The Best Itinerary for 3 Days in Faro
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend products that we truly feel will bring value to our audience. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions go towards improving our blog and creating a better experience for you. We really appreciate your support!
Spending 3 days in Faro is a great amount of time to spend exploring. There are plenty of things to do in and around Faro that will keep you occupied.
Faro is a beautiful small town located in the Algarve that often gets overlooked by tourists for the likes of Albufeira and Lagos. However, it is one of the most stunning towns and a great base for exploring other small towns in the Algarve.
In this guide, you will find some of the best things to do when you’re spending 3 days in Faro, tips for exploring around Faro, best places to stay in Faro and a full itinerary for 3 days in Faro that you can replicate and change yourself.
We ended up spending 4 days exploring Faro but we feel that 3 days is perfectly fine and you’ll be able to see the main sites in Faro. No matter how many days you decide to spend, this is a really great starting point for planning your adventures.
Is 3 Days in Faro Enough?
Depending on what you’re looking to do whilst you’re in Faro will completely depend on how many days are best for you to spend in Faro. For us, we found that 3 days in Faro would have been plenty but we also enjoyed having a 4th day to kick back and relax.
If you’re someone that likes to just sightsee and explore what a destination has to offer then 3 days is a perfect amount of time and will even give you some time to explore small towns nearby too.
However, if you’re looking to use Faro as a base to explore multiple towns near Faro then you may want a little more time as there are quite a few great places to visit outside of Faro. You may find that some people only spend 1 day or visit Faro on a day trip which is enough time to see the main sights but not enough to really take advantage of everything Faro has to offer.
If you’re just wanting to see Faro for what it is and not explore outside then you will find that spending 2 days in Faro is optimal and will enable you to see the main attractions.
A lot of tourists also enjoy visiting Faro to spend some time in the sun and relax with some gentle sightseeing alongside it. If this sounds like you then it is best to spend a little more time than 3 days in Faro. You may find that spending a couple days relaxing and then another 2-3 days sightseeing will be best.
As we say, it completely depends on how you like to travel but for us 3-4 days in Faro was the perfect amount of time.
Where to Stay in Faro for 3 Nights
You will have a good amount of choice on places to stay in Faro so you will want to choose somewhere that is comfortable, within your budget and suits your type of travelling.
Below you will find 3 different choices of best places to stay in Faro which are suited for travellers that are on a budget, average price range and luxury accommodation in Faro. If you’re looking for a larger variety of accommodation options then we’ve shared a handy map at the bottom showing you the prices, where to book them and how close they are to Faro town.
Hostellicious
If you’re a budget traveller looking for somewhere affordable to stay in Faro then Hostellicious is a great option for you. If you’re travelling solo to Faro then we would really recommend booking to stay at this hostel.
You can choose from either a dorm or a private room and you will be only 0.3km from the town centre so it is a perfect location.
Lemon Tree Stay
For any couples visiting Faro that are on a mid-range budget then this is a perfect option as it’s not too expensive but also feels more expensive than it actually is.
It is a beautiful hotel with very modern decor and a great terrace to hang out on after a long day of exploring. Prices of Lemon Tree Stay generally varies depending on what you choose for which month to visit Faro. However, you can generally expect the price to be around €145EUR per night (£125GBP / $155USD).
Hotel Faro & Beach Club
Looking to stay in Faro in ultimate luxury? Hotel Faro & Beach Club is one of the best boutique hotels in Faro. Whether you’re travelling as a couple or a group of friends, you will have an incredible time at this hotel.
It is a little further outside the town centre but it is well worth it and perfect if you’re planning to rent a car in Faro to go on some day trips.
Find More Accommodation in Faro Here!
If you’ve not found quite what you’re looking for then you can use the handy map before to check the prices around Faro. You will see the hotels that are close to Faro’s Old Town and where is best to book them.
Things to do in Faro for 3 Days
1. Benagil Caves
One of the top things to do in Faro is to take a day trip to Benagil caves. This stunning attraction pulls in tourists from all over the world every year and is likely a sight you’ve seen on Instagram and Google many times!
In honesty, this is one of the main reasons that makes Faro worth visiting! If you’ve rented a car then you will be able to go on a self-guided tour to Benagil caves. It is quite easy to get there and a greay way to spend the day out from Faro.
Alternatively, you will be able to book a day tour which often includes kayaking making it an epic adventure. If you’re travelling to Faro as a couple then you can make it into a romantic experience by booking a sunrise or sunset tour of the Benagil caves too.
Whether you’re booking a tour or planning to self-guide then you will want to try and arrive quite early so that you can avoid tourists as much as possible.
3 Best Benagil Caves Tours:
- Benagil Caves Kayak Tour
- Benagil Cave Guided Kayaking Tour Caves & Secret Spots
- First Inside Benagil Cave – Sunrise or Sunset
2. Ria Formosa Natural Park
One of the best things to do in Faro is to spend some time around Ria Formosa Lagoon. The lagoon is really important to the ecosystem in the Algarve and attracts migratory birds and other forms of wildlife.
The Ria Formosa Nautral park stretches for around 40 miles (approximately 60km) across the Algarve coast. You will find that it is a great spot to wander and appreciate the nature in the area.
It is truly a beautiful area and there are also lots of different tours that will take you around with a local guide to give you more information about Ria Formosa.
The natural park is a series of islands made up of lagoons, beaches, canals, marshes and so much more. You could really spend the whole day exploring around the natural park close to Faro, if not longer.
If you’re only visiting Faro for 3 days then we suggest spending at least half a day here to capture some of the main sights. The best way to do this is to join one of the tours so that you have a guide to inform you of important information about the particular area of the Ria Formosa Natural Park that you’re visiting.
