Things to Do in Olhao, Algarve

Olhão is the Algarve’s biggest fishing port and one of its most authentic towns. It’s a maze of cube-shaped houses with roof terraces, twin red-brick market halls on the waterfront, and ferries out to car-free islands in the Ria Formosa. Here are the best things to do in Olhão.

Quick answer: visit the waterfront markets (best on a Saturday morning), wander the old fishermen’s quarter, take the ferry to Armona or Culatra for empty beaches, and eat seafood by the water. Olhão is about 15 minutes from Faro by train or car. See places to stay in Olhão.

Why go

Olhão feels like a real town rather than a resort. Fishing boats unload in the harbour, locals shop at the market, and the beaches are a short boat ride away on sandy islands with no cars. It is also one of the easiest places to explore the Ria Formosa lagoon.

Things to do

• The markets: two red-brick halls on the seafront, opened in 1916, one for fish and one for fruit and vegetables. They are busiest in the morning. On Saturdays, a big farmers’ market spills outside with local produce, cheese, honey and dried fruit. Allow an hour.
• The old town: narrow lanes of whitewashed cube houses with flat roof terraces, giving Olhão a North African feel. Walk the old fishermen’s quarters near the waterfront, and look up for the lookout towers on some rooftops. Allow an hour or two.
• The islands: ferries cross the lagoon to Armona and Culatra, with long sandy beaches and simple seafood restaurants. See ferries in Portugal.
• Ria Formosa boat trips: birdwatching, oyster farms and island hopping. See Ria Formosa tours.
• Seafood: clams, oysters, octopus and cataplana in the waterfront restaurants. See the seafood guide.
• The waterfront gardens and the marina promenade, good for an evening stroll when the heat drops.

The islands in more detail

Armona

The nearest island, about 15 minutes by ferry. A path leads from the jetty past holiday cottages to a long ocean beach. It is the easiest choice for a half day.

Culatra and Farol

Culatra is a fishing village on a sandy island, about 35 minutes by ferry. Many boats continue for about 10 more minutes to Farol, at the other end of the island, with its lighthouse and holiday homes. You can walk between the two along the beach. Plan a full day.

Ferries are frequent in summer and much less frequent in winter, so check the return times at the ferry pier before you go.

Getting there

• By train: Olhão is on the Algarve regional line, about 10 minutes from Faro and usually 25 to 30 minutes from Tavira. The station is a short walk from the centre.
• By car: about 15 minutes from Faro and 20 to 25 minutes from Faro airport. Parking near the waterfront fills up on Saturday mornings.
• From further away: see getting around the Algarve.

How long to spend

A half day covers the markets and the old town. A full day lets you add an island. A suggested day: the market at 9am, coffee and a walk through the old town, a morning ferry to Armona for a swim, then a seafood lunch back on the waterfront and a stroll along the gardens at sunset.

Food

Olhão is known for clams, oysters and other shellfish from the lagoon, grilled fish straight off the boats, octopus and cataplana. The fish market is the best place to see what is in season. See cataplana in the Algarve.

When to go

• Summer: the best time for the islands, with frequent ferries.
• Festival do Marisco: Olhão’s big seafood festival, held each August by the waterfront, with seafood stalls and concerts. Check the dates before you go.
• Spring and autumn: warm, quieter, and good for walking and birdwatching.
• Winter: the town and markets stay lively, but island ferries are limited.

Why stay in Olhão?

Olhão is a real working town, with fewer resorts than the central Algarve. It’s well connected by train to Faro and Tavira, so it makes a good base for the eastern Algarve. See where to stay in the Algarve.

Nearby

• Faro: see things to do in Faro.
• Tavira: see Tavira and the eastern Algarve.
• Ria Formosa Natural Park: see wildlife in Portugal and the Ria Formosa guide.

From our sister blog: Olhão, the hidden gem of the Algarve on Sunset Travellers.

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