A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Faro vs. Saint Andrews for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Beaches

Should you visit Faro or Saint Andrews?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Saint Andrews, 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.

Saint Andrews

Saint Andrews is a historic, charming, and quaint university town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Faro and Saint Andrews: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Saint Andrews?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Saint Andrews. Although Faro and Saint Andrews are popular destinations, Saint Andrews has more sights and attractions for tourists. Saint Andrews is very popular for its museums, food, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Faro attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and historical sights. Faro is more touristy than Saint Andrews and is popular for its historical sights and rich culture. Saint Andrews is famous for its reputation as the birthplace of golf. It is also well known for The Old Course.

The Old Course

How is Faro different from Saint Andrews?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Saint Andrews is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

Saint Andrews is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. For many, a highlight of their trip is to play a round of golf at St. Andrews Links Golf Courses. Golf enthusiasts will also appreciate a visit to the British Golf Museum. Other interesting sights in the area include a visit to the ruins of the Cathedral of St. Andrew, visiting the St. Andrews University Museums, or stopping by St. Andrews Castle.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews. The town holds on to its history and heritage, and that stands out with the restaurant selection. There are a range of of independent cafes and pubs and surprisingly few major chain restaurants and fast food joints.

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 Saint Andrews Better for Nightlife?

Faro is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town 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 Saint Andrews. There are a large number of pubs and bars throughout the town, and you'll find students hanging out and keeping things lively.

Is Faro or Saint Andrews Better for Resorts?

Faro is terrific for its resorts. However, Saint Andrews 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.

Saint Andrews is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Saint Andrews Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a nice place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Saint Andrews 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.

Saint Andrews is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Saint Andrews Better for Beaches?

Both Faro and Saint Andrews have nice beaches worth visiting.

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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Saint Andrews. Adding to the natural beauty is the beautiful coastline around St. Andrews. Some of the best beaches include West Sands Beach, Kingsbarns Beach, Castle Sands, and Saint Andrews Beach.

Is Faro or Saint Andrews Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Saint Andrews 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.

Saint Andrews does not have a historic old town.

Is Faro or Saint Andrews Better for Hiking?

Saint Andrews is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Faro is not a hiking destination.

Saint Andrews has hiking trails worth exploring. There are some beautiful hikes just outside of town. Check out the views from Chamcook Mountain or wander down the Van Horne Trail.

Faro is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Saint Andrews?

Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews. The town is filled with boutique shops and local markets where you can buy unique items like artisan food, handmade crafts, or local art.

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 Saint Andrews Better for Families?

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

Saint Andrews offers lots of family activities. There are some great playgrounds, parks, and gardens that kids will enjoy. Check out Kingbrae Gardens, Ministers Island, and Katy’s Cove. For museums, head to Ross Memorial Museum and Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium.

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 Saint Andrews Better for Couples?

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

Saint Andrews is a great university town if you're traveling as a couple. The scenic landscapes, stunning views, and quaint charm make this a perfect place for couples to escape to. You can enjoy boat rides, seafood restaurants, golfing, and spas all while you soak up the natural beauty.

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 Saint Andrews Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Faro is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Saint Andrews is not a good university town for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Saint Andrews is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really a backpacker's destination, but there are some guesthouses and apartments that are more affordable.

Is Faro or Saint Andrews Better for Students?

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

Saint Andrews is a great destination for students. At its heart, this is a university town with a long standing history in teaching. You'll find the town's population doubles when students are in town.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

Faro and Saint Andrews both offer nice 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.

Saint Andrews has a few public transit options. There are buses through St. Andrews.

Is Faro or Saint Andrews a more walkable city?

Faro and Saint Andrews are nice when it comes to walkability.

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

Saint Andrews is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are compact enough to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Saint Andrews or Faro?

How long in Faro or Saint Andrews?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Faro or Saint Andrews to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Faro than Saint Andrews because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Faro, and 1-2 days is enough time in Saint Andrews.

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

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the active destination of Faro. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Saint Andrews is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Faro or Saint Andrews?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Faro. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the active destination of Faro. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Saint Andrews is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This university town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Faro or Saint Andrews?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the resort town of Faro. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Because Saint Andrews is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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 Adventure Tours to United Kingdom, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United Kingdom.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Saint Andrews?

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

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 Saint Andrews in the Summer?

Both Saint Andrews and Faro during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Faro because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Saint Andrews this time of year.

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

It's quite sunny in Faro. In the summer, Faro often gets more sunshine than Saint Andrews. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Andrews receives 184 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in July than Saint Andrews. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Saint Andrews receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Saint Andrews in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Saint Andrews. The shopping scene are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Saint Andrews for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Faro is generally much warmer than Saint Andrews. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 20°C (68°F), and Saint Andrews fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Saint Andrews during autumn. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Andrews receives 100 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Faro usually receives more rain than Saint Andrews. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Saint Andrews receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Faro or Saint Andrews in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Faro as well as Saint Andrews. Many travelers come to Faro for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Saint Andrews in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Saint Andrews can get quite cold in the winter. Faro is much warmer than Saint Andrews in the winter. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Saint Andrews fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Faro often gets more sunshine than Saint Andrews. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Andrews receives 58 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets more rain in January than Saint Andrews. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Saint Andrews receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Saint Andrews in the Spring?

Both Saint Andrews and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Faro in the spring for the beaches. Also, most visitors come to Saint Andrews for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Faro is much warmer than Saint Andrews. Typically, the spring temperatures in Faro in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Saint Andrews averages at about 7°C (45°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Saint Andrews during spring. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Andrews receives 155 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Faro usually receives less rain than Saint Andrews. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Saint Andrews receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Saint Andrews and Faro