The city of Faro in southern Portugal is a destination that can offer many things to many people. One of its foremost attractions is the great local food that is found in a host of excellent restaurants. When you add to that reputation the exciting party and leisure scene, the Algarve Coast is top of the list of Europe’s hottest spots for fun-loving groups of friends.
It is also a place that can enjoyed on a budget, and when you start off on the right foot with a convenient shared Faro airport transfer, you may even meet some new friends along the way!
Dining
Situated on nexus of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, Faro has so much fabulous fresh seafood cuisine on offer, you won’t need to go far to find somewhere great to eat.
There are plenty of excellent restaurants dotted around the centre, including Restaurante Madeirense. This outlet specialises in local produce from Madeira, the Portuguese island south west of the mainland. The cuisine there is quite special and unusual – so you can try exotic plates like pudim de maracuja (maracuja pudding) and espada (scabbard fish). Follow it up with the authentic Madeiran drink, poncho, a sugar-cane liqueur.
There are plenty of options for vegetarians too. Gengibre e Canela eschews meat and fish for a beautifully diverse menu of vegetable dishes that render animal products irrelevant. Lasagne, bean casseroles and tofu dishes abound, with a superb fresh buffet that keeps the people coming back for more.
Maktostas is a vibrant meeting place for students and groups of young people. With a range of specials and a finely tuned selection of toasties, this tree-terraced restaurant is all about the social!
Partying
After a relaxing evening and perhaps a siesta, next comes the fun and there are plenty of ways to drink and dance. The town has several gems ready to take anything you and your friends have to give.
Discover the new world at Columbus Bar, right on the waterfront. With great cocktails expertly made by a fantastic team of bar staff, this is a buzzing hive of high jinks and hedonistic abandon. The place gets particularly busy around 11pm, when the fun-loving local senhors and senhoritas join in the party.
Located a couple of minutes walk away, on the other side of the Jardim Manuel Bivar, is Bar Chessenta. Set over two floors, this Che Guevara-themed drinking hole is crammed, narrow and sweaty – so be prepared.
O Castelo is a bar, coffee house and club that’s open all day. There is a great outside space with pumping music, and it sets aside special nights for authentic Portuguese folk music as well. Situated on the old walls, against a backdrop of the water, O Castelo also doubles as a renowned romantic spot for those quiet moments.
How to Get There
Faro is easy to get to from the UK, with daily flights from nearly all British international airports. Make your arrival even easier by making use of a Faro airport transfer when you land, which can get you and your friends right to the door of your hotel.
Fun and frivolity await in this gorgeous and very relaxed destination.
Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for the most convenient and affordable Faro airport transfer, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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