Villas in Faro

Villas in the heart of the Algarve

Faro is the largest city in the Algarve and the gateway to Southern Portugal. This destination has rich natural and cultural wealth and an eclectic choice of visitor attractions, traditional restaurants and inexpensive shopping. Most people who holiday in the Algarve choose to rent a villa in Faro. If you want to be right on the coast, there is a fabulous array of villas in the San Lorenzo golf course area. Prefer to be in the olive-strewn hills, 15 minutes drive inland? Look around Santa Barbara de Nexa, a pretty, local town with all the amenities for a comfortable villa holiday in Faro.

Villas for all budgets and group sizes

There are comfortable, well-equipped villas in the Faro area for all budgets. Some of the amenities include:

• A private swimming pool
• Lounge area
• Garden
• Modern kitchen amenities

Choose from the many coastal villas, footsteps away from the wide sandy beach stretching west of Faro, or in the rolling hills behind Faro, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Faro for nightlife

Faro’s nightlife reflects this attractive Portuguese town’s mixed heritage, a titillating blend of sedate restaurants, vibrant bars, traditional entertainment, and modern upbeat sounds. Faro is a university city, meaning it has exciting nightlife all year round, and not only in summer, like some of the resorts along the coast. For the young at heart, Thursday is student night and is considered the biggest night out in the town, with bars and clubs packed until dawn and cut-price club entry prices.

Faro for beach bums

Faro does not have a beach right in the town, but getting to the nearest beaches is a fun adventure! The gorgeous sandy beaches of Ilha da Culatra, with its charming lighthouse, and the wild Ilha Deserta are accessible via a short adventure across the lagoon by ferry. The beaches draw sun worshippers, snorkellers and birdwatchers alike. Looking for a beach easily accessible by car? Praia da Faro is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Understandably, this is the town’s most popular beach, and it has all the facilities to boot, including numerous great-priced cafes and restaurants. If you have a villa for rent in Faro, go to the beach early to watch the sun rising.

Faro for lovers of golf

Faro is in the heart of the Algarve, which is world-famous for its golfing culture and golf courses. All self-respecting golfers must make the pilgrimage to the Algarve at least once in their lifetime! If you have a house rental in Olhao, ensure you take the less than a 30-minute drive to golf in the impressive golfing courses. Faro golf courses are notable for their outstanding quality and facilities. The golfing mecca in the Faro area has to be Quinta do Lago, set in 2,000 acres of sparkling gardens, umbrella pines, and perfectly rolling greens.

1. Bird watching
2. Experience Algarve’s number one family attraction
3. Visit Faro Municipal Museum
4. Visit the largest waterpark in Portugal
5. Maritimo Almirante Ramalho Ortigao Museum – now breath!
6. Take the short drive to beautiful Olhos d'Agua
7. Get lost in Faro’s old town

1. Bird watching

The coast stretching south of Faro is a huge nature reserve protecting a lagoon that spans 60 kilometres. It is a haven for birdwatchers, with incredibly rich birdlife, including flamingos, storks and the fantastically colourful florid purple swamphen. Faro Beach is a great place to see migratory birds, including Bartailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher and other waders. If you want to bird watch, rent a villa in Faro and get to the beach where you can cross the bridge to the island.

2. Experience Algarve’s number one family attraction

Family days don’t get much more memorable than Zoomarine! Open from March to October, Zoomarine is Portugal’s best oceanographic park, perfect for family outings. It is a roll call of thrilling rides and amusements, awesome waterslides and wave pools, exotic birds of prey, and a 4D cinema! The attractions and swimming pools guarantee an unforgettable experience.

3. Visit Faro Municipal Museum

Opened over 120 years ago, this is the second oldest museum in the Algarve. It boasts a fine collection of archaeological items, primarily from the Roman era. It’s a lovely, cloistered building, with wonderfully presented exhibits and some good paintings, including a Tower of Babel – well worth wandering around. There is a high-quality painting collection from the 16th and 19th centuries originating from ancient temples in Algarve. History enthusiasts will have a chance to learn the history of the Algarve region.

4. Visit the largest waterpark in Portugal

Aquashow Park is Portugal’s largest and highest-rated waterpark, located just down the road in the neighbouring village of Quarteira. But do you dare take on the biggest FreeFall slide in Europe, at 129 meters in length? If you are looking for adventure, use the slides and floats that go up and down at full speed. The amenities at the park include a pool and Jacuzzi for relaxing as your kids play.

5. Maritimo Almirante Ramalho Ortigao Museum – now breath!

Curious about how life was in the Algarve before it became a globally renowned tourist destination? The Maritimo Almirante Ramalho Ortigao Museum shows you just that, retelling the story of Faro’s once prosperous fishing industry. Learn the history of Faro with displays of items such as authentic navigation instruments and model ships and photographic accounts of life in Faro during bygone times.

6. Take the short drive to beautiful Olhos d'Agua

Take a day trip to Olhos d'Agua, a compact fishermen's village, 25 minutes drive from Faro. The village is just so pretty! Park at the top and follow the narrow, windy, cobblestone streets past scenes of local Algarvian life down to the gorgeous beach, replete with pine-clad cliffs and rocky promontories. If you have a holiday rental in Tavira, you can take an early morning trip to Faro and spend the day at the fishing village.

7. Get lost in Faro’s old town

Exploring Faro's compact old town is life-affirming. Walk its cobbled streets and encounter centuries-old architectural sights and Roman passageways. Stop by the cosy cafes, houses decorated with colourful flowers, and gorgeous little shops and bars. This is why we go on holiday! If you have a private villa in Faro, you can visit the markets in Faro for fresh vegetables and food items.