Faro, Portugal

Faro

The beautiful capital of the Algarve

In southern Portugal, is a sun-seeker’s mecca. And it has the best of both worlds. Turn away from the lure of the beaches and the bars, even for a moment, and you’ll discover a town crammed with whitewashed buildings with colonial and Moorish influences, quaint cobbled streets and magnificent sunset views. At certain times of day, you could hear a pin drop. Then it’s back to the beach to work on the tan.

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Destination overview
  Language: Portuguese
  Currency: Euro
  Time zone: GMT (GMT +1 hour in summer)
  Flight Time: 3 hours
  Holiday type: Beach
  Weather: Average maximum temperature: 17.3°C (24 hour average)
Rainfall: 510.9mm a year

Must see:
The Praia del Faro is one of the biggest and best beaches in the area. A couple of miles in length, there’s plenty of room for everyone, even in high season.

Must eat at:
For a truly special evening out, take the short journey out of town to the hillside village of Estoi and the fabulous hotel/restaurant complex of Monte do Casal. Its degustation menu is a thrill for all the senses.

Must be there for:
The city’s annual holiday is on the 7th September – when locals do what they do best, and party.

Well-travelled tips:
· To reconnect with nature head out on the nearby Rio Formosa Lagoon, a massive migratory reserve spanning over 170 square kilometres. You can pick up a tour boat from a jetty by the historic part of town.
· The slightly weird Capela dos Ossos is not for the faint-hearted... it contains the skeletons of 1200 monks, all on public display. Nice.

Visa:
British citizens do not need a visa to visit Portugal
 

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