Olhão, Algarve, Portugal

Discover Olhão and its huge harbour and its fishermen’s district, in Algarve.

Marina de Olhão
© Vítor Ribeiro

Olhão is a province 8 km to the east of Faro City. Here is located the biggest fishing harbour of Algarve. The tourists can visit the lovely and busy streets of the old fishermen’s district and also the great beaches outside the city.

Ruas de Olhão
© Celestino Manuel

There are not lots of monuments in Olhão, but it is really enjoyable to have a walk in its districts that are full of arabic style. It counts with excellent restaurants to taste traditional fish and a nice market, situated in 5 de Octubro Avenue.

Olhão is one of the best ways to access to Culatra and Armona island, in Ria Formosa Natural Park, as well as to arrive to the environmental centre of Quinta Marim Park.

The fishermen’s district is a nice place to visit while in Olhão, where the tourist can see the whitewashed houses; some of them with tiles and flat roofs. Here, narrow streets cover the district and its possible to see the Moorish influence. If the visitor climbs to the bell tower of Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário church they can contemplate all the city.

Another essential place to visit is Ria Formosa Natural Park, a marsh in the coast of Algarve that covers around 18,000 hectares, with lots of sandy coves, dunes islands and a big wetland area. The main office of the park and the interpretation centre is the Quinta de Marim.

An indispensable date in Olhão is Festival do Marisco, celebrated during August plenty of food and folk music.

Recommended Excursions:

Mapa Interactivo:

Olhão

What to see:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal