subject: Visitors Guide to Faro in the Algarve [print this page] Visitors Guide to Faro in the Algarve Visitors Guide to Faro in the Algarve
Visitors to the Algarve will often only see Faro briefly as they arrive and departfrom the busy airport en route to the many resorts spread along the sandy coastline of the Algarve. The town is around a 15 minute drive from Faro Airport, from which there is a regular bus service (but no trains). Faro is notatypical resort town, and is similar in many ways to Malaga in Spain.
There are plenty of hotels, such as the Hotel Eva which is located next to Faro Marina, and is also close to the bus and train station. Faro Marina has been developed into a popular meeting point for tourists, with bars and restaurants surrounding the marina. This is the ideal spot to enjoy a traditional Algarve coffee or pastry. There is also a McDonalds opposite the marina.
Faro Old Town is just a couple of minute's walk from the marina, and the arched entrance is easily overlooked. The bell tower above the arched entrance is the home to nesting storks.
The old town iteself is a maze of cobbled streets, punctuated by small cafes and restaurants. At the centre of the old town is the attractive Faro Cathedral. Admission to the cathedral is around 3Euros. The cathedral is located in the main square which is surrounded by citrus trees.
Faro town itself does not have a beach. Faro beach is located around 3km from the airport (and around 15km from Faro town centre).There are regular buses from the town centre to the beach. Faro beach is only accessible via a bridge as it is located on a small island set withinthe Rio Formosa nature reserve. There are boat trips to the nature reserve which leave from Faro Marina. The reserve is a wetlands area which is a haven to many water birds such as herons and flamingos. The boat trips run all year round unless the weather is particularly inclement (which is not common in Faro).
The food of the Algarve region is largely based around fish, as fishing is one of the mainindustries in the Algarve.Sardines are the regional food of the Algarve, although there are plenty of other fresh fish dishes served at the local Algarve restaurants. The wines of Portugal are a hidden gem. Red wines from the Alentejo region to the north of the Algarve, and green wines (Vinho Verde) are very reasonably priced and generally of excellent quality. 3 or 4 Euros should buy you a very palatable wine in the local shops.
The climate of Faro ranges from daytime maximums of around 25-30 degrees in summer and 14-19 degrees in winter. Frost is virtually unheard ofalong the Algarve coastline, although it may be present inland in the interior region. Winter is a great time to visit the Algarve, with mainly sunny days, which warm up pleasantly in the middle of the day. The winter in the algarve is similar to late April/early May in the UK. So to escape the Northern European winter blues, why not visit a town of charm and culture, and visit the historic town of Faro.
If you require a rental car, Blue Valley Car Hire offer car hire at Faro Airport.
