Faro is an excellent starting point for exploring the Algarve and other parts of Portugal, and the Spanish border is less than an hour’s drive away. Whether you’re interested in great architecture and world-class food, traditional village life, deserted beaches, or fascinating history, it’s all easily accessible as a day trip from this small town.
Ria Formosa: take a look at bird life
The Ria Formosa Lagoon, a series of lagoons and sand barrier islands between the coast and the Atlantic Ocean, is located a few kilometers east of Faro. A vital nesting ground for many migratory birds, it is common to see flamingos, cranes, egrets, and several other species in the area. Seafood such as octopus, crabs, and oysters also abound in the area and supply restaurants across the country.
You can explore the continental section of the Ria Formosa on your own via a long promenade, or take an excursion with one of several companies to go out to the islands. Water trips include kayaking and catamaran options, along with guided bike trips, they bring you that much closer to most birds.
How to get there: Boat trips generally depart from the port of Faro and can be booked through travel agents, your hotel or directly with the operator. Independent travelers must drive or take the train to Olhão (once an hour, travel time 10 minutes). The park begins at the eastern end of the city.
Travel tip: Take a look at the center of Olhão before heading back to Faro – the attractive flat-roofed white buildings seem to belong to North Africa, not Europe.
Barreta Island / Desert Island
Just south of Faro, but accessible only by ferry or private boat, Ilha da Barreta is the place to go to unspoiled beaches without the crowds. Precisely called Ilha Deserta (Desert Island) by the locals, the island has no full-time residents, and most tourists stick to more accessible beaches.
The beach at Ilha Deserta is five miles long, with a boardwalk that runs along part of the ferry dock, but you won’t need to go far to find an empty patch of sand.
There is a restaurant on the eastern end of the island, next to the pier. It serves drinks, snacks and meals, and rents loungers and umbrellas.
How to get there: A ferry leaves from Faro during the summer months, and costs around 10 euros for a return ticket. The last service departs at 5:30 pm, and it will be an expensive speedboat ride back to the mainland if you miss it.
Travel Tip: Pack a picnic lunch if you’re on a budget – the island’s restaurant is unbeatable, which is reflected in the price of your meals.
Loule: perfect for buying souvenirs
The Algarve is more than the beaches of the coast. For a taste of history and a taste of Portuguese life in the interior of the Algarve, travel to Loulé.
The city has a Moorish castle and a maze of narrow medieval streets lined with craft workshops, but the highlight for many visitors is the historic covered market in the city center. On Saturday mornings, the regular market expands to include a farmers market as well, and the entire area comes alive with both locals and tourists.
The covered market is the perfect place to buy local handicrafts such as bags, shoes and metalwork, as well as regional food and drink specialties.
How to get there: Loule is about ten miles from Faro and is easily accessible by car or bus. The journey takes 40 minutes and costs around € 3, but services are limited on weekends. Organized day trips are also available.
Travel Tip: The covered market is closed on Sundays, and most government-run sites are closed on Mondays.
Quinta do Lago beach: arena and flamencos
Praia da Quinta do Lago is a stretch of golden sand backed by delicate wetlands, making it an interesting alternative to other beaches in the area. A 1,000-foot wooden walkway crosses the marshes, connecting the beach to the mainland, with a restaurant and bar at the end of the beach for when you’re feeling pecked.
Flamingos and other birds are abundant in the wetlands, and lifeguards are on call during the summer for those braving the cold waters. Whether you’re there to swim, sunbathe, or bird watch, you likely have plenty of room to yourself, the beach rarely gets crowded.
How to get there: It takes about half an hour to drive from Faro to the start of the walkway, or you can walk the two miles along the sand from Faro’s main beach.
Travel tip: just consider the hike from Praia de Faro on colder days – it’s a long way, with very little shade!
Tavira
Tavira is located on the Gilão River, about thirty kilometers east of Faro. It is regularly called “the most beautiful city in the Algarve”, all beautiful churches, old whitewashed buildings with terracotta roofs, cobbled streets and small fishing boats floating in the current.
Aside from a Roman bridge and a ruined castle on a hill above the city, Tavira is not really a place to mark the main tourist attractions. Instead, it’s ideal for experiencing a laid-back part of life in the small Algarve town that is largely missing from the resort areas.
