Albufeira is one of the largest, liveliest, and most exciting of the resort towns on the beautiful Algarve coastline. Thanks to its splendid beaches and vibrant nightlife, this fishing village has become one of Portugal’s most popular destinations. It provides everything needed for a fun-packed holiday, with glorious beaches, a wonderful climate, and varied activities.
At the heart of Albufeira lies the delightful “Old Town”, with its cobbled streets and traditional white-washed houses. This charming historic district of Albufeira boasts over one hundred restaurants and bars.
Albufeira was the Roman settlement of Baltum from 200 BC to 716 AD. It was taken over by the Moors, who renamed it Al-Buhera. When the Portuguese king Afonso III conquered the southwestern tip of the Iberian Peninsula in 1249, the town became Albufeira. Like most of southern Portugal, it was devastated by a major earthquake in 1755. It remained a quiet fishing village until the late 20th century when it grew as Portugal’s first major resort town.
The New Town lies 2 km to the east of the Old Town and is filled with modern hotels and apartment complexes. This is also the home to ‘The Strip’ – a street crammed with themed bars and pulsating nightclubs. Head here for themed bars, nightclubs and riotous nightlife that continues until the sun rises.
At The Strip lies Praia da Oura, the perfect location for recovering after a wild night out at the clubs. This beach provides golden sands and turquoise waters, but its smaller size means that it is extremely busy during the summer.
Although Albufeira welcomes a wide range of visitors, it is still primarily a family holiday destination, that is perfect for children. There are safe beaches, family-focused resort hotels and exciting waterparks for teenagers.
To the west of Albufeira is the colorful marina complex. Departing from here are numerous boat excursions, including dolphin-watching cruises, boat tours to Benagil cave, and party boats.
For a golfing holiday, Albufeira can’t be beaten. There are world-class golf courses. Golfing holidays are best from May to June or September to October when the sun is less intense.
Albufeira is situated on a stunning, sandy coastline and boasts magnificent beaches. This town is able to cater to families and couples seeking a more laid-back getaway, as well as those seeking a lively, party-filled holiday.
At the historic center of Albufeira, the Old Town consists of a series of traditional Portuguese streets and plazas filled with family-friendly restaurants and shops. This district opens out onto the Praia dos Pescadores beach, a calm and sheltered stretch of coast perfect for families and children. This is a magnificent sandy beach. This main beach of Albufeira is a 1.3 km stretch of sand that extends along the front of the Old Town. Its vast size means there is ample space, even in peak summer months, and the beach is sheltered from any strong waves or sea breezes.
The most picturesque beaches in the Albufeira region can be found to the southwest of the marina, however, a car or taxi will be needed to travel to them. These beaches nestle at the base of golden cliffs, with the most beautiful being the Praia de São Rafael.
Most visitors come to Albufeira to relax on the beaches or to party at night, but there is a lot more to do and see within the surrounding region as well.
The Algarve boasts some amazing water parks and theme parks, however, none of these are situated in Albufeira. To reach these, you will need to travel by car, taxi/Uber, or use a shuttle service.
The best water park is Slide & Splash (30 km from Albufeira), a huge complex of insane slides, flumes, and rubber ring rides. Water parks closer to Albufeira include Aqualand (15 km) and Aquashow Park (19 km). The best theme park is Zoomarine (9 km), which is a combination of a waterpark and sea life center that is well known for its dolphins.
All of these theme parks are modern and well-maintained, with the only downside being expensive entrance fees.
Albufeira is an amazing holiday destination, and you will have a fantastic time here!
When to go to Albufeira?
The city has a Mediterranean climate, with the sun shining over 300 days a year. It has hot summers, pleasant springs/autumns, and winters that are mild but have the chance of poor weather. The peak season is in July and August, but September is also surprisingly busy with couples who have no children.
The water is never too warm, and although there might be many sunny days in winter, temperatures are never high enough for sunbathing at the beach from November to March. In August the town tends to be crowded (and more expensive), so the best times to go are late June, early July, and early September. Temperatures on dry summer days can reach between 35-40 °C, but at night it’s always much cooler and pleasant.
How to get there?
The main international airport of southern Portugal is Faro Airport, which is 36 km east of Albufeira.
There is surprisingly poor public transport from Faro Airport to Albufeira, so the best choice is either to pre-book a private transfer or get a taxi at the airport.
Private transfers to Albufeira cost around €40 (for 1-4 people). Getting a taxi at the arrivals lounge costs about the same fee.
There are also ride-hailing apps (such as Uber and Bolt) in the Algarve, however, demand can be very high at peak times.
Traveling from Faro airport to Albufeira by public transport requires catching two buses; the first from the airport to Faro city center, and the second one is from Faro to Albufeira. The journey by public transport is inexpensive, but they depart very rarely and there are long waits for connections.
