Faro
The Algarve's capital, with a walled old town, a lagoon full of birdlife and boat trips out to quiet island beaches.
Faro is the regional capital and the arrival point for most visitors, but it rewards more than a quick pass through. The walled old town, entered through the Arco da Vila gateway, holds the cathedral, whose tower looks out over terracotta roofs and the Ria Formosa lagoon. Nearby, the Carmo church has a chapel lined with human bones.
The lagoon is the city's other draw, with birdwatching, kayaking and ferries to the beaches on Culatra and Barreta islands; Praia de Faro is reached by bridge. Inland, the municipality takes in Estoi, with its palace and Roman ruins at Milreu, and the suburban parish of Montenegro, home to the airport.
