Faro is a small Portuguese town in the Algarve. It’s a popular destination when planning a holiday in this part of the country. Faro attracts many visitors all year round. The question of where to stay soon arises. In fact, the choice of where to stay or what neighborhood to live in depends very much on the means of transport you’ll be using. To determine where to stay in Faro, it’s essential to take a number of factors into account: where are the best places to visit? Which areas are the most lively? Which neighborhood is closest to the airport?
Our accommodation guide below will help you answer these questions when planning your trip to Faro.
We’ll start by covering the essential points you need to know about the city and its surroundings to help you choose the right place to stay. We’ll then go into more detail about each district, its appeal, its strengths and weaknesses in terms of setting, as well as the cost of staying there, entertainment and location. You’ll also find recommendations for hotels and vacation rentals to help you choose your accommodation in Faro.
Finally, we offer a summary map of our recommended places to stay in Faro
Main information
Before going into the description of the places to target when selecting accommodation in Faro, here are the essentials to know from a tourist point of view. They should give you a better idea of the city and its constraints.
Our favorite places to stay
For those in a hurry, here are our favorite places to stay in Faro:
- $ Right in the historic center, this guesthouse offers rooms at very attractive rates,
- $$ this hotel, a stone’s throw from the Cidade Velha, has very modern rooms,
- $$$ this high-class establishment is certainly Faro’s most renowned.
Map of Faro’s different districts to stay in
To give you a quick overview of the different places we recommend to stay in Faro, you’ll find on the map below all the Faro accommodation recommendations we’ll be sharing in this guide. You can also use it to locate the various neighborhoods we’ll be detailing.
The essentials for choosing where to stay in Faro
Where to stay in Faro and the surrounding area
Let’s get to the heart of the matter with a review of the main areas where we recommend staying in Faro.
La Cidade Velha: Faro's historic center
Faro's historic center is known as the Cidade Velha. It's a small fortified town in the heart of the Algarve's capital. You enter through the imperial gates, Arco da Vila, just a stone's throw from Manuel Bivar's garden. The archway features a statue of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the city's saint.
Cidade Velha is a very charming area where to stay. It's Faro's most popular area in which to stay. It is home to most of the city's cultural attractions. In fact, it's here that you'll find many restaurants and bars. The atmosphere is great, especially in summer, during the high season. It's also easy to stroll through the typical Portuguese streets. It's an opportunity to discover many regional houses.
And you won't want to miss the famous cathedral, an emblematic monument. Discover this magnificent edifice and its museum, not forgetting its lovely gardens. It's a very pleasant visit to make, especially with the whole family. Before leaving, don't forget to climb to the top of the tower fora unique view of Faro and the sea.
To the west is the ferry terminal. Here, you can take a boat to other islands or to Faro beach. The crossing takes around forty minutes and costs very little (watch out for the tourist traps who sometimes charge exorbitant prices). You can also get there by bus for the same amount of time and at a low cost, or by car in around 20 minutes.
As you can see, staying here during your stay in Faro is undoubtedly the best option. What's more, there are plenty of places to stay to suit all budgets.
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Spacious rooms in a typically Portuguese guesthouse with traditional decor. All rooms include a terrace. The price per night is very attractive.
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Hotel located a stone's throw from the Cidade Velha. The rooms are very modern and it is possible to choose to have a balcony at the time of booking. The complex also features a wellness area and bar.
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Beautiful apartment located in the center of Faro. The apartment has a balcony with a superb view of the city. It is close to all the places of interest in the area.
Staying downtown
It is located just north of the historic heart. This part of the city is similar to the one mentioned above. The atmosphere is just as charming and authentic, thanks to its typically Portuguese-style alleyways.
Here, you'll find just as many restaurants, cafés and bars. But, in contrast to the historic center, it's also a great place for shopping. In fact, it's easy to visitlocal craft stores to pick up Portuguese specialties and/or souvenirs! This is where you'll find the Alianca café, Portugal's third oldest.
If you'd like to discover other places of interest, don't hesitate to visit the following:
- the Municipal Market, a covered market operating like a covered market hall, where you can find local produce and Portuguese specialties for a good price
- the Carmel de Faro church and its Chapel of Bones, whose walls are covered with human skulls
- st. Peter's Church, a beautiful place of worship
To the west of the area lies the marina. It's the ideal place to stroll around the area, especially in the evening. There are a number of restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy the marina atmosphere. In summer, there are sometimes shows and even free concerts. You can also choose the marina as the starting point for an excursion to other Algarve islands.
As with the historic center, the downtown area is a popular place to stay. The accommodation on offer is very attractive.
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Charming youth hostel located in the heart of downtown Faro. Private rooms can be booked for 2 or 4 people maximum. Other rooms are shared (bathroom, kitchen, dormitories, etc.). The establishment is very pleasant for the price.
