Faro: The Algarve's Walled Old Town Gateway to the Ria Formosa
Most visitors treat Faro as a runway to somewhere else on the Algarve coast, which is a mistake. Its walled Cidade Velha, cobbled and quiet, sits right beside a vast tidal lagoon system where boats leave every morning for sandbar islands most tourists never hear about. It's a small, workable city that rewards a day or two before you rush off to the beach resorts.
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✈ Plan Your Trip →Sights
Arco da Vila
The Moorish-era stone gate marking the entrance to the old town, with a resident colony of storks nesting on its parapet.
Sé de Faro (Faro Cathedral)
A patchwork of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles; climb the bell tower for rooftop views over the lagoon.
Capela dos Ossos
A small 19th-century chapel inside the Igreja do Carmo, its interior walls lined with the bones and skulls of exhumed monks.
Ilha Deserta
A boat-only barrier island beach south of the city, essentially empty sand backed by dunes, reachable by a short ferry ride.
Ria Formosa Natural Park
The tidal lagoon system that shields Faro from the open Atlantic, home to flamingos, chameleons and traditional salt pans.
Faro Marina
The waterfront promenade where the lagoon boats depart, lined with cafés and a good spot to watch the tide move in and out.
Museu Municipal de Faro
Housed in a former 16th-century convent, its centerpiece is a large Roman mosaic floor depicting Neptune and the four winds.
A Sample Day
What to Eat
Faro's kitchens lean on the lagoon and the sea, with clams and cataplana pots showing up on nearly every menu.
March to May and September to October: warm enough for the islands and lagoon boats without the July-August crowds and heat that hit the Algarve hard.
The old town and marina are entirely walkable in under 20 minutes; for the lagoon islands you'll take a short passenger ferry, and buses or a rental car cover day trips to nearby towns like Olhão or Tavira.
Skip the crowded tourist-boat trips to Ilha de Faro and instead catch one of the smaller ferries to Ilha Deserta from the marina — fewer people, better sand, and a single seasonal restaurant at the end of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Faro worth visiting or just an airport stop?+
It's worth at least a day: the walled old town, the cathedral tower view and the boat trip to Ilha Deserta are genuinely worthwhile, not just a layover.
How do you get to the islands from Faro?+
Passenger ferries leave regularly from Faro Marina to Ilha Deserta and other Ria Formosa islands; tickets are bought at kiosks right on the waterfront.
Is Faro a good base for exploring the Algarve?+
Yes — it has train and bus links to Tavira, Olhão and Lagos, plus the region's main airport, making it practical even if the beach resorts are elsewhere.
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