Faro Off The Beaten Path

In Vilamoura, do take a look around the Marina, where you will find some nice spots to shop and sometimes, some artists doing their stuff.
From there, you can book several tours. I recommend one of the sight-seeing boat tours, which will take you around the coast, stop for a swim, into the caves...it's nice and not too expansive.

Also far left from the 'Praia dos Caneiros' you will find several nice spots for snorkeling...just get in the water and see the little fishes...sometimes a species from the shark family can be seen here, but they're totally harmless, not to worry.

Left of the 'Praia dos Caneiros' in Lagoa, you can climb the rockscape easily and you'll find yourself in the top of the rockside, with an amazing view over the beach and surrounding areas. It's a very nice place for a late afternoon walk and picture taking.

Sagres.

It was here that five centuries ago Prince Henry set up a school of navigation, which played a crucial role in the Portuguese Discoveries. Apart from the Nossa Senhora da Graça Chapel, you can visit the magnificent fortress (originally built in the 14th century, and later altered) and the 15th century rosa-dos-ventos (a 43 m-diameter compass card). Nearby, on the extreme southwestern tip of the European continent, is Cabo de São Vicente (Romans’ Promontorium Sacrum), opening on to a vast horizon of sea and sky.

Lagos. Enclosed within 15th century walls, with its Manueline window, are the magnificent churches of São Sebastião (Renaissance portals and 17th and 18th century tiles), Santa Maria or Misericórdia (16th-19th centuries), Santo António (Baroque) and the very old São João Chapel (8th-9th centuries). Other points of interest: Regional Museum, Governors’ Palace, Pau da Bandeira Fortress and the old slave market. Charming marina.

Portimão.

In this fishermen’s town, visit the mother-church (14th century, rebuilt in the 18th century), the Colégio Church (17th century), and the Town Hall. In the suburbs, the renowned Praia da Rocha (with its Santa Catarina de Ribamar Fortress), and the Roman ruins of Abicada.

If you are staying in Faro, I recommend that you take a day trip to Sagres (journey time about two-and-a-half hours) to see the 'Fortelleza' and Cape St. Vincent. If time allows, drop in to 'A Tasca' for a meal.

When a person travels to Faro, or even Algarve (the province) one should look beyond the city and the coastline and go further in, into the rural parts of Algarve. These parts of Portugal are enriched with the Portuguese culture and history. Such places include the remote villages of Alte, Salir, Sao Bartolomeu de Messines, and countless others. I guarantee that even the road trip to these small villages are pleasant as you look out onto the scenery which seems untouched by the Western World. There are also guides who also arrange tours through these villages as well as through the mountains and valleys, the best time to go is during the summer and it is well worth your time.