An ideal itinerary for a weekend in Faro

While there are plenty of other European cities that are famous for their historic impact, Faro is a great place as it features a beautiful old town with plenty of interesting things to see, as well as a big influence from various Arabic rulers. Surrounded by old Moorish city walls, it really brings the perfect atmosphere for those who love old buildings and architecture. Make sure to visit Sé Catedral de Faro, which boasts precious works of art such as chapels, sculptures and azulejos (blue and white ceramic tiles). Get to the clock tower to check out the mesmerising views of the city, and then head to the city hall, and the Museu Archeologico.

Take in the beautiful sights of the city walking around the charming Jardim Manuel Bivar, which will take you to Faro marina, where you should stop for some lunch. Make the most of your location and try some delicious shellfish and seafood at Ostraria Lodo, and then get on a boat tour to Ria Formosa Natural Park, which is home to beautiful salt water lagoons and mud flats which are great for birds and wildlife. The guided tour will take you two hours and a half, so you will have more time to rest or walk around some more before picking a place for dinner. If you want to try some traditional Algarvian food, go to Tertulia Algarvia where you can try their own version of the local dish cataplana, a fish stew the restaurant stuffed with octopus, cockles and soft sweet potatoes.

The Algarve region is famous for its gorgeous beaches, but even if Faro isn’t necessarily considered as the best place in the region for beaches, it is still home to some beautiful places that warant a visit. These beaches actually turn out to be some of the more enjoyable ones in the region as they are much less crowded. You can easily get to Praia de Faro from the city centre by bus, and enjoy its long stretch of sand. The beach is an impressive sight as it stands on one side of the Ilha de faro next to the sea, while you will find on the other side a small village with bars and restaurants. You can enjoy a dreamy lunch on the beach in one of the many Mediterranean restaurants there, such as Elementos where you can enjoy some oysters, gambas, or even some ceviche. You can also visit the Ilha Deserta, also known as Barreta, which is one of the most secluded beaches in Algarve. Going back to the city, you should head to Ria Formosa restaurant for a great dinner with a view. You’ll be able to enjoy some delicious seafood, or vary a little and go for their unique steak with crispy potato pala-pala and a black garlic sauce.

On your last day, you could visit some of the great places set in the surroundings of Faro such as the fishing port of Olhao, or the popular village of Estoi which is home to the beautiful Palacio de Estoi in an incredible Rococo style, and to the Roman ruins of Milreu. The palace will be an amazing place to visit, with the garden contrasting with the pink building and the white and blue azulejos tiles of the entrance. But if it isn’t your prefered choice, you won’t go wrong picking the fishing port of Olhao, which is impressive thanks to its large harbour, its fishermen’s house, and its distinctive fish market. But you should also take advantage of your last day to enjoy a great meal before going to the airport - if you’re looking for some tasty food in Olhao, there will be plenty of options, but we would recommend Terra i Mar, which is a restaurant offering plenty of traditional dishes with fresh seafood, such as paella, cataplana, as well as clams feijoada, and fish and shrimp moqueca.

If you want to enjoy a central location in a pretty fancy and luxurious setting, book a room at 3HB Faro, a five star hotel with restaurants, a spa, a swimming pool, and even a gym, while still remaining quite affordable for the quality of the services.