Most people who visit the Algarve will be at least a little familiar with Faro. It is, after all, the airport at which you will arrive in the Algarve for a week or two of sun and fun filled holidays.

But Faro has a lot more to show you than just the airport. Even if you have plans to stay somewhere else for the duration of your stay, try and spare a day or two to start your holiday in the city of Faro itself. If you can, you will see another side to the Algarve as well.

One of the most notable things about Faro is its history. It isn’t hard to find signs of life dating back many hundreds of years here. Roman times are well represented, but there are also more modern areas that blend well with the history of the city. Take the marina for instance, with its stunning array of boats bobbing around lazily in the water.

If you have only ever passed through Faro on your way to your Algarve destination, you might be surprised to discover how much you have missed thus far. This is a city that is known more for its airport than anything else, but this is an unfair statement to make. Holidaymakers are usually so busy and so eager to reach their final destination they forget to take a look at the first place in the Algarve they land in.

There is a lagoon and nature reserve right next to Faro too, which gives you something else to explore if you linger here. Watch out for the older part of Faro, which can be identified by the Roman walls that still stand here. Wandering around the streets, enjoying the views, the buildings, the marina and much more, you would be forgiven for feeling a little guilty that you didn’t visit sooner. Faro is a surprise waiting to be discovered, and if you land at the airport and scuttle through it without finding some of its many treasures en route to your holiday destination, you’ll definitely be missing out.