Faro Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Faro is the main airport for the whole Algarve, but the city centre lies just a few kilometres from the runways, between the Ria Formosa and the sea: for anyone staying more than one night the historic centre and the marina remain the most convenient choice, with restaurants, the old core and the waterfront within walking distance. Those with a dawn flight or a layover of just a few hours can instead stop in Montenegro, the neighbourhood where the airport is located, a few minutes on foot from the terminals. Those aiming above all for the beach will find in Praia de Faro, across a short bridge over the Ria Formosa, an option almost as close to the runways as Montenegro, but isolated on a long sandbar. Those continuing on to the coast's tourist resorts, such as Albufeira, Vilamoura or Lagos, can reach them by car or with a private transfer, though these fall outside the area covered by this guide.

Montenegro, the airport area

Airport area · The Hotel 3K Faro Aeroporto is about 650 metres from the terminal (8 minutes on foot) and offers a free shuttle on request running 24 hours a day; Pine House and Walk in Hostel are in the same Montenegro neighbourhood, the parish where the airport is located, 8-10 minutes on foot from the terminals. For the centre of Faro, about 4 km further south, bus 16 is needed (20 minutes) or a taxi (10-12 minutes).

Best for: Layovers of a few hours and dawn departures, when it's worth staying a few minutes on foot from check-in.

Pros

You can reach the terminals on foot in under 10 minutes, without relying on buses or taxis
The free shuttle of the 3K Faro Aeroporto runs 24 hours on request, handy for night or dawn flights

Cons

Montenegro is a residential neighbourhood: apart from the hotels, there's almost nothing within walking distance in the evening
For the historic centre and the marina a bus or a taxi is still needed

Recommended hotels in this area

Hotel 3K Faro Aeroporto: About 650 metres from the terminal (8 minutes on foot), with a free shuttle to the airport running 24 hours on request; outdoor pool and 51 air-conditioned rooms in the Montenegro neighbourhood.
Pine House - Faro Airport, Beach and City Center: About 1 km from the terminal, on Rua Fernando Pessoa in Montenegro; rooms with a kitchenette, garden and terrace.
Walk in Hostel Faro Airport: About 8 minutes on foot from the terminal, with garden, outdoor pool and shared kitchen; a budget option for those who want to stay close to the runways.

See more hotels in this area →

Praia de Faro

Neighbourhood · A short bridge over the Ria Formosa links Praia de Faro to the mainland just a few minutes from the airport, closer to the runways than the centre of Faro is; the same bus 16 that serves the airport continues to the beach, while for the historic centre you need about 25 minutes by bus or 10 minutes by taxi going around the Ria Formosa.

Best for: Those who want the beach more than the historic centre and don't mind staying isolated on a sandbar a few minutes from the runways.

Pros

Beach one minute on foot from the hotel, with views of the Ria Formosa
Closer to the runways than the distance from the historic centre would suggest, thanks to the bridge

Cons

Isolated on the sandbar: for dinner outside the hotel you stay on the same strip of beach
The historic centre and the marina still require a bus or a taxi, going around the Ria Formosa

Recommended hotels in this area

Aeromar Beach Hotel: The only hotel on this list overlooking Praia de Faro's beach, one minute on foot from the sea and with views of the Ria Formosa; 23 rooms and an in-house restaurant.

See more hotels in this area →

Historic centre and marina of Faro

City centre · Bus 16 Próximo links the airport to the centre in about 20 minutes, with its terminus 150 metres from the marina and the historic centre; by taxi 10-12 minutes are enough.

Best for: Those staying more than one night who want restaurants, the historic centre and the marina within walking distance.

Pros

Historic centre, marina and train station within walking distance of the hotels in this area
Bus 16 terminus just a few steps away, handy for the return trip to the airport too

Cons

The bus doesn't run in the very early hours: for dawn flights only the taxi remains
Central area, so more noise and more tourists than Montenegro

Recommended hotels in this area

Best Western Hotel Dom Bernardo: About 700 metres from the centre, on Rua General Teófilo da Trindade; 12 minutes on foot from the marina and 4 from the Carmo church.
3HB Faro: In the pedestrian zone of Faro's centre, on Rua Vasco da Gama, about 500 metres from the historic core and 2 minutes by car from the marina; panoramic rooftop pool and the Hábito restaurant.
Occidental Faro: On Praça Dom Francisco Gomes, next to the marina and the Misericórdia church, in the heart of the historic centre; 90 rooms, spa and outdoor pool, a 1962 building renovated in 2002.

See more hotels in this area →