Albufeira

The Algarve, the southernmost region of mainland Portugal, stretches for about 155 km along a south-facing Atlantic coast, from the cliffs and coves of the west to the lagoons and sandy islands of the east. Albufeira sits near its middle, which makes it a practical base for beach days, boat trips to sea caves and drives to Lagos, Tavira and the Ria Formosa. The town suits families, groups of friends and couples, from those after a lively evening scene to those looking for a quiet beach. Vacation rentals include apartments near the old town, townhouses and villas with pools inland, and condos close to the beaches east and west of the centre.

Where to stay in Albufeira and the Algarve

Albufeira's old town, the Centro Antigo, puts you within walking distance of Praia dos Pescadores, the fishing harbour, restaurants and bars; apartments and small townhouses here suit couples and first-time visitors. About 2 km east, the Oura area and the busy avenue known as the Strip are lively until late in high season, a fit for groups who want nightlife on the doorstep. Farther east, Olhos de Água is a calmer village, where fishing boats still launch from the beach, close to Praia da Falésia, and many families choose villas or condos in this direction or inland around Guia and Paderne.

Elsewhere in the region, Lagos, in the west, combines a walled historic centre with Meia Praia and the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade, and suits travellers who want character and coastal walks. Tavira, in the east, is quieter, with a river running through its old town and island beaches in the Ria Formosa. Both work well for a longer stay or a second base.

Albufeira's beaches and old town

The town's beaches are tucked below cliffs of ochre and golden rock. Praia dos Pescadores, the fishermen's beach in front of the old town, is the town's central stretch of sand, and smaller beaches such as Peneco sit beside it. Toward the east lie Oura, Santa Eulália, Maria Luísa, Olhos de Água and Falésia; to the west, São Rafael, Coelha, Castelo, Galé and Salgados. Several have been awarded the Blue Flag for water quality and services.

In the old town, narrow streets climb between white houses to the clock tower, built on an old Islamic-era tower, and to the Igreja Matriz, the main church rebuilt in 1782 after the 1755 earthquake. The municipal archaeology museum, in the former town hall, traces the area from prehistory through the Roman and Islamic periods. At the marina, beside the fishing harbour, colourful local boats share the water with boats offering coastal trips to the sea caves.

Lagos, Ponta da Piedade and the west

Lagos, at the mouth of the Bensafrim river, was closely tied to Portugal's Age of Discovery. Henry the Navigator was closely associated with the town, the fleet that took Ceuta assembled in its harbour in 1415, and Gil Eanes, whose home port was Lagos, sailed past Cape Bojador in 1434. The town also had a slave market from 1444, a history now marked in its old centre. Lagos was capital of the Algarve from 1576 until the 1755 earthquake, and parts of its 16th-century walls still stand.

Just south of town, Ponta da Piedade is a headland of golden cliffs and sea stacks up to about 20 m high, with a lighthouse dating from 1913; several of its grottoes can be visited by boat. Farther west, about 35 km from Lagos, Cape St. Vincent marks the Algarve's western edge near Sagres, where the sea is noticeably cooler and the coast turns north into the wilder Costa Vicentina.

Tavira, the Ria Formosa and the east

East of Faro, the coast changes from cliffs to a chain of low sandy islands and lagoons. The Ria Formosa, protected since 1978, covers about 170 square kilometres of channels, salt marshes and barrier islands, including Armona, Culatra, Barreta and Tavira. It is an important stopover for migratory birds, and in 2010 it was voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal.

Tavira, about 28 km east of Faro, spreads along both banks of the Gilão river, joined by an old seven-arched bridge popularly called the Roman bridge. The town has a castle built in the Moorish period, many churches and a heritage of tuna fishing, remembered at Praia do Barril on Ilha de Tavira, where rows of old anchors lie in the dunes. The island beaches are reached by ferry or, at Santa Luzia, by footbridge. Closer to Albufeira, the Seven Hanging Valleys trail in Lagoa follows the clifftops for roughly 6 km between Vale Centianes and Praia da Marinha.

A short history

The Romans knew the settlement as Baltum, and its present name comes from the Arabic al-Buhayra, usually translated as the lagoon. The region's own name, Algarve, comes from al-Gharb, the west, as this was the western edge of Al-Andalus. Under Islamic rule, Silves, inland from the coast, was the region's main stronghold between the 9th and 12th centuries.

Afonso III took Albufeira in 1249, the same year Faro fell, and granted it to the Order of Aviz in 1250; King Manuel I gave the town a charter in 1504. The earthquake of 1 November 1755 and the tsunami that followed devastated the town and much of the coast. Fishing and farming sustained Albufeira until tourism grew in the second half of the 20th century, and it was raised to city status in 1986. Today the Algarve's economy depends heavily on visitors, and the region's population roughly triples at the height of summer.

Getting there and around

Faro Airport (FAO), officially Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport, is the main gateway to the Algarve. It lies about 4 km west of Faro, so Albufeira is roughly 40 km away, usually under an hour by car, taxi or transfer. Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is about 250 km to the north for travellers combining the Algarve with the capital.

The A22 motorway runs the length of the region, from Lagos to the bridge over the Guadiana into Spain, and, according to Infraestruturas de Portugal, has been toll-free since 1 January 2025. The Algarve railway line links Lagos with Faro, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António, with a station for Albufeira inland from the town, and regional buses connect the main towns. A car gives the most freedom for beaches, the west coast and the hills of Monchique, whose highest point, Fóia, reaches 902 m.

Weather and when to visit

The Algarve has a Mediterranean climate shaped by the Atlantic, with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. In Albufeira, average daytime highs range from about 16°C in January to about 29°C in July, and the town receives close to 3,000 hours of sunshine and around 485 mm of rain a year, most of it between autumn and spring, with December the wettest month.

July and August are the warmest, driest and busiest months, with full beaches and lively evenings. May, June and September are popular for warm weather with fewer crowds, and the sea is usually at its warmest in late summer. Winter is quiet and mild, good for walking, golf and long stays, though some beach businesses close. The Atlantic can bring strong waves and currents, so swim at beaches with lifeguards in season, follow the flags, and keep away from the edges and bases of cliffs, where rockfalls can happen.