A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Izmir vs. Faro for Food, Families, Backpackers, and Couples

Should you visit Izmir or Faro?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Izmir and Faro. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Izmir

Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food. See Izmir travel costs.

Faro

Faro is a popular, busy, and active resort town. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and nightlife. See Faro travel costs.

Izmir and Faro: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Izmir or Faro?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Faro. Although Izmir and Faro are both popular with visitors, Faro has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Faro is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, and shopping, while Izmir is known for its food and big city activities. Faro is more touristy than Izmir and is popular for its historical sights and rich culture. It is also home to The Arco da Vila. Izmir is popular for

How is Izmir different from Faro?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Faro and Izmir. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is the Food Better in Izmir or Faro? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Izmir is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Izmir. Located on the coast, the city is known for its fresh seafood like grilled fish, calamari, and midye dolma (stuffed mussels). Kumru, a local sandwich made with sesame-crusted bread and filled with sucuk or cheese, is a must-try street food. Also popular are meze, which are small plates of appetizers like hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and zeytinyağlılar (vegetables cooked in olive oil).

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Faro. It has become a major tourist town, so you have to get a bit creative to find a more traditional restaurant. Look for fresh seafood like cod, monkfish, or shellfish if you want some local flavors.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for Nightlife?

Faro is a great destination for nightlife. However, Izmir is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

The people in Faro know how to have a good time. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Izmir is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for Resorts?

Faro is a world-class destination for its resorts. However, Izmir is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Faro for its luxury resorts. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Izmir is not a resort destination.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a good destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Izmir is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Faro. There are both snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities in the area. It's possible to snorkel off of several beaches or arrange a scuba diving excursion with a local dive shop.

Izmir is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for Beaches?

Faro is a good destination for its beaches. However, Izmir is not a beach destination.

Faro offers a nice beach destination. The most popular beach in the area is Faro Beach. It can get crowded during the summer months but if you walk a bit you can often get away from the crowds. To reach the beach you'll need a car or you can take the bus as the beach is about 10 km away.

Izmir is not a beach destination.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Izmir does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Faro to see the historical old town. You'll find historic buildings and cobblestone streets in the old town. It's a nice place to explore, grab a bite to eat, and do a little shopping.

Izmir does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Izmir or Faro?

Faro is a good destination for shopping. However, Izmir is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Faro is a great destination for shopping. The town isn't as big as some others, so it's shopping scene isn't as comprehensive, but you will find the major brands as well as souvenir shops to peruse when you need a break from the beach.

Izmir is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for Families?

Izmir is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Faro is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Izmir is a very family-friendly destination. A visit to Kültürpark, a large park in the city center, is perfect for children to enjoy playgrounds, open spaces, and even a small amusement park. The Izmir Wildlife Park, located just outside the city, is another great spot, where kids can explore and interact with a variety of animals in a natural setting. For an educational experience, the Izmir Natural History Museum provides fascinating exhibits on local wildlife and natural science. Families will also enjoy taking a boat ride on the Izmir Bay or visiting the Aqua City Water Park.

Faro is not the most family-friendly destination. There are some nice nature reserves in the area so kids who love wildlife will enjoy a visit.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for Couples?

Izmir and Faro both good destinations for a couple.

Izmir is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy walking along the scenic Kordon promenade at sunset or having a drink at a local cafe. You can also explore the Kadifekale Castle, which offers panoramic views of Izmir and is another great spot for watching the sunset together. Also popular is taking a boat tour around Izmir Bay, which lets you see the city from a different perspective.

Faro makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Izmir is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for backpackers.

Izmir is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It's a popular stop off for backpackers who enjoy the cultural scene around town. There are many hostels to choose from, particularly in areas like Konak and Alsancak.

Faro is a good to visit for backpackers. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Is Izmir or Faro Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Izmir is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its public transit.

Public transit in Izmir is fairly effecient and thorough. The public transit system is diverse and includes a metro with two lines, buses, ferries, and dolmuses (shared minibuses). In general, the system is reliable and affordable.

Faro has a few public transit options. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Is Izmir or Faro a more walkable city?

Izmir and Faro both are good when exploring on foot.

Izmir is somewhat walkable. Some of the most pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods include Konak, Alsancak, and Kordon where you can easily walk between attractions, cafés, shops, and parks. The Kordon waterfront promenade is a popular place for strolling, jogging, or simply relaxing.

Faro is a somewhat walkable place. The city's old town is particularly walkable.

Should I spend more time in Faro or Izmir?

How long in Izmir or Faro?

In either Izmir or Faro, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Faro than Izmir because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Izmir, and 2-5 days is enough time in Faro.

Families should spend more time in Izmir than Faro. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Izmir, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Faro than Izmir. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Faro that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Izmir than Faro if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Izmir.

One day in Izmir or Faro?

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Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Izmir. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Faro, many people enjoy the nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling that this active destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Izmir or Faro?

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Izmir is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Faro. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Izmir or Faro?

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You'll find food around the destination of Izmir. This offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Faro is a fun place to experience. In Faro, many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Izmir or Faro?

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The of Izmir offers food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

You'll find nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling around the popular destination of Faro. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best 3-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Izmir and Faro, we can see that Faro is more expensive. And not only is Izmir much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Izmir would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Izmir and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Faro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Faro than you might in Izmir.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Izmir Expensive? and Is Faro Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Izmir or Faro?

Izmir has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Izmir and Faro, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Izmir or Faro?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Izmir or Faro in the Summer?

Both Faro and Izmir during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Izmir in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Faro for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Izmir is around the same temperature as Faro in the summer. The daily temperature in Izmir averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Faro fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Izmir. In the summer, Izmir often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Faro. Izmir gets 378 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Faro receives 374 hours of full sun.

Izmir usually gets more rain in July than Faro. Izmir gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Faro receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Izmir or Faro in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Izmir and Faro. Most visitors come to Izmir for the city's sights and attractions during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Izmir is around the same temperature as Faro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Izmir in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Faro averages at about 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In Izmir, it's very sunny this time of the year. Izmir usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Faro during autumn. Izmir gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Faro receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Izmir usually receives less rain than Faro. Izmir gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Faro receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Izmir or Faro in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Izmir as well as Faro. The winter months attract visitors to Izmir because of the cuisine. Additionally, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Faro this time of year.

In January, Izmir is generally cooler than Faro. Daily temperatures in Izmir average around 9°C (48°F), and Faro fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the winter, Izmir often gets less sunshine than Faro. Izmir gets 131 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Faro receives 161 hours of full sun.

Izmir receives a lot of rain in the winter. Izmir usually gets more rain in January than Faro. Izmir gets 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Faro receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Izmir or Faro in the Spring?

Both Faro and Izmir are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Izmir this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Faro for the beaches.

Izmir is around the same temperature as Faro in the spring. The daily temperature in Izmir averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Faro fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Faro. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Izmir. Izmir usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Faro during spring. Izmir gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Faro receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Izmir usually receives more rain than Faro. Izmir gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Faro receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Faro and Izmir