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

Should you visit Heraklion or Faro?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Faro can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Heraklion

Heraklion is a bustling, historic, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Faro

Faro is a busy, active, and popular resort town. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Heraklion and Faro: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heraklion or Faro?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Heraklion. Although Heraklion and Faro are popular destinations, Heraklion has more sights and attractions for tourists. Heraklion is very popular for its museums, food, beaches, and big city activities, while Faro attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and historical sights. Heraklion is famous for its archeological sights, local Cretan restaurants, and its vibrant nightlife scene. It is also well known for The Palace of Knossos. Faro is famous for its historical sights and rich culture.

How is Heraklion different from Faro?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Heraklion or Faro?

Heraklion 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 Heraklion can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historical sights and archeological ruins. The impressive Palace of Knossos is a must-see, but also make sure you visit the Koules Fortress, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Crete.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Heraklion 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 Heraklion. The city is home to countless Cretan restaurants that range in style and budget. There are fine dining restaurants as well as local dives with casual street food. The restaurants reflect the island's multi-cultural past with many styles and flavors available.

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 Heraklion or Faro Better for Nightlife?

The high quality nightlife scene is relatively similar in Heraklion and Faro.

Heraklion has a large number of nightlife venues. The city has some of the best nightlife on the island of Crete. There are many all-night clubs as well as bars that stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning. In particular, there are many British tourists hanging out at the clubs and bars.

Faro is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city's bustling party scene thrives along Rua de São Pedro, Rua Conselheiro Bívar, and Rua do Prior.

Is Heraklion or Faro Better for Resorts?

Faro is a world-class destination for its luxury resorts. However, Heraklion is not a resort destination.

Faro is a world class resort vacation destination. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Heraklion is not a resort destination.

Is Heraklion or Faro Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a resort town with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Heraklion is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life 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.

Heraklion is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Heraklion or Faro Better for Beaches?

Heraklion is great for its beaches. Also, Faro is not as popular, but is still a nice resort town for the beache.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Heraklion. You'll find world-class beaches just outside of town, if you're willing to explore a little. Agia Pelagia Beach is about half an hour away and Limanakia Beach is also not a bad day trip. If you want to stay closer to town, head to nearby Amnissos Beach.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Faro. 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.

Is Heraklion or Faro Better for its Old Town?

Faro is a resort town with good options for its old town. However, Heraklion does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Faro. 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.

Heraklion does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Heraklion or Faro?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Heraklion and Faro.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Heraklion. There are a number of unique shops around town that sell everything from traditional pottery to homemade jewelry.

Many visitors go to Faro to go shopping. 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 Heraklion or Faro Better for Families?

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

Heraklion offers lots of family activities. In town you'll find many historical and educational sights such as the Palace of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the Koules Venetian fortress. Kids will also enjoy walking the Venetian Walls that are in town. If you're willing to head a bit outside of town, in about half an hour you can reach the Cretaquarium, Dinosauria Park, or Acqua Plus Water 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 Heraklion or Faro Better for Couples?

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

Heraklion is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Most couples head outside of town to other parts of the island, but those who linger in town for a while will enjoy world-class museums and fascinating archeological sights.

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 Heraklion or Faro Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Heraklion is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The city is filled with budget-friendly hostels that often have a social atmosphere and a fun vibe.

Faro is a good city 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 Heraklion or Faro Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Heraklion and Faro.

Heraklion has some public transit options. KTEL buses travel both within town and to nearby villages.

You'll find some public transit in Faro, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Is Heraklion or Faro a more walkable city?

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

Heraklion is very walkable. Many parts of the town are walkable and doing a walking tour is a great way to see many of the city's sights.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Faro or Heraklion?

How long in Heraklion or Faro?

In either Heraklion or Faro, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Faro than Heraklion because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Heraklion, and 2-5 days is enough time in Faro.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Heraklion 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 Heraklion.

One day in Heraklion or Faro?

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

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.

A weekend in Heraklion or Faro?

Heraklion is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the popular 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.

Five days in Heraklion or Faro?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic destination of Heraklion. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling around the busy 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.

A week in Heraklion or Faro?

The accessible city of Heraklion offers nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal.

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

Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Faro?

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

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 Heraklion or Faro in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Faro. Most visitors come to Heraklion for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Faro because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In Heraklion, it's very sunny this time of the year. Heraklion usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Faro during summer. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies, while Faro receives 374 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Heraklion usually receives around the same amount of rain as Faro. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Faro receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Heraklion or Faro in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Faro. The autumn months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Faro this time of year.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. In the autumn, Heraklion often gets less sunshine than Faro. Heraklion gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Faro receives 222 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Faro. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Faro receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heraklion or Faro in the Winter?

Both Faro and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Heraklion this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Faro for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In the winter, Heraklion is around the same temperature as Faro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Heraklion in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Faro averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Heraklion usually receives less sunshine than Faro during winter. Heraklion gets 121 hours of sunny skies, while Faro receives 161 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Heraklion usually receives more rain than Faro. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Faro receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Heraklion or Faro in the Spring?

Both Faro and Heraklion during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Heraklion for the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, many visitors come to Faro in the spring for the beaches.

In April, Heraklion is generally around the same temperature as Faro. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 16°C (61°F), and Faro fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

In Faro, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Heraklion. In the spring, Heraklion often gets less sunshine than Faro. Heraklion gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Faro receives 248 hours of full sun.

Heraklion usually gets less rain in April than Faro. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Faro receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Faro and Heraklion