Whitewashed houses and cobblestone streets combine with beautiful beaches and buzzing nightlife in one of the Algarve’s most popular holiday havens.
Albufeira delivers fun in the sun against backdrops of golden sand and neon-lit bars after dark. Spend your days beach hopping and exploring the narrow streets of the Old Town with pretty churches and plenty of places to pick up souvenirs to remember your Albufeira visit. Lined with colourful buildings, Albufeira Marina offers a dash of luxury with yachts and elegant restaurants. Meanwhile, kids enjoy amusement arcades and electric karting.
As a year-round destination drenched in sun, Albufeira hosts numerous events. Time your trip with summertime music concerts or Carnival festivities in February. Join travellers from the northern hemisphere who visit Albufeirain winter to enjoy the sun and vibrant celebrations for Christmas and New Year.
Things to do in Albufeira
You’ll likely settle into a hotel just steps from the beach in Albufeira. However, for added excitement on your way to iconic Praia do Peneco, one of the main beaches, take the scenic glass elevator down the clifftop. Soak up the lively atmosphere at the town’s other main beach, Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman’s Beach), located in front of the Old Town where you’ll find hotels and restaurants serving fresh seafood.
Stroll through the Old Town among whitewashed buildings and Moorish-inspired architecture with mosaic patterns. Take a photo with the quaint Church of Sant’Ana and choose a restaurant around the Albufeira Old Town Square (Jardim Público de Albufeira). To learn about the history of the area, visit the Albufeira Municipal Archaeology Museum and see intriguing items such as Roman mosaics.
Outdoor activities in Albufeira
Get your fill of sun, sand and sea on beach-hopping adventures. Admire the soaring red cliffs ofPraia da Falésia and explore the rock formations at Praia de São Rafael. Snorkel in the crystal-clear rock pools at Praia dos Arrifes and launch into water sports at Praia da Oura. For a round of golf with views, tee off at the Salgados Golf Course. It’s located next to the beach of the same name and a nature reserve teeming with birdlife.
From Albufeira Marina, take thrilling tours on catamarans and speed boats. Look for dolphins and explore coastal caves, such as the awe-inspiring Benagil Caves. Get a bird’s-eye view with the heart-pumping adventure of paragliding. Mountain biking is popular, with dirt roads and forest trails to explore. Kids and big kids of all ages love traversing the high ropes at Parque Aventura.
Dining and nightlife in Albufeira
Fill a picnic basket with fresh fruit and deli goods or choose from the fresh seafood catch of the day at Mercado Municipal dos Caliços. You’ll find the largest cluster of restaurants in the Old Town and at the marina, serving up everything from international cuisine to grilled sardines and chicken piri-piri.
The fun continues after dinner in the atmospheric bars surrounding the Albufeira Town Square. However, it’s Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro, better known as The Strip, that’s nightlife central. Partygoers spill out onto the streets from bars and clubs hosting karaoke and sports on big screens. During summer, expect live music and international DJs.
Getting around Albufeira
Fly into Faro International Airport for a 40-minute drive, taxi or bus ride to visit Albufeira. Once there, pedestrianised streets in the Old Town and beaches nearby make walking the best way to get around. A tourist train runs through the centre and stops at some beaches. Local buses take you to day trip destinations including Portimão and Lagos. Albufeira-Ferreiras Station provides train links between Faro and Lisbon to explore further afield.
