Faro packs a surprising amount into its compact centre. You can walk from the marina to the cathedral in under 10 minutes, catch a ferry to a deserted barrier island, and be back in time for grilled sardines at a dockside restaurant. Most visitors use Faro as a gateway to the Algarve’s resort towns, but the city itself rewards a day or two of exploration. Here are the best things to do in Faro, with opening hours, ticket prices, and practical tips for each.
Things to Do in Faro: History and Culture
Faro Cathedral (Se)
Built on the site of a Roman forum and later a mosque, Faro’s cathedral dates from the 13th century with significant 17th-century renovations after the 1596 English raid. Climb the bell tower for the best panoramic view of the old town, marina, and Ria Formosa. The interior mixes Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements. The small museum upstairs displays religious artefacts and vestments. Entry costs around EUR 5 (cash preferred). Open Monday to Friday 10:00-18:30, Saturday 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00. Closed Sundays. The tower climb involves about 50 narrow stone steps; not suitable for those with mobility issues. See our Faro weather by month for more details. See our best time to visit Faro for more details.
Capela dos Ossos (Bone Chapel)
Inside the Igreja do Carmo on Largo do Carmo, this small 19th-century chapel is lined with the bones and skulls of over 1,000 Carmelite monks, arranged in geometric patterns on the walls and ceiling. It’s smaller than the famous Bone Chapel in Evora but well preserved and genuinely atmospheric. Entry costs EUR 4 (includes the church and chapel). Open Monday to Friday 10:00-18:00, Saturday 10:00-17:00. The chapel is behind the main church; enter through the church gift shop. Photography is allowed but flash is prohibited. The church itself is an ornate example of Portuguese Baroque with extensive gold-leaf woodcarving.
Arco da Vila and the Old Town Walls
The Arco da Vila is the main gateway into Faro’s walled old town (Cidade Velha), built in the early 19th century on the site of a medieval gate. Walk through and you’re immediately in the cobbled lanes of the old quarter. The gate incorporates a small tourism office inside (pick up a free map). The walls themselves date from the Moorish period (9th-13th centuries) with later Portuguese additions. You can walk a section of the walls near the cathedral for harbour views. Free to visit, accessible 24/7. The area inside the walls is small: about 200 metres across. You can see the main sights (cathedral, town hall, Bishop’s Palace courtyard) in under an hour.
Museu Municipal de Faro
Housed in the 16th-century Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assuncao, Faro’s municipal museum displays Roman mosaics, Moorish-era pottery, and a collection of 16th-20th century Portuguese paintings. The standout exhibit is the 3rd-century Roman mosaic of Oceanus, discovered near Faro train station in 1976. The Renaissance cloister with its azulejo tile panels is worth the visit alone. Entry costs EUR 2. Open Tuesday to Friday 10:00-18:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:30-17:00. Closed Mondays. Allow 45-60 minutes.
Things to Do in Faro: Outdoors and Nature
Ria Formosa Natural Park Boat Tour
The Ria Formosa is a 60-kilometre chain of barrier islands, lagoons, and salt marshes designated as a natural park in 1987. It’s one of Portugal’s most important wetland ecosystems, home to flamingos, spoonbills, purple gallinules, and the rare Portuguese water dog. Boat tours depart from Faro marina (near the train station) and typically last 2-4 hours. Options include dolphin-watching excursions (common dolphins are frequently spotted), birdwatching tours with a naturalist guide, and sunset cruises. Prices range from EUR 25-45 per person for a standard tour to EUR 60-80 for a private small-boat trip. Operators include Islands 4 You, Animaris, and Formosamar. Book at the kiosks along the marina or online a day ahead in summer. The best months for birdwatching are October to March, when thousands of migratory birds overwinter here.
Ilha Deserta (Deserted Island)
Ilha Deserta (officially Ilha da Barreta) is the southernmost point of mainland Portugal and the only barrier island in the Ria Formosa with no permanent buildings. A regular ferry runs from Faro marina: EUR 15 round-trip (adult), EUR 7.50 (child 4-12), free for under-4s. The crossing takes about 35-45 minutes depending on tides. Ferries depart at 10:00, 11:15, 12:30, 13:45, and 15:00 in summer; reduced winter schedule (check times at the marina kiosk). Once there, you’ll find a 7-kilometre stretch of white-sand beach, a single wooden boardwalk, and O Estamine restaurant (the only building on the island, serving fresh seafood). There’s no shade, no freshwater, and no facilities beyond the restaurant toilets. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. The beach is clothing-optional at the far southern end. See our Faro events and festivals for more details.
Ilha do Farol
Slightly more developed than Ilha Deserta, Ilha do Farol has a working lighthouse (the name means “Lighthouse Island”), a small fishing community, and several casual seafood restaurants. The beach here faces the open Atlantic and has stronger surf than the lagoon-side beaches. Ferry from Faro takes about 50 minutes, EUR 15-18 round-trip. There’s a cafe near the lighthouse and basic toilet facilities. The lighthouse itself isn’t open to the public, but the walk along the pier offers good photo opportunities. Combine with Ilha Deserta on a full-day island-hopping boat tour (EUR 35-45) that visits both islands plus the lagoon channels where you’re likely to see birdlife. See our Faro neighborhoods guide for more details.
Praia de Faro
Praia de Faro is the city’s main beach, a 5-kilometre stretch of sand on the Ilha de Faro barrier island, accessible by road (unlike Ilha Deserta). Bus 16 runs from Faro bus station to Praia de Faro every 30-60 minutes (EUR 2.50 one-way, 20-minute journey). Driving takes about 15 minutes; parking costs EUR 1-2 per hour at beach lots that fill by 10:00 in summer. The beach has lifeguards (summer only), sunbed and umbrella rentals (EUR 12-15/day for two beds and an umbrella), and a string of beach bars and restaurants along the access road. The water is generally calm on the lagoon side and wavier on the Atlantic side. Surf lessons are available from Algarve Surf School (EUR 35 for a 2-hour group lesson). The beach narrows at high tide, so check tide tables before heading out. See our where to stay in Faro for more details.
Things to Do in Faro: Food and Experiences
Mercado Municipal de Faro
Faro’s covered market on Largo Dr. Francisco Sa Carneiro is a two-storey 1940s building where locals buy fish, produce, cheese, and bread. The ground floor is the fish market with stalls selling the morning’s catch (arrive before 10:00 for the best selection): sardines (EUR 3-5/kg in summer), dourada (sea bream), robalo (sea bass), and octopus. Upstairs, vendors sell Algarve almonds, dried figs, medronho (local fruit brandy), and pasteis de nata. The market is surrounded by small cafes where you can get a bica (espresso, EUR 0.70) and a pastel de nata (EUR 1.20). Open Monday to Saturday 07:00-15:00. Closed Sundays. The outer stalls sell fresh fruit and vegetables. The market is a 5-minute walk from the marina.
Wine Tasting in the Algarve
The Algarve wine region has transformed in the past decade, with small producers making quality reds from Touriga Nacional and Aragonez grapes and crisp whites from Arinto and Alvarinho. Joao Clara is a respected organic winery near Alcantarilha, about 30 minutes from Faro, offering tastings and tours (EUR 15-25). Closer to Faro, Paxa Wines in Estoi produces small-batch reds and offers tastings by appointment. For an in-town option, Tasca do Ricky on Rua de Portugal serves Algarve wines by the glass alongside petiscos (Portuguese tapas) in a rustic setting. A glass of local wine costs EUR 3-5; a bottle in a restaurant runs EUR 12-25. See our Faro travel tips for more details. See our Faro travel guide for more details.
Faro Marina and Evening Stroll
The marina is the social heart of Faro, lined with palm trees, restaurants, and ice cream shops. In the evening, the promenade fills with locals and tourists strolling, kids riding bikes, and street musicians playing. The view across the water to the Ria Formosa at sunset (around 20:45 in July, 17:30 in December) is the most photographed scene in Faro. Restaurants along the marina include O Murta (mid-range Portuguese), Wax Restobar (burgers and cocktails), and Restaurante Ria Formosa (seafood). A coffee or beer at a marina terrace costs EUR 1.50-3.00. The marina is also the departure point for boat tours, and the bus and train stations are a 5-minute walk away.
