Pedro DominguesOlhão is the main gateway to Ria Formosa Natural Park, more so than Faro, or even Tavira. It is a city that still preserves its authenticity, remaining alien to the hustle and bustle of other Algarve regions. Here you can still feel some calm and tranquility, or at least that’s what I felt during my stay.
Reserve at least 3 days to visit most of the places I will write about in this article and get ready for boat trips, beautiful islands and idyllic beaches. There are really many things to do in Olhão, and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed if you choose it as a base for an itinerary in southern Portugal.
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Where is Olhão located, in Portugal?
If you look closely at the image below, you will be able to identify where Olhão is located, in the south of Portugal. It borders other towns in the region such as Tavira, São Brás de Alportel and Faro.
Useful tips to visit OIhão
1. Rent a Car to visit Olhão
I don’t think a car is mandatory in Olhão, if you just want to enjoy the beaches of the islands that can be reached by boat from the city center. However, it will give you much more flexibility when visiting the surrounding areas of Algarve. I leave you a link to Discover Cars, that I always use when I need to compare prices between rental companies and make my own car reservations.
2. How to get to Olhão?
As for how to get to Olhão, it is very easy to do it by plane, as there is an airport nearby, in Faro, which connects to Lisbon and Porto, as well as other European cities. I recommend using Skyscanner and Google Flights to do some research before buying your tickets, comparing prices and flight conditions.
It is also easy to get to Olhão by bus or train, and you can confirm that checking Rome2Rio website, if you are not sure how to get there from your location. For bus tickets in Algarve, use Rede Expressos or Vamus Algarve; for trains, use CP – Comboios de Portugal.
3. Take out Travel Insurance to visit Olhão
I also recommend that you take out travel insurance for your stay in Olhão, and you can do it with World Nomads.
>>> Travel Insurance with World Nomads
4. When to visit Olhão?
To go visit Olhão, my recommendation is clearly the summer. There will be more people in the region, but on the beaches of Ria Formosa there is always room for everyone. They are the largest in Algarve, so no worries.
5. What to eat and where to eat when visiting Olhão?
In terms of gastronomy, it is impossible not to mention Folar de Olhão, elected one of the 7 wonders of Portuguese sweets. It is mandatory to try it, because it is really delicious!
Of course, fish is also king, but in this case, the same goes for any other region of Algarve coast. How about the Seafood Cataplana, octopus, the Tuna Muxama, or even the Grilled Sardines?
If you are looking for restaurant suggestions where to eat, check out the following:
- Pitéu da Baixa Mar
- Vai e Volta
- Terra i Mar
- Tapas e Lendas
- Restaurant Prazeres
6. Accommodation tips in Olhão
| Alojamento | Pontuação | Localização |
|---|---|---|
| Real Marina Hotel & Spa | 8.7 | Olhão City Center |
| Pure Formosa Hotel | 9.1 | Olhão City Center |
| Hotel Cidade de Olhão | 8.7 | Olhão City Center |
| GuestMar | 9.5 | Olhão City Center |
| Casarão AL | 8.8 | Olhão City Center |
| Quinta dos Poetas | 9.0 | Surroundings |
| Apartamentos Sol & Ria | 9.2 | Olhão City Center |
| Monte das Perdizes | 9.6 | Surroundings |
| Zenit Guest House | 8.6 | Olhão City Center |
| OlhãoMirante | 9.1 | Olhão City Center |
| Stork Hostel | 9.1 | Olhão City Center |
| Casa dos Ventos | 9.4 | Surroundings |
| Estudios Salinas | 8.9 | Fuseta |
| Moinhos das Marés | 9.0 | Fuseta |
Things to do in Olhão | Algarve
And now, all things to do in Olhão and its main tourist attractions. The article is organized in the same way as the map below:
- What to visit in the center of Olhão, in blue.
- What are the best beaches in Olhão, in green.
- And the things to do in Olhão surrounding area, in orange.
Map | Things to do in Olhão
Visit Olhão City Center
To visit the Historic Center of Olhão, I parked my car on Avenue 5th of October, and from there I started my itinerary on foot.
