Faro - City Guide
Where To Stay
HotelConnect, offers a large range
of quality, vetted hotels in all our destinations and many more. To book a
hotel through HotelConnect, see http://www.jet2.com/hotel
As a guide to HotelConnect prices per person per night:
- 3 star from £18 pppn
- 4 star from £21 pppn
Eating
Head for the pedestrianised area on either side of Rua de Santo Antonio for
a huge choice of restaurants, cafes and bakeries selling almond delicacies.
There are eateries for all budgets.
Budget: Tasca (Rua del Alportel 38) offering
Algarve specialities.
Mid-Range: Ginásio Clube Naval (Doca de
Faro) with its terrace right on the harbour and Fim do Mundo, (Rua Vasco de
Gama). The city’s oldest fish restaurant is Adega Dois Irmãos
(Largo Terreiro do Bispo 13-15), where the days catch is displayed in the
window.
Luxury: Ocean Restaurant (Vila Vita Parc, Porches)
Fine gourmet food alongside stunning ocean views. Reservations only.
Drinking
Lively bars, many with guest DJ’s and live bands, are centred round
Rua Conselheiro Bivar and Rua do Prior and Rua da Madalena. Things don’t
tend to get going until around midnight!
Things To See And Do
Faro itself has both Arab and Roman ruins – the old part of the city
is still surrounded by the Roman walls – but most of the attractive
older buildings were constructed after the earthquakes of 1755 and 1532.
Inside a spacious open square that was once the site of the Roman Forum is
a 13th century cathedral. The neighbouring 16th century convent is now the
home of the city’s archaeological museum. The “golden” church
of Nossa Senhora do Carmo is possibly the best example of gold-leaf woodwork
in southern Portugal. It also contains the macabre spectacle of a chapel lined
with the bones of 1,200 monks!
Don’t miss Faro’s small harbour with its cluster of cafes and
sleek yachts. Nearby is a little Naval Museum (Museu Marítimo).
Modern Faro boasts the Centro Ciéncia Viva or Centre for Living Science
on the waterfront Rua Com Francisco Manuel. Located in Faro’s former
electricity generating Station, there are interactive exhibits, a flight simulator
and rock pool making it a great place for kids.
Shopping
As well as Faro’s many traditional shopping streets with something for
everyone, is the town’s monthly market. Good buys are linen, leather,
rugs, pottery and wines.
Beyond The City
There are plenty of beachside hotels and a wide variety of water sports available,
but if you prefer a more intimate kind of accommodation, there are many tourist
villages whose white houses are designed in the traditional Moorish style.
If you are a keen golfer, the Algarve has a whole host of courses overlooking
the sea where you can play golf all year round. All along the Atlantic costal
strip of Portugal are to be found fabulous beaches of golden sand sheltered
by red cliffs and sandstone rocks, sculpted into remarkable shapes by erosion.
Faro’s Ria Formosa lagoon on the outskirts of the city is a nature
reserve of over 17,000 hectares and a stopping place for hundreds of different
migrating birds during spring and autumn. The town’s beach (Praia de
Faro) is not far from the International Airport.
Beyond it are the well-known developments of Quinta do Lago and Vale de Lobo,
both five-star holiday areas – together they provide seven top-quality
golf courses, tennis centres, riding schools, hotels, holiday resorts and
villas. Further inland and to the north, the Algarve’s hills mark the
edge of a greener and more fertile region, where you will also find villages
that have hung on to their ancestral traditions.
Cost Of Living
One-litre bottle of mineral water - €1
33cl bottle of beer - €0.60
36-exposure colour film - €5
City-centre bus ticket - €1
Adult football ticket - €15-25
Three-course meal with wine/beer - €8-17
Key Phrases
Yes - Sim
No - Não
Hello - Olá
Goodbye - Adeus / Tchau
Please - Por favor
Thank you - Obrigado / Obrigada
My name is … - Chamo-me …
How are you? - Como está?
I’m very well - Estou bem
I feel ill - Sinto-me doente
How much does it cost? - Quanto custa?
Do you speak English? - Você fala inglês?
I don’t understand - Não percebo
Where is …? - Onde é …?
/ Onde está …?
Entrance - Entrada
Exit - Saída
Danger - Perigo
Open - Aberto / Aberta
Closed - Fechado / Fechada
Toilets - Casa-de-banho / WC / Toilette /
Quarto de banho
Doctor - Medico
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restaurante
Beer - Cerveja
Wine - Vinho
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