Sight Seeing in Faro
The Algarve has many intriguing sites to visit that highlight the ancient past of the area. Alcalar in Portimao is a site with Neolithic and Chalcolithic graves and stone constructions that are the remains of ancient settlements.
Also Milreu near Faro is another ancient site and the location of the remains of a luxurious Roman villa with mosaics still existing along with baths, a temple and 2 mausoleums and is considered a national monument of Portugal.
The Algarve is also rich with interesting buildings and beautiful countryside that are well worth a visit with a cheap flight from Jet2.com. There are several protected coastal reserves which you could spend a relaxing afternoon strolling through, enjoying the scenery and maybe even stopping for a picnic en route.
There are several churches of interest throughout the Algarve including Luz de Tavira, an impressive renaissance style church with beautiful stone carvings and decoration, and Santa Bárbara de Nexe, a 15th century church, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the Algarve.
The Castelo de Silves is an imposing fortress and one of the best preserved castles in the Algarve. The castle along with the cathedral next to it feature stunning Gothic architecture and are the most prominent buildings in Silves. The remains of defensive walls and towers can still be seen along with ancient tombs in the cathedral.
Alte is one of the most typical and picturesque villages in the Algarve giving a real insight into traditional life on the Algarve. There are narrow winding streets, small shops and a fishing port to explore as you witness the day in the life the Portuguese.
The Historic Quarter of Faro has several places of interest and is excellent for shopping along with the Market Hall in Loulé which hosts a gypsy market every Saturday. With cheap flights to Faro from the UK you can soon be jetting off to the Algarve for a fabulous holiday in Portugal.
Romantic Breaks in Faro
The Algarve is the perfect location for a romantic break with an abundance of unspoilt places to sit and relax to enjoy the scenery and of course the company of your loved one.
With cheap flights to Faro you will have easy access to the romantic towns in the south-west tip of the region in and around Lagos are great for spending the days exploring the winding streets, small shops and fishing ports for a taste of traditional Portuguese life.
If you fancy a romantic yet exhilarating walk, head to Cabo de Sao Vicente for stunning cliff top views across the glittering ocean for an extremely memorable holiday and maybe even a perfect place for a proposal.
There are several glorious sandy beaches across the Algarve where you can spend hours sun bathing, cocktail in hand, but if you're looking for something a little more secluded the romantic cove in Figueira can only be reached on foot so is often quiet and peaceful as well as beautiful.
For an afternoon of luxurious pampering and serenity visit Caldas de Monchique, the Roman baths with hot springs and a spa on site or else head to Pego do Inferno; a gorgeous 15m waterfall ending in a basin of water that is the perfect almost tropical location for romance and fun amongst nature.
In the evenings you could head to a quiet seafood restaurant in the quieter villages or else go to one of the popular resorts where there is a vast choice of restaurants, bars and cafes for you to finish off each day of your romantic break in style. If you fancy a romantic weekend break in this fantastic city, book your cheap flights to Faro online with Jet2.com!
Fun Seekers in Faro
The golf courses in the Algarve are world famous attracting the top players from all over the world. The fine weather and stunning backdrop make golf a favourite past time for many visiting the region and there is a vast number of courses to choose from with varying difficulty.
There are also several other activities that you can take part in including, canoe trips inland of Alvor's estuary, forest path walks near Monchique, downhill biking from the Algarve's highest peak of Foia to the coast, cross country mountain biking, pedal kayaking and horse riding.
There are also many water sports to try including sailing, fishing, windsurfing, surfing, jet skiing and water skiing, which are available at the coastal resorts, in particular Lagos and Vilamoura.
Shopping in the main resorts of the Algarve such as Portimao is great and you will find several souvenir shops so you can buy presents for your friends and family back home. The main shopping centers are Guia Shopping Centre in Albufeira and Forum Algarve in Faro, both of which include multiplex cinemas, many restaurants and popular high street shops, including Zara, Benetton and Levi's.
You are spoilt for choice for restaurants in the Algarve where you can find venues serving international cuisine to local delicacies. Seafood is always fresh and tasty with two of the best speciality dishes being Atum Grelhado (tuna) and Lulas Recheadas (stuffed squid).
The nightlife in the Algarve is lively and varied with the hub of activity being focused along the main resorts. Albufeira is the best for clubs if you feel like dancing until dawn and downing tasty cocktails although there are plenty of bars and pubs throughout the region. The resorts house many bars and even English pubs if you fancy a taste of home, as well as live music venues where you can be entertained with fado music and traditional folk dancing. There is also quite a large Casino culture if you're feeling lucky.
Family Fun in Faro
The Algarve is a fantastic destination for a family holiday with plenty of family friendly resorts, beaches and restaurants.
