Praia da Fuseta: the #1 guide
In the municipality of Olhão you can find the beautiful beach of Fuseta. In fact, there are two beaches: one located on land, facing the Ria Formosa and another located on an island, facing the Atlantic Ocean. If you like to enjoy nature and if you enjoy a peaceful beach, this is for you. Discover why Praia da Fuseta is worth visiting.
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Would you like to see the beaches around Fuseta? Then take a look at the video below.
Fuseta
Fuseta (sometimes spelled as Fuzeta) is a fishing town near the Ria Formosa. The town of Fuseta is relatively small and has about 2000 permanent inhabitants. There is a small harbour in Fuseta, where you can see many colourful fishing boats. The two main beaches of Fuseta are Praia da Fuseta-Ria and Praia da Fuseta-Mar.
Praia da Fuseta-Mar (Ilha da Fuseta)
Praia da Fuseta-Mar is the beach on the island across the town of Fuseta. The island is Ilha da Armona, but this part of the island (in front of Fuseta) is sometimes referred to as Ilha da Fuseta. So while Ilha da Fuseta sounds like a separate island, it simply is the same island as Ilha da Armona. Praia da Armona is located on the western side of the island, while Praia da Fuseta is located on the eastern side. Access to the island is by ferry.
It is a narrow but long beach, backed by dunes. The dunes of the island are thin in the east and become wider towards the west. The sand on Ilha da Fuseta is white and soft. Praia da Fuseta-Mar faces the Atlantic Ocean. That is why the water here is colder than at Praia da Fuseta-Ria, which faces the Ria Formosa. The water here is great for swimming and snorkeling though.
Most people stay on the part of the beach closest to the point of arrival by ferry. However, the beach is not crowded at all. There is always enough space for everyone. In fact, if you walk for a couple of minutes in either direction, you will be completely alone on the beach. It will give you the feeling of being on a deserted island. It is a great beach is you like being in nature and love some peace and quiet.
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If you walk east from the point of arrival, you will end up on the deserted beach of Barra da Fuseta after about 45 minutes. This beach is characterized by natural pools which appear at low tide. There is no support infrastructure or lifeguard on this part of the island.
If you walk west from the point of arrival, you might see some nudism after a while. Because Praia da Fuseta-Mar is located on the island of Ilha da Armona, you could walk all the way west towards Praia da Armona-Mar if you wanted to. However, this walk would take several hours.
Praia da Fuseta-Ria
Praia da Fuseta-Ria is the beach located next to the harbour of Fuseta. It is the town’s beach which you can visit without having to take a ferry. From the town of Fuseta, you can walk to this beach. Praia da Fuseta-Ria is also known as Praia dos Tesos.
Praia da Fuseta-Ria has warmer water than Praia da Fuseta-Mar. The water here is very calm, which is great for children. Kids usually love this beach and the beach is popular among families. The facilities here are good and there are many restaurants nearby. No wonder that this beach is quite crowded in summer. Praia da Fuseta-Ria is a great place to enjoy for a couple of hours.
The beach is characterized by a curious building, which is a former lifeguard and rescue station.
During high tide, this station is completely surrounded by water.
This beach lies in the Ria Formosa natural park, which is known for its stunning beauty and abundance of wildlife. Make sure to discover the lagoons and islands of Ria Formosa.
Water sports
There is a water sports operator on the beach called Supculture. Here you can enjoy several water sports, including kitesurfing, windsurfing and stand-up paddle boards.
How to get there
The easiest way to move around in the Algarve is by car. If you don’t have one, make sure to rent a car. To get to Fuseta, drive on the N125 and take the exit N125-5. Follow the road until you get to Fuseta. You can park your car near the harbour. However, parking nearby the beach is often quite difficult. Chances are you have to walk a bit.
From the parking area you can reach Praia da Fuseta-Ria by foot. To best way to get to Ilha da Fuseta is to take a ferry. The ferry departs from either the harbour of Fuseta or Olhão, and only from March until October. From Fuseta, the ferry journey only takes about 10 minutes. A round trip ticket price is € 1,80 for adults and € 0,90 for children. Another way to reach Ilha da Fuseta is by wading through the water during low tide, but this is not the most comfortable way.
Restaurants
Right next to Praia da Fuseta-Ria, there is a restaurant called Borda d’Água. This is a good place to have lunch. It is the nearest restaurant to the beach and the quality of the food is good. On Ilha da Fuseta, you can find two beach bars in the middle of the beach. They are good places to get refreshments.
Hotels
If you wish to stay near Fuseta, there are several good options. We recommend the following hotels near Fuseta:
- Bela Alexandra Guest House. This guest house provides excellent value for money. Comfortable rooms and the host (Alexandra) is very friendly. Located only 2 kilometres from the beach of Fuseta.
- Moinhos das Marés. This guest house looks very cute, with its blue painted doors. Beautiful location as well, right near the Ria Formosa. Basically it has all you need for a great holiday in the Algarve.
- Barco Casa Fuzeta. Looking for something unique? This hotel is located on a boat, anchored in the Ria Formosa. It includes a double bed and an additional room. There is a rowing boat available to discover the area. If you wish to sleep on the water while looking at the stars, this experience is for you.
Excursions
There is a lot to see in the area around Fuseta and Olhão. What about discovering the Ria Formosa? Or a dolphin watching tour? An excursion can be an excellent way to discover the area. Some of these excursions can already be booked online. Below you can find our favourite excursions near Fuseta.
Facilities
Both Praia da Fuseta-Mar and Fuseta-Ria are Blue Flag beaches. This means they have excellent facilities and conform to high-quality standards. For example, there are lifeguards on-site and you can rent sunbeds.
Facilities in Praia da Fuseta:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: yes
- Water sports: yes
- Sunbeds: yes
- Parking: yes, in the town of Fuseta
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue Flag beach: yes
