Olhão vs Albufeira: which Algarve town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (15°C and 16°C). Olhão has fewer very hot days, a warmer sea and more cafés on foot; Albufeira has cooler summer nights and fewer strong earthquakes nearby.
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
- Car-light living: 26 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk and public transport close by
- Fewer very hot days (1 a year above 35°C, against 17)
- A warmer sea in August (22°C, against 20°C)
Albufeira
15,851 peopleChoose Albufeira if you want
- Beach lovers: A beach 0.1 km from the centre
- Cooler summer nights (39 nights a year above 20°C, against 71)
- Fewer strong earthquakes nearby (1 of M5+ since 1900, against 5)
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 | Olhão | Albufeira |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 15°C | 16°C |
| January low | 10°C | 8°C |
| July high | 29°C | 32°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 1 | 17 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 71 | 39 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 61 | 66 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 37 min | 9 h 37 min |
| Sea in August | 22°C | 20°C |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Olhão | Albufeira |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 26 | 19 |
| Pharmacies | 7 | 6 |
| Doctors and clinics | 7 | 7 |
| Cafés | 52 | 28 |
| Restaurants | 125 | 154 |
Getting around
| Measure | Olhão | Albufeira |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 0.2 km | 4.8 km |
| Nearest bus station | 0.0 km | 1.3 km |
| Nearest hospital | 7.8 km | 2.2 km |
| Nearest beach | 3.1 km | 0.1 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 12 km | 26 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Olhão | Albufeira |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €8.09/m² | €10.31/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €2,771/m² | €3,490/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +88% | +67% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 40.3 | 66.3 |
People
| Measure | Olhão | Albufeira |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,239 | 15,851 |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.3% | 18.8% |
| Under 15 | 14.9% | 12.4% |
| Born in another country | 13.5% | 29.9% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Olhão | Albufeira |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 5 | 1 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olhão | 15° | 16° | 18° | 20° | 22° | 26° | 29° | 29° | 26° | 23° | 19° | 16° |
| Albufeira | 16° | 17° | 19° | 21° | 24° | 28° | 32° | 32° | 28° | 24° | 19° | 16° |
Albufeira is warmer by 1°C or more in 7 months; in the other months the highs are within 1°C. Olhão in November · Albufeira in November
Olhão or Albufeira: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Olhão or Albufeira?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 15.3°C in Olhão and 15.5°C in Albufeira.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Olhão: 26 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 19 in Albufeira.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO): 12 km from Olhão and 26 km from Albufeira, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Olhão vs Albufeira: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/olhao-vs-albufeira/