BEST Things To Do in Faro (Portugal) IN WINTER (+ trip to Desert Island)

If you're visiting Algarve and Faro during winter, then this guide will help you plan your trip. Unlike a lot of other destinations in Europe, the Algarve doesn't completely shut down during winter. In fact, the Algarve is a perfect winter destination in Europe, if you want to avoid crowds and escape the European cold.

I stayed in the Algarve for one month in February 2023, and I visited Faro a few times and I truly believe it deserves a spot on your list of things to do in the Algarve.

Faro is the largest city on the Algarve coastline in Portugal. The city has the only international airport around, and it is the gateway to Algarve. But it is not just a logistical stop on your trip, where you only land or rent a car.

Faro in Portugal is so much more than a city. It's a historical old town to be discovered and the place where you can join daily boat trips to nearby islands that are accessible only by boat, such as the famous Ilha Deserta (Desert Island).

Here are the highlights of this video with the best things to do in Faro (Portugal) in winter:

00:56 Igreja de São Francisco car park (where to park in Faro?)
02:05 Belmarço Palace
02:40 Arco da Vila in Faro, Portugal
03:10 Igreja de Santa Maria or Sé Catedral de Faro (the Cathedral of Faro) - climb to the roof for panoramic views of Faro
07:39 Modesto Tavern (top rated restaurant in old town of Faro with daily lunch menu)
09:21 Porta nova in Faro old town (waterfront area and boarding area for boat tours from Faro to nearby islands)
10:56 Ilha Deserta (Desert Island)
17:09 Restaurante Estaminé - the only restaurant on the Desert Island (Ilha Deserta)