Praia da Oura is a beach located on the eastern side of the bustling Portuguese town of Albufeira on the southern coast. Sun, sea, tasty food and incredible bars and clubs – welcome to the Algarve, Portugal’s ultimate party destination.
Bake on the Beach
The area has over 20 incredible beaches, but Praia da Oura is considered to be the best in Albufeira. Offering warm sapphire waters and soft golden sand, the beach sits at the bottom of a steep hill covered in luscious green. The description might sound cliché, but Oura Beach deserves its accolades. What I love about Oura is that it feels spacious, and when the tide is out, it stretches about 2km to the neighbouring Praia dos Olhos d’Agua. It’s also a blue flag beach, ensuring that the waters are of a good quality for swimming, that there are lifeguards on hand, and that the beach itself is clean. It’s the ideal backdrop to a promenade bursting with life, and here you’ll find restaurants, cafes, and more than a fair share of cocktail bars. This is the perfect place to relax on the sand, or perhaps build yourself up to the madness of the nearby strip.
Take on The Strip
From Praia de Oura, climb “Cardiac Hill” and you’ll reach the infamous strip. More formally known as the Avenida Sá Carneiro, the strip is a 3km road in the Montechoro district of Albufeira that is home to Portugal’s wildest nightlife. Here no matter what time of day it is, you’ll find restaurants, bars and nightclubs packed with young tourists from Northern Europe. There’s an overwhelming number of establishments on the strip, and so I wanted to point out some of my favourites!
Pools, Pints and Pitchers
First up: The Club Heaven Pool Party. This is undoubtedly a staple of the strip, and you come here for the packed foam party, pool, best in EDM and drinks, drinks and more drinks. Well on your way, you can start hitting some of the bars. I recommend the Wild & Co Show Bar because it offers something very unusual on the strip. There’s live rock music throughout the day and evening, incredible freestyling bartenders (I’m talking counter top displays) and creative themed nights.
If you want something a little more traditional, Matt’s Bar is the place. There’s an enormous indoor space and outdoor terrace, as well as guest DJs throughout the week, and huge TVs to catch up on sports in the day. They also organise a range of activities like boozy brunches and boat parties. My main reason for frequenting Matt’s Bar though is the ultimate challenge of the Albufeira strip: riding the truly wild bucking bronco!
Line Your Stomach
Hopefully you’re not feeling sick from all this, because it’s time for some delicious grub. Head to the famed local restaurant O Menel Dos Frangos for some unbelievable piri piri chicken and prawns. For a sit down meal, nothing beats a tangy Indian curry from the Clay Oven.
When night falls (or any time really… it is the strip after all), the clubs are beckoning. Capitulo V makes full use of the incredible location overlooking Oura beach. Though perhaps not the classiest of places, it’s a guaranteed good night out, with some of the best House DJs. The views are also pretty epic! For something a little for upmarket, the Libertos Lounge and Club has plenty of exclusive themed nights and events set in a stylish and modern club.
Once you’ve experienced the strip, you won’t be surprised at why it’s famous all over the world as a top party destination. In Albufeira, the sun is shining, the drinks are flowing, and everyone is there for one thing and one thing alone – to have a good time!
How to Get to Praia da Oura
To get to Praia de Oura, you’ll have to fly into Faro. From London the journey takes about 2.5 hours, with the cost of a return flight starting from around £49 per person. In fact, there’s a staggering 147 flights from London to Faro each week. Luton, Stanstead and Gatwick all run routes with the budget airlines to Faro.
From the airport, the easiest and fastest way to reach Praia de Oura is to pre-book an airport transfer with Shuttle Direct. Their bus transfer takes only 50 minutes, and is the best option for those who want to save money, reduce hassle and cut the time between the airport and cocktails on the beach.
Where to Stay
Leta’s Apartment – This is the ideal choice if you’re looking to stay with friends in Praia de Oura. It’s a self-catered apartment with a TV, WiFi, air conditioning and you get access to the pool. There’s also a small balcony with great views over Oura beach and – most importantly – the apartment is only 200 yards from the strip, guaranteeing you’ll be right next to the action.
About Shuttle Direct
For decades, Shuttle Direct has been one of the leading providers of airport transfers across Europe. Reserve in advance and we’ll ensure that your travel needs are met, even if your flight is delayed. Discover the easiest and cheapest way to ensure you get straight to the party this summer.
Book your transfer today, and one of our drivers will be waiting at the airport to whisk you off to paradise.
