Which airlines fly to Faro (FAO) from the UK?

Ryanair and easyJet operate the majority of UK routes to Faro (FAO), with flights from London Stansted, Gatwick, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and other regional airports. Jet2 also serves Faro from UK regional airports with a 22 kg hold bag included in most fares.

How early should I arrive at Faro Airport in summer?

Arrive 2.5 hours before departure in July and August. Faro (FAO) handles very high summer throughput for its size and security queues can exceed 45 minutes. The terminal expanded in recent years but summer remains genuinely busy. Outside peak summer, 90 minutes is sufficient.

What is the carry-on limit for Ryanair to the Algarve?

Ryanair allows one small personal bag (40 × 20 × 25 cm) free for all passengers. A second larger cabin bag (55 × 40 × 20 cm, up to 10 kg) requires a Priority Boarding fare or paid upgrade. Without Priority, your bag goes in the hold at the gate free of charge but you lose control of it.

What can I buy cheaply in the Algarve instead of packing?

Sunscreen, after-sun lotion, mosquito repellent, shampoo, and body wash are all cheaper in Algarve supermarkets (Pingo Doce, Continente, Lidl) than at UK airports or UK pharmacies. Local sunscreen brands are SPF 50 at half the UK price. Buy full-size products on arrival.

Can a beach bag count as my personal item on Ryanair?

Yes. A tote bag or beach bag that fits within Ryanair's personal item dimensions (40 × 20 × 25 cm) counts as your free bag. A medium canvas tote packed flat with flip flops, a sarong, and sunscreen often passes as a personal item and doubles as your beach bag at the destination.

Carry-On for the Algarve: Ryanair, easyJet, and Beach Packing

The Algarve is one of the most straightforward carry-on destinations in Europe. It is a beach holiday: the packing list is short, the gear is light, and there is almost no reason to bring more than a single carry-on bag. The constraint is not what to pack — it's managing Ryanair's and easyJet's split bag policies and navigating a busy Faro Airport at peak summer.

Faro Airport (FAO): Gateway to the Algarve

Faro International Airport is 6 km from the city of Faro and about 30 minutes by road from Albufeira, the main resort hub. The airport was expanded to handle 8 million passengers annually, but July and August push that capacity hard. In peak summer:

Arrive 2.5 hours before departure for UK or Northern European flights
Security queues regularly exceed 40 minutes in peak week (late July and August)
The Ryanair and easyJet bag drop queues are long — online check-in is essential

Outside summer (April–June, September–October), the airport is calm and 90 minutes is comfortable.

Ryanair Carry-On Policy at Faro

Ryanair is the dominant carrier at FAO. Its bag policy is frequently misunderstood:

Free for all passengers: one small personal item, maximum 40 × 20 × 25 cm
Requires Priority Boarding or paid bag fee: one larger cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm and 10 kg
Without Priority, your larger bag goes in the hold at the gate — free, but checked

For carry-on-only travel on Ryanair, buy Priority Boarding or the cabin bag option at booking. Prices are lower at booking than at the airport. Without it, your main bag will be gate-checked at Faro on busy summer routes — which defeats the purpose of carry-on only.

easyJet Carry-On Policy at Faro

easyJet's current policy:

Free for all passengers: one cabin bag up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm (no weight limit stated, but enforcement happens)
Flexi and PLUS fares: an additional larger overhead bag

easyJet is generally more straightforward than Ryanair for carry-on-only travellers. One carry-on fits in the overhead bin without Priority purchase on most routes.

TAP Regional from Lisbon

If you're routing through Lisbon first and connecting on TAP's regional service to Faro, TAP allows 8 kg carry-on in economy. This is tight enough to plan around. Weigh your bag before the Lisbon leg.

What to Pack for an Algarve Beach Holiday

The Algarve in summer averages 28–32°C with very low humidity and near-constant sun. The packing list is genuinely minimal:

3–4 swimsuits or pairs of boardshorts
3–4 lightweight tops (cotton or linen for the heat)
1–2 pairs of shorts
1 going-out outfit for Albufeira, Lagos, or Vilamoura evenings
1 lightweight layer for late evenings (coastal breeze cools quickly after dark)
Flip flops (wear on travel day)
1 pair of walking sandals for town exploration

Total clothing for a 7-day beach holiday fits comfortably in a 30–35 L carry-on.

Renting a Car in the Algarve

Most visitors rent a car to reach the cliff beaches like Praia da Marinha, Praia da Rocha, and Sagres. If you're renting a car, pack everything into one carry-on and one personal item — this fits in a car boot without any repacking.

A beach bag works perfectly as your personal item on the flight. Pack flip flops, a sarong, a book, and your sunscreen in a canvas tote. It's used immediately on arrival as your beach bag and saves needing a separate item.

What to Buy Cheaply in the Algarve

Portuguese supermarkets are well-stocked and competitively priced. On arrival, stock up at Pingo Doce, Continente, or Lidl near your accommodation:

Sunscreen: Protextrem and Babaria brands offer SPF 50 at roughly half UK pharmacy prices
After-sun: widely available and cheap
Mosquito repellent: Autan is the dominant brand, in pharmacies and supermarkets
Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash all cost less than at UK airports
Beach towel: a cheap cotton beach towel from a market (3–5 euros) weighs 300 g

Buying sunscreen and toiletries locally saves 400–600 g of bag weight and avoids the security liquids bag entirely if you go solid for your flight toiletries.

Wine and Ceramics on the Way Home

The Algarve produces good local wine, and Lagos and Silves are known for hand-painted ceramics. Neither can go in a carry-on on the flight home. Ceramics break under checked luggage handling and bottles are liquids.

Options for wine: purchase at Faro Airport duty-free after security (duty-free liquids travel in a sealed STEB bag and are permitted in the cabin). Ceramics need proper bubble-wrap packing and a checked bag — or ship home via the shop.