Faro: Introduction

The largest city in the Algarve, Faro has a population of around 42,000 inhabitants. Faro is where Faro/Algarve Airport (FAO), the Algarve’s main airport, is located, making it the main access point for tourists visiting this splendidly beautiful region of Portugal.

Faro’s main touristic attraction is its pictur-esque Old Town (Cidade Velha) an authentic piece of Portuguese history, replete with a Moorish castle and old town wall with origins probably dating back to Roman times. Other places of interest in Faro include the Ethnographic Museum, Archaeological Museum, Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, and Faro Beach. Home to the University of the Algarve (Universidade do Algarve) Faro is a university town with a young and active nightlife. More of a center for industry and education,

Faro is less a resort destination than other places in the Algarve, and its attractions are comparatively more urban and historical. Nonetheless, Faro still benefits from an average of 3000 hours of sunshine per year and a proximity to many breathtaking locations that the Algarve is famous for. On top of that, the conveniences, amenities and infrastructure, which may be lacking in some of the more remote areas of the Algarve, are all present and well developed in Faro.