When winter bites back home, Faro, Portugal, turns up the charm. The Algarve capital enjoys a glorious 16–18°C on most days through December and January, so you can ditch the puffer jacket and stroll in the sunshine. Add in the fact that hotels and flights are at their cheapest, queues are non-existent, and the city feels like it belongs to you, and it’s easy to see why Faro in winter is one mainland Europe’s best-kept secrets.
Faro packs in sunshine, atmosphere, culture, and a pinch of the unexpected. One day you’re watching flamingos in the Ria Formosa, the next you’re sipping mulled wine under palm trees at the Faro Christmas market, then hiking sea cliffs or ducking into a bone chapel. You heard right.
This guide covers the most exciting things to do in Faro in winter – with experiences that feel completely unique to the Algarve.
Book flights to Faro from London Southend Airport.
Flamingos in the Ria Formosa
Want a real “wow” moment? Just outside Faro lies the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a wonderland of lagoons, salt marshes and islands that’s even more magical in winter. Why? Because it’s flamingo season. Vast flocks of these pink beauties swoop in and fill the wetlands with colour.
Hop on a budget ferry to Culatra or Armona, wander along near-empty beaches, and tuck into grilled sardines at a seaside shack. It’s peaceful, wild, and unbelievably photogenic – a highlight of any Algarve winter holiday.
Christmas markets under palm trees
Picture this: fairy lights, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts… plus palm trees swaying overhead. That’s December in Faro. The Christmas market in Jardim Manuel Bivar might be smaller than those in Germany or Austria, but it oozes character. Wooden stalls brim with handmade crafts, choirs perform on outdoor stages, and the festive glow spills into the streets.
Add in nativity scenes across the Faro old town and a glittering Rua de Santo António, and you’ve got a winter scene that’s both cosy and exotic.
Coastal trails and sea caves
Winter is hiking season in the Algarve. No blistering heat, no busy trails – just golden light bouncing off dramatic cliffs. The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, an hour west of Faro, is the headline act: think limestone arches, hidden beaches, and the Insta-famous Benagil Cave.
Closer to home, the Ludo Trail winds past salt flats and pine forests, where flamingos and spoonbills feed in the shallows. These trails are free, jaw-dropping, and among the best things to do in the Algarve in winter.
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Faro’s old town and cosy corners
When the sun dips, Faro’s Cidade Velha (old town) comes into its own. Step through the medieval Arco da Vila gate and you’ll find cobbled alleys, tiled houses, and a tangle of history.
Climb the Faro Cathedral bell tower for sweeping views, shiver (in a good way) at the skull-lined Capela dos Ossos (Bone Chapel), or lose yourself in the cloisters of the Municipal Museum. Between stops, pull up a chair at a snug café for hot chocolate or a pastel de nata. In winter, the old town feels slower, friendlier, and far easier to explore.
Carnival
By January, Faro is already warming up for Carnival. In nearby Loulé, parades kick off with colourful floats, pounding drums and confetti filling the streets. Even if you can’t make the big February weekend, you’ll still catch early parties, music and costumes spilling into Faro itself. It’s the Algarve at its most playful.
Visit Faro this winter
Where else can you spot flamingos at sunrise, wander a Christmas market under palm trees, hike to sea caves in the afternoon, and end your day in a candlelit café inside medieval walls?
Faro in winter is sunshine without the price tag, culture without the queues, and a festive spirit that’s as quirky as it is memorable. For anyone searching for affordable things to do in Faro in winter, this is your sweet spot: a city that knows how to make the off-season sparkle.
Fly to Faro from London Southend Airport this winter and swap drizzle for a festive season in the sun.
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