5 Things Not to Miss in Old Town Faro, Portugal

Faro Marina

The historic town of Faro is generally overlooked by tourists. Faro is the capital of the Algarve region with an airport and a working port. If time permits, I would suggest a well-deserved trip to the town of Faro. This town is a stark contrast to the resort towns in Algarve. It would give an insight into southern Portugal's lifestyle. 

Coreto De Faro

Faro Marina: This charming small town is perfect to spend a day. The people are friendly and laid back. It is easier and cheaper to park the car and explore the town on foot. There are numerous shops and restaurants on the beautiful mosaic streets. Take a break and have ice cream or shop for souvenirs.

Arco da Vila

Free Walking Tour: A free walking tour of the old town starts from the park opposite to Arco da Vila twice a day. This tour is a good opportunity to learn about the town from locals. If walking is not for you, there is a segway tour starting from the park. A small trolley goes around the old town stopping at all the major attractions. This would be a good choice for families.

Arco da Vila is a famous landmark in the old town. This is a neo-classical archway leading to old town Farro. The archway opens up to narrow cobblestone roads with the beautiful old buildings. When I think back, I will cherish the fond memories of walking through these cobblestone streets in Faro.

Old Town

Tram - Orange Trees as a Backdrop

Faro Cathedral: A little walk through these cute streets will take you to the old town center. The museum is next to the cathedral and charges a nominal entry fee. The cathedral has undergone multiple renovations after withstanding earthquakes and attacks by English troops. The beautiful interiors compensate for the bland exteriors. The Museum's back garden has beautiful trees and a bone chapel.

Faro Cathedral

Cathedral Museum Yard

Igreja do Carmo / Capela dos Ossos: Igreja do Carmo is a small 18th-century church with golden ornate interiors. What made this church famous is the bone chapel next to it. Capela dos Ossos (bone chapel) is made out of human bones. I was not very keen on photographing this chapel but it has a rich history. As bizarre as they are, bone chapels are quite common in Portugal. It appeared to be a common practice to exhume monk's bodies from the graveyard and build bone chapels during the mid 18th century.

Faro Municipal Market: Enough about bones. Let us talk about the real reason we all travel. Food. Just 700m away from the Bone chapel is the Faro municipal market. I always love a quick to visit the local market. The shops are mainly fresh fish, butchers, fruit and vegetable market, baked goods, and cafes. Grab a bite at the cafe. 
If you have more time, there are many other places to visit.

Albufeira to Benagil and Everything In-between, Portugal

Portugal's south coast has one of the beautiful coastlines in the world. With beautiful cliff views and clear turquoise waters, it draws thousands of tourists every year. The entire south coast and a small part of the west coast belong to the Algarve region of Portugal. This region is a prime destination for beach vacations. As of April 2019, Portugal has 352 Blue Flag accredited beaches. Out of that, the Algarve region is home for 88 Blue Flag beaches. If you are wondering what a blue flag beach is, it is the highest accolade given to a beach. It indicates that the beach adheres to a high standard of quality, safety, and services.

Praia das Escalieras

There are two main options to see all the beautiful beaches. One is the cliff walk and the second option is from the sea. However, few beaches can only be accessed from the sea. I can list a hundred reasons why a cliff walk can be a disastrous option for parents with young kids. Even from the sea, there are several options. SUP, Kayak, small boats, and catamaran tours. The best option is the SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) or a Kayak. They give access to hidden beaches inside the cave. Which are otherwise inaccessible. We being us, choose an easy option. A Catamaran tour.

The Most Beautiful Beach - Praia do Pontal

There are different types of tours starting from Albufeira Marina. Ours was caves and coastline tour. We were welcomed by our tour guide with a glass of bubbly. The tour lasted for a couple of hours. The only disadvantage with a catamaran is that they cannot enter Benagil caves. We just get a peek inside and nothing more. But, traveling with young kids demands compromises. On the bright side, we had a wonderful trip with an open bar and blaring music. 

Yellow Submarine - Praia da Morena

The best way to see cliffs is from the water. With beautiful formations and hidden beaches, the views were amazing. 

Arco Natural - McDonald's Arch

Praia do Pontal

Praia de Albandeira

Benagil Cave

The World famous Benagil cave can be accessed only by water. A little beach inside is generally filled with tourists. 

Benagil Cave Entrance

Praia da Marinha

Viewing beaches from the water is not enough. They deserve a visit. However, visiting all the beaches is next to impossible. It is very important to prioritize a few. The best way to end the day is to visit the old town of Albufeira and spend an hour or two in its Blue Flag beaches. If I had a choice, Portugal would be the place I would go to and never come back.

Sagres to Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

I never considered Portugal as a holiday destination. Little did I know that if planned properly, Portugal can be a perfect holiday destination with the right temperature and practically zero crowds. We visited the Algarve region of Portugal during the last week of May. We couldn't have picked a better time than this. There were practically no crowds. At times, we felt that we were on a private beach. Water was warm enough to swim in the late afternoons and temperatures were around 25-30°C. This is how a perfect vacation should be.

Driving is the best and only way to see Portugal. We took a flight to Faro and rented a car online. We picked our rental car at Faro airport and had the independence to roam around as we please. Car rental prices are reasonable compared to other European countries like Ireland. Pre-pay for the tolls at the rental office beforehand. I presume all tolls are electronic as I did not find any toll booths on the highway. 

Cape Sagres Viewpoint

Sagres is a municipality in the South-Western tip of Portugal. Sagres Fortress or Fortaleza de Sagres is located at the southernmost tip of Sagres. Sagres played a prominent role in the 15th century during the golden era of Portugal's exploration. The fort is mainly a series of huge walls built to separate the mainland from Sagres head. Henry the Navigator launched his expedition from Sagres. Most of the fort was destroyed by 1755's earthquake and resultant tsunami. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the area on foot. Even though there is not much to see, this fort provides beautiful views of the ocean from the cliffs. 

Church of Our Lady of Grace

Inside the Church

On N125, 10 KM away from Sagres, we came across an un-named shop full of Portugal made ceramic wear. The collection inside the store is huge and the variety is incredible. This place is located right next to the N125 and hard to miss. I got a 'Rooster of Barcelona' and a Portugal ceramic tile from this shop.

A Splendid Find

Next stop - Farol da Ponta da Peidade, Lagos.

Ponta da Piedade

Cliffs & Crystal Clear Water

We drove down the dusty road, without any expectations. Parked our car in an empty parking spot and followed the crowd blindly. Then, we climbed down a series of narrow stairs. Little did we know that these are the stairs leading to a hidden paradise. The sea caves stood shining like golden mountains in the bright afternoon Sun. Boats were floating on a crystal clear turquoise water. One can spend hours appreciating the beauty of the land and the sea. Gazing at the ocean floor and guessing it's depth. My heart danced with joy like a child in a candy store.

Accessible Only by Small Boat

Small boat tours start at the foot of the cliff and take visitors through the sea caves and formations. These caves are accessible by a small boat or kayak or SUP board. Tour lasts for 20-30 minutes covering the surrounding areas. This was the best day of our vacation.