Mercado Municipal de Olhão

On the waterfront of Olhão, facing the Ria Formosa, the municipal market is one of the liveliest in the Algarve. Its fish halls fill early with the catch of the lagoon and the ocean, and its fruit and vegetable market carries the colours of the region — a morning ritual that has drawn visitors for generations.

History and identity

Olhão grew from its fishing and canning industries, and its market, built in the early twentieth century, became the stage of that daily life. The city’s fishermen still work the Ria Formosa and the coast, and their catch arrives at the market halls each morning, in a tradition that has changed little in its essentials.

What to find and discover

• The fish halls, with the morning catch and shellfish of the Ria Formosa.
• The fruit and vegetable market, with local produce and citrus.
• The waterfront setting, with views over the lagoon and its islands.
• The atmosphere of a working Algarve town at its morning best.

Products and specialities

The Ria Formosa provides clams, oysters, cockles and fish, while the land around Olhão adds oranges, figs, almonds and carob. The market is the natural place to taste the region before discovering the lagoon itself.

Nearby

The Ria Formosa Natural Park begins at the market’s doorstep, and the Mercado Municipal de Loulé is another of the Algarve’s great markets.

Visiting

The market is on the Olhão waterfront, about 15 kilometres east of Faro, reached by road and rail. It works every morning, with the busiest hours early; check with the municipality before your visit.

Information: cm-olhao.pt.

Image credit: Mercado Municipal de Olhão, by Vitor Oliveira, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.