Hotels near Faro Old Town and Ria Formosa Natural Park

Faro is the Algarve's regional capital and the entry point for most visitors via Faro Airport (FAO), but it's also a genuine destination in its own right. The Cidade Velha (walled old town) is entered through the 18th-century Arco da Vila and contains the Se de Faro cathedral - climb the tower for 3.50 EUR for the best view across the Ria Formosa lagoon. The Capela dos Ossos (Bone Chapel) at the Igreja do Carmo, decorated with the bones of 1,245 monks, is a stark counterpoint and one of the most striking interiors in southern Portugal; entry is 2 EUR.

The real draw is the Ria Formosa Natural Park - 170 square km of lagoon, salt marsh, and barrier islands stretching from Faro east to Cacela Velha. Boat trips and four-wheel ferries leave from the Faro marina to the islands: Ilha Deserta (Ilha da Barreta) is uninhabited with a single excellent restaurant Estamine and 11 km of empty Atlantic sand; Ilha do Farol has the historic lighthouse; Culatra is a working fishing village. Boat tickets to Deserta cost 15 EUR return.

Pro Tip: Skip Faro on the day you fly in or out - you'll be tired and the old town is small. Build it as a relaxed half-day trip from Tavira or Albufeira, ferry across to Ilha Deserta for lunch at Estamine, and you'll see the best of Faro in a single morning.