Things to Do in Faro: Old Town, Islands and the Chapel of Bones

Most visitors only see Faro from the airport, which is a shame. The Algarve’s capital has a charming walled old town, a chapel lined with human bones, storks nesting on the rooftops and island beaches in the Ria Formosa just a boat ride away. It’s perfect for your first or last night in the Algarve, or a day trip.

Quick answer: walk through the Arco da Vila into the old town, climb the cathedral tower (about €5) for lagoon views, see the Chapel of Bones (about €2 to €3, cash), take a boat to Ilha Deserta (about €10–12 return) or the bus to Praia de Faro. Nearby: the Roman ruins of Milreu (closed for about 120 days of works from late April 2026, so check it has reopened) and the tiled church of São Lourenço in Almancil.

Why go

Faro feels like a real Portuguese city rather than a resort. Locals outnumber tourists for most of the year, prices in cafes are lower than on the coast, and the old town is quiet and easy to explore on foot. Add a lagoon full of birds and island beaches, and it’s worth more than a night near the airport.

The old town (Cidade Velha)

• Arco da Vila: the grand early 19th-century gateway into the walled old town. Look up for the storks’ nests on top.
• Faro Cathedral (Sé): rebuilt several times since the 13th century, it mixes Gothic, Renaissance and baroque styles. Climb the bell tower for wonderful views over the rooftops and the Ria Formosa lagoon. About €5, including the museum and a small bone chapel in the garden. Allow 45 minutes.
• Largo da Sé: a peaceful square lined with orange trees.
• Museu Municipal: in a 16th-century convent, with Roman mosaics found nearby. A few euros.
• The city walls and quiet cobbled lanes, best in the late afternoon light.

The Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos)

Behind the baroque Igreja do Carmo, a small chapel built from the bones and skulls of more than 1,000 Carmelite monks. Eerie and fascinating, with a reminder over the door that we’ll all end up the same way. About €2 to €3 for the church and chapel, cash only. It’s usually open weekdays (with a lunch break) and Saturday mornings, and closed on Sundays, but hours change, so check before you go. A visit takes about 20 minutes.

The Ria Formosa and the islands

The Ria Formosa is a protected lagoon of salt marshes, channels and sandy barrier islands stretching along the eastern Algarve. It’s an important stop for birds, and you have a good chance of seeing flamingos, spoonbills and storks. See the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

• Ilha Deserta (Barreta): an almost empty island beach at the southernmost point of mainland Portugal, with a boardwalk of about 2km. The ferry from Portas do Mar takes about 45 minutes and costs about €10–12 return; faster speedboats cost more. Boats run several times a day in season, fewer in winter.
• Ilha de Faro (Praia de Faro): a long beach reached by road. Take bus 16 from the centre, via the airport. Buses run more often in summer.
• Boat tours: island hopping, birdwatching (flamingos, spoonbills) and eco tours of the lagoon. See the best Algarve boat trips or browse Faro tours.

Near Faro

• Milreu Roman ruins (Estoi, 15 minutes): the remains of a Roman villa with fish mosaics. A small fee; closed on Mondays. It closed in late April 2026 for about 120 days of works, so check it has reopened.
• Palácio de Estoi: a pink rococo palace, now a pousada hotel, with lovely gardens.
• São Lourenço, Almancil (15 minutes): a small church entirely covered inside in blue-and-white azulejos. About €2, and no photos allowed inside.
• Olhão (15 minutes): a fishing town with a great market and ferries to car-free islands. See Tavira and the eastern Algarve.
• Loulé (20 minutes): a beautiful Moorish-style market hall and a busy Saturday market. See Loulé.

A one-day route

• Morning: enter the old town through the Arco da Vila, climb the cathedral tower, then wander the walls and the Museu Municipal.
• Lunch: seafood near the marina or in the streets off Rua de Santo António.
• Afternoon: the Chapel of Bones, then the boat to Ilha Deserta, or the bus to Praia de Faro for a swim.
• Evening: sunset by the marina and dinner in the centre.

With a second day, drive or take a taxi to Milreu and Estoi, then São Lourenço on the way back.

Food and drink

Try seafood from the Ria Formosa, especially clams and oysters, and cataplana. Look out for Algarve sweets made with figs, almonds and carob. The streets around Rua de Santo António and the marina are full of restaurants and cafés, and Faro has a lively student bar scene.

When to go

Faro is good all year, which makes it a fine winter break. Spring and autumn are ideal for walking and birdwatching. Summer is hot but the island beaches are breezy. In mid-July the city usually hosts a huge international motorbike rally, and from around 20 October the long-running Feira de Santa Iria fair, so book ahead on those dates.

Getting there and around

• From the airport: about 10 minutes by taxi, or Próximo bus 16 (about 20 minutes). Some head to Praia de Faro instead, so check the front sign. Pay the driver in cash (about €2.50 to €3).
• Train: Faro is on the Algarve line to Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António, now fully electric, and on the main line to Lisbon. See Lisbon to the Algarve.
• Walking: the centre, old town and marina are all close together.
• Driving: parking in the old town is limited; use the paid car parks near the marina or the station.

Staying in Faro

Faro is ideal for a first or last night near the airport, and it’s more authentic than the big resorts. Hotels add a tourist tax of about €2 per person per night from March to October and €1 in winter, for guests aged 16 and over. See places to stay in Faro, or compare towns in where to stay in the Algarve.

FAQ

Is Faro worth visiting?

Yes, for at least a day. The old town, cathedral tower, Chapel of Bones and a Ria Formosa boat trip fill an easy day.

How do you get from Faro airport to the old town?

Próximo bus 16 takes about 20 minutes (pay the driver in cash); a taxi takes about 10.

Is Milreu open?

Check first. The ruins closed in late April 2026 for about 120 days of works, with no confirmed reopening date. See Estoi and Milreu.

How do you get to Ilha Deserta?

By ferry from the Portas do Mar pier by the old town, about 45 minutes each way. Note the return times first.

Arriving by plane? See Faro airport transfers.

From our sister blog: Olhão, the hidden gem of the Algarve on Sunset Travellers.

See also: things to do in Olhão, the Ria Formosa Natural Park, Ilha Deserta and Estoi and Milreu.

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