The southernmost part of Portugal, the Algarve is well known for endless sunshine, hot summers and beautiful sandy beaches. So it’s no surprise that the majority of tourists who arrive at Faro airport continue their journey to one of the numerous seaside towns/hotels without spending any time in Faro. Unsurprisingly there are plenty of things to do near Faro. If you can spare a couple of days, base yourself in the stylish Cardeal Suits and Apartments, which is only a stone’s throw away from the centre and bus terminal, and explore the narrow streets of the old town, dine in one of the restaurants, or go for a stroll in the harbour. And when you think you’ve seen Faro, hop on a bus and go to Praia de Faro or the nearby Tavira for a day out.
You can take a boat trip to one of the many islands in the Ria Formosa Natural Park or go for a short walk just outside of Faro to watch storks and flamingos.
During our last visit to the Algarve we really enjoyed visiting the following sights in and near Faro.
Chapel of Bones (Faro)
Perhaps the most memorable - among the things to do near Faro - although a bit unsettling sight is the 18th-century Igreja do Carmo and Capela dos Ossos. The whitewashed church might not give away much from the outside, and while the richly gilded interior is very impressive, the real attraction is the small chapel in the walled garden. The inscription above the entrance of the chapel translates to: ‘Stop here and consider, that you will reach this state too.’ And as you enter, hundreds of skulls stare down from the walls and ceiling.
The entire interior of the chapel is decorated with human skulls and bones positioned in geometric patterns. The bones that belonged to monks were exhumed from the nearby graveyard when its reached it capacity in 1816. Displaying bones like this is not entirely unique, you can find similar chapels in other European countries, but it doesn’t make the experience in Faro any less eerie.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9-1 and 3-5 closed on Sundays
Cost: €2 please note that you need cash to pay the entrance fee
Ludo Trail
Our stay in Faro wouldn’t have been complete without including at least one walk on our list of 'Things to do in Faro', even if it was a very short one. This popular trail is just a short bus ride away from Faro centre, starting from Praia de Faro, it takes you through the wetlands of the São Lourenço River in the Ria Formosa Natural Park. The area’s special ecosystem provides a home to a great number of bird species, you might even spot a flock of elegant flamingos. Bring your binoculars and stop in one of the bird hides along the trail, and at low tide you can also spot fiddler crabs crawling in and out of their burrows in the mud. After the walk, there are plenty of places at Praia de Faro where you can have fresh seafood and drinks to finish the day.
Praia do Barril and the Anchor cemetery
While this might be closer to Tavira than Faro, visiting Praia do Barril is a great day out for the whole family. From the Praia do Barril car park at Santa Luzia walk across the pedestrian bridge, and then you can either take the mini train that runs about every 20-30mins or follow the narrow path alongside the railway to Praia do Barril.
During the heydays of tuna fishing, between 1841 and 1966, there was a small settlement at Praia do Barril where the fishermen and their families spent the summer months.
The railway was used to transport food, various materials and even people in carriages pulled by mule along the short railway track to the small community. Today the mini train carries tourists to and from the beach, and the former fishermen’s huts are converted into cafes, shops, there is even a restaurant and a museum.
The beach is known for the Anchor cemetery that is made of several rows of rusty iron anchors that were left on the dunes after the fishing company in Praia do Barril ceased operating in 1966.
Car park: €8 for a full day
mini train: single ticket €2
There are so much more things to do near Faro beyond these things we have listed, so go out there and explore the area!
