Many visitors to the Algarve skip Faro for the other coastal towns but it’s well worth a visit. It’s a decent-sized city with a charming old town and brilliant spots to eat, including lots of vegan options. Plus it’s on a coastal train line, making it easy to explore the nearby Ria Formosa lagoon and nature reserve.
If you’re a history buff, join a free walking tour of the old town led by an enthusiastic guide who can tell you all about its historic buildings. It’s also a good idea to spend time wandering the streets and alleys and soaking up its atmosphere.
One of the most impressive buildings in the old town is the Museu Municipal, or City Museum. This is housed in a sixteenth-century convent with a stunning cloister, and while it’s not as extensive as some of Portugal’s other museums, it’s an interesting place to while away a couple of hours.
Nearby is the Maritime Museum, which gives you an overview of all the marine species in the area. It’s tucked up on the first floor of the port authority building and isn’t all that obvious from the outside, but once you find it you’ll be glad you stopped by.
There are a number of trains to Faro, but most people will take the regional line from Lisbon which stops in the west and east of the Algarve. It can take as little as 3h 5min to reach Faro but will likely take longer if you need to change trains on the way.
