One day in Faro itinerary – Top things to do in Faro, Portugal

Faro is often overlooked by tourists who use it only as a gateway to the beach resorts that line the Algarve coast, but this place has a lot more to it than just the airport. So before following the bikini clad crowds, spare a day or two to discover what this cute little town has to offer. One full day is the perfect amount of time to get to know Faro.

One day in Faro itinerary

GUEST POST BY ASHLEIGH AND SEAN MURPHY
BLOG: TRAVELING TOGETHER

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Time seems to stand still in this sleepy little town, and there is an overall sense of calm to the whole place. Don’t come here planning to rush from sight to sight. Take your time to enjoy the atmosphere and soak in the laid back culture of Faro.

Plan your trip to Faro

1. What’s the best time to visit Faro?
2. One day in Faro itinerary
2.1. Breakfast
2.2. Visit the Cathedral
2.3. Coffee time
2.4. Stroll the center of Faro
2.5. Have a lunch
2.6. Walk around the marina
2.7. Gawk at the storks nesting
2.8. Visit the Faro Old Town
2.9. It’s time to cool down and have some cocktails
2.10. Dinner time
2.11. Nightlife in Faro
2.12. Extra activities
3. Where to Stay in Faro
4. Extra tips for visiting Faro

What’s the best time to visit Faro?

TIP: Need a transport from/to an airport? Pre-book your transfer with Welcomepickups. They offer the cheapest prices and most comfortable ride along with the possibility to pre-order essential travel products.

The Algarve is based along the southern coast of Portugal and gets really hot and busy during the summer months. May and September are still sunny, but it’s a little cooler and much more comfortable.

Faro
Faro, Author: Rui Ornelas, Source: Flickr

One day in Faro itinerary

Follow this guide and make the most of your trip even if you’re short on time. These are the top sights and things to do during your one day in Faro.

Breakfast

09:30 – Start the day right with an incredibly healthy (and yummy!) breakfast at Madalena, you will feel healthier just looking at the menu. A fresh bowl of blended fruit and yogurt, topped with granola and strawberries for only €5.

Visit the Cathedral

10:30 – Take a 5 minute walk up towards the cathedral Igreja do Carmo and take some obligatory photos. On the way, you will pass the also beautiful Igreja de Sao Pedro.

Igreja de Sao Pedro, Faro
Igreja de Sao Pedro, Faro, Authors: Ashleigh and Sean Murphy

Coffee time

11:30 – Wander back downhill towards the small town centre and it’s time for a coffee at one of the many outside cafes in Faro, or maybe treat yourself to a beautiful homemade ice cream at Chelsea.

Outside Cafe Terraces, Faro
Outside Cafe Terraces in Faro, Authors: Ashleigh and Sean Murphy

Stroll the center of Faro

12:30 – The centre of Faro is quite small, an hour strolling through the streets and marveling at the architecture is more than enough time to appreciate the tilled store fronts.

Streets of Faro
Streets of Faro, Author: dronepicr, Source: Flickr

Have a lunch

13:30 – Stop for lunch at The Woods, sit upstairs on Thor rooftop terrace and enjoy a Mediterranean salad and maybe a cheeky lunchtime cocktail as you take in your first sight of the marina.

Walk around the marina

14:30 – After lunch, take a walk around the marina and pick which boat you’re buying after you win the lottery! Don’t forget to take the all-important selfie next to the big Faro sign.

Marina, Faro
Marina, Faro, Author: dronepicr, Source: Flickr

Gawk at the storks nesting

15:30 – Stop to gawk at the storks nesting above the main gateway to the old town, there are hundreds of them nested all over the Algarve. Even after you’ve seen the first 15, you will still be taking photos of every single nest you pass. If you’re lucky, you will pass one with a few baby chicks poking their heads out.

Stork nests, Faro
Stork nests, Faro, Author: Greg Pye, Source: Flickr
Stork nests, Faro
Stork nests, Faro, Author: cat_collector, Source: Flickr

Visit the Faro Old Town

16:00 – Bird watching out the way, head under the archway into the old town and spend a few hours getting lost in the cobblestoned alleyways. At the centre of the old town is yet another church, the Igreja de Se, which stands as the centrepiece of a beautiful courtyard surrounded by orange trees, (you will need to be tall to pick one though).

