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

Should you visit Faro or Santiago de Compostela?

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

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

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is a iconic, historic, and religious city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Faro and Santiago de Compostela: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Santiago de Compostela?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santiago de Compostela. Although Faro and Santiago de Compostela are popular destinations, Santiago de Compostela has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santiago de Compostela is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Faro attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Santiago de Compostela is more touristy than Faro and is popular for its classic old town, its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture, and its significance as the culmination point for the Camino de Santiago. It is also well known for the Cathedral of Santiago. Faro is famous for its historical sights and rich culture.

How is Faro different from Santiago de Compostela?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santiago de Compostela 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 Santiago de Compostela?

Santiago de Compostela is a must-visit destination for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Santiago de Compostela from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The iconic Cathedral of Santiago has long attracted pilgrims and travelers from around Europe and the world. The spectacular sight includes a museum and the crypt and tomb of Saint James. Another interesting sight in town is the former hostel for pilgrims, the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos. Also make sure you visit Plaza del Obradoiro and the Galician Center of Contemporary Art.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Faro or Santiago de Compostela? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santiago de Compostela 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 Santiago de Compostela. Galician food has plenty of fresh seafood, lots of local beef, and regional vegetables that are seasonal and locally grown. Make sure you try the polbo á feira (boiled octopus), pimientos de padrón (fried green peppers), and steamed mussels.

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 Santiago de Compostela Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is very good in both Faro and Santiago de Compostela.

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.

Santiago de Compostela has plenty to do after the sun goes down. As a university city, much of the nightlife is created by the student population. You'll find a lot of bars around Rúa de Santiago de Chile and Rúa de San Pedro de Mezonzo as well as along Rúa do Franco.

Is Faro or Santiago de Compostela Better for Resorts?

Faro is terrific for its resorts. However, Santiago de Compostela is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Faro is a great choice. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Santiago de Compostela is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Santiago de Compostela Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Santiago de Compostela is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Faro has a few good snorkeling spots. 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.

Santiago de Compostela is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Santiago de Compostela Better for Beaches?

Faro is a popular place for the beache. However, Santiago de Compostela is not a beach destination.

Faro is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Santiago de Compostela is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Santiago de Compostela Better for its Old Town?

Santiago de Compostela is a must-visit destination for its historic old town. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for its old town.

The rich history of Santiago de Compostela can be explored in its historical center. The old town reflects the city's importance in the Christian religion. There are Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings that draw Christian pilgrims from around the world.

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.

Is Faro or Santiago de Compostela Better for Hiking?

Santiago de Compostela is a must-visit destination for hiking. However, Faro is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Santiago de Compostela draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. This small city is the culmination point for the famed Camino de Santiago. The 780 kilometer route is followed by pilgrims and travelers who seek enlightenment or adventure. Hikers travel both independently or as part of organized tours.

Faro is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Santiago de Compostela?

Santiago de Compostela 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 Santiago de Compostela. There are local markets, souvenir shops, and boutiques where you can buy items to commemorate the completion of your hike or your visit to town.

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 Santiago de Compostela Better for Families?

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

Santiago de Compostela offers lots of family activities. The city has a sightseeing train as well as parks and playgrounds that kids can enjoy. A visit to the Museum of the Galician People is also fascinating for the whole family. Visiting the colorful markets around town is fun as well.

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 Santiago de Compostela Better for Couples?

Faro and Santiago de Compostela 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.

Santiago de Compostela makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The cobblestone streets and beautiful gardens make this a nice place for a couple's getaway. There are viewpoints that look out over the town as well as interesting buildings and great architecture.

Is Faro or Santiago de Compostela Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santiago de Compostela is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for backpackers.

Santiago de Compostela is very popular with the backpacker crowd. Backpackers hiking the Camino del Santiago will be rewarded with a beautiful city and many nice sights. There are plenty of hostels around town where backpackers can meet other travelers and swap stories.

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

Is Faro or Santiago de Compostela Better for Students?

Santiago de Compostela 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 Santiago de Compostela. It's a small city with many students during the week, but on weekends it quiets down as many students leave town.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

Faro and Santiago de Compostela 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.

Santiago de Compostela has a few public transit options. There are buses around town that are operated by Tralusa.

Is Faro or Santiago de Compostela a more walkable city?

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

Santiago de Compostela is very walkable. Many visitors reach the city on foot by doing the pilgrimage of the Camino del Santiago. The city itself and small and fairly walkable as well.

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 Santiago de Compostela Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santiago de Compostela or Faro?

How long in Faro or Santiago de Compostela?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Faro or Santiago de Compostela to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Faro than Santiago de Compostela 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 Santiago de Compostela.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santiago de Compostela than Faro 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 Santiago de Compostela.

One day in Faro or Santiago de Compostela?

The resort town of Faro offers shopping and nightlife. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Santiago de Compostela. 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 Santiago de Compostela?

The active destination of Faro offers nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling. This resort town offers something for everyone. It is common to spend a weekend here. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Santiago de Compostela is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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 Santiago de Compostela?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Faro. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the inspirational destination of Santiago de Compostela. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Faro or Santiago de Compostela?

Faro is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Faro. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The iconic city of Santiago de Compostela offers nightlife and food. 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 3-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Faro and Santiago de Compostela, we can see that Faro is more expensive. And not only is Santiago de Compostela much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santiago de Compostela would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santiago de Compostela 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 Santiago de Compostela.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Santiago de Compostela?

Santiago de Compostela has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Santiago de Compostela, 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 Santiago de Compostela?

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 Santiago de Compostela in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Faro as well as Santiago de Compostela. Many visitors come to Faro in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Santiago de Compostela for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Faro is a little warmer than Santiago de Compostela. Typically, the summer temperatures in Faro in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Santiago de Compostela averages at about 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santiago de Compostela. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the summer, Faro often gets more sunshine than Santiago de Compostela. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santiago de Compostela receives 248 hours of full sun.

Faro usually gets less rain in July than Santiago de Compostela. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Santiago de Compostela receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Santiago de Compostela in the Autumn?

Both Santiago de Compostela and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Faro for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Santiago de Compostela because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Faro is generally a little warmer than Santiago de Compostela. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 20°C (68°F), and Santiago de Compostela fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Santiago de Compostela during autumn. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Santiago de Compostela receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santiago de Compostela. In October, Faro usually receives less rain than Santiago de Compostela. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santiago de Compostela receives 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Faro or Santiago de Compostela in the Winter?

Both Santiago de Compostela and Faro during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santiago de Compostela this time of year.

Faro is a little warmer than Santiago de Compostela in the winter. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Santiago de Compostela fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Faro often gets more sunshine than Santiago de Compostela. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santiago de Compostela receives 103 hours of full sun.

Santiago de Compostela gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Faro usually gets less rain in January than Santiago de Compostela. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santiago de Compostela receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Faro or Santiago de Compostela in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Santiago de Compostela. The beaches are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Santiago de Compostela for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Faro is a little warmer than Santiago de Compostela. Typically, the spring temperatures in Faro in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Santiago de Compostela averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Santiago de Compostela during spring. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Santiago de Compostela receives 167 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Faro usually receives less rain than Santiago de Compostela. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Santiago de Compostela receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santiago de Compostela and Faro