As you land at the southernmost part of continental Portugal in the city of Faro, you will immediately be able to pick up on the feeling of being in the Algarve. Before you travel from Faro to Albufeira for your beach holiday, however, it is worth taking a day to explore the history and beauty of the city of Faro itself. Founded as Ossonoba, during the Roman occupation, the town was an important port town that even had an Episcopal See. During the Moorish rule, the name eventually changed to Santa Maria and then finally to Harun, which is the forerunner of the name Faro. No matter whether you like the sandy beaches or are history or nature buff, there are plenty of places to go and things to see in and around the city before you head off on the transfer from Faro to Albufeira. Be sure to take time to see the Rio Formosa Lagoon, the Centro Historico and spend a little time on the beaches. Visiting the Rio Formosa Lagoon Connected to the sea through six inlets, the Rio Formosa Lagoon is located just nearby the city of Faro on the southernmost coast of Portugal. If you're a bit of a nature buff, before you go to from Faro to Albufeira book a short trip to the lagoon to explore. The Rio Formossa is a designated national park and continues westward into the tip of Spain. There are five natural inlets and the sixth was opened to create easier access to the port. While there are lots of little villages that dot the edges of the Rio Formossa, the main attraction for this naturally beautiful area is the wildlife. Over 30,000 bird species can be observed on the Rio Formossa, making it a true bird lover's paradise. One of the reasons for this influx is that the area is right on the European migratory pathway and benefits from having a great habitat with plenty of food. Centro Historico Like many of the old towns and cities in this part of the Algarve, Faro has a historic city centre called the Centro Historico. Before you travel from Faro to Albufeira, you should stroll through these history-laden streets and learn a bit about the architecture and the heritage of the area. Right off the harbour, the Centro Historico is a quaint area of cobbled streets and 18th century buildings displaying their Moorish influences in the architecture. The beaches of Faro Often considered to be "sandpits" that have formed at the edges of the Rio Formossa, the beaches of Faro are unique; the only one that is reachable by road is the main one, Faro Beach. Before you head from Faro to Albufeira, take time to stroll along Faro beach then catch one of the many ferries to take you to the smaller 'ilhas', or sandpit islands, where you can enjoy the sun, the sand and the fun ride to get to and from the beaches. Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for Faro to Albufeira transfers Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.
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