Quarteira vs Olhão: which Algarve town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (15°C and 15°C). Quarteira has cooler summer nights and fewer strong earthquakes nearby; Olhão has more doctors on foot, more cafés on foot and a closer train station.
Quarteira
24,420 peopleChoose Quarteira if you want
- Beach lovers: A beach 0.3 km from the centre
- Cooler summer nights (48 nights a year above 20°C, against 71)
- Fewer strong earthquakes nearby (1 of M5+ since 1900, against 5)
Olhão
29,239 peopleChoose Olhão if you want
- Retirees: Hospital 7.8 km away, 15°C January highs, 7 pharmacies within a 15-minute walk
- More doctors and clinics within a 15-minute walk (7, against 3)
- More cafés within a 15-minute walk (52, against 36)
- A train station closer by (0.2 km, against 5.4 km)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Quarteira | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 15°C | 15°C |
| January low | 9°C | 10°C |
| July high | 29°C | 29°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 1 | 1 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 48 | 71 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 64 | 61 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 37 min | 9 h 37 min |
| Sea in August | 21°C | 22°C |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Quarteira | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 20 | 26 |
| Pharmacies | 5 | 7 |
| Doctors and clinics | 3 | 7 |
| Cafés | 36 | 52 |
| Restaurants | 141 | 125 |
Getting around
| Measure | Quarteira | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 5.4 km | 0.2 km |
| Nearest bus station | 0.2 km | 0.0 km |
| Nearest hospital | 10 km | 7.8 km |
| Nearest beach | 0.3 km | 3.1 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 13 km | 12 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Quarteira | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €10.81/m² | €8.09/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €4,137/m² | €2,771/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +73% | +88% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 48.8 | 40.3 |
People
| Measure | Quarteira | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,420 | 29,239 |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.4% | 20.3% |
| Under 15 | 13.6% | 14.9% |
| Born in another country | 29.0% | 13.5% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Quarteira | Olhão |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 1 | 5 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarteira | 15° | 16° | 18° | 19° | 22° | 26° | 29° | 29° | 26° | 22° | 18° | 16° |
| Olhão | 15° | 16° | 18° | 20° | 22° | 26° | 29° | 29° | 26° | 23° | 19° | 16° |
The average highs are within 1°C of each other in every month. Quarteira in November · Olhão in November
Quarteira or Olhão: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Quarteira or Olhão?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 15.2°C in Quarteira and 15.3°C in Olhão.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Olhão: 26 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 20 in Quarteira.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO): 13 km from Quarteira and 12 km from Olhão, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Quarteira vs Olhão: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/quarteira-vs-olhao/