Olhão - Casa Salá Olhão

OLHÃO, ALGARVE’S SECRET HOLIDAY SPOT

Just 15 minutes east of Faro sits the enchanting, Cubist and whitewashed fishing town of Olhão. If you do not want to hire a car, it is easy to flag a taxi or an Uber from the airport for the short journey, which should set you back only €25. Alternatively, you can take the train or the bus from Faro station to Olhão.Famed for its fishing industry and its lively market, the old town of Olhão is a maze of cobbled streets and passages with low rise, white, cube like houses, reminiscent of those across the water in Morroco. Some of the buildings are larger and grander with colourful tiled facades, making for a glittering display in the sunlight. Others are shall we say, a little faded and crumbling, but in a really good way.The harbour opens onto the calm lagoons and waters of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a small group of barrier islands that stretches east from Faro to the Spanish border.

These local islands, where a handful of residents and fisherman live and work, are home to beautiful, clean beaches with simple bars, authentic restaurants and an enviable – almost otherworldly – pace of life.Olhão’s dock area, with its factories and warehouses, is still dedicated to the fishing industry which provides local employment and sets the area’s character as a working city. From Industry came wealth which provided many fine buildings in the city and a lovely, long paved promenade running along the waterfront, ideal for a shady walk taking visitors through the mature 1960s gardens and up to the market area.Olhão escaped the ravages of mass tourism as it always has been a working town with no beach but, being on the Ria Formosa lagoon, some of the best beaches in Portugal are just a short ferry ride away on Armona and Culatra islands which have small settlements, cafes and bars.

WANDER AROUND THE MERCADOS
6 min.

The smells, the colours, the vibrancy… Mercado Municipale in Olhao. There is always a buzz: people chatting, looking, standing, buying. This is especially true on a Saturday morning, when a large outdoor market is set up between the Mercado and the waterfront. Well worth a visit!

NOSSA SENHORA DO ROSÁRIO
5 min.

The 17th century Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Church of Our Lady of the Rosary) is the largest church in Olhão and also the parish church (Igreja Matriz). Within the church the Baroque altarpiece in the chancel and the two side altarpieces, dating from the second half of the 18th century, stand out.

DISCOVER THE RIA FORMOSA
from 20 min.

The Ria Formosa and its natural park is a site not to be missed. With its lagoons populated by birds, endless beaches, and flower-filled sheds in the islands. Ria Formosa has 5 islands that form a natural barrier between the Atlantic Ocean and the mainland. Some of these islands are inhabited and others completely pristine.

CAMINHO DAS LENDAS
app. 30 min.

The Path of Legends is a pedestrian walkway through the streets of Olhão, connecting five neighborhoods. In each of these five locations, there are statues and other artistic creations, all of which are accompanied by signage telling captivating tales which reflect the history and the colourful nature of the region.

EXPERIENCE ‘DEAD SEA’ SOAK
20 min.

At the Salinas do Grelha traditional techniques are used to harvest sea salt and flower of salt. Tours are available all year round. Visitors can also try “Dead Sea” bathing in a lake covering some 2,000 m2.

ENJOY THE VARIETY OF RESTAURANTS - see selection

More and more delightful restaurants are opening their doors in Olhão. From traditional Portuguese food to French haute cuisine in Casa Amor. Olhão offers it all and we like to share some of the most special establishments that are definitely worth a visit. Bom apetite!

BOAT TOURS RIA FORMOSA
from 2,5 hrs.

Discover the nature in the barrier islands of Ria Formosa Natural Park during a boat tour. The tour will take you visiting local villages and beaches, and admiring stunning views of Olhão. Tours can be booked by the offices along the waterfront.

FUSETA BEACH
app. 25 min.

Close to Olhão you find the beautiful beach of Fuseta. In fact, there are two beaches: one located on land, facing the Ria Formosa and another located on an island, facing the Atlantic Ocean. If you like to enjoy nature and if you enjoy a peaceful beach, this is for you.

Bairro da Barreta Neighborhood

The era of smuggling has passed, the huts have been replaced by masonry constructions, but the irregularity remains. The new constructions occupied exactly the same space that the huts previously occupied, thus giving rise to a unique neighborhood in the entire Algarve. Walking around here is like navigating a labyrinth where one easily gets lost and found.