Things to do in  Faro

Located at the southernmost tip of Portugal’s Algarve, Ria Formosa Natural Park (Parque Natural da Ria Formosa) is a scenic swirl of freshwater lagoons, sandy islands, and lush salt marshlands. The park hugs the coast between Manta Rota and Vale do Lobo, and is best known for its varied topography and diverse bird life.

Olhão is a beautiful and very popular seaside tourist town in the Algarve region of Portugal. The biggest fishing port in the area, the town is a summer vacation destination for those looking for great seafood, wide beaches, and sunny weather.

Backed by pine-topped ombré cliffs that fade from ochre to beige, Falesia Beach stretches for more than 3.7 miles (6 kilometers, making it one of Portugal’s longest beaches. It’s also one of the Algarve’s most loved strips of sand, with its colored cliffs and clear waters attracting strollers and swimmers alike.

Rising to a height of 2,959 feet (902 meters, Mt. Fóia is the highest peak in the Algarve. The views from its summit are staggering: on a clear day, you can see as far as Cape Saint Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente, the wave-battered headland on the Algarve’s southwestern coast that was once believed to be the edge of the world.

Dominating the landscape on the border between the Algarve and Alentejo regions is the Sierra de Monchique, a forest-covered mountain range. The small town of Monchique is hidden within the hills, offering visitors a look into rural life in the region.

A sandy, uninhabited island off Portugal’s Algarve coast, Barreta Island (Ilha Deserta) is a popular beach destination and wildlife refuge inside Ria Formosa National Park. With freshwater lagoons, salt flats, sand dunes, and more, the park has a diverse range of habitats—each with its own resident population of birds and other species, including chameleons.

Tavira is thought to be the oldest settlement in Portugal—with signs of life dating back to 2000 BC. Whether you delve into the town’s history or simply enjoy the nearby beaches, there’s plenty to see and do here.

Hailed as one of the best beaches in the Algarve, Praia de Faro boasts soft, golden sands that stretch for more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) along Faro Island. One side of the beach overlooks the sea, while the other side offers views of Ria Formosa National Park, home to mud flats and wetlands that can be explored by bicycle or boat.

A pretty red-roofed town on the banks of the Guadiana River in southeastern Portugal, Alcoutim has a laid-back rural charm. Come here to get an authentic taste of small-town Portuguese life, and to visit the medieval castle.

Situated inside the Tower of Tavira on the Algarve in Portugal is Tavira's Camera Obscura, a dark room that uses mirrors and lenses to project images from the city below out onto a screen. During each session, a local guide talks about the history, culture, and monuments of the city while showing visitors different highlights through the camera.

With a gleaming white lighthouse looking over a small cluster of homes and long stretches of beaches, Ilha do Farol is a scenic island town in the Algarve’s Ria Formosa Natural Park. The pedestrian streets and sand tracks that connect the village with Culatra Island’s beaches make it easy to slow down here into the island’s relaxed pace.

Through a rich collection of photography, artifacts, and other artisan objects, the Museu Regional do Algarve paints a picture of life in the Algarve before it became a popular holiday destination. Before then, it was a rural region that relied on fishing and agriculture. This cultural spot pays homage to the Algarvian way of life in the first half of the 20th century.

Dating back to the early 19th century, Arco da Vila is a grandiose gateway in the Algarvian town of Faro. With its coffee-and-cream-colored facade and bell tower, it’s a stunning example of Italian neoclassical architecture. You can still see vestiges of the original Moorish entranceway, built hundreds of years ago in the 8th century.

Faro Story Spot is an immersive, multimedia museum that takes you on a journey from antiquity to the present day. As well as tracing the history of the Algarve, the experience allows you to get acquainted with the flora and fauna of Ria Formosa Natural Park nearby. You can add on a tasting at the end to enjoy the flavors of southern Portugal.