Is Faro Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Faro is generally very safe for solo female travelers. The locals are friendly and helpful, and most areas are well-lit and busy even at night. However, as with any destination, it's advised to stay vigilant and take common-sense precautions like avoiding deserted places late at night and not displaying expensive belongings openly.

Safety rating

4.4 /5

Based on 14 experiences from female travelers

4.5 /5

Based on our research and crime data

3.4 /5

Based on 6 experiences from local women

Faro is currently ranked #9 safest place in Portugal for solo female travellers, with an overall safety rating of 4.4 out of 5. . Check the full ranking.

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How safe is Faro?

Safety at night:Safe

Faro is generally considered a safe destination, even for solo female travelers. It's crucial, as in any city, to be aware of your surroundings, especially during the night. Despite the relative safety, it's recommended not to wander alone in secluded areas or poorly lit streets at night. The city center, marina, and the more populated bar and restaurant areas are usually well-lit and busy, providing an extra level of safety. However, always stay alert for your personal belongings to avoid thefts. On important note, locals are usually very helpful and respectful towards tourists.

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Faro, is generally reliable and safe. The buses and trains are regularly maintained and are well-regulated. In general, people are polite and respect personal space. However, as with any location, it is advised to be mindful of your belongings, especially during peak hours when pickpocketing may occur. Having a grasp of basic Portuguese phrases can be helpful, too, especially in less touristy areas where English may not be widely spoken.

Street harassment:Low

Generally, Faro holds quite a safe atmosphere for travelers. Street harassment is not a common issue here and you'll find most locals respectful and welcoming. However, it's still advised to be mindful and take standard precautions, as small instances might occur once in a while, especially if you're out late at night.

Petty crimes:Low

Faro is generally a safe city for travelers. While there can be occurrences of petty crimes such as pickpocketing or purse-snatching, especially in more crowded areas or tourist hotspots, such instances are not excessively common. Regular precautions like not flashing valuables, keeping personal belongings close, and avoiding desolate areas at night should keep you safe.

Is Faro worth visiting?

Overall rating

3.8 /5

based on 14 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

3.2/5

Safety

4.4/5

Food

4/5

Budget-friendly

3.3/5

Solo travel

I didn't spend much on the trip overall. Stayed at a Hostel too, and mostly ate out every day, but the food wasn't too expensive. I took some day trips from Faro, since I didn't find much to do in town . Buses work great but trips can be long. You can rent a car to explore the southern coast more easily. Overall a great experience. It was my first solo trip and was a bit lost still. I do recommend taking a kayak tour to the Benagil caves!

Posted: September 9, 2025Experienced: April, 2024

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Julia

Poland

Solo travel

• Safe? Yes • Boring? Absolutely. Faro is good for a beach and leisurely holiday. • Cheap? I think so • is it worth visiting? not sure • If you want to swim in the ocean and it's cheaper than Madeira, then Faro is for you.

Posted: June 20, 2025

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Solo travel

I landed in Faro morning time and spent the whole day discovering it before heading to my next destination. One thing I noticed was google maps was not 💯 percent accurate. So using public transport and finding places was harder than usual but still very safe and convenient as the whole place was very walkable.

Posted: June 16, 2025

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Alexandra

Greece

Solo travel

Faro is a small city but it had a number of activities and things to see. The food was great, as a vegan I found many options, both in restaurants and supermarkets. I would definitely recommend going to the beach to watch the sunset, taking the boat for a little trip around the islands and going on a bike ride on Ria Formosa. I would avoid taking a ticket for one island at a time, you should just get the hop on hop off, I think it saves some money. I stayed in Faro for a month volunteering at Tilia Hostel. It's a very nice and clean hostel with a really homey vibe and I would definitely recommend it. Faro is a small city, you won't need transportation in Faro but you definitely do for going to the beach and to the national park(the bus 16 for the airport) The bus ticket is 2,70€. For the airport I paid 8€ at 3:30 with bolt, so the airport is very close too. For safety, there was a lot of catcalling and men staring, I think a little more than I've experienced at other cities. When you can, especially if it's Friday or Saturday, avoid walking the streets where the bars are alone because there's a lot of drunk men. I would not go out alone at night but I would and I did went out with people from the hostel and it was great, very fun nights.

Posted: November 29, 2024

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Couple travel

Faro is a small but very cozy town. It's nice that you get to know the way around after a while. If you feel like you've seen everything in the town, you can easily take the bus to another city. The atmosphere in Faro is very good. It's very fun to explore the nature reserve with a boat (book via Get Your Guide).

Posted: November 10, 2024Experienced: May, 2022

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Is Faro safe for women?

Safety index

3.4 /5

Based on 6 local experiences

Crime index

1 /5

Based on 6 local experiences

Argitxu

Very good place to stay, the people here are very generous and warm ! Do not hesitate you will love this part of Portugal. The food is wonderful and it’s obviously the perfect place to be on family ! Very safe !!

Posted: March 16, 2025

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