Fuseta Portugal: Ultimate Travel Guide

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Fuseta Portugal, sometimes also spelled Fuzeta is a small fishing village in the Algarve. It’s about halfway between Tavira and Faro on the coast.

To be completely honest there are not that many attractions to visit in Fuseta but it has a beautiful beach, actually it even has two beaches, and when you wander away from the marina you can experience an authentic Portuguese small town.

I stayed in a small village outside of Fuseta for 3 weeks housesitting and during this time I had the chance to go to Fuseta on a few occasions.

How to get to Fuseta, Portugal

Despite Fuseta being a small fisher town it has great accessibility by public transportation.

The train from Lagos to Vila Real de Santo António which goes almost the whole length of the Algarve stops in Fuseta. This means you can get to Fuseta from every major city in the Algarve, like Lagos, Albufeira, Faro and Tavira. Here you can check out a list of all stops.

If you’re just arriving in the Algarve, your first destination is probably Faro airport since it’s the only city in the Algarve with an international airport. And from Faro, it’s just a short train ride to Fuseta.

Things to do in Fuseta Portugal

1. Go sailing or take a boat tour

Tina with sunglasses and a big hat on a boat in Fuzeta Portugal

Fuseta is in the Ria Formosa National Park, a system of lagoons and barrier islands just off the coast of Fuseta.

Most people explore the Ria Formosa from Olhão or from Faro but you can also explore this unique ecosystem from Fuseta.

A great way to take in the beautiful scenery is from a sailing boat. You get to sail through the Ria Formosa, go for swims in the clear waters and if you’re lucky you might even spot some dolphins.

Getting the chance to see dolphins sounds amazing but the sailing part doesn’t? Take a Dolphin Observation Tour.

🤩 Check Prices and Availability of a Sailing Trip!

2. Walk to the beach

A very empty beach in Fuzeta Algarve — Praia da Fuseta-Ria

The Praia da Fuseta Ria is the beach in Fuseta facing the Ria Formosa. This beach is easily accessible on foot from the town centre of Fuseta.

The beach is sheltered by the barrier islands resulting in calmer and warmer water and also less wind.

There are different restaurants and bars on the beach and a little hut where you can rent standup paddle boats. You can also rent sun beds and the swimming area is fenced in to protect the swimmers.

3. Take the ferry to the other beach

A ferry boat returning from Isla de Fuseta — The ferry to Fuseta beach

The second beach in Fuseta is Praia da Fuseta Mar which is located on Fuseta Island which is technically Armona Island, one of the best beach destinations near Olhão. People often call the island Fuseta Island even though there’s just one island, Armona Island.

The ferry costs 2.15€ return and takes about 10 minutes. There are two ferries constantly going back and forth between the marina and the island.

Praia da Fuseta Mar also has all the amenities you might need, toilets, bars, sun bed rental, lifeguards.

I visited in late September and both beaches were quite quiet. However, in the summer months, Praia da Fuseta Ria can get very busy and then Praia da Fuseta Mar gives you the chance to find a more quiet spot.

The beach on the island is so big, you could actually walk all the way to Praia da Armona (Mar) but this would take a few hours.

4. Go for a stroll in the marina

Small fisherboats in the harbour of Fuseta Portugal — Traditional boats near the fishing docks

To me Fuseta kind off has two sides and in the marina they meet.

The beach is very busy and touristy and you’ll hear many languages spoken, I especially noticed a lot of German but maybe I just notice that more since it’s my mother tongue.

The rest of the town still looks very traditional Portuguese. In the marina, those two sides get combined, and you see tourists having a drink next to traditional fisher boats.

So going for a stroll at the marina is a great way to soak in the unique atmosphere of this coastal town.

5. Visit the fishermen’s statue

A statue of a fisher holding a fish in the middle of a roundabout in Fuseta Algarve

The most famous statue in Fuseta is the one in the middle of the roundabout in the marina. And very appropriate for a fisher town it’s a statue of a fisher holding a fish.

You’ll walk past this statue on the way to the marina. So might as well take a picture with this oversized statue. It’s best to take a picture with you standing next to the statue so you see his dimensions better but since I visited alone that wasn’t possible.

6. Experience the shift of the tide

An abandoned lifeguard building at Praia da Fuseta Ria

We all know about the changing of the tide but so often it’s difficult to really see how much the water level actually changes.

In Fuseta there’s an old lifeguard house, on Google Maps you’ll find it under Antiga estação Salva-Vidas da Fuseta. During low tide, you can walk all the way to the building but during high tide, the building is surrounded by water.

7. Watch life go by at the main square

A square in Fuseta with many different restaurants and cafés which all have chairs and tables on the square

As I mentioned before, Fuseta is a traditional Portuguese village and the best place to watch the traditional Portuguese life is from the Praça da República, the Republic Square.

Sit down on a bench or have a drink at one of the cafés or restaurants and watch life go by around you.

8. Stroll through the narrow streets

A narrow street with an orange blooming plant growing up on one building — Just wander around and take in the beauty!

One of the best things to do in Fuseta Portugal is just to stroll around outside of the busy harbour area. Just start walking and turn into whatever street looks prettiest. Don’t worry about getting lost, Fuseta is so small that can’t happen.

