Flight to Faro (FAO) from 1,369 DKK

Flying to Faro: tips and information for your trip

From its beautiful coastline to its stunning architecture, Faro, Portugal is a little-explored treasure trove for travellers. Sunseekers can catch the rays on miles of sandy beaches, while a plethora of museums and ancient churches serve up historical curios galore. Faro's many restaurants are full of dishes based on the fresh seafood this seaside city has in abundance. And with the bars on its charming medieval streets staying lively late into dawn, Faro’s nightlife is surprisingly buzzing.

Pay a visit to this often-overlooked city in the Algarve for one of the friendliest atmospheres in Europe.

Book your cheap Faro flights with Brussels Airlines today and start exploring this charming city in southern Portugal.

What to do in Faro?

1. Explore Faro’s Old Town. Beautifully preserved, the Cidade Velha – Portuguese for 'old city' – is a trip back in time. Enter through the neoclassical Arco da Vila, then follow the winding, cobblestone streets to discover ancient squares and churches in this little corner of history, almost untouched by modern life.
2. See the Sé. At the centre of the Cidade Velha, you'll find the main local landmark: the Sé, a cathedral built in 1251, which also houses the city's Museu Capitular. Architecture buffs will find the mixture of Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic styles fascinating.
3. Go to the beach. The sloping, sandy banks of Faro’s Beach – Praia de Faro – go on for several miles and rarely ever get crowded.
4. Take in a show. Faro has a thriving theatre scene, centred on the Teatro Lethes. Built in 1865, this venue has a beautiful, ornate design, with superb acoustics and an intimate ambience.
5. Go museum-hopping around Faro. Top things to do in this city, especially for history lovers, definitely include exploring the many museums this part of Portugal has to offer. Apart from the Museu Capitular, there's the award-winning Municipal Museum of Faro, with its collection of artefacts from the prehistoric, Roman and medieval eras. The Regional Museum of the Algarve is home to life-sized exhibits of rural life in the Algarve. The Maritime Museum, meanwhile, honours Faro's seafaring tradition with scale models of ancient sea vessels.
6. Sail to a deserted island. The sandy Barreta Island (also called Ilha Deserta) is just off the coast of Faro. With no permanent inhabitants, and about 10 kilometres of beach, its isolation makes it a paradise for sunseekers.
7. In the Ria Formosa National Park, visitors will find the Ria Formosa Lagoon. Deep blue with a maze of channels and abundant wildlife, it's a paradise for divers and nature lovers.
8. Play golf. Faro, Portugal’s finest blend of plains and rolling hills, is ideal for this sport, with a number of golf courses around the area.

Practical information for your trip

• Brussels Airlines flights to Faro land at Faro Algarve Airport, which is the main Algarve airport. To reach the city centre, you can rent a car at the Faro airport car hire desks. For taxis, there are several Faro airport transfer companies operating from the airport. You can also take bus no. 16 or 14 into town.
• Currency: Euro. Many places will accept credit cards, but having some cash on you is always a good idea for smaller places.
• Telephone calls and Wi-Fi: The country code is +351. Free Wi-Fi is widely available throughout public areas in the city.
• Electric sockets: Types F. Standard voltage is 230 V, and standard frequency, 50 Hz. Visitors from the UK or the US will need an adapter.
• Travel Information: Portugal is a full member of the Schengen Area. Non-EU citizens require a valid passport with a minimum of 6 valid months remaining. Children travelling with you must have their own passport or ID card.

Dos and Don’ts

• To really see more of Faro, rent a car. There is free parking within the city at Largo de São Francisco. The Algarve region is easy to drive in thanks to frequent road signs and fewer toll roads. Popular towns to visit in the region, which are both under 45 minutes from Faro, include Silves and Tavira.
• The Portuguese language and culture emphasise politeness, so saying "please" and "thank you" is a must.
• People in Faro are usually extremely helpful. If you ask for directions and appear not to understand, people will often walk you to the place you are going, even if they are headed the other way.
• Be careful to book your Faro holidays well in advance of the busy high season. Do the same for the low season too, as many places close during that period. Low season accommodation is often dramatically cheaper, so it’s a great time to try out the more luxurious Faro villas and boutique hotels.

Local phrases & essential vocabulary

Here are some essential phrases of Portuguese to help you get by:

• Hello: Olá!
• Good morning/good day: Bom dia
• Good evening: Boa tarde
• Good night: Boa noite
• Goodbye: Adeus
• Please: Por favor
• Thank you: Obrigado/a
• You're welcome: Você é bem-vindo
• Yes: Sim
• No: Não
• How are you?: Como está?
• Fine, thank you. And you?: Estou bem, obrigado/a. E o você?
• Sorry / Excuse me: Desculpe
• Do you speak English?: Fala inglês?
• I don't understand: Não compreendo
• What's your name?: Como se chama?
• My name is...: Chamo-me...
• Pleased to meet you: Prazer!

Cultural events

• Famed for its seafood, Faro hosts an annual festival in honour of local maritime cuisine from the end of July to the first week of August. Called the Festa da Ria Formosa, it takes place in the Old Town, looking onto the Ria Formosa where much of the fish on sale is caught. The festival features live music and dancing, as well as dozens of stalls and mouth-watering open-air cooking shows.
• Faro also holds its annual city holiday on 7 September.

When to go to Faro?

Faro has a hot, Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures range from 27-35 degrees Celsius in the dry summer period, and fall to 17-18 degrees in the mild, rainy winters. Visit in the summer to enjoy the beaches in a city that never gets as crowded as nearby resort towns, even at peak times. In the winter, it’s a peaceful, sunny getaway – a great time to book your Faro city break.

What to eat

• Its proximity to the ocean gives Faro a ready source of the freshest seafood. Griddled clams and oysters are a popular offering at many a Faro restaurant, while the best fish is slowly grilled over charcoal, fisherman-style.
• Try the delicious montanheira salad made with tomato, oregano and the sumptuous local cheeses.
• For sweets, try morgados: small cakes made with almond flour and pumpkin, or the local stuffed figs and fig truffles.