Faro is the capital of the Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal. Faro is conveniently situated in the centre of the 160km of golden beaches, dunes and cliffs that make up the southern coast of the Algarve. Faro airport is located 6km west of Faro city centre. Whilst Faro has a lovely old town and is well worth a visit, most people who fly into Faro airport head straight to the beach resorts of the Algarve, which have been particularly popular with the British ever since the rise of mass tourism in the 1960s. Faro airport is convenient for many great beach resorts. An airport taxi transfer from Faro airport will quickly get you to the beach and soaking up the rays, so that you don’t waste any of your precious time away. Fill in the form below to obtain an on-line quotation for airport taxi transfers to your holiday resort, or read on to find out more about some of the great beach resorts within easy access of Faro airport...
The Algarve has the best of both worlds: beautiful beaches and a mild climate, as well as a rich natural and architectural heritage. There are many lively beach resorts with a wide range of water sports and entertainments on offer, but for those who like a little culture there are a range of historical buildings, monuments and fortifications to visit. The heritage of the area would be even more impressive were it not for a devastating earthquake in 1755, which destroyed many of the original old towns of the fishing villages that lined the coast. Still there is plenty to see and some gorgeous beaches and turquoise seas in which to cool off after a hard day’s sightseeing.
From Faro airport you can book transfers to many destinations in the Algarve including Albufeira, Almancil, Alvor, Carvoeiro, Lagos, Monchique, Olhao, Portimao, Praia da Luz, Praia da Oura, Praia da Rocha, Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Silves, Tavira, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura.
The most popular beach resorts of the Algarve are situated west of Faro. So, heading west, the first major resort you reach is Quarteira. Quarteira has a long sandy beach and lovely palm-lined promenade. Whilst Quarteira has a high-rise centre, characteristic of many of the major beach resorts of the Algarve, it still retains its Portuguese character and remains popular with Portuguese holidaymakers as well as those from further afield. Quarteira still boasts a local fishing community and the local restaurants are well known for the quality of their fish. Quarteira is a popular resort with families; the beach is perfect for children and the sea is calmed by a series of breakwaters, making the water safer for young swimmers. Quarteira is also in the centre of some of the best golf courses on the Algarve, perhaps the finest being at Vilamoura: a purpose-built tourist complex just a short walk away.
Vilamoura is one of the largest tourist complexes in Europe, covering some 2,000 hectares of land. Starting with the classic Algarve ingredients of sun, sand and sea, this resort offers every sort of entertainment you could possibly imagine. It has two long sandy beaches, a large marina full of jaw-droppingly luxury yachts, half a dozen golf courses, tennis and squash courts, bowling lawns, horse riding, walking and cycling trails, a casino and a cinema, as well as many fashionable boutiques and shops. Vilamoura is probably most famous for its golf courses: there are 6 championship courses to chose from!
Airport taxi transfers to Quarteira and Vilamoura take less than half an hour from Faro airport.
Albufeira is the tourist capital of the Algarve. Albufeira is famed for its fine sandy beaches and is a popular destination for sun-seekers. Albufeira’s relaxed beach lifestyle by day is transformed into a place of parties by night. Once a small fishing village, Albufeira has developed primarily to serve the every need and whim of the tourists that flock here. The narrow streets of the old town are full of cafés, bars, restaurants and shops filled with jewellery, pottery and other holiday trinkets. Whilst Albufeira is undoubted a large holiday resort, it still retains plenty of Algarve charm. The main beach, Praia da Oura – which translates as the golden beach – offers acres of golden sand, but there are smaller coves from which you can escape the crowds, or plenty of water sports on offer if you want to head away from dry land. Airport taxi transfers from Faro airport to Albufeira take approximately 45 minutes.
Further west along the coast from Albufeira is another popular family resort, Carvoeiro. The town beach, Praia do Carvoeiro, is just spades throw away from the main town square, meaning that you have everything you need – sun, sand, sea and sustenance – in a small area. The bars and cafés lining the square have a nice view of the beach and sea and there are plenty of opportunities to get out on the water too. There are a couple of dive schools in Carvoeiro, as well as jet skis and pedalos to hire, or boat trips to see the nearby caves. Airport taxi transfers to Carvoeiro from Faro airport take around an hour.
Heading still further west you reach the beach resort of Praia da Rocha. Situated next to Portimao marina, Praia da Rocha, is a bustling holiday resort. It was welcoming tourists back in the 19th century and you will find some grand old hotels lining the seafront and standing out from the other, more modern, developments. Praia da Rocha has a large beach, which never feels crowded even in the height of summer and there are plenty of water sports or boat trips available. At night Praia da Rocha comes alive! There are plenty of places to wine and dine, and clubs and a casino for the real partygoers. Taxi transfers to Praia da Rocha take around an hour from Faro airport.
Head up into the hills behind Praia da Rocha and you come to Monchique, a small market town beautifully unaffected by the mass tourism happening on the coast. Monchique is situated in a range of wooded hills of the same name and there are plenty of walks with fantastic views in the area, as well as handicrafts to browse and cafés from which to watch the world go by. Holidays in Monchique take a very relaxed pace. Airport taxi transfers from Faro airport to Monchique take around 1.5 hours.
Back to the coast and heading west from Praia da Rocha you reach Alvor. Like all the resorts along this coast, Alvor also has its origins as an ancient fishing village. Alvor has managed to avoid the high-rise development found in some of the larger resorts. Whilst the narrow cobbled streets of the old town are now lined with bars and restaurants, they still have the feel of the small coastal village it once was. Alvor is an ideal resort for families, offering a more relaxed holiday than some of the larger resorts. Taxi transfers from Faro airport to Alvor take approximately 1 hour.
Next you come to Lagos, a bustling town full of activity day and night. However, Lagos is a town full of history as well as sand and sun. Its variety of monuments and architecture point to a chequered history, thanks to its position at the south-westernmost outpost of Europe. Lagos has an impressive natural harbour and some beautiful nearby beaches. There is plenty of sunbathing space on the golden sands of Meia Praias to the east of the town, and pretty coves from which to escape the crowds to the south of Lagos. Like on the rest of the Algarve, you’re never far from a golf course and there are at least 4 within putting distance of Lagos. Lagos takes just over an hour by taxi transfer from Faro airport.
Going west, Praia da Luz is a favourite beach resort along this stretch of coast, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Faro airport by taxi transfer. Further west still you finally reach Sagres, less than 2 hours taxi transfer from Faro airport. Sagres is where Europe ends and the ocean begins...
