Day trips from Faro
The Algarve tourists don't know begins just a few kilometres from Faro. Behind the beaches and resorts, the Algarve hills and barrocal hide whitewashed villages, strawberry trees, Arab cisterns and a mountain cuisine that has nothing to do with the grilled fish of the coast.
Ria Formosa and barrier islands
The Ria Formosa is one of Europe's most important ecosystems — 60 km of lagoons, salt marshes and barrier islands. The parishes of Olhao, Tavira and Faro surround this natural park, where you can spot flamingos, seahorses and hundreds of bird species. The islands of Culatra, Armona and Tavira are reachable by boat and nearly deserted outside August.
Serra do Caldeirao and the barrocal
The Algarve interior is a surprise. Sao Bras de Alportel, Loule and Alcoutim guard whitewashed villages with Arab fountains, Manueline churches and a first-Sunday-of-the-month market. The Serra do Caldeirao, with its cork oaks and strawberry trees, produces the famous medronho — the Algarve's artisanal brandy.
Practical tip
Avoid July–August if you seek tranquillity. Spring (March–May) is ideal: almond blossoms, mild temperatures and the Ria Formosa teeming with migratory birds. For the hills, autumn brings chestnuts, mushrooms and the first rains that transform the landscape.