A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Volos vs. Faro for Food, Nightlife, Beaches, and Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

Should you visit Volos or Faro?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Volos and Faro can help you decide which place is right for you.

Volos

Volos is a authentic, vibrant, and youthful city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, nightlife, and food.

Faro

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

Volos and Faro: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Volos or Faro?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Volos. Although Volos and Faro are popular destinations, Volos has more sights and attractions for tourists. Volos is very popular for its museums, food, beaches, and big city activities, while Faro attracts visitors for its resorts and historical sights. Faro is more touristy than Volos and is known for its historical sights and rich culture. Volos is famous for its vibrant seaside setting and its access to nearby natural beauty. It is also well known for The Archaeological Museum of Volos.

How is Volos different from Faro?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Volos is adequate for its historical sights. However, Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

While most people don't head to Volos specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of museums in town including the Archaeological Museum of Volos.

Faro does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Volos 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 Volos. Greece cuisine is very regional specific, and this area has its own dishes that are very different from elsewhere in the country. Deep fried kolitsianoi (sea anemone), boubari (local sausage), and spetzofai (sausage, tomato, and peppers) are just some of the unique dishes in the area.

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 Volos or Faro Better for Nightlife?

The excellent nightlife scene is relatively similar in Volos and Faro.

Volos has a large number of nightlife venues. The universities around town keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are a number of bars and clubs that are fun throughout the year.

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 Volos or Faro Better for Resorts?

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

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Faro is a perfect choice. Popular resorts include Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Conrad Algarve, and Tivoli Carvoeiro.

Volos is not a resort destination.

Is Volos or Faro Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Volos and Faro both offer nice scuba diving or snorkeling spots.

It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving in Volos. There are some snorkeling and dive shops in town that offer day trips.

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.

Is Volos or Faro Better for Beaches?

Volos 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 Volos. If you're willing to travel out of town, this region has some of the best beaches in Greece. The summers are cooler than other parts of the country and the winters are milder, so this is both a beautiful and a comfortable place to explore.

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 Volos or Faro Better for its Old Town?

Faro is very good for its old town. However, Volos 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.

Volos does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Volos or Faro?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Volos. There are shopping malls and shopping centers around town that have a variety of retail options including clothing, jewelry, and home goods.

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 Volos or Faro Better for Families?

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

Volos offers lots of family activities. If your kids are adventurous, they'll enjoy horseback riding or exploring the area's beaches. There's also the Archaeological Museum of Volos and Agios Konstantinos 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 Volos or Faro Better for Couples?

Both Volos and Faro are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Volos makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are gardens and outdoor activities that couples can enjoy. There are also museums and beaches.

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

Is Volos or Faro Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Faro is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Volos is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Faro is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The are some good hostels in the area, but it's a bit tricky to get around without a car.

Volos is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not a popular backpacker destination and you won't find that many hostels in the area.

Is Volos or Faro Better for Students?

Volos 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 Volos. You'll find several universities in town. The port city also offers access to different parts of the country.

Faro is not popular with students.

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

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

Volos has some public transit options. There is a bus system that travels around town.

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 Volos or Faro a more walkable city?

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

Volos is very walkable. The city is flat and there's a historic district that you can explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Faro or Volos?

How long in Volos or Faro?

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

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

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

One day in Volos or Faro?

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Volos. 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.

In Faro, many people enjoy the nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling that this popular destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Volos or Faro?

Volos 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Faro. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Volos or Faro?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the authentic destination of Volos. 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.

Faro is a fun place to experience. In Faro, many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Volos or Faro?

The authentic city of Volos 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.

You'll find nightlife and scuba diving and snorkeling around the busy destination of Faro. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Athens, The Best 10-Day Tours from Athens, 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 Volos and Faro, we can see that Faro is more expensive. And not only is Volos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Volos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Volos 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 Volos.

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

Which is Bigger, Volos or Faro?

Volos has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Volos 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 Volos 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 Volos or Faro in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Volos and Faro. The beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Volos this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Faro for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Volos is generally around the same temperature as Faro. Daily temperatures in Volos average around 26°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 Volos, it's very sunny this time of the year. Volos usually receives less sunshine than Faro during summer. Volos gets 330 hours of sunny skies, while Faro receives 374 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Volos usually receives more rain than Faro. Volos gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Faro receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Volos or Faro in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Volos as well as Faro. Many travelers come to Volos for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Faro in the autumn for the shopping scene.

Volos is cooler than Faro in the autumn. The daily temperature in Volos averages around 17°C (62°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, Volos often gets less sunshine than Faro. Volos gets 165 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Faro receives 222 hours of full sun.

Volos usually gets less rain in October than Faro. Volos gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Faro receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Volos or Faro in the Winter?

Both Faro and Volos are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Volos in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Faro for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Volos is much colder than Faro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Volos in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Faro averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Volos usually receives less sunshine than Faro during winter. Volos gets 112 hours of sunny skies, while Faro receives 161 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Volos usually receives less rain than Faro. Volos gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Faro receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Volos or Faro in the Spring?

Both Faro and Volos during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Volos for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Faro because of the beaches.

In April, Volos is generally cooler than Faro. Daily temperatures in Volos average around 14°C (56°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 Volos. In the spring, Volos often gets less sunshine than Faro. Volos gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Faro receives 248 hours of full sun.

Volos usually gets less rain in April than Faro. Volos gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Faro receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Faro and Volos