It seems that almost every time we read about one of Europe’s great holiday resorts we learn that it used to be a fishing village before the arrival of tourism. In the majority of these destinations it’s hard to picture a small fishing fleet on the beach with fishermen tending to their nets.
Albufeira lies on Portugal’s Algarve coast, what makes it different from these other fishing villages turned mega-resorts is that it’s really quite easy to imagine such a scene as you wander the cobbled streets of the Old Town. In fact you may still catch a glimpse of a few local fishermen working on Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman’s Beach) beneath the Old Town as they prepare their catch for the local restaurants.
But let’s not get too carried away with reminiscing … Today Albufeira is one of Europe’s largest tourist resorts which attracts in excess of 5 million annual visitors. Of the foreign tourists the majority arrive from the UK, Ireland, Holland and Germany with Faro International Airport their primary point of arrival. The main attractions include the climate which boasts more than 300 days of sunshine per year, glorious beaches running the whole length of the resort, a wide spectrum of accommodation to suit every pocket and a such a plethora of bars and restaurants that there’s something for everyone.
On my first visit to Albufeira I was pleasantly surprised by what I discovered thanks to spending my time discovering the Old Town. What I hadn’t realised at the time was that there are two distinct parts to Albufeira. Whilst the Old Town is charming with distinct reminders of its Moorish past, there’s another part of the resort located about 2.5km to the east. This is known as ‘the Strip’ and is the quintessential package holiday resort Magaluf style. It is packed with bars, restaurants and nightclubs which are open well into the early hours.
As such it’s important to decide which of the two Albufeiras is right for you. The Old Town is by no means quiet with plenty bars and restaurants scattered around but the nightlife isn’t as wild as ‘the Strip’. On the other hand the Old Town has quite a lot of steep hills making it unsuitable for anyone with mobility issues.
Albufeira Tourist Attractions
Beaches: A beach run the whole length of Albufeira changing its name along the way. Beneath the Old Town it is called Praia dos Pescadores which has beautiful, golden sand and a selection of fish restaurants overlooking it. A continuation of it to the west is the scenic Praia do Peneco (also known as Praia do Túnel) which gets very busy during the peak holiday season. Praia do Inatel stretches east from the town eventually becoming known as Praia da Oura at the end of ‘the Strip’. This is a glorious beach with a whole host of activities on offer and many bars and restaurants overlooking it.
Golf: The Algarve is one of the world’s premier golfing destinations with 35 courses available. Whilst the area around Vilamoura is the region’s holy grail as far as golfers are concerned, there are three courses very nearby including the 18-hole Salgados course and the 9-hole courses at Pine Cliffs and Balaia Golf Village. Considering the excellent road transport along the whole of the Algarve and the affordability of car hire, all the region’s courses are readily accessible from Albufeira.
Marina: The marina lies about 1.5km west of town and is the go-to place for ocean based activities including boat trips along the coast, deep-sea fishing excursions and scuba diving. It’s also earned a favourable reputation as a great place from where to take dolphin watching expeditions. Even if you aren’t looking for any such trips it’s well worth a visit to take a look at the yachts which are moored there and to frequent its bars and restaurants.
Restaurants: As is the case in holiday resorts the world over, dining out can be somewhat hit and miss. Many of the eateries nearest the beach are typical tourist-traps, you’ll usually find better options as you walk further up the hill. And if you like seafood you’re in for a treat as there are some tremendous fish stews on offer which are considered a local delicacy. A few restaurants worth looking out for are as follows:
– Os Arcos Restaurante (Rua Alves Correia, 25): Located on a back street in the Old Town this is a traditional restaurant frequented by locals and tourists alike. Excellent selection of both seafood and meat dishes.
– Restaurante O Catraio (Rua 5 de Outubro): Another friendly little place in the Old Town serving a good range of fresh fish dishes at very reasonable prices.
– Restaurante A Ruína (Cais Herculano): This is a fine choice for upmarket Portuguese cuisine overlooking the sea. Their menu offers a fine choice of meat and fish options.
Getting to Albufeira
Albufeira lies 40km west of Faro Airport. Following the A-22 toll road the journey takes around 40 minutes. There are plenty taxis available on arrival but you’ll generally find that pre-booked transfers with Shuttledirect offer better value. They can provide you with shared shuttle transfers or private transfers and can cater for all group sizes. Alternatively, you could pre-book a hire car and collect it on arrival at the airport.
There are public transport options but they’re fairly inconvenient compared with the shuttle transfer option. For instance you could get a bus into Faro then take a train to Ferreiras which is about 6km from Albufeira. Airport buses only go into Faro bus station from where you’d need to find another service heading for Albufeira.
Where to Stay in Albufeira
With more than 500 hotels and a vast selection of self-catering apartments in the vicinity of Albufeira you’ll be spoiled for choice when looking for accommodation. Below are three properties that stand out from the crowd in their respective categories:
5-Star Choice – EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel (Aldeia da Falésia): Located some 10km east of the Old Town, this is a world-class resort hotel. It offers great ocean views and everything about it is simply sensational. Fabulous rooms, superb food in each of its 3 restaurants, beautiful swimming pools, friendly and professional staff and so much more.
4-Star Choice – ClubHotel Riu Guarana (Quinta do Milharo): This resort hotel lies 7km east of town near the beautiful Praia dos Olhos de Agua. A fine choice for family holidays with first-class amenities including a great swimming pool, excellent restaurants and a hard-working entertainments team.
3-Star Choice – Natura Algarve Club (Rua Fernao Lopes): Located just 3km east of the Old Town this is a good value option. It has nice, quiet rooms, a great swimming pool and bar area and is a short stroll from ‘the Strip’. Good selection of bars and restaurants nearby as well as public transport for visiting the Old Town.
