Albufeira in the Algarve (Portugal) is known as a party town filled with clubs. But what else is there to do in Albufeira? In this article, I’ll share 9 awesome things to do in Albufeira.
The best things to do in Albufeira, Portugal
The best things to do in Albufeira, Portugal In this article, I’ll share nine great things to do in Albufeira.
Visit Albufeira Old Town
Albufeira Old Town is really beautiful and a must-see when you are in Albufeira. White houses (sometimes with the typical Portuguese blue tiles) are spread over the hills. There are many narrow streets, stairs to climb, orange trees, flowers, and lots of cozy restaurants and cafes. I stayed in Albufeira Old Town for five weeks and I discovered a different beautiful place every day. It is really wonderful to spend an afternoon wandering around here!
Discover the most beautiful beaches
One of the reasons Albufeira is such an important tourist destination in the Algarve is because of its beautiful beaches. During my stay, I visited almost all the beaches in Albufeira and these were my favorites:
- Praia dos Arrifes (hidden among the rocks)
- Praia dos Alemães (for the best sunset)
- Praia da Oura Leste (quiet with a beautiful nature reserve)
Great to relax in the sun for an afternoon or just to take beautiful beach walks.
Go for a hike on the rocks
It took me a while before I found a nice hiking trail in Albufeira because they are not really indicated anywhere. Finally, I found a beautiful hiking trail over the rocks from Praia dos Alemães to Praia da Oura. Please wear good shoes as the rocks and sand can be very slippery (this hike is not suitable for all ages).
Eat delicious Portuguese dishes
Did you know that you can enjoy delicious food in Portugal? In the Algarve, you can eat a lot of delicious grilled fish (freshly caught for you), but it is really a must to eat bacalhau (codfish, this can be prepared in many different ways). And for dessert (or as a snack) you must eat a delicious bolo de arroz or pastel de nata.
Get out on the bar Strip
Do you like to dance and sing? Then you should go out for a night on the Strip. Here you will find many different nightclubs and I’m sure there will be something you’d like. Also for people who do not necessarily have to go out, it is nice to check out the Strip to see what is out there. It’s kind of like Disneyland for grown-ups.
Go on a tour to see the caves and dolphins
Many boat tours leave from Albufeira to other places in the Algarve. One of the best tours is to visit the caves by boat and if you are lucky you might even see dolphins! A tour is easy to book via Get Your Guide. I went on a tour with this organization and I absolutely loved it! It was a small group and we had a great guide, who knew a lot about the dolphins we saw and the coastline.
Visit the brightly colored marina
In Albufeira there are two harbors: Porto de Abrigo de Albufeira (here are mainly small fishing boats) and the larger Marina de Albufeira. The marina is very interesting to see because on the north side of this harbor is a brightly colored apartment complex. It is very nice to walk around here for an afternoon because it has a boulevard full of cozy restaurants and terraces. In addition, there is also entertainment in the form of a bowling alley and a go-kart track. It is virtually impossible to get bored here!
Visit the viewpoints
There are several viewpoints in Albufeira and the view from one point is even more beautiful than the other. It is therefore wonderful to walk from one viewpoint to another and check out all the viewpoints. For example, go to Miradouro Porto de Pesca for a view of the harbor or the Miradouro do Peneco for a view of Praia do Túnel. The Miradouro do Pau da Bandeira is also highly recommended. Here, you’ll find some cool artwork and from here you have a great view of Albufeira Old Town.
Go on a day trip and explore the area
Have you seen everything in Albufeira? Then you can always go on day tours to other places in this part of the Algarve. For example:
- Silves: a beautiful historic town with an old Moorish castle on top of a hill.
- Algar de Benagil: the caves of Benagil. Here you can visit a beach in a cave. How cool is that?
- Faro: more than just the airport. Faro has a beautiful old city center and there are many beautiful churches that you can visit.
How do you get to Albufeira?
You can arrange your trip to Albufeira yourself or book it as a package tour through a travel agency.
