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

Should you visit Faro or Reykjavik?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Reykjavik, 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 scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a friendly, clean, and green city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, hiking, and shopping.

Faro and Reykjavik: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Reykjavik?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Faro. Although Faro and Reykjavik are both popular with visitors, Faro has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Faro is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and historical sights, while Reykjavik is known for its hiking and impressive beauty. Faro is popular for its historical sights and rich culture. It is also home to The Arco da Vila. Reykjavik is popular for its proximity to natural beauty and many thermal pools, as well as its active nightlife scene and many festivals.

How is Faro different from Reykjavik?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Faro and Reykjavik offer a number of decent restaurants to choose from.

Faro offers some easy restaurants to choose from. 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Reykjavik. Traditional Icelandic food may not have the best reputation, but restaurants these days are pretty good with a variety of dishes to choose from. Popular foods in the area include fish, lamb, and Icelandic skyr (a type of yogurt).

Is Faro or Reykjavik Better for Nightlife?

Faro is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Reykjavik is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Faro has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Reykjavik has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city offers the best nightlife in Iceland and you'll be surprised at the number of clubs, bars, and craft breweries that you can choose from. Almost all of the popular nightlife spots are around Laugavegur, a major shopping street in town.

Is Faro or Reykjavik Better for Resorts?

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

Faro offers an unforgettable resort vacation. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Reykjavik is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Reykjavik Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a nice place to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Reykjavik is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Faro has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. 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.

Reykjavik is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Reykjavik Better for Beaches?

Faro is a nice place to visit for its beaches. However, Reykjavik is not a beach destination.

Faro has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Reykjavik is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Reykjavik Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Reykjavik 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.

Reykjavik does not have a historic old town.

Is Faro or Reykjavik Better for Hiking?

Reykjavik is a must-visit destination for hiking. However, Faro is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Reykjavik draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The city offers easy access to some of the world's most spectacular scenery. There are many hikes that you can easily reach from town. They pass through diverse landscapes that include waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, and beaches.

Faro is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Reykjavik?

If you're looking to go shopping, Faro and Reykjavik both offer plenty of good spots.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Faro. 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.

Reykjavik offers some nice shopping areas. The city's main shopping street is Laugavegur, which is where you'll find the most activity around town as well as a bustling atmosphere.

Is Faro or Reykjavik Better for Families?

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

Reykjavik is a very family-friendly destination. With its many outdoor activities and hands on museums, the city is great for kids. The cafes and restaurants are family-friendly and their are plenty of entertainment options for the whole family.

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 Reykjavik Better for Couples?

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

Reykjavik is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. There are museums, outdoor activities, and even the northern lights that make this city very romantic. The cafes are laid-back and the atmosphere is friendly.

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 Reykjavik Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Faro and Reykjavik 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.

Reykjavik is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. There are a number of hostels around town, but they can be pretty expensive. Transportation can also be pretty challenging for backpackers.

Is Faro or Reykjavik Better for Students?

Reykjavik is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Faro is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Reykjavik. Students will enjoy a unique experience in this city. There are good academic programs as well as beautiful outdoor settings that you can explore.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

Faro and Reykjavik 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.

Reykjavik has a few public transit options. There is a fairly comprehensive bus system around town.

Is Faro or Reykjavik a more walkable city?

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

Reykjavik is very walkable. The city is small and compact, so it's easy to explore 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 Reykjavik Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reykjavik or Faro?

How long in Faro or Reykjavik?

In either Faro or Reykjavik, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. You can fill a similar amount of time in either place. In general, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 1-5 days is enough time in Reykjavik.

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

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

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

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 shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Reykjavik. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Faro or Reykjavik?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the active 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.

Reykjavik is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Reykjavik?

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.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the safe destination of Reykjavik. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Reykjavik?

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 safe city of Reykjavik offers nightlife and shopping. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Reykjavik?

Reykjavik has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Reykjavik, 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 Reykjavik?

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 Reykjavik in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Reykjavik. The summer months attract visitors to Faro because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Reykjavik this time of year.

Faro is much warmer than Reykjavik in the summer. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Reykjavik fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during summer. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 171 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Faro usually receives less rain than Reykjavik. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Faro or Reykjavik in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Faro as well as Reykjavik. The shopping scene are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Reykjavik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Reykjavik. In the autumn, Faro is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Faro in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Reykjavik averages at about 5°C (41°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the autumn, Faro often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 83 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in October than Reykjavik. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Reykjavik in the Winter?

Both Reykjavik and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Faro for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Reykjavik in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Reykjavik can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Faro is generally much warmer than Reykjavik. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 12°C (54°F), and Reykjavik fluctuates around -0°C (32°F).

Faro usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during winter. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 27 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Faro usually receives around the same amount of rain as Reykjavik. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Faro or Reykjavik in the Spring?

Both Reykjavik and Faro during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Faro in the spring for the beaches. Furthermore, most visitors come to Reykjavik for the natural beauty during these months.

Reykjavik can be very cold during spring. Faro is much warmer than Reykjavik in the spring. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 17°C (62°F) in April, and Reykjavik fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

It's quite sunny in Faro. In the spring, Faro often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 140 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in April than Reykjavik. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Reykjavik and Faro