If you are staying in the region of Faro (our suggestion is the Hotel Faro), a drive to Santa Luzia, known as the “Octopus city” makes for a nice half day trip. This tiny fishermen’s village has been slowly growing. Today it has a few summer homes and a main riverside street full of restaurants. Make your choice and savor some octopus, and later take a casual stroll around the promenade in the laid back and relaxed fashion of the locals. Drive a little further to Tavira, a small regional gem. It has a main square, in typical Portuguese fashion, and a lively nightlife with families enjoying the fresh breeze by the sea and river. When visiting, climb up the pebbled streets to the churches for beautiful views and explore the small streets filled with cafes and restaurants. When we visited there was a Jazz festival, which we enjoyed over some ice cream. You’ll come home to your hotel in the evening feeling as though you had a lovely day.