Beautiful surroudings of Olhão

Olhão is the perfect base from which to explore the beautiful Ria Formosa Natural Park and the idyllic beaches on the barrier islands.

The beaches Armona, Farol and Culatra can be reached by regular ferry services. If you want to go to the equally beautiful, but somewhat distant islands of Cabanas, Tavira and Barreta, you can hire a water taxi or join a boat excursion.

Anyway, the journey itself is more than worth it. You will sail through the natural beauty of the protected wetlands of the Formosa lagoon, with a unique collection of flora and fauna and spectacular scenery.

The sporadic villages on the islands are picturesque and the fish and seafood in the restaurants are locally caught.

If you have a car, you can also explore along the coastal road (EN125) the beaches of the Eastern Algarve.

Just outside Olhão is the visitor’s centre for the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

Definitely worth a visit is the fishing village of Fuseta, where you can go with a small ferry to the east side of the island of Armona.

If you continue along the coastal road you find after passing Luz de Tavira an exit to Pedras del Rei. Here you can park your car on the lagoon and cross a floating bridge on foot, continue on with a small train to the beach.

In Tavira you can also get to the lagoon and there is also a ferry boat to Tavira Island.

The surroundings of Olhão are very beautiful. Almost every backroad gives a good picture of the real Portugal.

Take an adventurous tour through randomly chosen small roads and eventually, past Moncarapacho, take the road up Monte São Miguel. Here at 411m you have on all sides a wonderful view over this part of the Algarve.

Then again choose some back roads that take you to Sao Bras in the mountain regions. Here is a famous chicken restaurant Luis Frango. Nowhere does chicken taste as good as there.

Then drive back east to Santa Catarina, and head back to Olhão.

North of São Bras and Santa Catarina, is the Serra de Caldeirão. Here you can take beautiful walks and scenic rides in the car. Few people live here and many roads are unpaved, but usually quite good enough for a normal car. (Drive carefully!)

North West of Olhão is Estoi. Here is a beautiful pousada (former palace) where you at least should have a drink in order to admire the building.

There are also the Roman ruins Milreu, to the East of Estoi.

What is to be found here today are the remains of a luxurious rural villa, transformed into a prosperous farm in the 3rd century.

In the 6th century it was put to service as a Christian church, but also was used as an Islamic cemetery later on.

In the 10th century, the site was abandoned when the vaulted ceilings collapsed and it did not regain any life until the beginning of the 16th century, when a house was built on the ruins.