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For many years, Faro has been a very popular destination and unfortunately earned a reputation as a party town filled with large crowds of revellers. There is some of this during the really peak travel times in the summer, of course, but crowds of partying people certainly don't define everything there is to experience in and around Faro. Its location in southern Portugal makes it an ideal place to relax even in the winter months, offering vacation travellers many different choices of sights to see and activities to experience.
If you are primarily interested in spending time on the beach and soaking up the sun, Faro is an excellent place to do so. One of the best known locations is Praia de Faro, a very large and long beach that is easy to get to yet is rarely over crowded. Most of the sandy beach tends to be very gently sloped, making it terrific for those who want to splash around in the water without venturing out into deep water. You will find plenty of beach-side vendors offering food, drink, souvenirs, and the like. There are a number of public lavatory facilities as well, making Praia de Faro an all around pleasant and convenient place to spend your time.
When you're done on the beach and want to take in the rest of Faro, head into the Centro Historico (Old City). There you will find a wonderful array of buildings featuring a range of architectural influences from the Portuguese as well as the Moors. The area is extremely well preserved and welcoming to visitors, and is a terrific option for taking a quiet walk to experience traditional Portugal without the incursions of the modern world. The people are extremely friendly, and although most of them speak English it doesn't hurt to learn a few words of Portuguese and try to communicate in their native language. It's a great way to connect with the locals and you will probably find them to be very appreciative of your efforts to speak their language.
No trip to Faro is complete without spending time exploring the Rio Formosa Lagoon nature preserve. There you will see literally hundreds of species of animals and see the natural wildlife of the area. A number of guided tours are available, and these are generally the best way to see the preserve; look for the boat leaving from a small jetty located in the Centro Historico. Your tour will include plenty of time exploring from the water as well as a nice stop on an island located within the nature preserve itself.
Getting to and from Faro is a snap, as it is home to the Faro International Airport. A wide assortment of flights is available from throughout Europe as well as Canada; transportation from the airport into the city proper is readily available via bus, taxi, or rental car. For a slightly different experience, think about flying into Lisbon and then taking the Alpha Pendular, a high speed train connecting Faro with Lisbon. Other train service is available as well, but the Alpha Pendular is a terrific option that allows you to see the Portuguese countryside in comfort but still gets you to Faro in less than three hours.
If you plan to hire a rental car during your visit to Faro, be aware that in the heart of the city itself there is a shortage of parking. Many people prefer to walk or take a taxi within the city, and then hire a car to explore the countryside elsewhere in the Algarve region. The roads in the countryside are generally quite good and do not tend to be crowded or difficult to navigate.
Wiki:- Faro, Portugal
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