Maria House - 8 km to the fantastic islands

The accommodation

House renovated with architectural quality , comfortable and in a very quiet neighborhood, a large terrace where you can relax at any time of day. In the center with all the facilities close by, restaurants, shops, bars , historical center and so on...
You are invited to experience our hospitality

Setting

The flat is close to all the city interesting places, museums, restaurants, shopping streets and other useful amenities. Faro seafront, marina and promenade are only 500 m from the apartment, leading the way to the historical centre (must-see) surrounded by the old city walls.
In less than a 200 m radius from the apartment you have quick access to all the useful amenities to support your stay - supermarket, bakery, pharmacy, newsstands, post office, health centre, restaurants, coffee and ice-cream shops, bars, you name it. An ATM machine is also available around the corner. Everything is less than 5 minutes away, really! You are staying in the "heart" of the city and yet in a quiet neighbourhood.
Another cool thing about the neighbourhood is that every Sunday morning, the traditional fruit & vegetable market of local farmers, called "Mercadinho", takes place in the Largo do Carmo square, again 10 minuts to the apartment. Buy fresh, buy local!

Activities and attractions

The bus stops 1 minutes walk away . You can also take this bus to the town beach. Buses to the fish maket, cinema,are frequent.

Faro is a relatively small city and everything much happens in the downtown area where the apartment is located, so all the city interesting places to visit and best restaurants are only a short walking distance. If you like to pedal you can always rent a bike at one of the several rental shops close to the marina - called "Doca de Faro" by the locals.
Apart from the city itself, its architecture, the historical centre, the lovely promenade and nightlife spots, Faro is also famous for the beautiful barrier islands surrounding the Ria Formosa lagoon system, officially classified as one of the 7 natural wonders in Portugal. The most famous islands are Ilha de Faro (also known as Faro Beach), Culatra, Farol (my favourite) and Deserta. All the 4 islands have fantastic white sand and crystal clear water beaches facing both the ocean and the lagoon. There are also great local restaurants serving a variety of fresh fish and shellfish, including the famous Ria Formosa clams.
Daily boats and ferries provide the connection to the islands, leaving from the "Portas do Mar" pier next to the marina and the old city walls, just 450 m from the apartment. The boat ride takes 30 to 40 minutes each way, depending on the island and the tide. It goes through the lagoon quiet canals, giving you the chance to see this unique ecosystem in action, with all its birds and other wild life activity. The ride is really pleasant and the view is awesome!
Ilha de Faro is the only island that is also accessible by road. You can either drive there or take the circuit 16 bus bound for "Praia de Faro" from the central station next to hotel EVA - less than a 10 min walk from the apartment. The bus ride to Faro Beach takes 20 to 25 minutes and passes by the airport.

If you are planning on leaving Faro to visit other nearby cities and other places in the Algarve, besides the bus you also have the Faro train station with all the necessary connections in less than a 10 minute walk from the apartment.