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

Should you visit Faro or Inverness?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Inverness, 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 busy, active, and popular resort town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Inverness

Inverness is a historic, cultural, and traditional city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Faro and Inverness: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Inverness?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Faro. Although Faro and Inverness are popular destinations, Faro has more sights and attractions for tourists. Faro is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and historical sights, while Inverness attracts visitors for its museums, food, shopping, and small town charm. Faro is famous for its historical sights and rich culture. It is also well known for The Arco da Vila. Inverness is famous for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness.

How is Faro different from Inverness?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Inverness 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 Inverness can be an interesting and educational experience. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Inverness 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 Inverness. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

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 Inverness Better for Nightlife?

Faro is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Faro offers plenty to do in the evening. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

Is Faro or Inverness Better for Resorts?

Faro is terrific for its resorts. However, Inverness 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.

Inverness is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Inverness Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is very good for its diving and snorkeling. However, Inverness 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.

Inverness is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Inverness Better for Beaches?

Faro is very good for the beache. However, Inverness 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.

Inverness is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Inverness Better for its Old Town?

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

Many people head to Faro to see the 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.

Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Inverness?

Inverness 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 Inverness. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

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 Inverness Better for Families?

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

Inverness offers lots of family activities. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

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 Inverness Better for Couples?

Faro and Inverness are both nice 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.

Inverness makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Is Faro or Inverness Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Faro is very good for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Inverness is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There a some hostels and student hotels, but this isn't one of the major backpacker spots in the UK.

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

Faro is very good for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good 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 Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Faro or Inverness a more walkable city?

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

Inverness is very walkable. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town 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 Inverness Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Inverness or Faro?

How long in Faro or Inverness?

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

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

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

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

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the resort town of Faro. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A weekend in Faro or Inverness?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the busy destination of Faro. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this resort town has to offer. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Inverness 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 Inverness?

You'll find nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling around the active resort town of Faro. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this resort town makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this resort town has to offer.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Inverness. 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 Inverness?

Faro is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The historic city of Inverness 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Inverness?

Faro has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Inverness, 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 Inverness?

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 Inverness in the Summer?

Both Inverness and Faro during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Faro for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Inverness because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Faro is much warmer than Inverness. Typically, the summer temperatures in Faro in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Inverness averages at about 14°C (58°F).

It's quite sunny in Faro. In the summer, Faro often gets more sunshine than Inverness. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Inverness receives 147 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in July than Inverness. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Inverness in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Inverness. The autumn months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Inverness this time of year.

In October, Faro is generally much warmer than Inverness. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 20°C (68°F), and Inverness fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Inverness during autumn. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Inverness receives 84 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Faro usually receives more rain than Inverness. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Faro or Inverness in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Faro as well as Inverness. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Inverness for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Inverness. Faro is much warmer than Inverness in the winter. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Inverness fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Faro often gets more sunshine than Inverness. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Inverness receives 42 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets more rain in January than Inverness. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Inverness in the Spring?

Both Inverness and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Faro for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Inverness in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, Faro is much warmer than Inverness. Typically, the spring temperatures in Faro in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Inverness averages at about 7°C (44°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Inverness during spring. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Inverness receives 136 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Faro usually receives around the same amount of rain as Inverness. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Inverness and Faro