Enjoy a leisurely meal at one of the excellent restaurants along the river, enjoy a drink at a shady bar in one of the many city squares, and keep snapping photos of picturesque buildings until you’ve filled out your credit card. memory.
How to get there: Tavira is a 35-minute drive from Faro, on the A22 motorway. The train lasts about the same time.
Travel Tip: Check the train schedule before your return trip, as the frequency of service varies depending on the time of day.
The western Algarve: history and natural beauty
Lagos is a popular beach destination on the western coast of the Algarve, with many restaurants, beach activities and an active nightlife. However, there is more to the region than that, with plenty for history buffs and nature lovers.
Silves, twenty miles northeast of Lagos, was the capital of the region. A ticket to Silves Castle costs less than three euros, a bargain to visit this impressive fortress. Be sure to visit the cathedral as well, this former mosque is now a national monument.
Head to rugged and isolated Cabo de Sao Vicente, the westernmost point of continental Europe, once believed to be the end of the world. Nearby Sagres is a good place to have a meal and visit the 15th century fort on a nearby promontory.
How to get there: Trains and buses run regularly between Faro and Lagos, they take less than two hours, but it is best to rent a car if you plan to visit several different parts of the western Algarve in one day.
Travel tip: Pack warm clothes if you visit Cabo de Sao Vicente, even on hot days. The Atlantic wind makes the headland noticeably colder than even a mile or two inland.
Seville: tapas and Moorish architecture
Seville, the capital of the Andalusia region in Spain, is an easy and rewarding day trip from Faro. Controlled by the Moors for 700 years, its legacy is easily seen throughout the city.
There is much more to see than you can cover in a single day, but highlights include visits to the world’s largest Gothic cathedral (admission: € 9 in 2019) and the royal palace of the Alcazar (admission: 11.50 € in 2019,) currently famous for being a Game of Thrones filming location. They are both in the beautiful Santa Cruz neighborhood, which is an attraction in its own right.
Seville is home to flamenco dancing, so try to catch a show while you’re there, and be sure to set aside an hour of leisure to watch the world go by while enjoying a drink and tapas at a local bar.
How to get there: Seville is about 125 miles east of Faro, and it takes around two hours to get there. The bus lasts three hours and costs around fifty euros round trip. It is worth checking the price for one-day guided tours, as they often don’t cost much more than the bus.
Travel Tip: Seville can get very hot in the summer, with temperatures regularly above 100 ° F. Try to visit in the shoulder season, or be prepared to limit the amount of time you spend outside.
Lisbon: crumbling beauty and good food
You don’t have to choose between the beach or the city for your vacation. Lisbon can be easily visited on a day trip, allowing you to base your beach vacation on the Algarve, but still enjoy the Portuguese capital.
You could easily spend a week exploring Lisbon, but luckily the old town is relatively compact and easy for hikers to explore on foot. Be sure to wander the narrow streets of Alfama, explore the grand, crumbling architecture of the Baixa / Chiado business district, and enjoy a riverside drink at any of the many bars and restaurants.
When you’re hungry, the Time Out Market houses outposts of some of the best restaurants in town in its sprawling food hall, or you can simply follow your nose and visit a family restaurant for a daily menu (El dia meal) .
How to get there: Lisbon is three hours by car or high-speed train from Faro. There are also day trips by minivan, with hotel pickup and drop-off, visiting many of the city’s top sites.
Travel tip: Lisbon’s hills are steep, and it often seems like all the places you want to go are uphill. Wear comfortable shoes!
Gibraltar: a slice of Great Britain on the rock
Strategically located at the tip of Spain at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, the British territory of Gibraltar is a fascinating, albeit long, day trip from Faro. Enjoy views of the famous rock and catch a glimpse of Barbary apes, the last remaining wild monkeys in Europe. However, do not get too close, especially if you have food or drink, they will be very happy to take it away!
Gibraltar’s duty-free status means things like cigarettes and alcohol are cheaper there than in Spain. If you want to buy some, you will need to exchange some money as Gibraltar uses the British pound as its currency.
How to get there: You can visit Gibraltar through a guided tour from Faro, or drive the almost four hours to the Spanish border (La Línea de la Concepción) and walk the few minutes to Gibraltar. There are no direct public transport links, with buses passing through Seville and taking most of the day to arrive.
Travel tip: when you leave and re-enter Spain, don’t forget your passport!
