Ilha da Armona

Armona is the closest island to Olhão: 15–20 minutes by public ferry, all year. You get two beaches: a calm lagoon beach next to the pier (Armona-Ria) and the open-sea beach (Armona-Mar) across the island. That makes it the easiest island half-day for families and for anyone working in Olhão. What to watch: from October to March there are only four boats each way at most (possibly three from Olhão on some winter weekdays), and you need cash for the tickets.

What we found (research)

• Two classified bathing areas: Armona-Mar (sea side) and Armona-Ria (lagoon side, by the pier, “clear and calmer water”). Lifeguards at both during the bathing season; WC and beach support at Armona-Mar; restaurants near the beaches. [Visit Olhão — Praias, 4 Oct 2026]
• Bathing season and Blue Flag period 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026 for both Armona-Mar and Armona-Ria. [ABAE, 4 Oct 2026]
• Olhão ↔ Armona ferry, departures from Olhão and from Armona: [amoteolhao.com, updated 23 Sep 2026; olhaocubista.pt, 4 Oct 2026]
  • 1 Oct–31 Mar: Olhão 08:30, 12:00, 15:00, 17:00; Armona 09:00, 12:30, 15:30, 17:30. A third site, algarvebus.info (adult fares as seen at the ticket office in May 2026), marks the 15:00 from Olhão as running only in October, from 15 December to 5 January, and at weekends and holidays from 1 November to 14 December and 6 January to 14 March; on other winter weekdays that would leave three boats from Olhão. We could not settle this, so ask at the pier.
  • 1 Apr–31 May: Olhão 08:30, 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00; Armona 09:00, 10:30, 12:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30.
  • July–August: about hourly from Olhão, 07:30–20:00; the 07:15 boat from Armona does not run on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays.
• Fares 2026: adult €4.40 return, child (4–10) €2.10 return; extra charges for pets in carriers and four-wheeled trolleys. Tickets at the ticket offices at the pier entrance, cash only, usually from 15–30 minutes before departure. [amoteolhao.com, updated 23 Sep 2026]
• The Olhão–Armona line is a public-service line, with AMAL (the Algarve inter-municipal community) acting as transport authority by delegation from Olhão. [IMT/AMAL contract addendum, Sep 2025]
• A family blog that visited in April 2025 paid €4.20 adult / €2.00 child return. It describes a 10–15 minute walk to the ocean beach, partly on sand, then boardwalk, then sand: they left the pushchair and carried the child. Cafés and restaurants by the pier, no shade on the beach, warm and shallow water. [Toddler Travel Diaries, 2025]

Good to know / Check before you go

• Timetables change by season — check the operator’s current timetable before you go.
• Bring cash. There is no online booking. [amoteolhao.com; Toddler Travel Diaries]
• Bring shade for small children: the family blog found none on the beach.
• The pin is the Armona ferry landing. The ocean beach (OSM) is about 1.7 km east-south-east of it in a straight line.