At only a two-hour flight away from Lyon, head to the Portuguese city of Faro, an ancient Roman walled city, and the Algarve region in the southern-most part of the country, which is renowned for its beaches and its countless golf courses. Stroll through the old town, take pictures of the Episcopal palace and Faro cathedral, and get a taste of the good life in the many surrounding coastal resorts. With a Lyon-Faro flight, you can explore the abundance of the natural parks bordering Andalusia in Spain and the famous lagoons of the Ria Formosa.
easyJet offers 3 weekly flights to Faro on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
From the Faro Airport (IATA code: FAO - the largest Portuguese airport after Lisbon) to the city centre, it only takes approximately 25 minutes by bus or 15 minutes by taxi for less than 10 euros.
The southern coast of the Algarve, the region around Faro, is a golfer’s grail. With its top-notch courses and enchanting setting–nestled in moors or perched atop cliffs overlooking the ocean, with striking dunes and silvery olive trees to top it all off–the Algarve offers some of the best golfing in Europe.
An aquatic labyrinth made up of lagoons, canals and sun-bleached sand bars, the vast and wonderfully well-preserved Ria Formosa Natural Park lies at the city’s doorstep. Once part of the Roman Empire, traces of which can still be seen in the bath ruins at Praia da Luz, this natural wonderland is a haven of dream beaches, hiking trails, and birdwatching sites.
It is one of the Algarve's most hidden treasures. From Faro, make your way to the charming coastal town of Carvoeiro. There, look for the tiny Praia de Benagil, an unspoiled site where, hidden in the rocks, nature has carved out one of the most spectacular beaches on the planet.
After exploring Faro's old town, visiting the Capela dos Ossos and admiring the view from the Cathedral clock tower, venture even higher with a jaunt up to the village of Estoi. Its eponymous Palácio, which has been converted into a hotel, is a gem of rococo architecture, in rich colours and set among magnificent gardens.