Arrange your own trip to Albufeira
If you arrange your own trip to Albufeira, you will have to arrange your own flight, transport from the airport to Albufeira, and your accommodation.
Flight: daily there are several flights from many cities in Europe to Faro. Look for tickets and prices on Skyscanner.
From Faro to Albufeira: there are several ways to travel from Faro to Albufeira. By public transport (slow, but cheap), a transfer (this usually can be arranged through your accommodation), by rental car or by taxi / Uber. I myself used Uber, this has a great price/quality ratio and is super fast. In addition, you can also pre-book a private transfer from the airport to Albufeira.
Package trip to Albufeira
There are various travel organizations that offer package holidays to Albufeira. This includes flight and accommodation. For example, you can book a package holiday to Albufeira through Love Holidays.
How to get around in Albufeira
Albufeira is bigger than you might think. Although many places are easy to walk to, it is sometimes useful to look at other forms of transport.
Public transportation in Albufeira
The local bus is called “Girobus”. These are small buses that run around the city. For example, the red line mainly runs around the old town of Albufeira and the green line runs around The Strip. You will find a map on this website. You can also visit places in the area with the EVA bus. A ticket is not expensive and you can buy it from the driver (bring cash).
Rental Car in Albufeira
It is most convenient to have a rental car when you are in Albufeira, so you are free to go wherever you want to and it’s easier to go on day trips. Renting a car in Portugal is not expensive at all (from € 17 per day is the lowest price I’ve seen so far) and the gas prices are also a lot lower than in other countries in Europe. Check Discover Cars and Rental Cars for prices.
Where to stay in Albufeira?
Where are you going to stay in Albufeira? There are many accommodations, the choice is enormous! If you would like to go out, it is best to find accommodation near The Strip (which is called Areias de São João). If you like to go to the beach a lot you can find something near the beach and if you ‘ If you like to walk through a pleasant city center in the evening, Albufeira Old Town is highly recommended.
Hotel in Albufeira
There are quite a few luxury (and less luxurious) hotels in Albufeira and most of them have a swimming pool. The advantage of sleeping in a hotel is that your room is cleaned every day and if you are lucky breakfast is included. The easiest way to book hotels is through Booking.com.
A few recommendations:
- Hotel Sol e Mar: 4 * hotel right on the beach, in Albufeira Old Town. Luxurious rooms with balconies and ocean views.
- Hotel California Urban Beach: 4 * hotel in Albufeira Old Town, adults only. With wellness facilities and a rooftop pool.
- Santa Eulalia Hotel & Spa: 4 * hotel near The Strip. Multiple swimming pools and only a short walk to the beach.
Apartments in Albufeira
Sleeping in an apartment is comfortable if you’d like to have more space and want to cook yourself. The choice of apartments in Albufeira is also huge, check out the offer on VRBO, Airbnb, or Booking.com. I slept in different apartments while in Albufeira and these were my favorites:
- My sweet home: a perfect apartment for 1 or 2 people. It has a swimming pool and is near the strip. It’s a 15-minute walk to Praia da Oura. Find it on Booking.com.
- Apartment Cardoso 3: a small but really nice apartment for 1 or 2 people. Large balcony, great location right in the Albufeira Old Town and 5 minutes walk from Praia do Túnel. You can find it at Booking.com.
- Apartamento Deluxe Quinta da Bellavista by Portugalferias: nicely furnished apartment for 1 to 4 people (1 bedroom with a king-size bed and a large sofa bed). Convenient location for both The Strip and Albufeira Old Town. Can be booked through Booking.com.
Hostels in Albufeira
Do you have a limited budget? There are even a couple of hostels in Albufeira. For example:
- Son of a Beach Hostel: nicely decorated and in a great location in Albufeira Old Town.
- Boas-Vindas: small-scale hostel in Old Town with a very friendly owner.
These were all my tips for a holiday in Albufeira! Do you have questions? Let us know by leaving a message below.
Would you like to read more about Portugal?
Check out these articles:
Or order one of these travel guides to read more about Algarve:
Algarve Travel Guide: 54 Cities/Towns/Villages
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