Faro: Not Just an Airport

The Algarve is well renowned amongst European travellers as one of the best summer holiday destinations. The resort towns of Villamoura and Albufeira have that distinct balance between the party attitude you’d find in the Spanish Costas, and the laid back serenity normally restricted to islands like Menorca.

If, like me, you travel frequently to Portugal you’ll be more than familiar with the Faro flights. Flights within Europe to Faro are generally quite cheap, particularly from the likes of Ryanair, Easyjet and Thomson.

Like most tourists I usually jump straight into my hire car and head out to the resorts, or to visit family in Silves. Until recently it hadn’t really occurred to me to visit the City of Faro itself, but now that I have I wish I’d done it earlier.

The first thing you’ll notice about Faro, if you’re in a car anyway, is the complicated system of one-way streets. This is why I would personally recommend taking the bus or train for your day trip in Faro: or towards the end of your holiday when you’re comfortable driving on the right hand side of the road. There is paid parking by the marina, if you can find a space, or you can struggle with other drivers on side streets. The choice is yours.

So once you arrive safely in Faro, what exactly is there to do?

Explore the Old Town

There’s no doubt that the old town (Cidade Velha) is the most interesting quarter. Medieval and Moorish architecture elicits gasps at every corner turned. Take it slowly and by foot to really get the most out of the area. Walk through the Arco Da Vila and discover an 11th
Century Moorish horseshoe gate. Admire the 13th Century cathedral, which combines Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Or simply walk around the castle walls, the oldest parts of which date back to Roman times.

If the years of history have left you feeling peckish, never fear. The old town is home to lots of enticing cafés and restaurants: ranging from the simple (grilling sardines over an oil drum) to the more elaborate (featured in the Michelin Guide).

Visit a Desert Island

If the hustle and bustle of the city is proving a bit too much for you, escape by boat to one of the desert islands surrounding Faro. You’ll notice as you’re descending into the airport that the coast around Faro is surrounded by small islands and sandbars, known as Ria Formosa. This structure has played an important role in the history of Faro: when the Lisbon earthquake caused a tsunami in 1755, the current capital of the region, Lagos, was almost razed. Many Algarve coastal cities suffered the same fate, but Faro was left completely unscathed.

There is one island in Ria Formosa that you can visit: an 11km stretch of sand, with only one restaurant. It’s the perfect place to while away a few relaxing hours in the summer. Just you, the sand, the turquoise sea… and any other tourists that arrived with you.

Be Macabre at the Chapel of Bones

Evora in the Alentejo region is famous for its chapel of bones, but if you’re not planning on heading North you don’t need to miss out. Apparently building chapels out of the bones of monks is a quintessentially Portuguese past time, as the Igreja do Carmo church on Largo do Carmo has its very own bone chapel too. If you’re in a particularly morbid mood, don’t let the 1 Euro entry fee stop you: nor the inscription above the door that reads, “Stop now and consider your fate.”

Shop ‘til You Drop

Although the Algarve is famous for gorgeous beaches, golf, and peri peri chicken, its shops aren’t usually anything to write home about. Usually shopping is restricted to souvenir and bric-a-brac stores. In Faro, however, it’s not so: as the city is less tourist focussed, there are more recognisable high street brands. Don’t forget to visit the flagship mall, Forum Algarve, either for some air-conditioned comfort.

So next time you visit the Algarve, give Faro a try. You might just be surprised.