Faro
Faro is the capital of the Algarve and the region's main airport city. The Ria Formosa lagoon lies in front of it, and its nature park has dunes, marshes, channels and islets.
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Faro is the capital of the Algarve and of Faro District, and the southernmost city on mainland Portugal. It sits on the shore of the Ria Formosa, a protected nature park of dunes, marshes, channels and islets. The old town is walled, with towers that date from the Byzantine period, and the 18th-century Capela dos Ossos, an ossuary chapel, is one of the sights to see. The region's international airport is here, and taxis and a bus line run from it to the city centre.
Faro suits an airport stopover or a few nights on the coast. Praia de Faro is about 7 km from downtown and reached by bridge, while Barreta, Farol and Culatra are reached only by boat. Summer is dry, with daytime highs of 27 to 35 °C and sea temperatures of about 22 to 24 °C in August and September. Lisbon is about 2 hours 30 minutes by car on the A2, and Andalusia is under an hour away on the A22.
Faro in five
- Treat Faro as the gateway, not the beachFaro's own beaches are on islands across the Ria Formosa, reached by ferry. For long sand days on the mainland, Albufeira and Lagos are closer to the open sea.Albufeira travel guide
- Give the arrival transfer some slackArrivals from outside Europe go through border control and EES registration first, which GOV.UK says may take each passenger extra time. Book a flexible pickup rather than a fixed minute.Faro airport to Albufeira
- Take the train from Faro to the westRegional trains on the Algarve line run from Faro through Albufeira-Ferreiras and Portimão to Lagos, and Alfa Pendular trains run from here to Lisbon. The station is in town, not at the airport.Getting around Europe
- Pair Faro with Olhão for the lagoonOlhão is a short train ride east on the Algarve line and runs ferries to island beaches. Pick one island day rather than trying both Faro and Olhão sailings.Olhão
Things to do in Faro
See all attractions in Faro
Need to know
- Airport
- Faro (FAO), the Algarve's main airport, short drive or bus to town
- Getting there
- Alfa Pendular from Lisbon in about 3 hours; buses and trains along the coast Read more
- Getting around
- Walking in the old town; ferries and buses to the islands
- Best base
- Old town for a stopover; coast towns for a beach stay
- Time needed
- 1 night or a half day; 2 days with a lagoon trip
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Mild, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Almond blossomFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Almond blossom
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Mild, rainMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Warm, easyAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easy
- MayClear4 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Warm, quietMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Hottest, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, busy
- SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Mild, calmOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- NovemberClear8 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Cooler, rainNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooler, rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Mild, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Faro, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Faro
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
19
- Feels like
- 19°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Algarve
08:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today23°14°0%Monday: Clear. High 23°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue22°14°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed21°13°5%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Thu21°13°11%Thursday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Fri21°16°34%Friday: Rain. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sat21°18°37%Saturday: Rain. High 21°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Sun21°19°88%Sunday: Rain. High 21°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 88%.
Updated 06:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Apr–OctInternational Sand Sculpture FestivalSilves, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Albufeiraabout 15 to 25 minutes by trainResort beaches and an old town; the station is inland, so add a bus or taxi.Read the guide
- Lagosby regional trainA walled old town and sea cliffs at the western end of the line.Read the guide
- Ria Formosa islandsby ferry from Faro or OlhãoIsland beaches and lagoon birdlife by licensed ferry or tour.Read the guide
Before you go to Faro
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Rules for Faro, checked
- Faro's tourist tax is 2 euros per night from March to October and 1 euro from November to February, up to 7 nights, for guests aged 16 and over.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Faro
Beach resort and base for the central coast
Read the guideFaro airport to AlbufeiraBus, taxi, rail and car compared
Read the guideLagos travel guideCoves and a walled old town to the west
Read the guideOlhão travel guideFishing port and ferries to island beaches
Read the guideTavira travel guideA calm river town to the east
Read the guideAlgarve overviewThe whole coast and how to move along it
Read the guideAll of PortugalThe country at a glance
Read the guideFaro FAQ
Is Faro worth visiting?
Yes for a half day or a night: the walled old town, the Carmo church and bone chapel and a lagoon boat trip. It is not the place for long mainland beach days.
How do you get from Faro airport to the city?
Take a bus or taxi to the center and the train station, since the airport has no rail station. The airport's own page lists the current bus lines.
Is it better to stay in Faro or Albufeira?
Stay in Faro for an early flight or a city night. Stay in Albufeira or Lagos for a beach week, which are a short train or bus ride away.
How many days do you need in Faro?
A day is enough for the old town and the bone chapel. Add a second day for a Ria Formosa island trip or a night before a flight.
When is the best time to visit Faro?
April to June and September to October are warm and calm. July and August are hot and crowded, and the lagoon ferries run most often then.