Faro Old Town

Faro
Faro Old Town as well as a small group of people
Faro Old Town
Faro Old Town which includes outdoor art
Faro Old Town featuring a park and wild flowers
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

Things to do


Top hotels in Faro Old Town

Hotel Faro & Beach Club
Hotel Faro & Beach Club
4 out of 5
Praca D Francisco Gomes 2, Faro
The price is HK$793 per night from 21 Jan to 22 Jan
HK$793
HK$857 total
includes taxes & fees
21 Jan - 22 Jan
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Faro. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,003 reviews)
Friendly place
"Great staff"

Reviewed on 26 Dec 2024

Hotel Faro & Beach Club
AP Eva Senses
AP Eva Senses
4 out of 5
Avenida da Republica, 1, Faro
The price is HK$731 per night from 11 Jan to 12 Jan
HK$731
HK$823 total
includes taxes & fees
11 Jan - 12 Jan
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Faro. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,006 reviews)
"Excellent location, friendly staff. Breakfast and lunch buffet excellent"

Reviewed on 4 Jan 2025

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 HK$1,285 per night from 19 Jan to 20 Jan
HK$1,285
HK$1,362 total
includes taxes & fees
19 Jan - 20 Jan
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 ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (611 reviews)
"Nice relaxing place. Close to the beach."

Reviewed on 3 Jan 2025

EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel
Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort
Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort
5 out of 5
Estrada de Albufeira - Olhos de Água, Albufeira, Faro
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is HK$755 per night from 12 Jan to 13 Jan
HK$755
HK$800 total
includes taxes & fees
12 Jan - 13 Jan
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Albufeira. Enjoy free WiFi, 4 outdoor pools, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (955 reviews)
"Exceptionally beautiful and well-run hotel. We stayed in a self-catering villa and it's certainly the best hotel we've stayed at for these rates per night (and preferable to having bed and breakfast at a lesser hotel). Fantastic beach and location. The only negative being the rather rusty and dated ..."

Reviewed on 28 Dec 2024

Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort
The Patio Suite Hotel
The Patio Suite Hotel
4 out of 5
Urbanização Pinhal do Concelho, Albufeira
The price is HK$465 per night from 2 Feb to 3 Feb
HK$465
HK$492 total
includes taxes & fees
2 Feb - 3 Feb
Stay at this 4-star golf aparthotel in Albufeira. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (124 reviews)
"We enjoyed our stay. Things to see were not as walkable and we had to take Uber often but not a problem. We liked having a small kitchen to have dinners."

Reviewed on 1 Dec 2024

The Patio Suite Hotel
Hotel California Urban Beach
Hotel California Urban Beach
4 out of 5
Rua Joaquim Pedro Samora 2, Albufeira, Faro
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Albufeira. Enjoy a full-service spa, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (325 reviews)
"We stayed here for 4 nights and our stay was great. The staff on reception were so friendly and helpful and greeted us every time with a smile and hello as we were on the same floor. The staff at breakfast and at the bar were also friendly and welcoming. Our room was great with a balcony over looking ..."

Reviewed on 7 Nov 2024

Hotel California Urban Beach
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 neighbourhoods around Faro Old Town

Faro Cathedral showing heritage elements

Faro City Centre

Faro City Centre is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Faro Marina and A Companhia de Teatro do Algarve while in the area.

Faro City Centre
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São Pedro

If you're spending some time in São Pedro, Faro Marina and Forum Algarve Mall are top sights worth seeing.

São Pedro
Faro which includes a beach, a sunset and a lighthouse

4.5/5(157 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Sé, A Companhia de Teatro do Algarve and Faro Cathedral are top sights worth seeing.

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Gambelas

3.5/5(6 area reviews)

While Gambelas isn't home to many top sights, Forum Algarve Mall and Parque Natural da Ria Formosa are some notable places to visit nearby.

Gambelas
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Praia de Faro

4.5/5(8 area reviews)

While Praia de Faro isn't home to many top sights, Faro Island Beach and San Lorenzo Golf Club are some notable places to visit nearby.

Praia de Faro
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Paço Branco

While there might not be top attractions in Paço Branco, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Estoi Palace and Forum Algarve Mall.

Paço Branco

Faro Old Town