Orbitur Ilha de Armona

As Ilha de Armona is car-free, guests who have travelled this far without an automobile might prefer to stick close at hand, taking advantage of a decent public transport system to get about. It’s a 20-minute ferry crossing from the island to Olhão from where more wide-ranging explores can be had. Not finished with island living? Stick about the port of Olhão to catch the ferry to Ilha da Culatra (a total of roughly 30 minutes of boat time), where more beaches and a lighthouse can be visited. In Olhão itself, a seafront park, a covered historical market, and a replica of the small boat used by local fishermen to sail to Brazil in the early 19th century are within easy walking distance for the whole family. Slightly further afield, a 40-minute walk will land visitors at the restored residence and grounds (and museum) of famed poet João Lucio. For even farther flung adventures, guests can stay car-free by boarding the train to nearby Faro (a 25-minute journey) or hire a car in Olhão and drive instead (20 minutes). The city’s a must-explore for its stunning architecture, art-filled marina, waterfront gardens and Capela dos Ossos, a chapel decorated with human skulls and bones.