Have you ever thought about visiting southern Portugal? The Algarve region has so much to offer, especially for solo female travelers! Faro is a good place to make a base if you are planning not to have a car. You will have some great destinations within your reach. Read on for the best day trips from Faro!
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My Faro map has all the recommendations from this post. Including hotels, train stations, restaurants.
Is Faro Worth Visiting?
Faro, located in southern Portugal, is adorable but very small. It isn’t as exciting as Lisbon or Porto, but perfect for a relaxing holiday! If you are a travel addict, you might get restless after two nights of exploring. I spent five nights down in southern Portugal. And, at dinner on the first night, I knew I needed to find some day trips from Faro.
One of the main attractions in Faro is the old town, a fortified city. Old town Faro does not disappoint. The most impressive gate is called the Arco Da Villa. If you are looking for some of the most Instagramable spots in Faro, head to the Arco Da Villa!
Within the walled city is the Faro Cathedral. This is Roman Catholic Cathedral constructed in the late 13th century. The Faro Cathedral is open daily to the public.
Leave time in your schedule to visit Capela de Ossos Bone Chapel, also known as the bone church of Faro! Located outside of the old town. There you will find a small chapel with walls and ceilings covered in human bones!
Faro also has great Portuguese food! Great dining experiences are what makes or breaks a trip for me. So with that all in mind, I was happy with my choice of destination. I found that I answered my question of “Is Faro Worth Visiting” with a hell yes!
Top Rated Restaurants In Old Town Faro
If you get hungry when exploring the old town Faro, there are a couple of restaurants that I would recommend.
- Faz Gostos – This restaurant does have seasonal openings, so you need to call ahead. Don’t rely on Google, as you could arrive at a closed restaurant.
- Aqui del Rey – If you are looking for a traditional food experience in Faro, I would recommend checking out Aqui del Rey. Located right after entering the old town from the Muralhas de Faro Gate.
- L’Osteria – Maybe you are tired of Portuguese food and want to indulge in Italian food. Check out L’Osteria!
Must-Try Restaurants in Faro Portugal
It is no secret that I travel to eat! So I am always on the hunt for those hidden gems in every city. In addition to the list above, there are some other great places to eat located outside the old town. Here are the best restaurants in Faro, Portugal:
- Se7e Pedras Wine Bar & Restaurants– I spent my first evening here trying many of the tapas-style dishes. All were delicious, especially the marinated sardine dish.
- 2 Irmãos– This restaurant was listed on every blog I explored for the best restaurants in Faro, Portugal. I had the pleasure of giving it a try and understand why it is so highly recommended. I was in love with the fish soup. Fresh, and delicious, it was one of my favorite meals.
- À do Pinto– The traditional razor clam paella and sangria was worth going back for! I really enjoy the ambiance of this charming spot.
- Restaurante Alameda– If you are looking for a boutique-like style restaurant experience you will be happy here at Restaurant Alameda.
Rooftop Restaurant in Faro
Restaurante Ria Formosa is located on the top of the Hotel Faro & Beach Club. The restaurant is open to the public and worth a try. Every meal I got here at the Restaurante Ria Formosa was delightful but a little more expensive than most of the other places on my list.
Accommodations in Faro Portugal
If you are traveling solo without a car and looking to make day trips from Faro by train, stay in the town center. There are so many affordable luxury hotels in the Faro region, however far from the train station. In the past, I have made the mistake of staying in a secluded area of my destination and regretted it.
As a veteran traveler, my first rule in booking accommodations is to stay as central as possible. Preferably as close to the transit stations. This will come in handy when doing any sort of day trip.
Which Boutique Hotels In Faro Are The Best?
A Casa D’Amelie
If you are lucky enough to find this place available, book it! A stylish stay in the center of the Old Town Faro! You won’t find a better decorated and unique place to stay than A Casa D’Amelie.
Lemon Tree Stay
Lemon Tree Stay is loved by guests and highly rated online! Central location to the airport, main train station, and only 6.4 miles to the beach. A top choice for small boutique like hotel experience!
Faro Downtown Studios
The perfect location, with free WIFI and terrace! Faro Downtown Studios has a great eclectic vibe. You will love how convenient, clean and comfortable these studios are!
Terrace Barqueta Studio
Stay in your own private studio in a meticulously maintained studio! Steps from the main train station making day trips from Faro a breeze! Very affordable for the quality and size.
Best Day Trips From Faro
How Far Is Tavira From Faro?
