Visiting Faro? The capital of the Algarve boasts a number of top-quality museums well worth a visit. You’ll discover the history of the region and the town (Municipal Museum), regional traditions (Algarve Regional Museum), maritime history and centuries-old Portuguese art!
In this article, we give you our photo tips for visiting the 4 best museums in Faro and the surrounding area. Sharing our experiences will help you better organize your visits.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Faro’s best museums: tips + map
1. Faro Municipal Museum
Why visit it? Our review
Nestled in the former 16th-century convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Faro’s Municipal Museum offers a fascinating insight into the history of the Algarve. Here you’ll discover rich and varied collections, covering a period from prehistory to the Middle Ages. Highlights included a 2nd/3rd-century Roman mosaic dedicated to the God Ocean, imperial busts of Hadrian and Agrippina, and exceptional Hispano-Moorish ceramics. It’s the ideal place to learn more about the history of Faro and the surrounding area.
The building itself, severely damaged and then rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1755, is a fascinating architectural testimony. We loved its central cloister, a haven of peace conducive to contemplation. Did you know? In 2005, the Faro Municipal Museum was named Best Portuguese Museum!
Our 3 favorite moments
- Observe the Roman mosaic dedicated to the God Ocean, dating from the first centuries.
- Stroll through the halls and corridors of the former Convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção
- Understanding the fascinating past of Faro and the Algarve
Useful tips
- The Municipal Museum is located on the Place do Afonso III, in Faro’s old town.
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 11:30am to 5pm
- Price: €2
- Bonus: free admission on Sundays until 2:30 p.m.
- Allow around 1 hour to discover all the collections.
- The museum is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility.
- See the latest information on the official website, here
WHERE TO STAY IN Faro
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
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See our complete selection of the best hotels in Faro (coming soon)
2. Algarve Regional Museum
Why visit it? Our review
The Algarve Regional Museum allowed us to immerse ourselves in the region’s traditional culture. This is one of Faro’s best activities! You’ll discover a fascinating collection of ethnographic objects, including farming tools, ceramics and local basketry. We particularly enjoyed the dioramas, which recreate typical Algarve interiors, bringing the region’s traditions to life. You can even see a water cart that was in use until 1974, a testament to the region’s enduring traditions!
Our 3 favorite moments
- Looking at old photographs on display, we immersed ourselves in the Algarve of yesteryear.
- The discovery of dioramas that allowed us to project ourselves into period shops and houses.
- Understanding Algarvian legends through the paintings of Carlos Porfirio, on display.
Useful tips
- The museum is located on the Praça da Liberdade, in downtown Faro.
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4:30pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and Sundays.
- Price: €1.50
- Allow around 1 hour for the visit.
- See the latest information on the official website, here.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN THE Algarve
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Don’t take a car that’s too wide, as old towns have narrow streets and small parking spaces.
- For more choice, book early.
Read our tips (coming soon)
3. Maritime Museum
Why visit it? Our review
Faro’s Maritime Museum is well worth a visit if you’re interested in the world of fishing and navigation. We enjoyed observing historic boat models and traditional navigation and fishing equipment. The museum’s main hall offers a fascinating insight into the region’s maritime history, with detailed explanations of fishing techniques.
Our 3 favorite moments
- Discover the impressive model explaining tuna fishing in the Algarve.
- Observe the many model ships, veritable masterpieces of precision.
- Understand the importance of the region’smaritime history and traditions
Useful tips
- The museum is located in the Rue da Comunidade Lusiada, on one of the quays of Faro Marina.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 16:30. Closed Saturday and Sunday
- Entry is free, just write your name in a register.
- It takes around 30 minutes to discover the museum’s collections.
- The showroom is located on the first floor of the building, which does not have an elevator.
- We recommend that you check the latest information on the museum’s official website, here, before your visit.
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4. Faro Episcopal Palace
Why visit it? Our review
Although not officially a museum, we were won over by the historical and artistic richness of Faro’s Episcopal Palace. The splendor of the azulejos left a lasting impression on us, and in our opinion this isone of Faro’s must-sees! We highly recommend a visit to this architectural gem. It’s quick and inexpensive to explore, making it an easy addition to your itinerary and offering a fascinating insight into Portuguese art and culture.
Our 3 favorite moments
- Observation of the Allegory of Charity: this majestic azulejo composition, which greeted us on the palace staircase, was the highlight of our visit.
- Discovery of the Salle de l’Unité: the richness and complexity of the azulejos in this room, with their vibrant colors, made a deep impression on us. The overflowing fantasy of this rococo composition struck us as a true masterpiece!