1. Port of Olhão / Marina
First on that avenue is the Recreational Port of Olhão, huge with capacity for around 350 boats. It is mandatory to go there to see them up close.
2. Markets of Olhão
Also on 5th of October Avenue are the Markets in Olhão, probably the main attraction of the historic center, and the most visited. They date from the beginning of the 20th century and are located directly above Ria Formosa, supported by stilts. They are masonry buildings, where fish, fruit or vegetables are sold daily.
3. Gardens Pescador Olhanense and Patrão Joaquim Lopes
The two main gardens in Olhão are called Pescador Olhanense and Patrão Joaquim Lopes. Each one is on one side of the aforementioned markets, and they are nice green spaces, with plenty of shade for summer days. It is frequent to see small street vendors trying to make a living there, advertising their products outside the markets.
In Garden Pescador Olhanense, stands out the bandstand and benches with beautiful tile panels. In the other garden i highlight the monument to Patrão Joaquim Lopes himself, hero of countless shipwreck rescues in Algarve.
4. Replica of Bom Sucesso Caique
You will also find a replica of Caíque Bom Sucesso anchored next to Olhão Markets. The history of this vessel dates back to 1808, when it crossed over to Brazil to inform King D. João VI, then a refugee there, that the population of Olhão had managed to expel the French invaders during the wars. It returned with a new title for the city: Olhão da Restauração (of restoration, in english).
In the summer months it is possible to take trips aboard this boat.
5. Path of the Legends in Olhão
The path of legends is one of the best ways to discover the historic center of Olhão. This is a route that connects some of the main squares in the city, and also the 5 statues of legends in Olhão that can be found in these squares.
- João da Carma square has the Legend of Arraúl. It is said that Arraúl was responsible for Ria Formosa dunes that protect the continent from the Atlantic Ocean. His story is supposedly linked to that of Hercules, with Arraúl (with superhuman strength) transporting sand or earth to Ria Formosa from another region called Cerro da Cabeça.
- Carolas Square, with the Legend of the Boy with Big Eyes. It is said that this boy always appeared in the same place, at night, in the center of the city, and that this scared the people around. He had abnormally big eyes and nobody could help him or even pick him up because he was abnormally heavy. People began to stop going out into the street, fearing possible curses or enchantments associated with him. At one point, he disappeared and was never seen again.
- Gaibéu Square, with the Legend of the Enchanted Moor. This story is about a fisherman who as a child was taken by a boy to an enchanted palace. After returning, he continued to see him, despite the boy being invisible to others. He only stopped seeing him after communing and confessing for the first time.
- Patrão Joaquim Lopes Square, with the Legend of Floripes. There are different versions of this story, so I’ll tell you the one that seems most interesting to me. It is said that a beautiful woman, dressed in white, was often seen by fishermen at sea. All the men wanted to marry her, but she was under a spell, which could only be broken if someone managed to cross the estuary of Olhão with a candle, without it going out.
- The Old Factory Square, with the Legend of Marim. This legend is related to a forbidden love between the Moorish woman Alina and a troubadour named Abdallah, who sang every night outside his beloved’s bedroom window. The girl’s father tried everything to separate the two, but nothing worked. He ended up throwing her out the window in a sudden rage, causing her to fall into Abdallah’s arms, and the two presumably died, but are sometimes still seen walking and singing around the property. 😐
6. Restoration Square
Restoration Square is also located in the interior of the city, being even more important than those mentioned above for the path of the legends. Here you will find very important sights, namely the Municipal Museum of Olhão, the mother church and the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Soledade.
7. Municipal Museum of Olhão
At the Municipal Museum of Olhão you will find exhibitions about the city and the municipality, being the right place to get to know the region better. The building itself dates back to the 18th century, and was intended to support the fishermen of Olhão.
8. Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário
The Mother Church of Olhão is from the end of the 17th century and in honor of Nossa Senhora do Rosário. The facade reads that it was built “at the expense of the men of the sea”.
9. Chapel of Senhor dos Aflitos
The Chapel of Senhor dos Aflitos is located at the back of the Mother Church, with the tile panel on the main façade standing out.
10. Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration
Also in the heart of the Restoration Square, the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration honors the men who participated in the 1808 revolt against the French invaders, a very important moment in the history of Olhão.
11. Church of Nossa Senhora da Soledade
Finally, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Soledade, in the same square. It is simpler in appearance than the other churches, but older, dating from the early 17th century.
12. Poço das Bombas
Further north, and only optional, is Poço das Bombas. This monument reminds us of an old well that was once the main source of water supply for the population of Olhão. Hence its extreme importance.
13. Agadir Square
Even further north of Poço das Bombas, and also optional, is the beautiful and pleasant Agadir Square, where the fountains in the center stand out. This is the last point I mention in the historic center of Olhão.
Visit the Best Beaches in Olhão
After properly visiting the historic centre, why not visit the best beaches in Olhão, right in Ria Formosa Natural Park?
1. Fuseta Beaches
Fuseta is for me the most amazing place in Olhão, even more than Armona Island, which I mention below. The most extraordinary beach is Barra da Fuseta, an authentic tongue of white sand in Ria Formosa, which is accessed from Fuseta pier: there are regular boats that take you there.
If you prefer, you can also find a river beach next to Fuseta pier, in the heart of Ria Formosa.
It is worth remembering that there is no surveillance in Barra da Fuseta, so you will be on your own, but I didn’t see any problem with that. It’s a really cool place.
2. Armona Island Beach
Easier to reach is Armona Island, as the boat leaves directly from the center of Olhão. This island is inhabited and the boat leaves you in the village, so you will have to cross it on foot to reach the sea beach.
Extra: Beaches of Culatra / Farol Island
Culatra Island is not in Olhão, but in Faro. However, the easiest access is via the pier in Olhão, as is the case of Armona Island. If you have little time, you can visit Armona in the morning and Culatra in the afternoon, or vice versa. 😉
My recommendation is that you ask for a one-way ticket to Culatra, and return from Farol, which despite everything implying that it is a separate island, is actually part of Culatra. My suggestion is that you walk between Culatra and Farol, along the sand and always by the sea. That’s what I did. It’s not that far away, and you may find less crowded places on that route.
As a curiosity, the lighthouse in Farol Island is named after Santa Maria Cape, the southernmost point of mainland Portugal. The Lighthouse is 46 meters high, and has a range of over 40km, and can be visited every Wednesday, and on more days of the week during the summer.
Visit other tourist attractions surrounding Olhão
On the outskirts of the city of Olhão, in addition to the fabulous beaches, there are still other places to discover. I highlight the viewpoint and the salt pans that I will mention next. 😉
1. Viewpoint of Cerro de São Miguel
Cerro de São Miguel viewpoint is a must, at around 400 meters above sea level, in Serra de Monte Figo. From there you can see everything down to the sea, and the landscape is really immense!
2. Moncarapacho
Moncarapacho should be another stop on the outskirts of the city of Olhão, to discover its churches. Namely:
- The Mother Church of Moncarapacho, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Graça and of medieval origin.
- The Church of Misericórdia, from the 16th century.
- And the Chapel of Santo Cristo, site of great pilgrimages during the 17th and 18th centuries.
3. Quelfes Bridge
Quelfes Bridge probably dates back to the 1st century AD, but even more important is that it was the scene of a battle between the Portuguese and the French in 1808, with the victory of the people of Olhão.
4. Olhão Salt Pans
Surrounding Olhão there are also huge salt pans, not only close to the city but also close to Fuseta. Go explore them if you have the time.
5. João Lúcio Chalet-Museum
This Chalet, in turn, is located in Quinta de Marim, and was the residence of the poet João Lúcio, being built in the early 20th century.
6. Marim Environmental Education Center
To finish, you can also take a trail next to Marim Environmental Education Centre. See more information on the subject directly on VisitAlgarve website.