When visiting southern Portugal I wanted to see as many places as I could in just 5 nights. The perfect day trips are always the ones within an hour of your main destination. Lucky for you, travel to Tavira from Faro is just under one hour via train!
Take the train from Faro main train station to Tavira main train station. The fare is very low, at 3.20 Euros. From the Tavira stop, you will reach the city center in under a 10 minute walk. No car needed! Strolling around the entire area took about 3 hours you go slow and take photos.
What’s On In Tavira?
Choosing to leave your destination for another for just day should be worth it. When I look for day trip destinations I always make sure there is something big, like a castle or an idyllic town square. You might be wondering, what is on in Tavira if I make the day trip?
Things To Do in Tavira
An exciting attraction was the Castelo de Tavira! Castle ruins with an incredible view of the town. It is free to access, and a must-see. A top of the ruins is a Cathedral and a delicious bistro restaurant, A Ver Tavira. I had the pleasure of eating here while gazing out at Tavira. Another highly rated restaurant in the area is Castelo café e restaurante.
One of the most beautiful attractions in Tavira is the riverfront. The town of Tavira is divided by a low-arched pedestrian bridge over the river Gilão. I would take your time walking around to all the boutiques and cafes enjoying the old town vibes.
If you are someone that loves to visit museums, Tavira has two worth mentioning. Núcleo Museológico Islâmico, has many pieces that represent the Moorish rule. Throughout Southern Portugal, you can find influences of the region’s Islamic heritage.
Also, visit Palácio Galeria for works by Paula Rego, a Portugal native. The museum itself is something to see. Converted from a 16th-century palace it is the perfect backdrop to house art and culture.
Boutique Hotels in Tavira
If you decide to stay longer than a day trip, here are a few of the top accommodations in Tavira.
Casa Beleza do Sul
Loft 1º de Maio
São Paulo Boutique Hotel
More Day Trips From Faro
If you are staying a number of nights in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, you may have time for another day trip! And it so happens I have just the perfect suggestion.
How Far is Albufeira From Faro?
Albuferia is a highly sought-after destination in southern Portugal. It is known for its beautiful cliffs along the seaside. Magical is the first word that comes to mind thinking back to Albuferia. I can highly recommend making time to visit if you are staying in Faro.
This destination is a little bit more work to get to than Tavira. If you are relying on public transit, you will have two options. By bus or train. If you take the bus, your journey to the old town of Albuferia is around 1 hour and 45 minutes without traffic. Traveling by train is faster, but you don’t get dropped off in the Old Town.
Faro main train station to Albuferia-Ferrerias station will take approximately 1 hour. After arriving at the station you need to take a taxi to the Old Town Albuferia. The cost of the taxi was around 7 euros and took 15 minutes.
This might sound like a lot of work, but I found it to be worth it! Going home I decided to just take an Uber. It cost around 25 euro, and depending on your budget you may decide to go via taxi, roundtrip.
What’s Albuferia Like?
Albuferia is a popular destination among families. I noticed that the British seem to flock to Albuferia for their holidays. But that is not to say you won’t enjoy your time there solo. I spent a full day from around 10:30 am till 6:00 pm exploring Albuferia.
Mostly I just strolled around the beach and took pictures. This visit was in 2020, so as you can imagine, it was very quiet. In November, it wasn’t blazing hot, but warm enough to walk around in just a dress.
Albuferia Town Centre
As far as town centers are concerned, I wasn’t overly impressed with Albuferia. I much preferred the Old Town of Tavira for charming shops and cafes. Nothing can compare to the landscape of Albuferia, it is simply magical.
The Albuferia town centre has the typical touristy bars and restaurants overlooking the ocean. As well as winding streets filled with knick-knack shops selling stuff we don’t need.
In general, I would recommend a day trip from Faro to visit Albuferia, but I am glad I also went to Tavira. Hopefully, you can also make time to visit both destinations!
Best Boutique Hotels in Albuferia
Are you mesmerized by Albuferia? If you are planning to split your time in other cities and not just do day trips from Faro, check out these hotels. All of these accommodations are centrally located for travelers without a car.
Seaside View Downtown
Albufeira Beach Apartment
Villa Albufeira OCEAN VIEW
Faro to Seville, Spain
If you are staying in Faro, and looking to travel into Spain, Seville is a great choice! I am not recommending you visit for just a day, only if you are looking to move on to another destination.
Faro to Seville via train is approximately a three-hour journey. Seville is one of the most exotic places I have visited in Spain. The architecture and food are one of a kind. For some incredible accommodations and a mini-guide for the top sites, check out Best Seville Boutique Hotels.
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