Old Town, Faro
Old Town, Faro, Author: Jerome Bon, Source: Flickr

It’s time to cool down and have some cocktails

18:00 – For pre-dinner drinks, stay within the walls of the old town and head to O Castelo for some fantastic cocktails with a beautiful view over the lagoon at their outdoor seating area. Its right on the seafront, and the breeze makes it a perfect place to cool down after a day of walking.

Dinner time

19:30 – For dinner, try some real Portuguese food at Vila Adentro, (they also have a good vegetarian section).

Nightlife in Faro

21:30 – Walk back through the marina and onto R. Conselheiro Bivar, which is where most of the nightlife happens. Aperitivo has a nice décor and atmosphere, their outside area is decorated with fairy lights wrapped around orange trees. There are also one or two night clubs along this road for those who are really adventurous.

Evening in Faro
Evening in Faro, Author: dronepicr, Source: Flickr

Extra activities

If you have a little bit more time to spare, then book yourself onto a boat tour of the lagoon. There are a few different companies that offer daily tours from the main jetty just outside the old town walls. Or even spend an hour or two in the Museum ‘Museu Arqueologico’ in the old town, tickets are €5/pp.

Faro lagoon
Faro lagoon, Author: Rui Ornelas, Source: Flickr

Where to Stay in Faro

Faro Boutique Hotel

Faro Boutique Hotel

Rua do Bocage 66, 8000-297 Faro

Faro Boutique Hotel is a super stylish boutique hotel, located only a short walk from the Old Town. The hotel has a really fine design, and bright and modern rooms make it a perfect for all types of visitors. Some rooms have a furnished balcony. The hotel features a rooftop terrace with views of the Ria Formosa and the city of Faro.

BOOK A ROOM HERE

Stay Hotel Faro Centro

Stay Hotel Faro Centro

Rua de Portugal Nº17, 8000-281 Faro

Stay Hotel Faro Centro provides a comfortable and modern stay in the center of Faro, only a short walk to Rua Santo António and not that far from Cathedral. The rooms feature simple furniture, tile floors and typical regional decor. The hotel has a terrace and a bar where it offers you rich buffet-style breakfast.

BOOK A ROOM HERE

Guest House Sao Filipe

The Guest House Sao Filipe

Rua Infante D. Henrique, 55-1º, 8000-363 Faro

The Guest House Sao Filipe is a very present surprise for the price. Room have private bathrooms and are clean and modern, there is a small laundry room and an outside area with washing lines set up for you to dry your clothes. Rooms are compact but perfect for 1 or 2 nights, and it’s right next to the train station.

BOOK A ROOM HERE

Well'Come! to The Backyard House

Hostel stay

If you prefer a hostel stay, Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel is one of the top rated hostels in the area, centrally locates. Another great hostel is Well’Come! to The Backyard House right next to the bus station. Besides dormitory room, Well’Come! to The Backyard House features private rooms as well.

Extra tips for visiting Faro

– The airport is about 10 minutes from the city center. If you’d like to prebook your transfer from or to the airport, Welcome Pickups is probably the best option for it. And in case you forgot some travel essential items, you can always order them with Welcome and the bag will wait for you at the airport.

– The train station is about a 10 minute walk to the marina area.

– It was really easy to find a cashpoint (ATM), but it’s worth mentioning that we did notice quite a few signs in café windows etc. that said ‘cash only’.

– Food and drink all over the Algarve is very reasonably priced, we spent 10 days here and never spent more than €25 per meal.

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Best of Faro, Portugal - What to do and where to stayA complete one day itinerary for Faro, Portugal

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Ashleigh and Sean Murphy
Ashleigh and Sean Murphy
Travel Bloggers at Traveling Together

Ashleigh and Sean Murphy are a married couple who are fairly new to the blogging game, they have been traveling the world together since 2008. Now they have quit their desk jobs and are preparing to embark on the ultimate adventure, traveling full time with a tight budget, they will be uploading their blog regularly for anybody who wants to follow along on their journey. They are both lovers of animals in the wild so expect plenty of nature photos.

8 comments

  1. Hello,

    Its a very nice itinerary, I am planning for a days visit to Faro this Jan(not the best of times to visit I know :\) and this blog gave me a good sketch of the plan. Thanks 🙂

  2. What a lovely itinerary, thanks a lot for every detail, I will be visiting the city in 3 three days, and I will definitely do the same until 5.pm cause I’ll have to catch the bus.

  3. Thank you for breaking down the must see highlights in Faro. I’m in the process of planning an itinerary for my first trip to Portugal and want to include as many places as possible. Faro looks amazing.

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