Tour of Faro & The Algarve, Portugal

Faro is a city and municipality in southern Portugal, capital of the Algarve region. Faro Airport attracts vast amounts of British tourists year after year, for the sun and scenic beach resorts dotted along the southern coast of Portugal.

The view right is from Faro Cathedral looking over the town and Marina. Faro beach is not the best in the area and a bit of a trek to get to. Most people that are based in Faro use hire cars to get to the scenic beaches and towns along the Algarve coast. Local buses also run along the coast.

Portugal Map.

Faro's Old Town is dominated by the cathedral. The original Gothic church was built in the 13th century, but severely damaged during the 1755 earthquake. Only the tower and a doorway remained from that era.

From the tower, you can enjoy panoramic views of Faro and the coastline.

More Information . Google Map.

Igreja do Carmo & the Chapel of Bones are situated in the Largo Do Carmo square.

The baroque fronted church still dominates the Largo do Carmo square, even after the building of modern buildings, particularly banks.

Most visitors head for the rather weird adjacent Capela dos Ossos built out of bones by Carmelite monks - the bones are monk's bones. Their point was to remind visitors of their mortality and to shock them into a sinless life.

More Information . Google Map.

Faro's Old Town has scenic streets where their are many cafes, restaurants & shops.

Faro's main shopping street is Rua de Santo Antonio, where mainstream outlets like Mango and Zara are mixed with a collection of smaller boutiques. A handful of pedestrianised streets around Santo Antonio, lined with shops and cafes, make this a pleasant area to browse.

For a more concentrated retail hit, Forum Algarve is a shopping mall between the city centre and the airport, containing a selection of predictable high-street names.

Rua de Santo Antonio Google Map.

Faro Marina is not as large as other marinas in towns further west. The City attracts tourists that are more interested in historic sights than a beach holiday.

Anyone looking for fantastic beaches and watersport, normally base themselves in one of the many coastal towns or resorts west of Faro.

Faro Visitor Reviews . Google Map . Late Rooms . Booking.com.

The Algarve Portugal Map shows the main Beach Resorts of Vilamoura, Albufeira, Carvoeiro and Lagos, all situated west of Faro and the Airport.

Vilamoura is situated about 14 miles west of Faro Airport.

This is the name given to an area rather than to any actual town. It is outstanding in that it is one of the largest single tourist complex in Europe, covering some 2.000 hectares of land.

The land is variable in its vegetation, some parts covered in pine forests whilst others open recovered marshland.

Vilamoura is a special place, a unique leisure and recreation resort community where the pace of life is so easy it feels like summer all year round.

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Visitor Reviews.

Albufeira is situated about 29 miles west of Faro Airport.

Albufeira is one of the leading tourist resorts of the region. Facilities include a marina, golf courses plus innumerable hotels, apartment blocks, restaurants and bars, for the annual flood of visitors.

The nightlife on "The Strip", located near the Montechoro section of Albufeira, proves especially popular during the summer with all ages, but particularly the younger tourists.

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Visitor Reviews.

Carvoeiro is a picturesque fishing village situated about 42 miles west of Faro Airport.

Carvoeiro has grown over the last decades into a main tourist area as it has a number of fine beaches protected by cliffs.

There are traces of Roman habitation and naval activity in the area. There has also been a long history of pirate and enemy military assaults on the coast, and a number of naval battles here.

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Visitor Reviews.

Marinha Beach is situated a short distance east of Carvoeiro, about 39 miles west of Faro Airport.

You have to see this beach to believe it, it is picture perfect. Wide meandering steps take you from the cliff top car park to the beach below. At high tide, the beach is a narrow strip of sand, but at low tide, the adjacent coves become accessible.

The water quality and clarity here is exceptional, making Praia da Marinha ideal for snorkeling. Many different marine species can be spotted in the waters. There is a snack bar on the beach, open during the summer months, meaning you can quite happily spend an entire day here.

More Information on the area Beaches . Google Map.

Portimao is situated about 44 miles west of Faro Airport.

Portimao is ideally situated for exploring the Algarve, a region truly unique in its diversity. The coast consists of sandy beaches, magnificent colored rock formations, caves and protected nature reserves.

Golf enthusiasts are drawn by an exceptional choice of first class golf courses and comfortable, pleasant resorts like Quarteira, Portimao and Vilamoura.

The Portimao Area has five beaches, some large open expanses, and others set amongst cliffs.

Portimao is one of the main big game centre's in the Algarve, offering the chance to catch fighting swordfish and other big fish. there are also facilities for sailing, wind-surfing, para-sailing, water-skiing and scuba diving.

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Visitor Reviews.

Lagos is situated about 57 miles west of Faro Airport.

The glorious history of Lagos has always been connected to the sea. It was here that Prince Henry armed his caravels opening the way for the great voyages in the time of the Discoveries.

Lagos is a great place for all kind of water sports and nautical activities. The breathtaking golden rocks of the Costa d’Oiro are one of Portugal's most photographed motif. But Lagos has much more to offer: a rich cultural scene, some of the best Algarvian gastronomy, outdoors activities and traditional handicraft.

The Lagos Area has 7 beaches close to, & including Praia do Camilo, a small sandy beach situated in a rocky bay west of Lagos.

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Visitor Reviews.

Silves is an historic town situated a short distance inland from Portimao, about 40 miles west of Faro Airport.

Silves was once on a par with Lisbon as a strategic Portuguese location.

Silves Castle reveals some of the details around its history as an important Moorish capital, particularly from the 11th the 13th Century.

A huge red sandstone castle, a choice of historic museums including the renowned Museum of Cork, a mix of chic cafes, restaurants and bars and local golf and horse riding are a few things you can expect in beautiful Silves.

Visitor Reviews . Google Map .

For more information on Faro, visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faro,_Portugal.

Fishing: www.biggamefishing.info * www.tightlines-portugal.com/sea-fishing * www.cruzeiros-da-oura.com/algarve-fishing-charters * www.biggamefishinginalgarve.com * www.algarveseafishing.com *