Book your flight to Faro with Icelandair

Introduction to Faro

Welcome to Faro, the hub of Portugal's southern Algarve region. The area is renowned for over 300 days of sunshine a year, so a healthy hit of vitamin D is almost guaranteed. Add some beautiful beaches, glorious golfing, and super seafood to the mix, and the result is a dream vacation spot!

Icelandair has added Faro to its network: from March 26 to October 24, 2026, we fly once or twice weekly to Faro from Iceland and North America. Book now for your chance to explore this sunny, sociable city then check out the wealth of coastal attractions at its doorstep. For the best prices, check out our current Icelandair flight deals, or explore the booking options above.

Before you discover the sandy strands and fishy fare of the Algarve, how about cooling down in Reykjavík and discovering Iceland's black beaches? When you book flights to Faro with Icelandair you can add a Stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare. If you are looking for cheap flights from Canada, flying with us provides excellent value on flights to Portugal.

Exploring the Algarve region

The Algarve is the coastline that extends all the way across southern Portugal. The southern coast is approximately 96 miles (155km) long, while the west coast adds another 31 miles (50km) in the country's southwest corner. Faro is the region’s biggest city (with a population of approx. 70,000) and it’s a great springboard to the riches of the region, from postcard-perfect beaches and lagoons to golf courses and fishing villages.

The Algarve is home to popular resort towns like Albufeira and Lagos, sophisticated getaways such as Vilamoura, and more traditional towns like Faro, Tavira, and Portimão. Other popular destinations include Sagres, known for surfing; Carvoeiro, which is fun for families; and various smaller villages like Aljezur and Ferragudo.

Faro attractions

Many visitors to the Algarve fly into Faro but bypass the city itself, heading straight to other places. They’re missing out! Faro has its own charms, with whitewashed streets, Roman ruins, urban vineyards, and excellent restaurants.

Praia de Faro is located around 6 miles (10km) west of Faro's city center by road, making it the closest beach to the city. It’s a long sweep of sand, popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing. It's close to the airport, so it's the perfect place to enjoy the sun for a couple of hours before your flight leaves.

Among Faro’s best attractions is access to the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a vast wonderland of lagoons, islands, salt marshes, white-sand beaches, and sandbanks. It’s renowned for birdlife, with flamingo sightings especially popular. Walking trails and boat cruises can help you explore.

Best Algarve beaches

The Algarve has over 150 beaches, including strands that regularly top 'Europe's best beaches' lists. Warm weather, golden sands, and turquoise water? Yes please!

In a nutshell: in the Algarve's west, beaches are wilder and often less crowded, with dramatic cliffs and strong waves. In central Algarve, between Faro and Portimão, beaches are busier and surrounded by impressive rock formations. The eastern Algarve has long sandy stretches, rolling dunes, and quiet islands reached by boat.

The most iconic Algarve beaches: Praia da Marinha for its stunning cliffs and rock formations, Praia da Dona Ana and Praia do Camilo for their postcard-perfect scenery, and Praia da Rocha for its wide sands and historic fame. Other popular spots include long, cliff-backed Praia da Falésia, and Praia de Benagil with nearby cliffs and grottoes.

Dining in the Algarve

Your tastebuds are in for a treat in the Algarve region, where the cuisine abounds with fish and Mediterranean flavors.

At mealtime, look for traditional taverns known as tascas, where you can enjoy dishes like grilled sardines, razor clam rice, fried squid, sardine pâté, and the beloved seafood stew cataplana, along with meat dishes like piri-piri chicken and roast suckling pig. Don't miss traditional petiscos (the local version of tapas), local cheeses, and fig-based sweets. For dessert, try a regional specialty like Dom Rodrigo – a sticky-sweet concoction of egg yolks, sugar, ground almonds, and cinnamon.

Pastries are an art form in Portugal, and you should visit the nearest pastelaria (pastry and cake shop) wherever you roam. The classic pastel de nata (custard tart) is one of many local delicacies worth sampling.

Shopping in the Algarve

In Faro, the beautifully tiled Rua de Santo António is the main shopping artery, home to fashion boutiques, shoe stores, and outlets with Portuguese brands such as Parfois (fashion accessories), Campobello (footwear) and more.

If you’re looking for a classic souvenir from the Algarve, you can’t go wrong with food items such as olive oil, wine, and tinned sardines. The region is also well-known for its delicious figs and almonds. Local crafts like pottery, leather goods, and cork products are popular mementoes. The traditional town of Porches is known for its centuries-old pottery tradition and there are fantastic workshops where you can shop to your heart’s content.

Getting around the city

Faro International Airport (FAO) is roughly 4 miles (6.5km) west of Faro’s city center. Several bus routes run from the airport to the city center and vice versa. From the city center, there are regional and national bus and train connections to take you to any destination in the Algarve or the rest of the country. The NESO app and website are super-helpful for planning a journey in the Algarve region.

Getting around Faro is easy and affordable. The city’s public transportation system includes buses that connect the city center to the beaches and surrounding areas. Consider renting a bicycle to explore the city at your own pace. Taxis and rideshare services are also available and reasonably priced for short trips.

Travel beyond Faro

You can easily alternate beaches with sightseeing here. Beyond Faro’s sunlit charms and the region's iconic beaches, the Algarve reveals a tapestry of traditional towns and fishing villages steeped in history.

Riverside Tavira is often named as the region's most beautiful town, thanks to its Roman bridge and Moorish influences, or you can wander the cobbled lanes of Silves, crowned by a red sandstone castle. Head west to Lagos for maritime heritage and markets, or visit Sagres, where cliffs meet the Atlantic and legends of explorers linger.

Inland, discover Alte, a whitewashed village nestled among hills and springs. Loulé is another appealing inland destination, with markets and wine-tasting, plus the chance to connect with Algarve traditions through hands-on workshops in pottery, basket weaving, and ceramic painting.