Manchester to Faro for the Day: Is It Too Far? Myth v Reality

Sand, 20 degrees and a coffee for about two quid. In November. From Manchester. Back in your own bed the same night.

People hear Faro and think it's too far for a day. Some of what they think is right. Most of it isn't.

"Manchester to Faro is too far for a day"

Three hours each way, and Portugal's on UK time, so no clock nonsense. Jet2 out of Manchester at 07:00 on Tuesday 20 October lands at 10:05 and flies you home at 19:50. Our trip page has you in town for about 6.6 hours. Jet2 had it at £78 when we looked on 4 October. It's a fortnight away, so that price won't hang about.

Faro from Manchester on Tue 20 Oct: today's price and times

"You can fly Manchester to Faro any day"

Not from Manchester you can't. That Tuesday is the only same-day Faro on our board from there right now. Ryanair flies it too, but their flights land too late to make a day of it. Gatwick's better for dates: easyJet on Saturday 14 November was £70, in at 10:20, about 6.3 hours on the ground.

Faro from Gatwick on Sat 14 Nov

"It's just the airport for the beaches"

The old town is the bit everyone skips. In through the Arco da Vila, cobbles, whitewashed streets, the old walls. Free.

Then down to the Jardim Manuel Bivar, bandstand and all, and along the marina. Also free. Lunch at the Mercado Municipal, about £10 on our data.

"There's nothing to do"

Praia de Faro's right there, free. If you pay for one thing, make it a short boat trip out on the Ria Formosa lagoon, about €25. The town museum's about €4 if the weather turns.

"It'll cost a fortune"

It's the cheapest day on the ground we've costed anywhere. Lunch £10, dinner £15. With the £78 flight you're at about £103 from Manchester, or about £95 from Gatwick.

"It'll be cold by then"

The average high on 14 November is 20°C on our trip page, and on 20 October the sun doesn't set until about 18:49. Sun cream, not a coat.

If a Tuesday off in the sun sounds better than a Tuesday at your desk, this is the one. Just don't sit on it.

Founders see every date six months ahead, so you catch days like this before they go. £19 a year, for life.

Photo credits. Top: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0. Beach: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0. Old town arch: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0. Bandstand: Kolforn, CC BY-SA 4.0. Marina: Dmitry Tonkonog, CC BY-SA 3.0. Ria Formosa: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0.