Faro

Departing from Birmingham Airport

Whether you want to do some window shopping, or you’ve left some travel essentials to the last minute, Birmingham Airport has a huge range of shops for you to browse. Check out World Duty Free for great savings on liquor or cosmetics or InMotion for a range of electrical goods, or maybe grab a book and snacks for the plane from WHSmith. 

There’s also a selection of great cafés, bars and restaurants where you can dine before you fly. You can grab a wrap from Wrapchic or, if you’d prefer, Giraffe is perfect for families and Wetherspoon has a great food and drink menu.  If your looking for your daily caffeine fix then choose from Costa, Caffé Nero and Pret a Manger. 

If you prefer the finer things in life, you’ll want to book into one of our airport lounges. Here you can enjoy complimentary food and drinks, unlimited WiFi and great runway views before you fly.

Birmingham Airport is easy to get to, whether you’re arriving by car, train, bus, or taxi. Drivers will find a choice of car parks, which are all easily accessible from the terminal on foot or via the courtesy shuttle bus. Book a parking space online in advance and save up to 70%. 

Taxis can drop you right outside the terminal and, if you prefer to take public transport, you will find bus services running directly to the airport or to Birmingham International Airport train station. There is a free and frequent Air-Rail Link from the station that takes you to the terminal in just minutes. 

Whether you’re looking to top up your Euros before you fly, or withdraw a few UK pounds for your return, head over to our Travelex stores conveniently located in the Arrivals area of the terminal building and Departures Lounge. If you prefer, you can pre-order your currency and get next day collection if you order before 3pm at Birmingham Airport.  Also Travelex’s ATM machines are operational 24/7, offer both pounds and Euros, and accept most major cards.  

To find out about our other services, head to our terminal facilities page. 

Whether you like to get through the airport as quickly as possible, or you enjoy spending time looking in the shops and having something to eat, check out our ‘Plan your Journey’ articles for the speedy or leisurely traveller. 

Arriving at Faro Airport

Faro International Airport, also known as Algarve Airport, is located 4km west of Faro in Portugal and offers many onward travel options. 

Bus is the cheapest way to travel to and from the airport. To get to the city centre, take the circuit 16 bus to Faro central bus station, journey time is around 20 minutes. If you’re planning on taking the train, there is also a bus stop next to the train station. There is currently no railway connection to Faro Airport, you will have to travel to Faro city centre to take the train anywhere. 

A taxi to the city centre takes around 10 minutes and prices depend on the number of passengers and time of the day. If you’d like to drive yourself around Portugal, you will find various car rental options at the airport too. 

Pre-book your transfer with HolidayTaxis and avoid the queues when you arrive.

What to expect in Faro

Most people pass through the Algarve’s capital city without giving it a second glance but it’s worth a stopover. There’s an attractive marina, well-maintained parks and plazas, and a picturesque old town ringed by medieval walls. The nearest beach is a drive away, but you will find quiet seashores here, unlike Portugal’s more popular coastal resorts. With its culture and nearby lagoons of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, it’s a worthy holiday-destination.  

The main language spoken in Faro is Portuguese, but a lot of people speak English very well. It’s always nice to make an effort and learn a few local phrases though.  

Faro enjoys warm, sunny summers and mild winters. July is the hottest month in Faro with an average temperature of 24°C and the coldest is January at 12°C. 

Culture in Faro

Faro is a historic and culturally rich city offering fascinating tourist attractions and an authentic Portuguese experience. The delightful historic centre of Faro is encircled by ancient city walls and contains a Gothic cathedral, the Bishop’s palace and pretty cobbled backstreets. Outside of the walls is the modern city centre, with its pedestrianised shopping streets, scenic plazas and variety of restaurants and bars. 

The food in Faro is a mix of both regional Algarve dishes and more national Portuguese dishes. Restaurants range from hole-in-wall style joints, to more upmarket restaurants offering Michelin-style fine dining, so all tastes and budgets will be met. Specialities include piri-piri chicken, javali (wild boar) and pretty much all seafood. You can’t leave Portugal without trying a pastel de nata, and you’ll find these in every café in Faro and across the Algarve.