Faro is the capital city of Algarve in Portugal. This city is much more than just the gateway to Portugal’s stunning Algarve region. In this article, you can read about all the best places to see for first-time visitors. These are the main sights in Faro town and its immediate vicinity that are worth your time the most. There are numerous options for where to go in Faro. Whether you wish for a relaxing vacation, to enrich yourself in history and culture, to commune with nature, or to bask under the sun at an amazing beach. Enjoy authentic Portuguese food, or wander around the quaint shops, Faro will not disappoint.
Here are the Best Attractions in Faro
1. Ria Formosa Natural Park
Ria Formosa Natural Park is located at the southernmost tip of Portugal’s Algarve. It is a scenic swirl of freshwater lagoons, sandy islands, and lush salt marshlands. This stunning coastal lagoon is protected from the ocean by several islands. The park has the coast between Manta Rota and Vale do Lobo. Ria Formosa Natural Park is best known for its varied topography and diverse bird life. Visitors can have fantastic birdwatching opportunities. There are many ways to visit Ria Formosa from Faro. Visitors can take a boat, there are also segway tours and bike tours available.
2. Old Walled Town
If you are planning to visit Faro, the best place to start your visit is the historic Old Town. There are a few main landmarks that you absolutely shouldn’t miss here. Explore Arco da Villa, the 19th-century city gate is the main entrance to the historic center of Faro. At this place, visitors can learn more about the history of the Faro. Old Town has old monuments like the cathedral and a former convent that’s now the city’s main museum. The place of the old town is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and elegant buildings such as the former Bishop’s Palace and the Town Hall.
3. Carmo Church
Carmo Church is as much a site of devotion for locals as a sightseeing prize for tourists. Brazilian gold leaf covers much of the rich interior of this church. The main attraction is the macabre Chapel of Bones. Covered with the skulls and bones of over a thousand monks, the chapel was added in 1816 to the church dating from 1719. There is a more ghoulish attraction behind the church, the Capela dos Ossos.
4. Faro Municipal Museum
Faro Municipal Museum is located in an old convent building inside the walled part of the old town. This museum is by far the most interesting in Faro. It was selected as the region’s richest museum. The museum displays a huge Roman mosaic and sculptures of emperors found in the Roman ruins of Milreu. The Mosaic of Oceanus dates from the 2nd to 3rd centuries. Faro Municipal Museum has temporary exhibitions and also organizes Fado concerts.
5. Ilha do Farol
Ilha do Farol is the westernmost island of the Rio Formosa. It can be only accessible by car. This place has a stunning beach that most tourists have not yet discovered. That means it is a remote destination. Ilha do Farol is named after a tall 19th-century lighthouse that stands by the beach. Visitors get an opportunity to admire the Faro skyline and the lagoons of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, inhabited by various wildlife.
6. Sao Pedro Church
Sao Pedro Church is in an isolated, rural location between the main sights of Faro Old Town and Carmo Church. The church was the victim of the 1755 earthquake. Sao Pedro Church was rebuilt in the baroque style of the late 18th century. The church exterior was kept plain, while the interior was embellished with a profusion of gold and superb blue-and-white tile panels. Explore the stork nests on the roof or bell tower. There is no fee to visit.
7. Palacio de Estoi
The village of Estoi is a rural town in the Algarve that is traditional and away from the bustling city life. The palace has regal gardens and dusky pink walls adorned with domes and statues. It boasts of its most important visitor attraction and deservedly a local landmark. Palacio de Estoi was built in the 19th century. The palace is significant to the town’s cultural history. Today Palacio de Estoi is a lavish hotel.