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

Should you visit Faro or Cork?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Cork, 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. It's also known for nightlife, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Cork

Cork is a seaside, youthful, and energetic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Faro and Cork: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Cork?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cork. Although Faro and Cork are both popular with visitors, Cork has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Cork is more popular for its museums, food, shopping, and big city activities, while Faro is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and historical sights. Faro is more touristy than Cork and is popular for its historical sights and rich culture. Cork is popular for its friendly personality, its thriving art scene and its local craft beer. It is also home to The Blarney Castle and Stone.

How is Faro different from Cork?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Cork 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 Cork?

Cork 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 Cork can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historic sights and landmarks. Most notable is the Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone, but also make sure you check out St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Cork Public Museum, Cork City Gaol Heritage Centre, and St. Anne's Church.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Cork is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Cork. You'll find charming seaside cafes and award winning restaurants. Also make sure you check out the English Market, which is among the best in Ireland.

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 Cork Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is high quality in both Faro and Cork.

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.

Cork has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It's a university city, so you'll find plenty of students, bars, clubs, and cheap beer. Many pubs also have live music with everything from rock to Irish folk music.

Is Faro or Cork Better for Resorts?

Faro is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Cork is not a resort destination.

Faro is a world class resort vacation destination. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Cork is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Cork Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a resort town with good options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Cork is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life 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.

Cork is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Cork Better for Beaches?

Faro is a resort town with good options for its beaches. However, Cork is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Faro. 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.

Cork is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Cork Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a resort town with good options for its historic old town. However, Cork does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Faro to see the historical 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.

Cork does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Cork?

Cork 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 Cork. It offers a mix of high street shops and boutique vendors. Head to St. Patrick’s Street for some of the city's best shopping. Also check out Opera Lane and Oliver Plunkett Street.

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 Cork Better for Families?

Cork is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Faro is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Cork offers lots of family activities. For a bit of outside time, head to Fota Wildlife Park, Regional Park Ballincollig, or Inchydoney Beach. Kids will also enjoy exploring Cork City Gaol which is a heritage museum, or the Toy Soldier Factory. And of course, there's the Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone.

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 Cork Better for Couples?

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

Cork is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Visiting Blarney Castle is a highlight, but you can also wander along the river or do the Ballycotton Cliff Walk. There are also several gardens to explore or small theaters where you can see a play.

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 Cork Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Faro and Cork are good places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Faro. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Cork is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. There are plenty of hostels as well as a large student population and an active nightlife.

Is Faro or Cork Better for Students?

Cork is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Faro is not popular with students.

Cork is a great city to visit as a student. It's a university town with many students and plenty to do. The city plays host to many international students.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

Faro is a resort town with good options for its public transit. However, Cork is a mediocre city for times when you don't have a car.

Faro has a few public transit options. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cork. In town you'll find bus service but if you want to explore anywhere else in the county you really need your own vehicle.

Is Faro or Cork a more walkable city?

Faro and Cork are good when it comes to walkability.

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

Cork is a somewhat walkable place. The city center is compact and easy enough to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Cork or Faro?

How long in Faro or Cork?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Faro and Cork. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Faro than in Cork. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 1-3 days is enough time in Cork.

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

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

One day in Faro or Cork?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Faro. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

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

A weekend in Faro or Cork?

Faro is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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.

Cork is a fun place to experience. 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 Cork?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the busy destination of Faro. This resort town offers something for everyone. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the energetic destination of Cork. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Faro or Cork?

The busy resort town of Faro offers shopping and nightlife. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

The seaside city of Cork offers nightlife and food. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Faro and Cork, we can see that Faro is more expensive. And not only is Cork much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cork would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cork 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 Faro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Faro than you might in Cork.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Cork?

Cork has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Cork, 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 Cork?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Faro or Cork in the Summer?

Both Cork and Faro during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Cork for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Faro is much warmer than Cork in the summer. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Cork fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Faro. In the summer, Faro often gets more sunshine than Cork. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cork receives 178 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in July than Cork. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Cork receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Cork in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Cork. Many travelers come to Faro for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Cork in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

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

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Cork during autumn. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Cork receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Faro usually receives less rain than Cork. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cork receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Faro or Cork in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Faro as well as Cork. Many visitors come to Faro in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Cork for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Faro is generally much warmer than Cork. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 12°C (54°F), and Cork fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

In the winter, Faro often gets more sunshine than Cork. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cork receives 60 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Cork. Faro usually gets less rain in January than Cork. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cork receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Cork in the Spring?

Both Cork and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Faro for the beaches during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Cork because of the activities around the city.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Cork during spring. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Cork receives 157 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Faro usually receives less rain than Cork. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cork receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Cork and Faro