Olhão markets: opening hours, what to buy and the Saturday market

Olhão's municipal markets open from 7am to 1pm, according to the town council and the council-owned company that runs them. The best time to go is Saturday morning, when small growers set up an open-air market beside the Ria Formosa. They are closed on Sundays and bank holidays. On Mondays they open, but it is a quiet day, especially for fish.

Opening hours and contacts

All three municipal markets in the borough share the same official hours:

Market	Hours
Olhão Markets (Avenida 5 de Outubro)	7am to 1pm
Fuseta Market	7am to 1pm
Moncarapacho Market	7am to 1pm

The markets are run by Mercados de Olhão, E.M., a municipal company based in unit 43 of the market buildings. For any questions, call +351 289 090 664 or email geral@mercadosdeolhao.pt. The town council can also help on +351 289 707 298.

Locals know the Olhão markets close on Sundays and bank holidays. On Mondays they are open, but it is a quiet day, above all in the fish market: there is less fresh fish and many stalls stay shut. If you want to see the fish counters at their best, avoid Mondays.

Where they are (and no, it's not Bolhão)

Search for "Olhão market" and Google may well show you the Mercado do Bolhão in Porto, at the other end of the country. This guide is about the markets in Olhão, in the Algarve, on the town's waterfront between the old quarter and the Ria Formosa, on Avenida 5 de Outubro.

You are looking for two matching buildings side by side, in red brick and iron, with round turrets on each corner. They sit right on the water, a short walk from the pier where the ferries leave for the islands. If you are heading to Armona or Culatra, check the times in our ferries guide and stop at the market on the way.

The fish market

The western building, on the Faro side, is the fish market. It is the better known of the two and, for many locals, the heart of the town. Expect everything from small fry to large fish, plus shellfish and clams from the Ria Formosa, and fishmongers who will gut and clean your purchase while you wait.

What to buy depends on what the boats brought in. Tell the stallholder whether you want fish for the grill, for a stew or for boiling, say how many people you are feeding and take their advice. If you have no kitchen, come anyway to watch and listen: the banter across the counters is half the experience. For fish that someone else has cooked, see our guide on where to eat in Olhão.

The fruit and vegetable market

The eastern building is the fruit market. Alongside fresh fruit and vegetables you will find meat, herbs and produce from the Algarve hills, such as almonds, honey and dried figs. These make good things to take home, as they travel well and need no fridge.

This is where many Olhão families do their weekly shop. Stallholders know their regulars by name and are happy to explain how to cook whatever you are buying. For more ideas on local food to take away, have a look at shopping in Olhão.

The Saturday market

On Saturday mornings the area in front of the markets fills with stalls run by small producers from Olhão and neighbouring boroughs. The council describes this open-air market as unique in the Algarve, and anyone who lives here knows it is the liveliest day of the week.

Growers sell a bit of everything: onions, potatoes, seasonal fruit, fresh herbs, homemade cakes and plants. What turns up changes with the seasons, which is exactly the charm. Get there early, when there is more choice and fewer people, as stalls begin to pack up around 1pm.

For an overview of all three markets in the borough, see our markets page.

A building with a story

Work on the markets began in 1912 and they opened in 1916. They stand on piles driven into what was once the fishermen's beach, linked by brick arches, and are one of the best-known examples of iron and glass architecture in the Algarve. They were restored at the end of the twentieth century and reopened in 1998. Inside, look out for the tiles painted by the artist Costa Pinheiro.

In 2013 the buildings were listed as a Monument of Public Interest (Portaria no. 224/2013). In 2026 they appear among the winners of the 7 Wonders of Portugal, in the twentieth-century category, according to the competition organisers.

Fuseta, Moncarapacho and fairs

Outside the town there are two more municipal markets, with the same 7am to 1pm hours. Fuseta's sells fruit, vegetables, meat and fish landed by the village's own fishermen, and was refurbished between 2004 and 2006. Moncarapacho's, renovated in 2007 and 2008, has produce from local farmers and fresh fish.

You will also hear about monthly fairs and flea markets in Fuseta, Moncarapacho and Quelfes. We have not found an official calendar from the council or the parish councils, so we are not giving dates here. Ask at the parish council or at the market itself before planning a Sunday around one.

Practical tips

• Go early. First thing in the morning there is more choice, especially at the fish counters.
• Bring a bag and, if you are buying fish or shellfish, a cool box for the car.
• Carry some cash: some stalls only take cash.
• Saturdays are much busier. If you can, walk along the waterfront rather than drive.
• The markets are closed on Sundays and bank holidays. On Mondays they open, but there is less fresh fish and many stalls are shut.
• Pair the market with a ferry trip: pick up fruit for the beach and catch the boat to the islands straight after.