A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Faro vs. Geneva for Food, Nightlife, Old Town, and Families

Should you visit Faro or Geneva?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Geneva, 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 beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Geneva

Geneva is a classy, diverse, and international city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Faro and Geneva: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Geneva?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Geneva. Although Faro and Geneva are both popular with visitors, Geneva has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Geneva is more popular for its museums, food, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Faro is known for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Faro is more touristy than Geneva and is popular for its historical sights and rich culture. Geneva is popular for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization. It is also home to The Geneva Water Fountain (The Jet d'Eau).

How is Faro different from Geneva?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Geneva 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 Geneva can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights and landmarks include the spectacular Water Jet, St Pierre Cathedral, and the Palais des Nations. There are also impressive art and history museums in the city.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Geneva 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 Geneva. The city has an amazing mix of traditional Swiss restaurants as well as diverse ethnic options. Traditional dishes include fondue and raclette, both of which involve the decadent Swiss cheese.

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 Geneva Better for Nightlife?

Faro is a great destination for nightlife. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

The people in Faro know how to have a good time. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

If you're looking for night time activities Geneva has a few options to choose from. During the day the city is all business, but at night the professionals, interns, students, and NGO workers all come together to enjoy a drink at a bar or dance at one of the city's diverse clubs.

Is Faro or Geneva Better for Resorts?

Faro is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Geneva is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Faro for its luxury resorts. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Geneva is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Geneva Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

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

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery 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.

Geneva is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Geneva Better for Beaches?

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

Faro offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Geneva is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Geneva Better for its Old Town?

Faro and Geneva both have good historical old towns that attract visitors.

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.

Many people head to Geneva to see the old town. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Geneva?

Geneva is a must-visit destination for shopping. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Geneva. Famous for its posh shops and luxury brands, this city is a popular shopping destination. From chic boutiques to deluxe toy stores, you'll find something for everyone. In particular, the city is known for its Swiss watches, Swiss Army knives, chocolate, and wine.

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 Geneva Better for Families?

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

Geneva offers lots of family activities. This diverse city has a number of chocolate shops, toy stores, and parks where kids can play. They'll be impressed by the Water Jet and there are few places where you can swim in the lake when the weather is warm.

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 Geneva Better for Couples?

Faro and Geneva are both good to visit as a couple.

Faro is a nice destination for couples. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

Geneva makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Wandering Old Town, sampling Swiss chocolate, and enjoying one of the many ethnic restaurants around town all make for great date activities. Fondue in a traditional restaurant is also a not to be missed experience.

Is Faro or Geneva Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Faro is a good destination for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Geneva is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city is often overlooked by backpackers as it is pretty expensive. Many hotels cater to the business traveler crowd, but there are a few hostels to choose from.

Is Faro or Geneva Better for Students?

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

Geneva is a great city to visit as a student. The University of Geneva attracts many international students and the city is quite diverse. It feels like a mixing bowl of cultures, so students will feel very welcomed and comfortable here.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

Geneva is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its public transit.

Geneva has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

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

Is Faro or Geneva a more walkable city?

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

Geneva is very walkable. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored on foot.

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 Geneva Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Geneva or Faro?

How long in Faro or Geneva?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Faro than Geneva 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 Geneva?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Faro. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Geneva is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Faro or Geneva?

Faro is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Geneva is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the shopping. 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 Geneva?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Faro. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the classy big city of Geneva. 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 Geneva?

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the popular destination of Faro. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The classy city of Geneva 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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, and The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Faro and Geneva, we can see that Geneva 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva 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 Geneva Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Faro or Geneva?

Geneva has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Geneva, 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 Geneva?

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 Geneva in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Faro as well as Geneva. Many travelers come to Faro for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Geneva in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Faro is a little warmer than Geneva in the summer. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Geneva fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Geneva. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the summer, Faro often gets more sunshine than Geneva. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Geneva receives 285 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in July than Geneva. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Geneva in the Autumn?

Both Geneva and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Faro in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Geneva for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Faro is a little warmer than Geneva. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Faro in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Geneva averages at about 14°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Geneva during autumn. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Geneva receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Faro usually receives less rain than Geneva. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Faro or Geneva in the Winter?

Both Geneva and Faro during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Faro for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Geneva because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Geneva can be very cold. In January, Faro is generally much warmer than Geneva. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 12°C (54°F), and Geneva fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Faro often gets more sunshine than Geneva. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Geneva receives 62 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets more rain in January than Geneva. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Geneva in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Geneva. The spring months attract visitors to Faro because of the beaches. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Geneva this time of year.

Faro is a little warmer than Geneva in the spring. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Geneva fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Geneva during spring. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Geneva receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Faro usually receives less rain than Geneva. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Geneva receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Geneva and Faro