Olhao is a city in the Algarve region, southern Portugal. It is located near Faro which is the district's capital and the capital of the Algarve and also includes a continental part and the Armona island.

Situated a short drive east of Faro Airport, Olhao is a pretty fishing port reminiscent of the typical North African villages across the sea in Morocco.

The peculiarity of its architecture gives it a Moorish appearance, although the town only emerged as recently as the 18th century.

Notable for its white cube-shaped houses with terraced roofs, Olhao was the scene of a historic uprising against the French garrison in 1808. Following the French departure, the local fishermen sent a small vessel known as a caíque across the Atlantic to Brazil to transmit the news to the exiled king João VI, who later granted them a town charter.

What to see. The best view over the town is from the top of the bell tower of the Baroque Nossa Senhora do Rosário parish church, built on the Praca da Restauracao between 1681 and 1698. From there, the narrow, pedestrianized streets of the old quarter wind down to the waterfront where the lively marketplace can be found.

Nearby. Ferries and water taxis link Olhao to the idyllic offshore beaches of Armona, Culatra and Farol, which form part of the surrounding sandbank known as the ilhas.

Forming part of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta de Marim located 1 km east of Olhao harbour is a protected area featuring a variety of flora and fauna. An exhibition of agricultural and fishing techniques includes the remains of a Roman salt production plant and a rare tidal mill dating back to the Middle Ages.

The area is also a breeding ground of the web-footed Algarve Water Dog, a species unique to the region.

 A little further east, the regional capital of Faro caters for last-minute souvenir hunters and those seeking cultural attractions in the form of museums and ancient monuments.