A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Faro vs. Birmingham for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Faro or Birmingham?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Birmingham, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Faro

Faro is a popular, busy, and active resort town. Other reasons to visit include shopping, nightlife, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a fun-filled, bustling, and historic city. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and theater.

Faro and Birmingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Birmingham?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Birmingham. Although Faro and Birmingham are both popular with visitors, Birmingham has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Birmingham is more popular for its museums, theatre productions, food, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Faro is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and historical sights. Faro is more touristy than Birmingham and is known for its historical sights and rich culture. Birmingham is popular for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. It is also home to Victoria Square.

How is Faro different from Birmingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Birmingham and Faro. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Faro or Birmingham?

Birmingham is great for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Birmingham can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Theater?

Birmingham is great for theatre. However, Faro is not a theatre destination.

Many visitors plan to see a show while visiting Birmingham. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Faro is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Faro or Birmingham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Birmingham is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Faro. It has become a major tourist town, so you have to get a bit creative to find a more traditional restaurant. Look for fresh seafood like cod, monkfish, or shellfish if you want some local flavors.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is excellent in both Faro and Birmingham.

Many people head to Faro for the nightlife scene. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Birmingham has plenty to do after the sun goes down. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Music?

Birmingham is a must-visit destination for live music. However, Faro is not a live music destination.

Birmingham is known as a music capital around the world. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Faro is not a live music destination.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Resorts?

Faro is an amazing resort town to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Birmingham is not a resort destination.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Faro is a perfect choice. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Birmingham is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is very good for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Birmingham is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving in Faro. There are both snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities in the area. It's possible to snorkel off of several beaches or arrange a scuba diving excursion with a local dive shop.

Birmingham is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Beaches?

Faro is very good for its beaches. However, Birmingham is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Faro to enjoy the beach. The most popular beach in the area is Faro Beach. It can get crowded during the summer months but if you walk a bit you can often get away from the crowds. To reach the beach you'll need a car or you can take the bus as the beach is about 10 km away.

Birmingham is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for its Old Town?

Faro is very good for its historic old town. However, Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Faro is a good destination for visiting its old town. You'll find historic buildings and cobblestone streets in the old town. It's a nice place to explore, grab a bite to eat, and do a little shopping.

Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Birmingham?

Birmingham is great for shopping. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Birmingham. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

Faro offers some nice shopping areas. The town isn't as big as some others, so it's shopping scene isn't as comprehensive, but you will find the major brands as well as souvenir shops to peruse when you need a break from the beach.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Families?

Birmingham is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Faro is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Birmingham is a very family-friendly destination. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

Faro is not the most family-friendly destination. There are some nice nature reserves in the area so kids who love wildlife will enjoy a visit.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Couples?

Birmingham is great for romance. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its romantic activities.

Birmingham is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Faro makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Faro is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Faro is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Students?

Birmingham is a must-visit destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Faro is not popular with students.

Birmingham is a great destination for students. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Faro is not popular with students.

Is Faro or Birmingham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Faro and Birmingham both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Faro offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Birmingham has a few public transit options. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Is Faro or Birmingham a more walkable city?

Birmingham is great for its walkability. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its high level of walkability.

Birmingham is very walkable. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

Faro is a somewhat walkable place. The city's old town is particularly walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Faro Worth Visiting? and Is Birmingham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Birmingham or Faro?

How long in Faro or Birmingham?

In either Faro or Birmingham, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Birmingham has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Birmingham than Faro. In general, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 1-5 days is enough time in Birmingham.

Families should spend more time in Birmingham than Faro. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Birmingham, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Birmingham than Faro. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Birmingham that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Faro than Birmingham if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Faro.

One day in Faro or Birmingham?

With shopping and nightlife around the busy resort town of Faro, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the theater and nightlife when visiting the destination of Birmingham. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Faro or Birmingham?

With nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Faro, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this resort town.

Birmingham is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the live music. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Faro or Birmingham?

Faro, a popular resort town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this resort town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the vibrant destination of Birmingham. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Faro or Birmingham?

Faro is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The fun-filled city of Birmingham offers food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Faro and Birmingham, we can see that Birmingham is more expensive. And not only is Faro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Faro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Faro and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Birmingham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Birmingham than you might in Faro.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Faro Expensive? and Is Birmingham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Faro or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Birmingham, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Faro or Birmingham?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Faro or Birmingham in the Summer?

Both Birmingham and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Faro for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.

Faro is a little warmer than Birmingham in the summer. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Birmingham fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Birmingham during summer. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 196 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Faro usually receives less rain than Birmingham. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Faro or Birmingham in the Autumn?

Both Birmingham and Faro during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene and the music scene are the main draw to Birmingham this time of year.

In the autumn, Faro is much warmer than Birmingham. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Faro in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Birmingham averages at about 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Faro. In the autumn, Faro often gets more sunshine than Birmingham. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 103 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets more rain in October than Birmingham. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Birmingham in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Birmingham. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Birmingham for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Birmingham. In January, Faro is generally much warmer than Birmingham. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 12°C (54°F), and Birmingham fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Faro usually receives more sunshine than Birmingham during winter. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 58 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Faro usually receives more rain than Birmingham. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Faro or Birmingham in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Faro as well as Birmingham. Many travelers come to Faro for the beaches.

Faro is much warmer than Birmingham in the spring. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Birmingham fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the spring, Faro often gets more sunshine than Birmingham. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 136 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in April than Birmingham. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Birmingham and Faro