Olhão in winter and on rainy days: ferries, weather and what to do

From October to March, Olhão is quieter, but three things change: fewer ferries run to the islands, the beaches lose their lifeguards and it rains more often. Even so, average daytime highs at Faro, the nearest IPMA reference station, sit between 16 and 23 °C over these months. On a wet day you still have the markets, the museum, the library and the auditorium, all within a short walk of each other.

Ferries in winter

The Armona ferry drops to four crossings each way a day from 1 October to 31 March:

From Olhão	From Armona
8:30	9:00
12:00	12:30
15:00	15:30
17:00	17:30

For Culatra and Farol, the winter timetable has applied since 21 September: the boat leaves Olhão at 7:00, 11:00, 15:00 and 18:30, calls at Culatra and carries on to Farol. The last boats back leave Culatra at 19:00 and Farol at 19:15. For Fuseta Island, the council publishes times until the end of October; there is no published timetable from November to April, so ask at Fuseta pier before you set off.

With so few sailings, missing the last boat is a real problem. Always check the day's times on our ferries page, and read the Armona ferry guide or the Culatra and Farol guide before you go. In strong wind or rough weather, ask at the ticket office whether the boat is running.

No lifeguards on the beaches

The 2026 bathing season on Olhão's beaches ran from 1 June to 30 September, as set out in a ministerial order in the Diário da República. Outside those dates there are no lifeguards and no bathing assistance. You can still walk the sand, but any swim is at your own risk. On the sea side of Armona and Fuseta the winter surf can be rough: if in doubt, stick to a walk. For more, see our guide to Olhão's Blue Flag beaches, and check the tides before a walk along the lagoon.

What the weather is like from October to March

These are the averages for Faro in IPMA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals. Olhão is next door and its climate is very similar, but it is not the same station.

Month	Average high	Average low	Rainfall (mm)	Rainy days
October	23.3 °C	15.8 °C	56.0	6.0
November	19.6 °C	11.9 °C	75.5	6.6
December	17.1 °C	9.7 °C	90.0	7.0
January	16.3 °C	8.3 °C	49.3	6.0
February	17.0 °C	8.8 °C	41.9	5.4
March	18.9 °C	10.8 °C	46.8	5.6

IPMA counts a rainy day as one with at least 1 mm. That means six or seven a month on average, so most winter days stay dry. December is the wettest month of the year and January the coldest. Close to 80% of the year's rain falls in these six months, while frost is practically unknown in the Faro averages. Before planning an island day, check IPMA's forecast for Olhão.

What to do when it rains

Olhão markets. The two covered halls on Avenida 5 de Outubro open from 7am to 1pm and close on Sundays and bank holidays. On a wet morning, the fish and fruit markets are the liveliest places in town. Everything you need is in our markets guide and on the markets page.

Olhão Municipal Museum. It is housed in the Compromisso Marítimo building on Praça da Restauração, close to the parish church. It opens Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 5pm, and closes on Sundays and Mondays. The collection runs from maritime heritage and archaeology to the canning industry and model ships. The museum's page does not list an entry fee, so check on +351 289 700 103.

Municipal Library. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm. It closes on Sundays and bank holidays (and on Saturdays in July and August). You do not need a library card to read inside or to use the free wifi: the card is only needed to borrow books.

Municipal Auditorium. On Avenida 16 de Junho, it puts on concerts, theatre and family shows through the winter. The box office opens Tuesday to Friday, 1:30pm to 5pm, and one hour before each performance. Bookings on +351 289 700 160. See what is on in our events listing.

The parish church. The church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário was commissioned by the town's fishermen in 1698 and opened for worship in 1715. Its façade is one of the most striking in the Algarve, and inside there is a gilded carved altarpiece. It is a working church and we found no official visiting hours, so go in quietly and avoid service times.

Marim Environmental Education Centre. At Quinta de Marim, just east of town, is the headquarters of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. The ICNF leaflet says the centre opens every day (8am to 8pm on weekdays, 10am to 8pm at weekends and on bank holidays), but it dates from 2021. Phone +351 289 700 210 to check it is open before you go. The trail is outdoors, so save it for a dry spell between showers.

Winter tips

• Plan your day around the ferry, not the other way round: with four sailings, there is little slack.
• Take a windproof jacket to the islands, even in sunshine. Out on the lagoon the wind makes a difference.
• Pair the market in the morning with the museum in the afternoon: they are a few minutes apart on foot.
• For a sheltered lunch or dinner, see where to eat in Olhão.
• On Sundays both the markets and the museum are shut. Save Sunday for a walk or a show from the events listing.