Olhão holidays

How to reach Olhão

Flight time: There are no direct flights to Olhão. Flights to Faro Airport take approximately 2 hours 45 minutes from London.

Transfer time:

• From Faro Airport, Olhão is approximately a 20-minute drive by car or taxi.

• If you prefer public transport, there’s a regular bus service connecting Faro Airport to the centre of Olhão, taking around 30 minutes.

Price:

• A taxi from Faro Airport to Olhão costs roughly €15–€20.

• The bus costs around €2.50 for a single ticket.

Best time to visit Olhão

Olhão enjoys a Mediterranean climate, making it an appealing destination all year round. The best time to visit depends on your preferences for weather and activity levels.

March to May:

• One of the best times of year to visit is spring, when the weather is warm (average temperatures climb from 18°C to 23°C) but not too hot, and the summer crowds are yet to arrive.

June to August:

• In July and especially August (the Portuguese holiday month) the resort is at its busiest – meaning crowded beaches among other things – and prices reach their peak.

• Temperatures hover around 30°C during the day, with barely a drop of rain and a solid 12 hours of sunshine daily.

September to October:

• Another fantastic time to visit.

• The weather remains warm, with temperatures in the mid-20s and plenty of sunshine, the sea is still very pleasant for swimming and you’ll find fewer tourists clogging up the narrow streets.

November to February:

• Although it’s winter, the weather remains very mild, averaging 10°C to 16°C, with occasional rain showers (30–80mm per month).

• This is the time for cultural exploration and sipping coffee in quiet cafés.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Portuguese is the official language, but English is spoken all along the coast.

• Local habits and customs: Do respect the traditional siesta hours between 1 pm and 3 pm when smaller shops might close; dining is a leisurely affair and often starts late, around 8 or 9 pm. There is no hard and fast rule for tipping, which is not really a Portuguese custom; that said, in a café, restaurant or for taxis, it’s customary to round up the bill to the nearest euro or, for big amounts, the nearest note.

• Currency: Portugal uses the Euro. ATMs are easy to find and most establishments accept major credit cards. For smaller purchases in markets or cafés, having some cash handy is a good idea.

• Getting around: Olhão is compact and walkable, but buses and taxis are available for trips to surrounding areas. A single bus journey costs about €2.50. The ferry to the nearby islands of Culatra and Armona is a must-do, with return tickets priced at around €5–€10.

• Electricity and plug types: Portugal uses the standard continental 220 volts, and UK travellers will need a two-pin adaptor for their devices.

• Time zone: Portugal is in Western European Time (WET), the same as GMT. Daylight Saving Time is observed, so clocks move forward by an hour in summer.

Best things to do in Olhão

With a vibrant market, attractive riverfront gardens and atmospheric backstreets, Olhão is an appealing place to spend some time; it also makes a great base from which to visit the surrounding sandbank islands of Armona and Culatra or the Quinta da Marim environmental centre.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Ria Formosa boardwalks: Stroll along the wooden walkways by the waterfront for sweeping views of the lagoon and its ever-changing tides. Sunrise and sunset walks here are especially magical.

The best districts

• Old Town: The largely pedestrianised old town boasts some superb tile-fronted buildings, quirky shops and bars, while the flat roofs and narrow streets are striking and give a North African look to the place.

Museums

• Museu da Cidade: This small but appealing museum has a fine collection of archeological treasures from the region, from Bronze Age pots to Islamic vases. Upstairs there are relics of Olhão’s industrial heritage, with model fishing boats, oil presses and old black-and-white photos.

Parks and gardens

• Jardim Pescador Olhanense: A charmingly small park located near the waterfront, a good spot to rest up after a day’s sightseeing.

Historical monuments

• Nossa Senhora do Rosário: The old town’s most prominent building is the 17th-century parish church; at the back of the church, an iron grille protects the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos, where townswomen traditionally gathered to pray for their sailors when there was a storm at sea.

Day trips in the area

• Tavira: A picturesque town that offers a blend of Roman and Moorish influences. Wander the peaceful Gilão River, visit the Roman bridge and castle ruins and enjoy the tranquil beaches on Ilha de Tavira – ideal for a laid-back escape.

• Faro: Only 15 minutes away by train, Faro offers a mix of cultural attractions, from its medieval old town to the haunting Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones).

