The city of Faro, capital of the Algarve, is located in the extreme south of Portugal. The international airport is in this city and receives more and more tourists, some of which remain in the beach of Faro which is on an island while the rest are distributed in the various seaside resorts of the coast. There is a beautiful part of the city which is surrounded by Roman walls having a place that formerly was a Roman forum. There are many small restaurants, bars, cafes and theaters as well as apartments. There are not many ancient buildings or monuments as the city was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, however there are some Moorish and Roman ruins. To see: the Cathedral; the Church of Our Lady of Carmel, well known for bone collections of more than 1200 skeletons; the Archaeological Museum; the Ria Formosa Natural Park (10km from the city); among others.
Tips
If you like golf, you will find several courses all along the way to Albufeira.
If you are in the city between June and September, enjoy visiting the island of Barreta, one of the barrier islands of Ria Formosa Park, which is accessible by boat only (20 minutes from Faro). You could admire several species of birds and practice sailing or windsurfing. There are no buildings there except what is strictly necessary for the activity of the beach.
If you are with your family, the most popular beach to go with children is on Tavira Island. You could go by ferry only; there are two lines leaving from Tavira but only one from the city center, offers regular service. You will find 7 km of fine sand with several restaurants and cafes around and also a campsite. Unfortunately, the water is cold even in summer.
