Apartamentos Sol e Ria

We wouldn’t suggest this place for anyone who has trouble with stairs, as they’re quite steep. In the evenings it can also be noisy until 11 pm, with restaurant delivery scooters using the alley. Otherwise, the apartments were spacious, clean and well maintained, with modern conveniences, plenty of towels, a nice bathroom and strong Wi-Fi. The rooftop terrace has a sea view, loungers and a BBQ. Staff we met were friendly and accommodating, even with the occasional language barrier. It’s an easy short walk to the markets, ferry terminal and supermarket. We stayed for 10 days in September and would definitely come back.

The apartment itself was functional, and the bed was comfortable. It’s also near the waterfront, though the area around Apartamentos Sol & Ria felt dodgy to me. The booking.com photos gave a misleading impression. The patio or terrace shown so prominently isn’t part of my apartment, it’s a shared rooftop area two floors up. There are several different apartment units in the building, and their photos seem to get mixed together, so it’s hard to know what you’ll actually get. The apartment I received wasn’t the one I expected.

The owner was really friendly and treated us well before and throughout our stay. The apartments are spacious, clean and comfortable, with everything you need for a longer visit. It’s a great base in Olhão, close to the main square, restaurants, bakeries, the fish market and the pier where boats leave for the main islands. I’d definitely recommend staying here.

The mattress in our apartment needs replacing. Its middle had sunk in badly, which made sleeping awkward. Even so, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again. The apartments are clean and modern inside, and the owners were very accommodating when we asked for a portable cot for our baby. The rooftop terrace was a peaceful place to sit with a cold beer and look out at the ocean. The location is hard to beat, just one street from the local strip of restaurants. Thanks for a lovely stay.