Guided Tours to visit Olhão and Algarve
Why don’t you go on a specific tour related to Ria Formosa? Below are examples of possible guided tours in Algarve with Civitatis, Viator and Get Your Guide, but if you do your own research, you will find even more alternatives on these websites. 😉
Guided Tours with Get Your Guide: 1 - Tavira Tuk Tuk City Tour 2 - Albufeira: Benagil Caves & Dolphin Watching Speed Boat Tour 3 - Portimão: Benagil Caves Speed Boat Tour with Sunset Option 4 - From Lagos: Boat Cruise to Ponta da Piedade 5 - From Faro: 4 Stops, 3 Islands in Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour 6 - Benagil Caves and Secret Spots Guided Kayaking Tour 7 - 1-Hour Carrapateira Horseback Riding Tour 8 - From Albufeira: Half-Day Algarve Jeep Safari 9 - From Lagos: Kayaking and Boat Cave Explorer Tour 10 - Loulé: TechSalt’s Rock-Salt Mine Tour 11 - Portimão: Pirate Ship Cave Cruise 12 - Albufeira: Single, Double or Triple Parasailing Tour
Guided Tours with Viator: 1 - Dolphins and Benagil Caves from Albufeira 2 - Boat trip to the caves of Benagil (from Lagos) 3 - Benagil Caves Tour from Portimao 4 - Benagil Cave tour from Faro 5 - Benagil Long Boat tour (From Carvoeiro to Praia da Marinha) 6 - Boat Tour to Benagil Caves from Armacao de Pera 7 - Kayaking in Secret Algarve Benagil Caves 8 - Benagil Area Kayak and SUP (from Albufeira) 9 - Kayak Trip in Lagos and Ponta da Piedade 10 - Parasailing from Albufeira Marina by Boat 11 - Coasteering and Cliff Jumping Near Lagos 12 - 2 hour Off-Road Buggy Adventure Tour from Albufeira 13 - Jeep Safari in the Algarve Mountains (Albufeira) 14 - Sunset Tour on a Luxury Sailing Yacht from Vilamoura 15 - Ria Formosa Natural Park and Islands Boat Cruise from Faro 16 - Boat trip to the 3 Islands of Ria Formosa (Olhão) 17 - Classic Food Tour in Lagos 18 - Wine Tasting Tour from Albufeira 19 - Tandem Skydiving in Algarve 20 - 2 Hour Surf Lesson at the Algarvian West Coast
Guided Tours with Civitatis: 1 - Tuk Tuk Tour in Tavira 2 - Benagil Caves Speed Boat Ride from Portimão 3 - Ponta da Piedade Caves Kayak Tour from Lagos 4 - Ponta da Piedade Caves Boat Trip from Lagos 5 - Albufeira Half Day Safari Tour 6 - Faro Walking Tour 7 - Parasailing in Albufeira 8 - Ria Formosa Eco Boat Trip from Faro 9 - Benagil Caves Boat Tour from Carvoeiro 10 - Deserta and Farol Islands Cruise from Faro 11 - Lagos Dolphin Watching or Dolphin Watching in Albufeira 12 - Sagres Coast Sunset Jeep Tour from Lagos
Other Itineraries and Travel Guides in Portugal
- N2 Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
- Madeira Itinerary and Travel Guide
- São Miguel Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Terceira Itinerary and Travel Guide (Azores)
- Pico Itinerary in Azores
- Faial Itinerary in Azores
- Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary
- Porto Itinerary and Travel Guide
- Things to do In Braga (Minho)
- Things to do in Guimarães (Minho)
- Things to do in Viana do Castelo (Minho)
- Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary
- Douro Valley Itinerary
- Trás-os-Montes Itinerary
- Things to do in Bragança
- Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary
- Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
- Things to do in Aveiro
- Things to do in Coimbra
- Things to do in Leiria
- Things to do in Fatima
- Things to do in Nazaré
- Things to do in Peniche
- Things to do in Évora (Alentejo)
- Things to do in Beja (Alentejo)
- Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
- Things to do in Lagos (Algarve)
- Things to do in Portimão (Algarve)
- Things to do in Faro (Algarve)
- Things to do in Tavira (Algarve)
I hope you enjoy visiting this city of my country. 😉 If this article with Things to do in Olhão (South of Portugal) was useful for you, please send me your feedback below, in the comment section.
