For many young travelers, the ideal trip is a mix of getting a tan at the beach, basking in the afternoon sunlight, and leaving the nightclub early into the sun rays of the next day.
As a city that offers both scenarios, Faro is locked in as a bucket list destination for many college students and young adults.
However, this town in southern Portugal‘s Algarve region is so much more than a vibrant party scene where you can get tanner.
Faro also has rich history and culture! One of its highlights is the neoclassical Arco da Villa, a monumental archway (the first Moorish divider) leading into the cobbled boulevards of the old quarters. This city is also riddled with ancient alleyways and medieval churches.
Faro also has many breathtaking natural attractions, such as Ria Formosa, Tavira Island, Barreta Island, Benagil Caves, and Lagos’ scenic cliffs.
As for accommodations, Algarve’s capital has a myriad of options, but hostels are ideal for getting numerous facilities at a reasonable price point.
Our favorite hostels in Faro are:
- Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel - best for backpackers
- Tilia Hostel - best for female solo travelers
- Hostellicious - best for Party Travelers
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
1. Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel
2. Tilia Hostel
3. Hostellicious
The hostel scene in Faro is less vibrant than that of other famous cities such as Lisbon or Porto in the North. However, hostels in Faro are welcoming and offer great value for money with top amenities.
All hostels have free Wi-Fi and other perks, such as bed linen, and some even offer complimentary breakfast.
In addition, hostels in Faro offer three room options: dorms, private rooms, and pods (a bit rare).
We think that hostels are a fantastic accommodation option for travelers looking for a reasonable price point and an active social scene. If you’re traveling all over the country, we have a guide on all the best hostels in Portugal that you could also check out.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
What do we cover in this article?
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Faro
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Faro cost €17 – €30 per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average price of €77 per night. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com or Hostelworld.com.
Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later.
Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Transportation in Faro: Faro has one train station and a bus station. Both are central and well-connected to the rest of the city. The city itself is very walkable and easy to navigate on foot.
If you’re also planning on visiting the rest of the Algarve region, there is a good network of buses and trains that connect each town to one another, and most of the stops include beach stops.
How many days for Faro: We recommend staying around 3 days in Faro. This should give you enough time to visit the town and plan a day trip into the Algarve region.
🎁 New to Hostels? Read my guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. I especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels?
- Understanding Hostels in Europe - and what makes them special
The 3 Best Hostels in Faro are …
Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Faro.
- Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel – best for backpackers
- Tilia Hostel – best for female solo travelers
- Hostellicious – best for Party Travelers
These are our favorite hostels in Faro. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.
1. Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel
2. Tilia Hostel
3. Hostellicious
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel |
| 🙎♀️ Female Solo Traveler: | Tilia Hostel |
| 🎒 for Backpacker | Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel |
| 🥳 Party Hostel: | Hostellicious |
| 👫 For Socializing: | Le Penguin |
1. Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel
This independently owned backpackers’ hostel is nestled on the Iberian coastline in the 200-year-old historic district of Faro.
Set in a renovated house, Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel is a quaint hostel featuring both dorms and private rooms and is the perfect accommodation option for backpackers.
It has a bohemian living room, shared kitchen, and rooftop terrace with breathtaking views of the surrounding town and the marina.
Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel was ranked as a “Top Ranking Hostel” for three consecutive years (2017, 2018, and 2019) by Booking.com and HostelWorld.
The hostel is also near the town’s main attractions, restaurants, and pastelarias. From the hostel, two bus stations and a train station in Avenida da Republica are accessible by foot within minutes.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
In addition, the hostel staff is made up of friendly, seasoned travelers fluent in multiple languages. The management is also very helpful when planning itineraries and suggesting the best dining spots in Faro. At this hostel, guests get 24-hour service from the staff.
All the bedrooms at Casa da Madalena are spacious and come with complimentary bed linen, lockers, and reading lights.
The bathrooms have a walk-in shower, toilet, sink, hand soap, and towels. Guests can also enjoy a cup of coffee, muesli, and delicious pancakes topped with butter and jam (on the house) as they take in the morning sun and seaside air.
Travelers can rent out bikes from the management. These are perfect for getting around Faro, especially for going to the beach and the nearby nature park.
If you’d rather stay indoors, the hostel arranges music-free siestas in the afternoon hours. Evenings at the hostel terrace are just as endearing, with breathtaking sunset views.
The location is also close to the city’s vibrant nightlife, with many bars only a few blocks away.
The best choice in Faro for
- Backpackers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. Tilia Hostel
Initially known as Hub 1878 Faro, Tilia Hostel is stylishly designed with many historical features and impressive tile patchwork.
This hostel is also in proximity of critical infrastructures such as the Train station (510 meters away) and Faro Airport (7km away) and a myriad of dining options serving Portuguese and other global delicacies (about a 4 to 6-minute walk).
