
R. de São Luís 2, 8000-285 Faro, Portugal · dearfaro.com
R. Dr. Coelho de Melo 1, 8000-323 Faro, Portugal · cardeal.pt
R. Francisco Barreto 32 34, 8000-344 Faro, Portugal · rootshotel.pt
Indoor
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Portuguese, Regional, Restaurant · Café Bar Restaurante Opening hours: We-Mo 10:30-04:00 Features: step-free access · 11 Rua do Castelo, 8000-243 · ocastelofaro.com
Sandwich, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr 11:00-00:00; Sa 10:00-00:00; Su 10:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating, vegetarian options · 16 Rua… · portugal.100montaditos.com
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th,Su 11:30-23:00; Fr,Sa 11:30-00:00 Features: takeaway · 121A Avenida Doutor Júlio Filipe de Almeida Carrapato, Faro,… · burgerking.pt
Barbecue, Restaurant · Churrasqueira da Penha
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access · Faro, 8000-126 · starbucks.pt
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access, air conditioning · 8000-072 · dominospizza.pt
Fish, Portuguese, Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Fr 18:00-23:00; Sa-Su 17:00-23:00 · 6 Travessa das Cocheiras, 8000-458 · loslocos.eatbu.com
Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:30-14:30, 19:30-22:00; Su 12:30-14:30 · 11B Rua Reitor Teixeira Guedes, 8000-423 · wowsushi.pt
Greek, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:30-14:30, 18:00-22:00; Sa-Su 12:30-22:00 · 45 Rua Brites de Almeida, 8000-234 · zorbathegreekfaro.com
Savory Pancakes, Crepe, Pancake, Ice Cream, Cafe · Opening hours: Tu-Su 14:00-24:00 Features: step-free access · 92 Avenida da República, Faro · m.facebook.com
Seafood, Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-23:00; Su 10:00-17:00 · Faro, 8005-520 · restauranteelementosfaro.pt
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-00:00; Su 00:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating · 7 Rua Ivens, 8000-364 · faaron.steakhouse.com
Italian, Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 18:00-22:30 Features: takeaway · 25 Rua de Santo António, Faro, 8000-282 · fornonero.pt
Polish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-15:00, 19:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegan options · myomeu.eatbu.com
Breakfast, Lunch, Salads, Juice, Smoothies, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-17:00 · quintadolago.com
Chicken, Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Su 18:30-22:30 open "reservations recommended" · 5 R. Dr. Joao Lucio, Faro, 8000-329 · restaurantceu.com
Chinese, Japanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-15:00, 19:00-23:00; Sa-Su 12:00-15:00, 19:00-23:30 · 9 Rua do Pé da Cruz, 8000-404 · sushimundo.com
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating, vegetarian options · indianhutrestaurant.com
Grill, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-14:00 · ualg.pt
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 12:00-15:00, 19:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-15:00, 19:00-22:00; Su 09:00-15:00 Features: vegan options · daterra.pt
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-15:00, 19:00-23:00 · 19 Praça Dom Francisco Gomes
Kebab, Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-00:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options, halal, kosher · 5 Rua Marquês de…
Nepalesian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo,We-Su 12:30-22:30 Features: vegan options
International, Fine Dining, French, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Mo 17:00-24:00 · 40
Crepe, Portuguese, Breakfast, Grill, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-16:00; Sa-Su off · 11 Rua Filipe Alistão, 8000-343
Tapas, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:30-15:30, 19:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, vegan options
Mexican, Restaurant · Features: vegetarian options · holatorito.pt
Japanese, Sushi, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · 13/15 Rua Ferreira Neto, Faro, 8000-203 · facebook.com
Asian, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-17:00 · noacafe.pt
Snackbar, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-19:00, Su off Features: outdoor seating
Persian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 17:45-23:00 · 6 Rua do Prior, 8000-363
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · quintadolago.com
Fast Food · Opening hours: Fr-Tu 12:00-23:00; We 12:00-15:00; Th 15:00-23:00 · 4
Ice Cream, Waffle, Crepe, Chocolate, Fast Food · Features: outdoor seating
Brunch, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating, vegan options