I really enjoyed walking through those small streets and taking in the local architecture.

9. Keep your eyes open for Portuguese ceramics

A ceramic swallow on the wall of a house

Portugal is known for different ceramic products like the traditional Portuguese blue tiles called Azulejos or swallows.

On my walk through Fuseta, I discovered a few of those traditional swallows decorating the facades of buildings. I even saw one Barcelos Rooster adorning the rooftop terrace of a building.

So keep your eyes open to traditional Portuguese works of art, which by the way also make for great souvenirs from Portugal.

10. Visit the graveyard

The outside of a church and a graveyard next to it, in front of the church wall, are some cars parked — I was really surprised how beautiful the graveyard is

When I researched things to do in Fuseta Algarve the Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, or Igreja Matruz da Fuseta as its also called, came up a few times, so I had to check it out.

Unfortunately, the church itself was closed when I visited but I was able to have a look at the cemetery. And the cemetery must be the highlight of the church anyway.

There were so many beautiful mausoleums in the graveyard, many of them decorated with the traditional Portuguese Azulejos. It was a really serene experience walking through the graveyard.

But you’re not allowed to take pictures inside, so you have to. check it out for yourself.

11. Buy some fresh fruits at the market

The outside of market in building in Fuseta

The Mercado Municipal da Fuseta might not be able to compete with the big market in Olhão but it’s still a very nice market to buy some fresh produce.

The market is open every day except Sundays, from 7 am to 2 pm. You can buy all sorts of local fruits and vegetables and fresh fish in the market.

12. Go for food in the only vegetarian restaurant

Tina sitting at a table with a pizza and a salad in front of her, holding a bottle of kombucha — We had vegan pizza and a salad

As you might have guessed a fishing village is not the best place for vegan food. So I was really surprised to find out that there’s a vegetarian restaurant in Fuseta, Restaurante Escandinávia – Green Spirit.

Unfortunately, they don’t have the vegan items labelled on the menu. Also, there are not that many by default vegan dishes but the staff is very friendly and they explain to you what dishes can be made vegan upon request.

13. Drink a locally brewed craft beer

The outside of a pub with some chairs outside and a tiny truck parked next to the chairs — Best place in Fuseta if you love beer

Fuseta. even has its own micro-brewery, NanoBrew Fuzeta.

NanoBrew Fuzeta is an excellent place to have a drink in the evening. You can try a few different craft beers and find your favourite.

Where to stay in Fuseta

Houseboat recommendation in Fuseta: Barco Casa Fuzeta

The best place to stay in Fuseta to truly appreciate this coastal town is on a houseboat! Yes, you heard right, you can actually stay on a houseboat. But don’t worry, they’re not some shabby-looking houseboats but very stylish and modern with an outdoor terrace.

🤩 Check Prices and Availability of the Houseboats!

Hotel recommendation in Fuseta: Moinhos das Marés

One of the highest-rated hotels in Fuseta is Moinhos das Marés. It’s a rustic-looking hotel with a lot of charm next to the waterfront.

Apartment recommendation in Fuseta: Casa do Mar – Apartamento com vista Ria e Mar

If. you prefer to stay in an apartment, I can recommend Casa do Mar. It’s a very affordable, bright two-bedroom apartment for up to 6 people.

Best time to visit Fuseta

The best time to visit Fuseta, Algarve, is in late spring and early autumn, the temperatures are still very warm but not too hot and there are fewer people.

Because even though Fuseta doesn’t get as many tourists as some other destinations in the Algarve like Faro or Lagos, it can get crowded at Praia da Fuseta Ria during high season.

So if you decide to visit during the summer months you’ll definitely need to go to Praia da Fuseta Mar for some relaxing beach time.

Day trips from Fuseta

If you decide to spend the main part of your holiday in the relaxing atmosphere of Fuseta, you can still visit more touristy places on day trips.

Olhão

Olhão is just an 8-minute train ride away from Fuseta by train. Some of my favourite things to do in Olhão were to learn about the local legends and to see the amazing street art.

In Olhão you can also float on a salt lake at the Salinas do Grelha, which has the same salt concentration as the Dead Sea.

Faro

A day trip from Fusetato to Faro is a great option to see the biggest city in the Algarve. The train ride to Faro is very scenic with sprawling landscapes and views of the sparkling sea.

Faro offers a variety of experiences, from its historical old town of Faro brimming with old-world charm to its lively marina and the beautiful Faro beach on an island.

Tavira

Tavira is another beautiful town to visit on a day trip from Fuseta. It is known for its stunning architecture, including the historic Tavira Castle, and its charming streets lined with traditional Portuguese houses.

One of my favorite things to do in Tavira was to explore the Tavira Island, a small uninhabited island with pristine beaches and crystal clear waters. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxing day at the beach.

Final thoughts: Is Fuseta worth visiting?

If you’re looking for a hidden gem in the popular Algarve Fuseta is perfect for you.

I really enjoyed strolling through the narrow streets of Fuseta and visiting the beautiful beaches but all in all, I would say it’s not worth it as a destination on its own. However, it is worth stopping by if you’re in the area anyway.

It makes for an excellent escape from Faro for a day or two to experience a more authentic side of the Algarve.

Fuseta Portugal: Ultimate Travel Guide

How to get to Fuseta, Portugal