In addition, the harbor, which connects to Culatra and Barreta Islands, is also within walking distance (710 meters).
Female backpackers love Tilia Hostel. It has an inviting and comfortable common space area, a well-stocked shared kitchen for guests that prefer to cook their meals, a beautiful terrace, and clean bathrooms.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
The hostel also offers free Wi-Fi, itinerary planning tips (free of charge), laundry services, wine, cheap beer, bike rentals, snacks, and drinks at an extra fee. The reception at Tilia Hostel is open from 7 am to 11 pm if guests need additional staff support.
Travelers can pick from over 78 rooms which consist of double rooms, 8-bed dorms, 6-bed dorms, and private suites.
Rooms at Tilia Hostel come with complimentary bed linen, free breakfast, security lockers, towels, privacy curtains, a reading light, and a charging station. The private rooms have bathrooms and a TV.
All units at the hostel have air conditioners, which are a blessing when the hot season sets in!
A great choice for
- Female Solo Travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
3. Hostellicious
Hostellicious (one of the newest hostels in Faro) is the closest hostel to Faro’s bar and restaurant scene but isn’t affected by the noise of the area.
Think of it as a perfectly balanced space where you can enjoy a great party nearby and return to the hostel for a quiet and good night’s rest.
This hostel is also perched in the city center and close to major transport infrastructures such as the bus station (400 meters away) and train station (600 meters away).
Despite being new, its staff is equally experienced in helping you plan for day trips to nearby attractions that would make for fun itineraries.
For example, the hostel is next to Carmo Church (known for its chapel of bones) which is a good starting point for your itinerary in Faro.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Rooms at Hostellicious have super-comfortable beds, spacious lockers, and charging ports.
They also offers free Wi-Fi, free bed linen and a shared kitchen for guests who want to make their meals.
The hostel is strictly a non-smoking area, has a 24-hour reception desk, and offers airport transfers and bike rentals at an extra fee.
Travelers who would rather stay at the estate in the evening can kick back in the chic-esque sort of themed common room or the sun terrace.
This is one of the best hostels in Faro for
- Party Travelers (who still like to sleep)
- Solo Travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Best Hostels in Faro for Solo Travelers?
We think that the best hotel for solo travelers in Faro is Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel.
It gives you the opportunity to easily connect with other travelers via its diverse social events and rest in a more casual and relaxed environment.
This hostel is also well-located, which will make it easier for you to see the city’s main sights and attractions, and the staff is friendly and available 24/7, which will come in handy If you face any issues during your trip.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
Party Hostels in Faro
The best party hostel in Faro has to be Hostellicious. It’s located next to all the main nightlife in Faro, next to a variety of bars, pubs, and nightclubs that each play different music and have specific atmospheres.
What we like the most about this party hostel is that it’s still quiet, so you’ll be able to spend a wild night but still, get a wonderful sleep – which is a rarity in most party-oriented accommodations.
They even have a lovely, well-equipped kitchen that should come in handy if you’re planning on concocting hangover cures.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
More Hostels worth a mention
Looking for more options?
No worries, we’ve got you covered. There are many hostels in Faro, and we picked a few more that we think are worth checking out before you make your decision.
- Le Penguin
- Casa d’Alagoa
Le Penguin
No, Le Penguin has nothing remotely related to penguins except its name.
Despite having a maximum capacity of only 30 people, Le Penguin is the most social hostel in Faro and a perfect spot for meeting and bonding with new people.
The capacity limitation gives it a homely experience and a great place to connect with people over beer pong, quiz nights, and pool-themed parties.
Also, the hostel is next to a bus station (12-minute walk), train station (1.2km away), Faro International Airport (10-minute drive), and Faro Beach (9km away).
The staff at Le Penguin is made up of friendly and enthusiastic seasoned travelers that will help you plan trips to the town. The hostel also offers free Wi-Fi and provides Netflix and PlayStation for guests.
It also provides breakfast, city maps, a common room, a swimming pool, an outdoor terrace, charging ports, and a bar.
The hostel organizes social events for its guests, such as Beer pong tournaments, BBQ, drinking games, quiz nights, pub crawls, and beach trips. However, despite their quest for social excellence, they keep the noise levels down so their guests can sleep well.
Guests can choose between twin bedrooms and dorms at Le Penguin, and the rooms come with complimentary towels, bed linen, storage lockers, and hair dryers.
Compare prices at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
Casa D’Alagoa
The vibe at Casa d’Alagoa is communal and modern, with a touch of laid-back chill.
The renovated estate is also close to some of the most breathtaking attractions in Faro. Nearby, you can go to Ria Formosa to glimpse flamingos or take a detour to see salt fields on your way to the beach.
