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

Should you visit Kaunas or Faro?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kaunas and Faro. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Kaunas

Kaunas is a active, young, and vibrant city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife and food. See Kaunas travel costs.

Faro

Faro is a active, popular, and busy resort town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Faro travel costs.

Kaunas and Faro: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kaunas or Faro?

Both Faro and Kaunas have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Kaunas is better known for its food and big city activities, while Faro is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. Faro is more touristy than Kaunas and is popular for its historical sights and rich culture. Kaunas is well known for its traditional Lithuanian culture and authentic old town.

How is Kaunas different from Faro?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Kaunas is a nice place to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Faro is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Kaunas. It is a great place to try traditional Lithuanian dishes as there are a number of good restaurants and an active restaurant scene. Popular local dishes include cepelinai potato dumplings and cold beetroot soup.

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 Kaunas or Faro Better for Nightlife?

Faro is notable for its evening party scene. Also, Kaunas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Kaunas. The nightlife scene continues to improve with a growing number of bars and clubs. During the warmer months you'll find many places opening outdoor areas. The old town is one of the more lively areas in town where it's nice to enjoy a drink on a terrace.

Is Kaunas or Faro Better for Resorts?

Faro is renowned for its resorts. However, Kaunas is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Faro for its luxury resorts. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Kaunas is not a resort destination.

Is Kaunas or Faro Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Faro is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Kaunas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery 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.

Kaunas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Kaunas or Faro Better for Beaches?

Faro is a good destination for the beach. However, Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Faro offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Kaunas is not a beach destination.

Is Kaunas or Faro Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the notable old town areas in both Kaunas and Faro.

Kaunas offers a nice historic old town area. The old town has tree-lined streets with charming cafes and a number of museums. It's also where you'll find the Kaunas Castle.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Kaunas or Faro?

Faro is a good destination for its shopping areas. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for shopping.

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.

Kaunas is a good destination for shopping. The old town is the place to pick up souvenirs, but there are also shopping malls and outlets in the city.

Is Kaunas or Faro Better for Families?

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

Kaunas offers lots of family activities. The city has both outdoor and indoor areas that are fun for kids. Vienybės Square has fountains and splash areas that are fun for kids of all ages. Lampėdis Lake is a great place to swim or visit an adventure park. When the weather isn't great, you can head indoors to the the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum or "CurioCity" in the Mega Mall.

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 Kaunas or Faro Better for Couples?

Faro is a good destination for couples. However, Kaunas is a mediocre city for romance.

Faro is a good resort town for couples to visit. With the beautiful natural areas and historic old town, this seaport makes a nice couples vacation.

Kaunas is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The city has a number of historical sites as well as interesting restaurants that you can explore.

Is Kaunas or Faro Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Kaunas and Faro are notable destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Kaunas. It's not a popular destination, but there are enough concerts and festivals throughout the year that it does see a few tourists.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Faro. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Is Kaunas or Faro Better for Students?

Kaunas 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 Kaunas. The city has a vibrant and young student population. It also hosts festivals, concerts, and other events that make it a fun destination for international students.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

Both Kaunas and Faro offer notable public transit options.

Kaunas has a few public transit options. There are both buses and trolleybuses around town.

Faro has some public transit options. There are buses that connect the city to the beach, the airport, and other outlying areas.

Is Kaunas or Faro a more walkable city?

Kaunas and Faro both are notable when exploring on foot.

Kaunas is a somewhat walkable city. When the weather is nice, the city is a nice place to take a walk.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Faro or Kaunas?

How long in Kaunas or Faro?

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

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

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

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

Visitors enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kaunas. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the destination of Faro. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Kaunas or Faro?

Kaunas 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.

Faro is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Kaunas or Faro?

You'll find food and nightlife around the cultural destination of Kaunas. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Faro. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Kaunas or Faro?

The young city of Kaunas 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.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the busy destination of Faro. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, 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 Kaunas and Faro, we can see that Faro is more expensive. And not only is Kaunas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kaunas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kaunas 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 Kaunas.

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

Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Faro?

Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas 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 Kaunas or Faro?

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 Kaunas or Faro in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Kaunas is cooler than Faro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kaunas in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Faro averages at about 25°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kaunas this time of the year. In the summer, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Faro. Kaunas gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Faro receives 374 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets more rain in July than Faro. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Faro receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Faro in the Autumn?

Both Faro and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene.

In October, Kaunas is generally much colder than Faro. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around 8°C (46°F), and Faro fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Faro. Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Faro during autumn. Kaunas gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Faro receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Faro. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Faro receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kaunas or Faro in the Winter?

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

The weather in Kaunas can be very cold. Kaunas is much colder than Faro in the winter. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Faro fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the winter, Kaunas often gets less sunshine than Faro. Kaunas gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Faro receives 161 hours of full sun.

Kaunas usually gets less rain in January than Faro. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Faro receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kaunas or Faro in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Faro. The activities around the city are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Faro for the beaches.

In the spring, Kaunas is much colder than Faro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kaunas in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Faro averages at about 17°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. Kaunas usually receives less sunshine than Faro during spring. Kaunas gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Faro receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kaunas usually receives more rain than Faro. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Faro receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Faro and Kaunas