Gatwick to Faro Flight Time, and a Same-Day Algarve Trip
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The flight from Gatwick to Faro takes 2 hours 55 minutes with no time difference, and on Monday 14 December 2026 a same-day trip costs £55.25 all in, with about 7.4 hours in Faro.
Gatwick to Faro takes 2 hours 55 minutes. Portugal is on the same time as the UK, so what you see on the clock is what you get. Leave at 06:25, land at 09:20.
That short hop is why Faro is one of the best extreme day trips going. You're in the Algarve before most people at home have had breakfast, and back in your own bed the same night.
How long is the flight from Gatwick to Faro?
2 hours 55 minutes each way on the easyJet flights we priced. Out at 06:25, landing at 09:20. Home at 20:00, landing at Gatwick at 22:55.
No time difference, no jet lag, no maths. It's about the same as flying to southern Spain but without losing an hour.
Can you do Faro in a day?
Easily. On Monday 14 December the return flight is £36.00 and the whole day is £55.25. You get about 7.4 hours in Faro itself, roughly 10:05 to 17:30, once you've allowed for the bus and the airport. See the day trip to Faro from Gatwick
Tuesday 15 December is the same £36.00, with the flight home ten minutes earlier. Wednesday 9 and Wednesday 16 December are £39.00.
Which date should you book?
If you can do a Monday, 14 December is the one. Cheapest fare, and the flight home at 20:00 means you're back at Gatwick before 23:00.
If you'd rather stay out later, Wednesday 16 December is £39.00 with the flight home at 20:50, landing at 23:40. That gives you more time on the ground, about 11.6 hours between landing and take-off, for £3.00 more.
All four are midweek, so you'll need a day off. Our board shows the cheapest Faro days first, and right now the top of the list is all Mondays to Wednesdays.
Why is the whole day so cheap?
Because Faro is one of the cheapest places we list once you land. The trip page puts the ground cost at £19.25, which is £8.00 for lunch and £11.25 for dinner. Out of 26 cities in our spending money guide, Faro came out the lowest.
The airport is only 7km from the centre. The Próximo 16 or 14 bus takes you in.
What can you do in Faro in seven hours?
More than you'd think, and most of it is free.
The old town. Walk through the Arco da Vila into the walled Cidade Velha. Cobbles, whitewashed streets and old walls, all free to wander.
The marina and the gardens. Jardim Manuel Bivar sits right by the marina, with its bandstand and palm trees. It's the kind of place you sit with a coffee and forget it's December at home.
The lagoon. Faro sits on the edge of the Ria Formosa, a huge lagoon of channels and salt marsh. A short boat tour from Faro with Formosamar is €25 and it's the one paid thing I'd spend on.
The market and the beach. The Mercado Municipal is free to walk round and good for a cheap lunch. Praia de Faro, the long sandy beach out past the airport, is free too if you want to put your feet in the Atlantic.
One thing to know. 14 December is a Monday, and the Museu Municipal is closed on Mondays. On the Tuesday or Wednesday it's €4.
What time is sunset in Faro in December?
17:16 on 14 December. That works nicely, because you leave the city at about 17:30. You get the whole day in daylight and catch the sunset on your way to the airport.
What should you take?
Not much, and that's the point. A small bag that fits under the seat keeps the fare at £36.00. Bring a layer for the evening, a pair of shoes you can walk cobbles in, and your passport. Since 2025 the EU's new entry checks can add time on your first trip, which is why the trip page allows 120 minutes at the airport on the way home.
Is a day trip to Faro worth it?
For £55.25, it's one of the easiest yeses on the site. Short flight, no time change, cheap food and a proper bit of sun in the middle of December.
Want more on the city itself? Our day trip to Faro guide covers it from other UK airports too. Or see everything that works from day trips from Gatwick.
We checked these times and fares on 31 October. They change daily, so the trip page always has today's.
If a £55.25 day in the Algarve is your idea of a good deal, you'll like being a founder. Every date priced six months ahead, for £19.00 a year. Join the founders
Day trips in this article
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