Things to do in Faro, Algarve

ActivitiesAreas of interestChurchesGalleries & MuseumsHistorical

Activities in and around Faro

Canil da Ria Formosa: Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Quinta de Marim, Olhão (to see Portuguese water dogs)
10.00 to 4.30pm during the week, 10.00 to 2.30pm weekends

Almancil Karting: A leisure and competition karting complex. The circuit is a replica of the Jacarepagua Formula 1 circuit in Brazil.
Tel: 289 399 899

Golf: 'Pinheiros Altos', 'San Lourenzo', 'Quinta do Lago', 'Vale de Lobo' and 'Vila Sol' are the nearest courses.
Cinemas at Forum Algarve: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 13:00 to 01:00; Thursday and Friday: 13:00 to 03:00; Saturdays and Sundays 10.00 to 03.00
Municipal swimming pools indoor and outdoor (summer only!):
Opening hours for the indoor pool:
Monday to Friday -08.00h to 20.00h
Saturday 08.00h to 19.00h
Sunday 08.00h to 13.00h (closed on holidays)

Opening hours for the outdoor pool:
Monday to Saturday 10.00h to 20.00h
Sunday 14.00h to 20.00h.(open every day during the summer)

Atlantic Park (Parque Atlantico): Quatro Estradas, Quarteira - has slides, water rides, pools, gardens and daily variety show. Tel: 289 397 282

Aqualand (The Big One): Water park near Alcantarilha. Open from 26th May to 12th September (2008) 10.00h to 18.00h

Sé Cathedral: The main doorway of the Cathedral, the tower and two chapels are from the original building in the 13th and 14th centuries. It was set alight by the Earl of Essex's men in 1596 and suffered damage again in 1755, so has had major restoration work over the centuries.

Hermitage of Nossa Senhora do Ó: On the ramparts near the Arco da Vila in the 'Old City' - rebuilt after the earthquake in 1755.

Hermitage of Nossa Senhora do Repouso (Our Lady of Rest): Small 18th century chapel inside one of the Moorish arches in the 'Old City'.

Igreja da Misericórdia: Opposite the tourist information office by the Arco da Vila, originally 16th century, built with an adjoining hospital. Renovations were needed after the earthquake.

Hermitage of Nossa Senhora do Pé da Cruz (Our Lady of the Foot of the Cross): Originally 17th century but altered during the 18th century - Rococo style decoration.

Igreja de São Pedro: 16th century, but renovated after 1755. It contains a 15th century stone statue of Our Lady of Hope in it's collection of art works.

Igreja do Carmo: Finally completed in the early part of the 19th century and contains statues by the Algarvean sculptor Manuel Martins.

Hermitage of São Sebastião (at the western end of Rua Serpa Pinto): The gothic chapel is all that remains of the original medieval building after additional work in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Esperança: Just off Rua do Alportel on Rua General Teófilo da Trindade. It originates from 15th/ 16th centuries and rebuilt in th 18th century.

Church of the Third Order of St. Francis: On the opposite side of Largo de São Francisco from the 'Old City'. Building started in the 17th century, but it was added to over the years until finally completed in the 19th century.

There are also churches in the nearby areas of Estoi and Santa Bárbara De Nexe:

Igreja Matriz, Estoi: Built in the 16th century on the site of a medieval chapel, the church was rebuilt in the 18th/19th centuries under the guidance of the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri.

Hermitage of Nossa Senhora do Pé da Cruz (Estoi): Originates from the 17th century. At the beginning of May each year a centuries-old festival, the Festa da Pinha (Pine Cone Festival), is held in the churchyard.

Igreja Matriz, Santa Bárbara De Nexe: Originally 15th century but altered during the 18th. It contains statues from the 17th and 18th centuries and also two 16th century paintings on wood.