European Travel Magazine - Issue 2 - November 2013 Nov 2013 | Page 7

e u r o p e a n t r av e l m aga z i n e

7

Things To See
And Do In Faro

As the capital of Portugal’s ever popular Algarve
region, Faro is overflowing with things to see and
do.

With temperatures reaching the high teens through
the winter and average
temperatures regularly
exceeding a scorching
30 degrees from June to
September, Faro’s Mediterranean climate is ideal
for anyone wanting to
escape the British winter
chill or to take advantage
of continental Europe’s
great summer weather.

Praia de Faro is Faro’s most
easily accessible beach,
and is a short bus ride
from the centre of Faro.
Other beaches are situated
on the sand spits (‘ilhas’)
in the area, and can be
reached by ferry, which
leave regularly from the
pier in Porta Nova. These
beaches feature idyllic
stretches of white sand,
and are great for a peaceful few hours of relaxation.
The Ilha de Barreta is a
particularly beautiful beach
which doesn’t get too busy.
For anyone wanting to
explore Portugal’s great
outdoors, Faro is conveniently situated beside
the Ria Formosa lagoon.
It is a Portuguese Natural Park, and is visited by
around 30,000 birds each

year, so is a prime spot for
birdwatchers. There are
also bars and restaurants
in the area if you want to
get out of the city centre.

The old town is brimming
with winding streets and
outdoor cafes for a pitstop
from the sun, where all
sorts of traditional Portuguese dishes can be picked
up. Food in Faro is reasonably priced, and it isn’t
unusual for Faro’s residents
to enjoy a full sit-down
meal for lunch. People in
Faro tend to be very laidback, and there is a strong
focus on fun and socialising. Cities in the Algarve
are also known for serving
up a variety of top quality
Portuguese wines , so wine
buffs can take advantage of
the relatively cheap prices
to try a tipple or two.
As for those looking for a
spot of Portuguese culture or to learn a little
more about the history of
the area, there are some
fascinating museums
documenting the Algarve’s
archaeological findings,
cultural heritage and maritime history. These are a
winner for curious kids and
history-loving adults alike,

overflowing with things to see and do .

and are a brilliant way to
while away a few hours.

If you want to see some
of the lesser-known parts
of Faro, you might want
to head to the forest close
to the Praia de Faro. Here
you can spot birds, butterflies and lizards, and is
a secluded, serene place to
go for a walk. If you hire a
car in Faro you can explore
the attractive whitewashed
hillside town of Alte, which
is around a 45 minute drive
from Faro Airport. It’s surrounded by trees and feels
authentically Portuguese,
and is just 20 minutes from
the beaches of Albufeira.
Faro Cathedral, in its
Renaissance and Baroque
style, is located in the
heart of Faro’s medieval
quarter, and is a must-see.
The sprawling vistas of the
Algarve can be observed
by climbing the cathedral’s
tower. Another rather more
macabre experience is
a trip to the Capela dos
Ossos, decorated with
the skulls and bones of
more than 1,000 monks.

Faro’s marina

Faro’s Civil
Government
building

The City Hall

Carmo Church

There are so many options
in Faro that your only prob- Square in central
lem might be fitting it all in!
Faro