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This aparthotel north of the historic city center offers elegantly furnished apartments of various sizes. Some even have a small balcony. Parking is available.
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Located in the heart of Cidade Velha, this luxury hotel is the most renowned in the capital of the Algarve. Facilities include 2 swimming pools (one indoor, one outdoor), 2 restaurants, a spa and a hammam. It's a very good 5-star place to stay in the Algarve for a short break.
Lodging near the beach on Faro Island
Faro beach is located on a large island to the west of the city. This long, sandy coastline can be seen from the other side of the lagoon. It's crowded with tourists in high season, but it's easy to find a quiet spot along this immense sandbank.
The island of Faro is easily reached by car, bus or on foot via the only bridge crossing the lagoon. The island can also be reached by ferry from the center.
There are a number of restaurants, cafés and bars on the island. However, this is not where you'll find Faro's best atmosphere. In fact, it's a very narrow area where hotels are rare or non-existent. The only places to stay are youth hostels or seasonal rentals. As you can see, the accommodation on offer in this area is very limited.
What's more, it's not in this part of the city that you'll find many activities to keep you entertained during your stay. Indeed, apart from the sea, there's nothing to be found. But if you want to mingle with surfers or beach volleyball players, this is the place for you. As you can see, staying on this island is a great way to make the most of the Atlantic. However, it's not the best place to stay in Faro to discover its historic center!
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This beachfront studio has a terrace with sea views. Small seaside bars and restaurants are nearby. It's a good place to stop if you want to spend a few relaxing days by the sea.
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Large villa on the seafront. Ideal for family vacations or groups of friends. The terrace offers exceptional sea views. Private parking is also available.
Montenegro, Faro's suburbs
The Montenegro sector is located outside the center of Faro, to the northwest of the city. It's a residential area more suited to families. There are playgrounds and green spaces where you can enjoy the city with your children.
Staying in Montenegro means deciding to live at the pace of the Farenses (Faro's inhabitants). The atmosphere is calm and relaxing. You'll still find plenty of restaurants and bars to liven up your stay. What's more, you can easily get to the airport or Faro beach, as this is the closest district. It takes less than 10 minutes by car and around 20 minutes by bike or bus to reach the sea. And 5 minutes by car and 10 minutes by bus to the airport.
As for accommodation, there's plenty to choose from. In fact, the supply is quite high, and accommodation is very reasonably priced. Rental apartments in particular. This part of the city is also renowned for its many villas, often with gardens and swimming pools. Ideal for vacations with family or friends.
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Hotel complex with beautiful, modern rooms. Rooms with balconies are also available. The hotel also offers breakfast and free private parking. Excellent value for money.
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Very spaciousapartment ideal for 4 people. The apartment is equipped with a terrace and barbecue facilities. It also offers free access to an outdoor swimming pool.
Stay outside Faro: the fishing village of Olhao
Olhao is a small port village to the east of Faro, known as the fishing village of the region. It's a little out of the way from the rest of the city, but can easily be reached in around 20 minutes by car, and 30 minutes by bus. This makes it a great alternative for accommodation.
This is a very authentic Portuguese town. You'll find charming little streets to wander around and admire the atypical houses. There are a number of interesting things to do when you're in Olhao:
- a visit to the Ria Formosa nature park, where you can stroll among the flora and fauna and discover different species of birds
- visit theMatriz de Nossa church
- enjoy the local atmosphere at the Olhao market. It's a friendly place where you can discover many local products. It's also worth sampling the specialities of the market's seafront restaurants.
- take a stroll around the marina. Even if there are no restaurants or bars, it's a calm and relaxing place. You'll even find companies offering cruises lasting a few hours.
To enjoy the sea, there are ferries to the islands of Culatra and Armona. Culatra beach is made of fine sand. It's a fairly quiet spot, just 10 minutes from the pier. Armona beach is a little further from the ferry terminal. It's also a beautiful white-sand beach, but the current is quite strong on this side.
In short, Olhao is a lively seaside village with many restaurants and bars. And as far as accommodation is concerned, you'll easily find a place to stay for a very reasonable price.
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Guesthouse offering traditionally decorated rooms. The accommodation is on the seafront and close to the ferry terminal for the islands. The price is very attractive for the quality of the services on offer.
Summary
To sum up, Faro’s main activities are to be found in the center, which can be visited mainly on foot. Faro’s central location is therefore a big plus: if you’re looking to stay here, you’ll want to give priority to the city center and the historic center.
If you want to keep your budget in check, or move a little closer to the beaches, you’ll easily find where to stay in the surrounding areas. At the expense of journey times, however.
Pleasant to live in and with a good climate, Faro attracts many European tourists. But don’t panic, there’s a wide choice of hotels and tourist rentals to suit all standards and prices. So, as they say, you’ll always find something to suit you!