Albufeira

The town of Albufeira, in the Algarve, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It was an important fishing and port centre, according to evidence dating back to the Neolithic and the Bronze Age.

These days, this town in the district of Faro, in the Algarve, is full of life, with plenty of appealing places to visit and around 30 kilometres of turquoise coastline.

To make the most of this area and its surroundings, we recommend hiring a car. That goes for the whole Algarve region, really, as the public transport system isn't very efficient.

What to see in Albufeira

Albufeira is one of those Portuguese towns that always stands out for having the most beaches awarded the Blue Flag. It's an accolade based on water quality, environmental conditions and facilities.

Its beaches are framed by huge rocks and handsome cliffs, the classic postcard image of the Algarve.

 

Albufeira town centre

In the historic centre of Albufeira, where the old buildings with their Moorish air are still standing, you'll find shops of every kind, restaurants and pedestrian streets that buzz with life all summer.

One of the towns with the most on offer.

Nightlife

The nightlife has its main stage on the street known as "Rua dos Bares"  or "The Strip" (there are plenty of British expats in this area). Here, a wide range of bars and clubs welcome you with their neon signs if you fancy a night out after a day on the beach.

It's the area around Avenida Sá Carneiro and its surrounding streets, so you can pinpoint it on the map.

Entertainment

As well as beaches and sea-based activities, in Albufeira you'll find other things to do such as a jeep safari through the interior of the Algarve or water parks.

Albufeira Marina

Albufeira has an attractive, modern marina from which plenty of tours and boat trips set off along the coast. (You can see them at the end of this post.)

From here you can head out to explore the caves and cliffs on gentle or high-speed boats, watch dolphins, take a trip with a barbecue on board, or hop on a catamaran with a club atmosphere that's very popular with younger visitors.

There are a few cafés where you can sit and wait for your trip to leave, plus some attractions for children such as pedal go-kart hire.

Olhos de Agua

Olhos d' Agua is a small village that forms part of Albufeira. Its two most famous beaches are Praia da Falesia and the beach that shares its name, Olhos de Agua.

On the beach at Olhos de Agua a very special natural phenomenon takes place. When the tide goes out, the Olheiros de Água Doce along the shore start to bubble and fill with fresh water rising up through the sand.

A beautiful and utterly unique sight.

Olhos de Agua has accommodation, shops, restaurants, cafés and bars. It's a good choice in the area, as there's plenty going on but it's perhaps a little quieter than the centre of Albufeira and its famously lively nightlife.

Albufeira's beaches

This list includes all the Blue Flag beaches. Watch out for the warning signs about falling rocks from the cliffs.

• Praia da Galé – West
• Praia da Galé – East
• Praia dos Salgados
• Praia Manuel Lourenço
• Praia do Evaristo
• Praia do Castelo
• Praia da Coelha
• Praia de São Rafael
• Praia dos Arrifes
• Praia dos Pescadores
• Praia do Forte de São João ou “Alemães”
• Praia do Inatel
• Praia de Santa Eulália
• Praia dos Aveiros
• Praia da Oura
• Praia da Oura-Leste
• Praia Maria Luísa
• Praia dos Olhos De Água
• Praia do Barranco das Belharucas
• Praia da Falésia – Açoteias ou Praia da Falésia
• Praia da Falésia – Alfamar
• Praia da Rocha Baixinha Nascente
• Praia da Rocha Baixinha Poente ou dos “Tomates”

Hotels in Albufeira

 

Tours and activities in Albufeira

Hotels in Albufeira

If you want to stay in an area of the Algarve with beautiful beaches but also plenty of buzz and nightlife, look for a hotel in Albufeira.

The town of Albufeira is a forty-minute drive from Faro Airport and two and a half hours from the capital, Lisbon.

Another advantage of Albufeira is its marina, the Marina de Albufeira, where some of the most popular boat trips along the Algarve coast set off from.

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Reasons to choose a hotel in Albufeira:

• Beautiful beaches
• Nightlife
• Lots of restaurants
• Plenty of places to stay
• It has its own marina
• Shops and shopping centres

Best area of Albufeira to stay:

If you're driving, pick your hotel on price and style. If you're relying on transfers or public transport, you're better off staying in the area near the beach that runs from the marina through the old town to Praia dos Pescadores, since you can walk to the nearest beach and have restaurants, shops and things to do close by.

 

Click to see hotels in Albufeira by area

You can see the hotels in Albufeira laid out on the map by clicking the image above.

Recommended hotels in Albufeira

Some of the most popular hotels in Albufeira:

Villa 19 Marina de Albufeira

Sao Rafael Atlantico albufeira

Falésia Garden

epic-sana-albufeira

California Beach albufeira

Apartamentos Rossio Mar albufeira

albufeira-mar-villas