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

Should you visit Faro or Sao Paulo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Sao Paulo, 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 active, popular, and busy resort town. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Faro travel costs.

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a colorful, cultural, and dynamic city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

Faro and Sao Paulo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Faro or Sao Paulo?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Sao Paulo than Faro, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Sao Paulo is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Faro is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and historical sights. Faro is more touristy than Sao Paulo and is known for its historical sights and rich culture. Sao Paulo is well known for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene. Also, Sao Paulo is famous for Ibirapuera Park.

How is Faro different from Sao Paulo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Travelers visit Sao Paulo from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. While many visitors overlook Sao Paulo for other destinations in Brazil, those that do visit will be rewarded with a large number of museums and sights. It's the largest city in South America, and there's plenty to do. Highlights include Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, and the cathedral

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo. The city offers a huge mix of fine dining restaurants, street food vendors, family-friendly restaurants, and large local markets. The cuisine has many influences such as the Portuguese, West Africa, and even the Middle East. Popular dishes include the street food coxinha, feijoada (black bean and beef stew), and cachooro-quente (local hot dogs).

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 Sao Paulo Better for Nightlife?

Sao Paulo is a must-visit destination for nightlife. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for nightlife and partying.

Sao Paulo is a world class party destination. As the economic hub for Brazil, you'll find tons of bars, clubs, and venues throughout the city. The best neighborhood for a party is Vila Madalena, which is filled with restaurants and bars. For live music and food trucks, check out Rua Augusta. There are also many different neighborhoods in this megacity, and many have a lively energy and plenty to do at night. Every night you should be able to find something different to do.

Faro has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Is Faro or Sao Paulo Better for Resorts?

Faro is a world-class destination for its luxury resorts. However, Sao Paulo 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.

Sao Paulo is not a resort destination.

Is Faro or Sao Paulo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Sao Paulo 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.

Sao Paulo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Faro or Sao Paulo Better for Beaches?

Faro is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Sao Paulo 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.

Sao Paulo is not a beach destination.

Is Faro or Sao Paulo Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a nice place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.

Faro has an old town worth visiting. 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.

Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Faro or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo. The shopping opportunities are diverse, from megamalls to local markets, and international boutiques. There are many great neighborhoods for shopping, like Jardins, where you'll find high end stores. The main shopping street is Rua Oscar Freire. Downtown Sao Paulo has a mix of retail stores and market stalls that sell everything from cheap fashion to inexpensive odds and ins.

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 Sao Paulo Better for Families?

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

Sao Paulo offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy a visit to the zoo or one of the kid-friendly museums around town. There are also a number of parks, some kid-friendly restaurants, and even an amusement park.

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 Sao Paulo Better for Couples?

Faro and Sao Paulo are both notable 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.

Sao Paulo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city is filled with culture and you'll find many great activities that will make for an exciting couples trip. There are parks and museums, bars and restaurants, and theaters where you can see a show. Many couples enjoy a visit to the Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo or a stroll through Ibirapuera Park. You can watch the sunset with a view of the city from one of the many rooftop bars and then enjoy some samba dancing on the town.

Is Faro or Sao Paulo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Faro and Sao Paulo are notable 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.

Sao Paulo is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. While it's overlooked by many travelers, backpackers who linger for awhile will enjoy the city's authenticity and cultural scene. There are also a number of hostels around town.

Is Faro or Sao Paulo Better for Students?

Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo. The city is large with a diverse population and plenty to offer students. There are good educational institutions and a great international vibe as well.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

Sao Paulo 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.

Sao Paulo has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. It's a huge city, so you'll likely make use of the metro during your trip. There are six lines to the metro system and they provide convenient access to many of the city's top attractions. The city also has many bus routes as well.

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 Sao Paulo a more walkable city?

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

Sao Paulo is very walkable. It's a megacity that has a wide range of neighborhoods. The city center is generally very walkable, but because of its size, you'll want to have an itinerary planned out for each day.

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 Sao Paulo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sao Paulo or Faro?

How long in Faro or Sao Paulo?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo.

One day in Faro or Sao Paulo?

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.

Sao Paulo is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Faro or Sao Paulo?

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.

Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo?

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 vibrant big city of Sao Paulo. 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 Sao Paulo?

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 colorful city of Sao Paulo 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 3-Day Tours from Manaus, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Faro and Sao Paulo, we can see that Faro is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Faro is in Europe and Sao Paulo is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Sao Paulo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo.

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

Which is Bigger, Faro or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Sao Paulo, 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 Sao Paulo?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sao Paulo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Faro has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Faro or Sao Paulo in the Summer?

Both Sao Paulo and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Faro because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year.

In July, Faro is generally around the same temperature as Sao Pauloin January. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 25°C (78°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sao Paulo. In July, Faro usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin January. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Sao Paulo is October to March.

Should I visit Faro or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?

Both Sao Paulo and Faro during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Faro this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Faro is around the same temperature as Sao Paulo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.

Faro usually gets more rain in October than Sao Pauloin April. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Sao Paulo.

Should I visit Faro or Sao Paulo in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Sao Paulo. Many travelers come to Faro for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Faro is much colder than Sao Paulo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Faro in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 19°C (66°F)in July.

In January, Faro usually receives more rain than Sao Pauloin July. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter. June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season.

Should I visit Faro or Sao Paulo in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Faro as well as Sao Paulo. Many visitors come to Faro in the spring for the beaches. Additionally, most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Faro is generally cooler than Sao Pauloin October. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 17°C (62°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

Faro usually gets less rain in April than Sao Pauloin October. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Sao Paulo is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Faro