• Armona and Culatra: Separate ferries to Armona and Culatra leave from the jetty at the eastern end of Olhão’s municipal gardens, five minutes walk east of the market. The Ilha da Armona (15min) is accessible all year round, as are the villages of Culatra (35min) and Farol (45min) on the Ilha da Culatra.

Activities for families in Olhão

Olhão is a fantastic destination for families, with a range of activities that combine fun and education in a stunning natural setting.

• Wildlife walks: The Parque Natural da Ria Formosa is a lovely quiet spot, set amid scrubby dunes and mudflats dotted with pines and gorse, well worth a half-day visit. You can follow a 3km-long nature trail that leads from the car park past the visitor centre, along which you’ll be able to view storks’ nests and the remains of Roman saltpans.

• Guided walks and boat trips: Natura offers a range of activities, including guided walks and boat trips into the Ria Formosa lagoon, ranging from leisurely 2–3 hour birdwatching cruises which include a visit to an oyster farm (all year), to adrenalin-charged 2-hour powerboat rides to spot dolphins (June–Oct).

Free things to do in Olhão

Holidays to Olhão can be budget-friendly, with plenty of free activities to enjoy. From wandering the historic streets to discovering the natural beauty of the Algarve, you won’t run out of things to do.

• Festivals: In August, the gardens on either side of the Mercado host the Festival do Marisco (Seafood Festival) with food stalls and nightly entertainment over five days.

• Visit the market: Olhão’s bustling fish and produce markets are a feast for the senses. Come on a Saturday morning when the market extends along the riverfront, a riot of chickens, flowers, fruit and local characters.

• Beaches and islands: If you’re already on Culatra or Armona Island, you can enjoy their stunning beaches for free. Bring a picnic and spend the day soaking up the sun.

Nature and outdoor activities in Olhão

Famed for its beaches, golf courses and tennis centres, the Algarve, including the area around Olhão, also has opportunities for a variety of other outdoor pursuits including kayaking, windsurfing and walking.

• Golf: The Algarve is a year-round golf destination, with green fees on 18-hole courses starting at around €40, though multi-play packages and discounts are nearly always available, especially over winter.

• Sea kayaking: An increasingly popular activity, particularly along the more sheltered parts of the coast. There are places in and around Olhão hiring out kayaks if you want to go independently, or offering guided kayak trips that explore the local coves and beaches.

• Wildlife watching: A 60km long lagoon between Faro and Tavira, Ria Formosa Natural Park is a labyrinth of islands, peninsulas, sandbanks, white beaches and dunes with some of the country’s most special flora and fauna, especially birdlife.

Local dishes in Olhão

One of the joys of Olhão holidays is savouring the authentic flavours of the Algarve, a region celebrated for its fresh seafood, Mediterranean ingredients and vibrant local dishes.

Some typical dishes

• Bacalhau: Pretty much the national dish, this dried salted cod reputedly has 365 different ways of being prepared: the best for first-timers to try are bacalhau á bras (fried with egg, onions and potatoes) and bacalhau com natas (baked in cream).

• Grilled chicken: Almost a second national dish, this is usually enlivened by the addition of peppery piri-piri sauce.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Cataplana: Named after the wok-like lidded copper vessel in which it’s cooked, this fish or seafood stew is simply irresistible.

• Grilled sardines: Providing one of the country’s most appetising smells, this summertime staple is served simply with olive oil, garlic and lemon.

Meat dishes

• Porco à alentejana: A delicious fusion of pork and clams cooked with paprika and white wine, served with fried potatoes or bread.

• Presunto: Portugal’s equivalent of Parma ham – a smoked leg of pork preserved in sea salt and cured for months or even years.

Sweets and desserts

Dom Rodrigo is a blend of shredded egg yolks, sugar and almonds wrapped in foil, while another favourite is bolo de figo, a dense, fig-based cake spiced with cinnamon and fennel. For something lighter, try tarte de alfarroba, a carob tart with a slightly chocolatey flavour.

Local drinks

• Vinho verde: Portugal’s excellent wines distinguish not only between tinto (red), branco (white) and rosé, but between verde (“green”, meaning young, acidic and slightly sparkling) and maduro (“mature”).

• Aguardente: The best-known Algarve firewaters are brandy mel, made from honey and the fruit of the strawberry tree and which tastes a bit like schnapps; and amêndoa amarga, made from almonds.