You could take the whole family down to one of the many golden, sandy beaches and relax with a book on a sun lounger while the kids build sandcastles, search for seashells and play in the ocean. Although it would be easy to while away the days of your holiday on the beach, there are also many different places to visit and activities to try that kids and parents will love.
Aqualand in Balaia contains shaded gardens for a relaxing afternoon out of the sun as well as several swimming pools and rides including a banzai boggan, kamikazee, anaconda, wave pool and rainbow park. There are also several shops and cafes so you can stock up on what ever you need throughout the day.
The ZooMarine is a fantastic place to spend a day with a huge range of creatures on show including dolphins, sealions and sharks, tortoises, exotic and marine birds, crocodiles and tropical fish. There are also several restaurants, shops, live entertainment and swimming pools so there is plenty to keep everyone entertained.
For fun on the sea hop on a Pirate Ship Adventure Cruise from Portimao; kids will love playing at being Long John Silver while parents can enjoy the scenery of caves and grottoes on this sightseeing tour. The cruise includes a beach barbeque and there is a bar onboard the real two-mast pirate ship.
Dolphin Seafaris from Portimao are a great opportunity to sea dolphins in the wild, leaping out of the water and is sure to enthrall adults and children alike, as is the Aquabus glass bottomed boat from Lagos Marina where you can stare fascinated at the marine life under the sea on daily trips.
For even more fun on land head to Krazy World in Balaia where there are subtropical gardens, ponds and lakes as well as mini golf, a real alligator swamp, snake pit and other reptile attractions. There is also a quad bike circuit which is very popular with the big kids!
Events in Faro
For the latest events in Faro & the Algarve, visit our Jet2.com Flights Site
Activities in Faro
Top Tours in Faro:
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Jeep Safari in Algarve Drive in the countryside and discover Portugal's history and culture... |
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Caves and Dolphin Spotting along the Algarve Coast This tour is a great way to sail on a boat, enjoy the sea and view unusual rock formations... |
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Pirate Ship Cruise along Algarvian Coast Cruise in a pirate ship and explore some of the most beautiful spots along the Algarvian coast... |
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Portuguese Reef Fishing Tour Climb aboard the Yacht Sant'Anna for a day of reef fishing in Portugal's clear blue seas... |
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Shopping Tour to Quarteira Market Take a trip to Quarteira and shop for local handicrafts or simply lounge on its pristine beach... |
View all tours and activities here »
Top Tips for Faro
Check out the weekly market in Quarteira, haggle for bargains and have a stroll around the palm-lined seafront promenade.
The Algarve is well known for its fish. Two specialties are Cataplana, which is a type of fish stew, and Carne de Porco com Amêijoas, which is pork cooked with clams; try it you'll love it!
Portuguese table wines are very cheap and of good quality. The Algarve area produces some highly drinkable vinho! Portugal's best known exports are Port and Madeira, which you should definitely sample when visiting the Algarve.
Cost of a pint of beer:
£1.40
Hotels & Apartments in Faro
Here is a selection of our accommodation available in Faro & the Algarve:
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Globo (3*)
Great little character hotel slap bang in the heart of this buzzing little town. Globo offers traditional interiors throughout with simple and clean rooms and offering a great panoramic restaurant ...
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Romantik Natur (4*)
Imagine an idyllic retreat, nestled amidst a verdant surround, peaceful and charming and with a very relaxed and informal feel, this is the Romantik Natur...
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Montechoro (4*)
Popular, established hotel located in the Montechoro area of Albufeira, 1.3km to Oura Beach and not far from bars and nightlife...
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For more accommodation options, please visit Jet2.com's Hotel Site.
Customer Comments for Faro
"We went for a weekend break to the Algarve in mid-May and stayed in a lovely 4* hotel, the Balaia Atlantico, just outside of the resort of Albufeira. The hotel had regular free shuttle services to Albufeira and taxis to the town centre were less than €5.
The main strip had everything typical of a tourist resort with restaurants serving different kinds of food although beer and wine was quite expensive. We spent the day wandering around looking in the tourist shops and had an ice-cream by the sandy beach but as it was raining heavily on our first day we couldn't do much! We did find a good bar though, High Tide, serving snack food and fantastic tall cocktails.
The sun did come out in the morning on our last day we went to the Old Town where there were cobbled streets lined with shops, restaurants and bars. It was the day of the FA Cup final so lots of the bars were packed but there were plenty not showing the football and we had lunch outside at a nice hotel overlooking the sea.
Despite the weather we did have a really relaxing time in the Algarve just strolling through the streets or along the beach and I would certainly recommend both the resort and the hotel. One thing I will say though is watch out for the dodgy street vendors who will try to sell you everything and anything!"
Lauren from Knaresborough
