Experience in Faro, Portugal by Kyle

What is it like to live in Faro? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Faro is a small city or better described as a town which has a lot of history and like a lot of Portugal, lots of culture, nice architecture and beautiful scenery. Life is pretty relaxed and the weather is great, even in the winter things are not so bad!

What is the student lifestyle like in Faro?

Faro is a small Portuguese city with a large student population. The club scene is not so diverse, but if you like house parties, it's super easy to make friends and no one is ever too far away once you live near the city centre (mass public transport after 10 pm is a huge issue), thought you can always walk or take a taxi. Faro gets really busy during the warm months

How much does it cost to live in Faro?

I was able to live on 500-600 Euro/mth comfortably.

Here's a breakdown :

• 180-250 EUR - Apartment depending on size and location (just outside the city centre (1-2 km) is cheapest.
• 100-200 EUR - Monthly groceries (200 if you cook food to eat) everyday.
• 100 EUR - Clubbing (typically beer is 1-2 Euro and you get a free drink on entry at some clubs, entry to students is usually free).
• 30 EUR - Wine (2 bottles per week).
• 18-30 - bus pass for month (depending on the route/s you choose).

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Faro? Is there any advice you can give?

It is very easy to find an accommodation, it's a student city and many people have a spare room in their house for rent. Just go to the supermarkets and there are noticeboards or just simply walk around and there will be signs in windows advertising free rooms.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Lots and lots of affordable seafood. If you like the natural taste of the sea, its the right place! Fresh fish + salt + pepper + lime/lemon. The pastries are pretty great to (bolos - cakes and pastel de nata).

What places would you recommend visiting in Faro?

• The old city centre.
• The habour is always a nice place to relax and drink some beers.
• The bone church near the centre is interesting (chapel made of human bones).

Faro is small, you can see it all in a couple of evening walks.

Is it good to eat out in Faro? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

I didn't eat out much, food is cheap in the supermarkets, so I buy meat and wine and have lots of house parties or go to a club and pick up some pizza or something from a bakery late at night. But the city centre is littered with food places with prices from 5 -30 EUR per person.

Look out for the bread/spreads/other goodies on the table - They are not complimentary, your bill can easily go up eating the stuff!

Is the nightlife good in Faro? Where is good to go?

It's ok. A handful of ok clubs, but they play the same music repeatedly. Its ok for a month or two, but after that, its gets kind of boring with the limited number of clubs, same people and same 20 songs.

What advice would you give future students heading to Faro?

Don't let the "calma" nature of some of the students and staff make you too relaxed. You can easily lose track of your studies as a priority and end up partying away! At the same time, make sure visit the beach, drink lots of great/affordable Portuguese wine, make lots of friends and have a great time, I know I did!

And travel! It's relatively cheap and Portugal has lots of beautiful places to see : Lisbon, Sagres, Sintra, Portimao, Porto.