Faro Old Town

Faro

Faro Old Town as well as a small group of people
Faro Old Town
Faro Old Town showing outdoor art
Faro Old Town showing wildflowers and a garden
Faro Old Town
For centuries, Faro’s fortified walls have enclosed the city’s most intriguing treasures, from the cathedral’s chamber of bones to a castle converted into a brewery.

Faro Old Town is characterized by its crumbling arches, cobbled lanes and historic structures. Dimly lit restaurants and bars with terraces spilling onto pedestrian streets create a romantic, old-world setting. Piece together medieval Faro through well-preserved vestiges in the forms of churches, museums and the city ramparts.

Tracing a circle around the historic center are the 9th-century Faro City Walls (Muralhas de Faro). Snap photos of these ramparts, initially put in place by the Romans and later renovated by the Moors. Study the opulent Moorish designs of the various gateways that provide a passage to Faro Old Town. 

Enter this central district and head to the Faro Cathedral, with a mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles. Awaiting you inside are gold leaf carvings, stained-glass windows and a red-painted wooden organ decorated with Chinese symbols. 

Climb the cathedral’s spiral stairway to the rooftop viewing deck for a vista of the sea, the mudflats and the adjacent 16th-century Episcopal Palace of Faro. The palace served as the marine college and the maritime department. Relax at a bench in the shade of orange trees ornamenting the Largo da Sé plaza between the cathedral and palace.

Get insight into regional science and history in the old quarter’s museums. Highlights are the Centro de Ciência Viva do Algarve and the Museu Arqueológico. See the fortified castle of the Antiga Fábrica da Cerveja, which was converted into a beer factory in the 1900s. 

For a change of scenery, pass through a city wall gateway at the district’s western end. You’ll be confronted by an exceptional view of the marshy waterways engulfing Faro. 

Walk south for about 10 minutes from the train station to reach Faro Old Town, located between the city and the Atlantic Ocean. You can also take a ferry to the terminal just outside the walls. The district is a 15-minute drive southeast from Faro Airport.


Popular places to visit


Faro Old Town Hotel Deals

Hotel 3K Faro Aeroporto

Hotel 3K Faro Aeroporto

3 out of 5
Caixa Postal 409-A, Estrada Nacional 125-10, Faro
The price is NT$5,375 per night from Sep 1 to Sep 2
NT$5,375
NT$5,837 total
Sep 1 - Sep 2
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Faro. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
"Ve"

Reviewed on 2025/7/18

Hotel 3K Faro Aeroporto
Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira by IHG

Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira by IHG

4 out of 5
Av. do Estádio, PO Box 2445, Albufeira
The price is NT$5,015 per night from Aug 26 to Aug 27
NT$5,015
NT$5,455 total
Aug 26 - Aug 27
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Albufeira. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (245 reviews)
"Definitely I will be back again on this property!!! So so so happy!!!"

Reviewed on 2025/8/5

Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira by IHG
AP Eva Senses

AP Eva Senses

4 out of 5
Avenida da Republica, 1, Faro
The price is NT$6,539 per night from Sep 2 to Sep 3
NT$6,539
NT$7,035 total
Sep 2 - Sep 3
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Faro. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,008 reviews)
"Well located hotel in Faro, next to marina and near old town, shops and. restaurants and transport links. Breakfast buffet good, happy hour was great and room comfortable."

Reviewed on 2025/8/4

AP Eva Senses
EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel

EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel

5 out of 5
Praia da Falésia, Pinhal do Concelho, Albufeira
The price is NT$12,684 per night from Sep 1 to Sep 2
NT$12,684
NT$13,584 total
Sep 1 - Sep 2
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Albufeira. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (706 reviews)
"Very good hotel. Very good food. The infrastructure is impeccable! Gardens are amazing! Nice beach! The"

Reviewed on 2025/8/5

EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel
Viceroy At Ombria Algarve

Viceroy At Ombria Algarve

5 out of 5
Rua da Ombria, No. 9, Ombria Algarve, Loulé, Faro District
The price is NT$13,110 per night from Sep 12 to Sep 13
NT$13,110
NT$14,036 total
Sep 12 - Sep 13
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Loulé. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 4 outdoor pools. Popular attractions Fonte Benemola Park and Loule Gypsy Market ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (36 reviews)
"Excellent staff terrific"

Reviewed on 2025/7/31

Viceroy At Ombria Algarve
Stay Hotel Faro Centro

Stay Hotel Faro Centro

3 out of 5
Rua de Portugal 17, Faro
The price is NT$4,204 per night from Sep 7 to Sep 8
NT$4,204
NT$4,595 total
Sep 7 - Sep 8
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Faro. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in ...
8/10 Very Good! (996 reviews)
"Great little hotel on the edge of old town. Breakfast is available for purchase but the Pastelaria across the street is amazing…don’t miss out on the pastel de nata and espresso! Everything is completely walkable and we had the best time there! Faro is small town friendly and we’ve never felt safer ..."

Reviewed on 2025/8/4

Stay Hotel Faro Centro
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighborhoods around Faro Old Town

Faro Cathedral showing heritage elements

Faro City Centre

Faro City Centre is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Faro Marina or A Companhia de Teatro do Algarve.

Faro City Centre
Carmo Church showing heritage elements

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Gambelas
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Bela Curral

Bela Curral might not have many top sights, but Ria Formosa Natural Park and Olhao Municipal Market are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

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Whole beach to ourselves! The beach in Faro is often overlooked in favour of the other beaches along the Algarve, making it quiet and unspoilt. Close to the airport, it's definitely worth a visit!

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4.5/5(6 area reviews)

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Praia de Faro

Faro Old Town