Events in Faro

Main places

• Teatro das Figuras

  Modern municipal theatre, opened in 2005 to a design by architect Gonçalo Byrne. Main hall with 786 seats plus a flexible second auditorium. Classical music and opera, dance, theatre, new circus. Estr. Senhora da Saúde, in the Penha district.

• Teatro Lethes

  Inaugurated on 4 April 1845 inside a former Jesuit college from 1605, with interiors inspired by São Carlos and La Scala. Member of Perspectiv, the European route of historic theatres. Programmed by ACTA – the Algarve Theatre Company. Rua de Portugal.

• Sé Catedral (Cathedral)

  Cathedral of the Algarve diocese, on Largo da Sé inside the city walls. Construction began in the 13th century on the site of a former mosque. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque mix inside; climbing the bell tower gives one of the best views of the Old Town and Ria Formosa.

• Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones)

  Small chapel behind the Igreja do Carmo, completed in 1816, with the bones of 1,245 Carmelite monks arranged in geometric patterns across the walls. The Igreja do Carmo itself is one of the Algarve's finest Rococo churches, its gilded carving funded by Brazilian gold.

• Cidade Velha (Old Town)

  Walled core of Roman origin, redrawn by the Moors and rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. Three gates: the Arco da Vila (neoclassical, with an 11th-century horseshoe arch hidden inside), the Arco do Repouso, and the discreet Porta Nova.

• Cais das Portas do Mar / Doca de Recreio

  Inner marina by the Old Town, with departures for Ilha do Farol, Ilha da Culatra and Ilha Deserta — boats roughly hourly between 10am and 6pm. Operators include Formosamar, Animaris and the council's regular maritime service.

• Praia de Faro (Ilha de Faro)

  The only Ria Formosa barrier island reachable by road — now via the new bridge opened in 2025 (180 m long, 11 m wide, with a pedestrian path and a cycle lane). External car park at the entrance (~1,000 spaces) with a wooden boardwalk down to the sand.

• Parque Natural da Ria Formosa

  18,400 ha along 60 km of coast between Ancão and Manta Rota. Five barrier islands (Deserta, Culatra, Armona, Tavira, Cabanas) and two coastal spits (Ancão and Cacela). Voted one of Portugal's 7 Natural Wonders in 2010.

More in Faro