Praia de Faro Tours and Activities

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. 

One of the best things about Praia de Faro is its close proximity to both Faro Airport and Faro’s Old Quarter, where you can spend a few hours exploring cobblestone streets and medieval architecture. Sandwiched between the two slices of shoreline, you’ll find a variety of shops, bars, and restaurants, as well as opportunities for water sports such as Jet Skiing and windsurfing. Relatively unknown among foreign tourists, the beach provides a relaxing break from the much busier beaches in Albufeira and Lagos. 

From the center of Faro, the beach can easily be reached by bus 14 or 16, both of which travel via Faro Airport. In summer, a bus departs Faro every 30–40 minutes during the day and every hour in the evening. The trip from the center of town to the beach takes about 20 minutes.

Compared to the beaches in the rest of the Algarve, Praia de Faro remains relatively quiet even during the peak summer season, when empty stretches can still be found. The beach is a great place to watch the sunset, with many visitors arriving around 3pm to avoid the midday sun and see the sun descend over the Atlantic Ocean. 

If you’re just heading back to Faro to fly out, don’t miss out on some of the historic highlights of the city. In the picturesque Old Quarter, you’ll find the twin bell towers of the 18th-century church Igreja do Carmo and the eerie Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos), a chapel made out of 1,245 human skulls. The entrances to the Old Town are marked by three ancient gates, the most impressive being Arco da Vila, while the most imposing structure in the quarter is undoubtedly Se Cathedral, home to an ornamented gold altar.