In addition, other landmarks are also close by, such as Lethes Theatre (a 4-minute walk), Faro Old Town (a 5-minute walk), and Rua de Santo Antonio (a 1-minute walk).
Casa d’Alagoa is another ideal option for solo travelers. The hostel staff is super-friendly, making travelers feel at home. They also plan itineraries for guests around Faro.
In addition, they offer bike rentals for guests – arguably the best way to see Faro from the hostel. Make sure to grab a free map from the reception so as not to get lost.
While at the estate, guests can access free Wi-Fi, a morning buffet (part of the room fee), a shared kitchen, a common room, 24-hour reception, an outdoor terrace, airport transfers, and laundry services.
The hostel also has one of the highest guest return rates in Faro. And that is down to the robust social nights, great hospitality, and scrumptious meals.
The rooms at Casa d’Alagoa feature high ceilings and come with custom-made comfortable beds.
Compare prices at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Hostelz.com
What about the cheapest hostels in Faro?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Faro.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Faro
- add your dates
- Order the listings by price
Simple as that.
Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.
Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.
Any Discounts?
From time to time, I receive special promo codes for booking platforms, hotels, or hostels. I will be sharing these here once received. Bookmark this page to get an update.
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
I included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
I recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Faro best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
A Few Recommendations for things to do in Faro
After locking down the best hostel options, it is time to start planning how you will spend your days in the capital of the Algarve region.
Faro has a compelling history with a tangible legacy dating back to the 16th and 17th Centuries.
The city also has a breathtaking maritime heritage thanks to a colorful marina and busy ports. So here are the must-see attractions in Faro.
Cidade Velha: Visiting the Old Town in Faro is a bucket list item for all travelers who come to this city. The glimpse of these medieval walls built over classic Roman foundations makes it a memory to cherish.
And the 19th Century Moorish-origin Arco da Vila is a grand entrance to the cobbled pedestrian streets in the town.
The enigmatic Paço Episcopal (referred to as the Bishops’ palace) is an excellent sight from a distance, even though not open to public access. The town also has countless dining options to grab an afternoon snack.
Sé: The old cathedral built on the site of an Arab Mosque was consecrated in the late 13th Century. After numerous facelifts, the cathedral has a touch of gothic, baroque, and renaissance features, giving it a haphazard look.
The shimmering chancel coated with azulejos panels and the ornate and ligneous Capela de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres makes for a great interior display.
Make sure to take in the breathtaking surroundings of the medieval bell tower.
Museu Municipal: Initially a convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção in the 16th Century, the Museu Municipal has a collection that spans prehistory, Moorish, Roman, and medieval periods.
These include Roman arifacts (unearthed at Milreu), Arab oil lamps, Manueline statue, but the highlight is the Roman mosaic floor which features a Neptune dating back to the 3rd Century AD.
Parque Natural da Ria Formosa: The 60km coastline stretching from Praia de Faro to Cacela Velha has many attractions, such as lagoons, salt pans, marshland islets, and channels.
The stretch of land is an absolute bliss for outdoor enthusiasts. In addition, its fragile ecosystem is protected and considered one of the most important wetlands on the continent.
Land Train: Referred to as Comboio Turística, the Land Train is a unique way to discover Faro. The tourist train departs from Jardim Manuel Bivar and trundles through the town’s most iconic landmarks and attractions, such as Carmo and São Pedro church.
The entire trip should take about 45 minutes.
My Best Hostels in Faro for Female Traveler on a Map + Sights
Let us have a look at the map. Below, we list all three best Faro hostels on a map.
We also included the above-mentioned sights as suggestions on the things to see in Faro.
FAQs
Here we share with you the most asked question:
What is the best hostel in Faro for Solo Traveler?
The best hostel in Faro for solo travelers is:
Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel
What is the best party hostel in Faro?
The best party hostel in Faro is:
Hostellicious
What are the best hostels in Faro?
The best hostels in Faro are:
- Casa da Madalena Backpackers Hostel - best for backpackers
- Tilia Hostel - best for female solo travelers
- Hostellicious - best for Party Travelers
More handmade Guides for you
Remember, there are +27 hostels in Portugal to check out during your adventure!
We did the leg work for you and brought you more guides to destinations in Portugal:
Here are more hostel guides to check out in Portugal:
- best hostels in Portugal – with a map + secret tips
- best hostels in Lisbon
- best hostels in Lagos
- best hostels in Porto
- best hostels in Ponta Delgada
- best hostels In Peniche
- best hostels in Albufeira
- best hostels in Madeira
- best hostels in Azores
- best hostels in the Algarve
Party Hostels in Portugal:
Surf Hostels in Portugal:
- best surf hostels in Portugal
- best surf hostels in the Algarve
- best surf hostels in Ericeira
- best surf hostels in Lisbon
You can find all our new and updated articles for Best Hostels here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list, and more.