- We were pleasantly surprised by the extent to which azulejos adorn the walls of this building which, from the outside, has a rather sober architecture.
Useful tips
- Faro’s Episcopal Palace is located on the Largo da Sé square in Faro’s old town.
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Price: €2.50
- Allow 30 minutes for the visit.
- Check out the latest information on the official website, here.
FUN in the Algarve: activities
Caves and cliffs by boat
Kayak Tours
Dolphin watching
Jeep tour
Other museums in Faro
As well as the best-known museums, Faro is home to other cultural sites that are well worth a visit. These include several art galleries displaying contemporary and traditional works, offering a glimpse of the local art scene.
Faro Cathedral Museum
Located inside Faro’s Sé, the Cathedral Museum brings together a collection of religious objects, paintings and silverware dating from the XVIᵉ to XVIIIᵉ centuries. Exploring its various rooms, we discovered precious relics, ancient manuscripts and sculptures that bear witness to the importance of Catholicism in the region’s history.
Street art, an open-air museum in Faro
Faro is not limited to its traditional museums. In recent years, the city has become a veritable open-air museum, thanks to the many works of street art that adorn its facades. Local and international artists transformed the walls of the historic center and outlying districts into living canvases, combining colorful frescoes, graffiti and collage. We were delighted to discover that this artistic approach is helping to give Faro a new visual identity while enhancing its urban heritage. A stroll through its streets reveals a variety of works, reflecting both local culture and more contemporary themes.
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Other museums around Faro
In the Faro area, a number of sites and museums offer the chance to explore the Algarve’s heritage in greater depth. These cultural sites rounded off our visit to Faro, giving us a broader view of the Algarve’s history and identity.
Cerro da Vila Roman Ruins, Vilamoura
Just a few kilometers from Faro, the Cerro da Vila Roman Ruins in Vilamoura bear witness to the Roman presence in the Algarve. At this archaeological site, you can explore the remains of an ancient Roman villa, with its mosaics, thermal baths and pools. A small on-site museum also displays objects found during the excavations. The tour took us back in time and helped us imagine daily life in Roman times, in what was once an important economic and maritime center.
The Loulé Salt Cave
In Loulé, in addition to its lively historic center and famous market, there’s a unique geological curiosity: a salt cave. We loved discovering this rock salt mine, which has been in operation for several decades. We wandered through its galleries, stretching for miles underground, on a captivating guided tour! We recommend this unusual place, a sort of living salt museum, which offers an immersive experience in contrast to the sunny Algarve landscape.
DISCOVER Faro
- Things to do in Faro (coming soon)
- Best hotels (coming soon)
- Best restaurants (coming soon)
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between the Faro Municipal Museum and the Algarve Regional Museum in Faro?
The Faro Municipal Museum and the Algarve Regional Museum offer complementary perspectives on the region’s history. The first, housed in a former Renaissance convent, features archaeological remains from various periods, including the famous Ocean Mosaic. The second focuses on local ethnography, exhibiting objects and reconstructions illustrating traditional Algarvian culture. Together, these museums help visitors understand the history and traditions of the Algarve.
Which Faro museums are suitable for children and families?
Museu Municipal de FaroAlthough primarily a museum of history and archaeology, we believe that certain sections, notably the Roman mosaics and medieval objects, will appeal to children. What’s more, the museum’s setting in a former convent makes for a pleasant family visit.
Street Art – An open-air museum: Faro is a veritable open-air museum with a number of murals, so a stroll through the old town to discover the works of street art can be a fun and original alternative for your children.
Museu Regional do Algarve: this ethnographic museum features everyday objects, traditional costumes and dioramas, which for children can be reminiscent of puppets. We also believe that the diversity of the works and objects on display will keep their attention, while giving them a better understanding of the history and culture of the Algarve.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE algarve
- Best of
Things to do in the Algarve
Most beautiful landscapes (coming soon)
Most beautiful towns and villages (coming soon)
Algarve’s most beautiful beaches
- Practical advice
When to go? (coming soon)
How to rent a car in the Algarve (coming soon)
Driving tips (coming soon)
Itineraries (coming soon)
Where to stay in the Algarve (coming soon)
- The must-dos
Ponta da Piedade (coming soon)
Benagil cave (coming soon)
Praia da Marinha (coming soon)
Things to do in Lagos (coming soon)
Things to do in Portimao (coming soon)
Things to do in Albufeira (coming soon)
Things to do in Faro (coming soon)
