Albufeira contains both the qualities of a typical Portuguese town with a pretty ‘old town’ area containing various impressive historical buildings and landmarks. There’s also a ‘strip’ area where you can find all the usual tourist amenities including restaurants, bars and clubs. The cobbled streets are lined with quaint shops and cafes.
Albufeira is a tourist city with a typical Portuguese feel.
Albufeira’s main income comes from tourism and during the peak season, this busy seaside city gears itself heavily towards tourism. Downtown Albufeira is a neighbourhood popular with tourists and has some great apartments located in the heart of the city. The main advantage of staying in this area is that you’re within walking distance of the city’s best nightlife. For a quieter holiday, consider staying on Albufeira’s waterfront. Like many Algarve towns, Albufeira is home to several interesting buildings dating back many centuries. The Vale Faro district of Albufeira is another neighbourhood popular with tourists. It is home to the peaceful Jardim da Cachoeira park and the bustling Albufeira Shopping Centre. Inland, the suburb of Caliços is where a number of holiday homes can be found.
Portugal used to be ruled by settlers from Morocco and the Moorish castle Albufeira Castelo de Almohada is an impressive 12th structure. Water sports and activities are popular in Albufeira and you can go snorkeling, boating, parasailing and jet skiing. A number of excellent golf courses around Albufeira including Balaia Golf Course and Pine Cliffs Golf Course are popular with visitors. On the Albufeira strip you can find shops selling typical Portuguese pottery, authentic souvenirs and snack food. Zoomarine Algarve is a great place to visit and fun for all the family. At the Zoomarine you can watch dolphins, seals, and sea lion presentations as well as catch a glimpse of tropical birds and birds of prey. You can also visit an amazing aquarium with sharks in various habitats.
There are lots of excellent restaurants in the city including seafood restaurants and places serving typical local cuisine such as Cataplana and fish. Avoid the seafront for restaurants as most of the establishments in this part are overpriced and low quality. Head further inland or to the old town to find numerous restaurants offering authentic cuisine. There is more to Portuguese cuisine than ‘piri-piri’ - look out for the excellent ‘bacalhau’ - this dish consists of cod baked in cream and served with potatoes. Another classic Algarve dish is ‘carapaus alimados’ (skinned horse mackerel) - fresh fish is hugely popular along the coast. A typical dessert you’ll find in Albufeira is the ‘pastel de nata’ which is essentially a custard tart. Portugal is a nation of sugar lovers and many enjoy a ‘nata’ every day.
Getting around Albufeira is straightforward enough due to the efficient bus system that serves most points of interest in the town including the old town and seafront. Hiring a car is possible in Albufeira but you’ll find driving around some of the smaller streets to be quite a struggle. Street signs are scarce and the maze-like structure of downtown Albufeira will confuse you! Albufeira is located 160 miles from the capital of Portugal, Lisbon on the south coast of Portugal. It is situated between the popular resorts of Lagos and Faro and is connected to both cities by train and bus – the journey takes just one hour. Trains to Lisbon take between three and four hours. Albufeira Train Station is located 6km from the city centre and a bus offers speedy connections into town.
Wimdu is Europe's largest marketplace for private accommodation. With over 300,000 lettings in more than 150 countries, you're sure to find the perfect place to stay.