Beaches in Faro you should visit
The beaches around Faro are islands, that are part of the natural park of Ria Formosa. The only island that can be reached by car is Praia de Faro. The other islands can only be reached by boat. From Faro you can also visit Ilha da Culatra and Ilha da Armona, which you can read about in our Olhão beaches article. These boat trips take you through the natural beauty of Ria Formosa and are highly recommended. Boats leave from Cais das Portas do Mar, which is not far from the marina of Faro. If you are in Faro and are looking for some beach time, make sure to visit any of the following beaches.
Ilha da Culatra
Ilha da Culatra is an island which stretches for 6 kilometres. You can arrive by boat either in the village of Culatra (on the northern part of the island) or in the village of Farol (in the western part of the island). You can actually walk from Culatra to Farol, which makes for a great beach walk of several hours. The more you walk from the point of arrival, the less people you will see. After walking a bit, it is even possible to be alone on the beach, even in the height of summer. Highly recommended.
Ilha Deserta
Ilha Deserta is translates as Deserted Island. It is the only island of the Algarve that has no permanent residents. The only structure on the island is a restaurant. Ilha Deserta is a great place to get away from the crowd and just enjoy nature. There is plenty of space and the island is ideal for long beach walks. The sand is soft and the sea is very clear. The deserted island is only accessible by boat, which goes several times a day. Highly recommended for a day trip.
Ilha do Farol
Ilha do Farol is the area around the village of Farol, on Ilha da Culatra. The name Ilha do Farol suggests it is a separate island, but in fact it is the same island as Ilha da Culatra. Here you can find a unique lighthouse and a beautiful beach. If you are willing to walk a bit, you can find yourself completely alone on the beach, which is truly wonderful.
Praia de Faro
Praia de Faro is the main beach of the town of Faro. It is located on an island, but is accessible by car by driving over a bridge. On one side you have the ocean and on the other side the Ria Formosa. Usually there are a lot of people on Praia de Faro. However, the further you go from the bridge, the more quiet it gets. The beach is several kilometres long and is also great for long beach walks. The sand and sea are both clean here. In general, it is a great beach to visit when staying in Faro.
