Faro Marina

Take a boat trip to see dolphins and go parasailing with a tour operator near this marina, which is bordered by the town’s main strip of restaurants and nightclubs.

Pine groves crown the scorched red-orange cliffs edging this long and wide beach, complete with comfortable amenities, watersports options and lifeguard patrols.

Rent kayaks and surfboards to ride the waves lapping this narrow stretch of sand, which serves as a wall between ocean and river.

For centuries, Faro’s fortified walls have enclosed the city’s most intriguing treasures, from the cathedral’s chamber of bones to a castle converted into a brewery.

Discover one of Portugal’s natural wonders by bike, boat, kayak or on foot and find barrier islands and snaking waterways that provide a haven for flora and fauna.

While staying in Olhão you’ll most likely want to visit the nearby islands of Ria Formosa Natural Park, which is accessible by ferry from this harbor.