Normally the only time that a tourist visits Faro, or even sees it, is when they land at Faro Airport. This is a great pity since, although Faro is like many other major cities, it also has a number of places of interest to the tourist. Unfortunately it is difficult to actually get into by car and this, along with the aggressive Portuguese city driving and scruffy suburbs, can deter some visitors. Arriving by train has been suggested as the best way to visit the centre.
The main area of interest to the tourist is near the water front (old quarter) where there are several churches of note and a number of museums to visit. There are also shaded gardens and a central pedestrian free shopping area. For those of you seeking the unusual try the Capela de Ossos (Chapel of bones) which is not for the faint hearted as its interior is lined with human bones including grinning skulls!. This is situated by the twin towered Carmo Church (in Largo do Carmel) which is worth visiting in itself for its magnificent interior. The archaeological museum (in Praça Afonso) contains a number of Roman artifacts including some excellent mosaics discovered in the Algarve.
To get the best out of the Faro it is worth investing in a good guidebook containing a street map showing the places of interest. Do look out for the tiled commemorative street name plaques.