Ice Cream, Cafe · Features: outdoor seating
Local, Restaurant · Local restaurant
Tex-Mex, Restaurant · Tex-Mex restaurant
Oriental, Fast Food · Oriental fast food
Brazilian, Restaurant · Brazilian restaurant
American, Fast Food · American fast food · 12 Rua Francisco Barreto
Salad, Restaurant · Salad restaurant
Portuguese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 11:00-22:30 · 78 · beacons.ai
Sandwich, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
352 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Faro Airport (FAO) 3.1 km to the centre
Faro, 08, PT — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 21 airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Transavia France, Jet2.com…) · direct flights to 63 destinations incl. London, East Midlands, Lisbon, Manchester, Munich… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 21 airlines, 63 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 29 routes: Beauvais, Billund, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bremen, Bristol, Charleroi, Cologne, Connaught, Cork, Dortmund, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Hahn, Kerry, Leeds, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, Londonderry, Maastricht, Manchester, Memmingen, Porto, Prestwick, Shannon, Weeze
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 11 routes: Belfast, Bristol, Geneva, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, London, Mulhouse, Newcastle, Paris, Southend
- Transavia France TO (737-800, 75W) · 9 routes: Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, London, London, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Paris
- Jet2.com LS (737-300, 737-800, 757-200, 737-800, 75W, 73C) · 8 routes: Belfast, Blackpool, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle
- Monarch Airlines ZB (A321, A320, 757-200, A330-200) · 6 routes: Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds, London, London, Manchester
- Air Berlin AB (A320, A321, 737-800) · 5 routes: Berlin, Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Palma de Mallorca
- Transavia Holland HV (737-800, 737-700) · 5 routes: Amilcar Cabral, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen, Rotterdam
- TUIfly X3 (737-800) · 5 routes: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt, Hannover, Munich, Stuttgart
- Aer Lingus EI (A320, A321, 330, A330-200) · 4 routes: Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Shannon
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-800) · 4 routes: Copenhagen, London, Oslo, Stockholm
- TAP Portugal TP (A320, A319, A321, A320, ERJ-145) · 4 routes: Brussels*, Frankfurt*, Lisbon, Munich*
- Germanwings 4U (A319, A320) · 3 routes: Cologne, Hamburg, Stuttgart
- British Airways BA (A320, A319, 734) · 2 routes: London, London
- Flybe BE (Embraer 195) · 2 routes: Exeter, Southampton
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A321, A320, A320) · 2 routes: Frankfurt, Munich
- Luxair LG (737-800) · 2 routes: Jerez, Luxemburg
- Aigle Azur ZI (A319) · 1 route: Paris
- Brussels Airlines SN (A319, A320) · 1 route: Brussels
- Harmony Airways HQ (A320) · 1 route: Malaga
- SATA International S4 (A319, A320, ERJ-145) · 1 route: Lisbon*
- US Airways US (A319) · 1 route: Lisbon*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Praia Verde Airstrip 45 km to the centre
Praia Verde, 08, PT
Getting there by ferry
Cais das portas do mar
Ferry terminal · 1.1 km from the centre · Docapesca
Praia de Faro
Ferry terminal · 4.8 km from the centre
Farol
Ferry terminal · 7.9 km from the centre
Ilha Deserta
Ferry terminal · 8.5 km from the centre
Olhão
Ferry terminal · 8.8 km from the centre
Culatra
Ferry terminal · 8.8 km from the centre · Harmonia ATM, Lda
Faro - Praia de Faro
Ferry route
Faro - Farol
Ferry route
Faro - Ilha Deserta
Ferry route
Farol - Ilha Deserta
Ferry route
Culatra - Farol
Ferry route
Olhão - Culatra
Ferry route
Olhão - Farol
Ferry route
Olhão - Armona
Ferry route
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Faro Airport (FAO); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: FAO has direct flights to 63 destinations on 21 airlines (incl. London, East Midlands, Lisbon, Manchester, Munich…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Cais das portas do mar, 1.1 km); routes include Faro - Praia de Faro, Faro - Farol, Faro - Ilha Deserta.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Faro (Algarve), Portgual. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Fractional, jet card · Citation, Phenom, Challenger, Global · The European arm of NetJets, based in Lisbon.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Tours & experiences
Walking Tour