Best Ria Formosa Tours from Faro
- Sunset Boat Trip of Ria Formosa: An Eco-Friendly Tour From Faro
- Ilha Deserta & Farol Island: Small Group Boat Trip in Ria Formosa from Faro
- Ria Formosa Natural Park & Islands Boat Cruise from Faro
3. Day Trips to Tavira or Estoi
Whilst you’re spending some time in Faro, you will want to take a day trip to some of the smaller towns nearby. Two towns that are close to Faro and also really beautiful places to visit include Estoi or Tavira.
This is often best if you’re renting a car in Faro because it makes it much easier to get around. However, there are a lot of different public transport options around too.
Visiting Tavira or Estoi from Faro makes for a really unique day out and as they’re also not as touristy, you will get to experience a more authentic side of Portugal.
There are lots of things to do in and around Tavira including visiting waterfalls, castles, beautiful beaches and Isla de Tavira. This is a great day trip from Faro for anyone that is looking for some instagrammable spots in the Algarve and to experience a more authentic experience in Portugal.
If you’re thinking about visiting Estoi then this is a small fishing village that is great for travellers that want to step off the beaten track.
You will find that there are not as many things to do in Estoi as there are in Tavira so it is the perfect choice for if you’re wanting to only spend a few hours away from Faro.
Whichever one you choose, both Tavira and Estoi are absolutely stunning and well worth a visit. If you have time then you will want to take a trip to both of these small towns near Faro.
4. Dolphin watching in Faro
Another great activity from Faro is to embark on a dolphin watching tour from the marina. If you’re travelling to Faro as a family then this is one of the best things to do with kids as well.
It is not always guaranteed that you will get to see the dolphins as they are wild animals but it is an incredible experience for everyone.
Best Dolphin Watching Tours from Faro
- 2 Hour Dolphin Watching & Marine Life Ria Formosa Natural Park
- Dolphin Watching & 2 Islands Tour From Faro
5. Try some Portuguese food
No matter where we travelling, one of the things we love doing the most is experiencing the destination through the food. The Portuguese cuisine is one of our favourites as there is so much flavour and delicious dishes to try.
Depending on where you’re travelling in Portugal will depend on the type of dishes that you come across. In Faro, one dish that is particularly popular is cataplana which is something that you need to try!
A lot of the dishes consist of meat or seafood which makes it great for everyone because there are a lot of choices.
The local beer is Sagres which is often really cheap too so we recommend trying some of this whilst you’re visiting Faro. One of our favourite restaurants to visit in Faro is The Old Tavern because they have some of the best tapas so we recommend heading here!
No matter what food you decide to try in Faro, you need to make sure you have some fresh seafood before you leave because it is absolutely delicious!
6. Enjoy some drinks & Music at AP Eva Senses
One of our favourite hotels in Faro is the AP Eva Senses so we definitely recommend choosing to stay here if you don’t have a tight budget.
Even if you’re not staying at this hotel, we recommend taking a trip to the rooftop one evening to enjoy some drinks with a stunning view. You will get to overlook the marina from one side and then Faro Old Town from the other side.
Some evenings there is also a DJ on the rooftop which is a great experience for any party travellers. If you prefer a quieter scene then we recommend visiting during the early afternoon which is much more peaceful!
7. Explore around the old town
You can’t visit Faro without walking around Faro old town and exploring the old city walls. Faro’s town is small and quaint so it’s great to wander around and see what you can find.
There’s not a huge amount to do within the town itself but it is such a beautiful area that it is well worth having a walk around. This is especially true if you’re looking to capture some Instagrammable photos from Faro.
3 Days in Faro Itinerary
Day 1
09:00 Breakfast at Vanilla Faro
10:30 Dolphin Watching Tour
13:30 Lunch at Old Tavern Faro
15:00 Wander around Faro Old Town exploring the city walls
17:00 Dinner at Restaurante Sol e Jardim
18:30 Drinks at AP Eva Senses and watch the sunset
From there, you can choose whether you would like to carry on having drinks into the night or have an early night before waking up to explore tomorrow!
Day 2
07:00 Benagil Caves Sunrise Tour
10:00 Late breakfast at Chelsea Coffee & Brunch
11:30 Spend some time at the beach
14:00 Late lunch and drinks down Faro Marina
15:00 Ria Formosa Boat Tour
17:00 Dinner at Ria Formosa restaurant
21:00 Enjoy some drinks at Faro beach club and Cosmopolitan bar
Day 3
09:00 Take a journey to Estoi
09:30 Visit Palácio de Estoi
10:30 Breakfast at Cafe o Rissol
11:30 Wander around Estoi town visiting RuÃnas Romanas de Milreu and Igreja Matriz de Estoi
13:30 Take a journey to Tavira
14:00 Lunch at Borda d’agua
15:15 Listen to some Fado music at Fado Com Historia
16:00 Explore around Tavira and visit Isla de Tavira & Castelo de Tavira
18:00 Head back to Faro for some dinner
18:30 Arrive back in Faro and enjoy dinner at Tertulia Algarvia
You’re Ready to Make the Most of Faro!
Faro is a beautiful place to visit even though there isn’t a huge amount of things to do in Faro itself so even if you don’t have 3 days, even 2 days in Faro will be enough to capture its beauty!
If you’re wanting to spend some time casually sightseeing and use it as a base to explore other areas in the Algarve then it is a perfect spot to visit in the Algarve.
In our opinion, it is one of the most underrated destinations in the Algarve so we really do recommend visiting. For anyone that is planning to visit, we suggest renting a car so that you can explore other areas.
Not just that but there are some incredible restaurants in Faro with plenty of delicious food that you just have to try! Check out our other Faro resources below to help plan your amazing trip!
