Albufeira

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Top attractions in Albufeira

See all tours & things to do in Albufeira

Best things to do in Albufeira

Albufeira is renowned as a hub of seaside tourism, and for good reason. Beyond the immaculate beaches and historic points of interest, inland Portugal offers gorgeous rural scenery, ripe for hikes and excursions. Here are some of the highlights!

  • Zoomarine Algarve

    1. Zoomarine Algarve

    One of southern Portugal's leading tourist attractions couples a superb aquarium (which includes birds too) with daily sea lion and dolphin shows. You can even swim with the latter!

  • Praia dos Pescadores

    2. Praia dos Pescadores

    Known as Fisherman's Beach for its former harbor economy, this is Albufeira's best recreational beach. Not in the mood for sunbathing? Try parasailing or the local seafood instead!

  • 3. Castle of Paderne

    Visit this 12th-century Moorish castle for great views over the Quarteira River, with a Roman bridge that's still in use! Don't miss the sleepy village of Paderne along the way.

  • 4. Roman ruins of Cerro da Vila

    Another sightseeing excursion. This one features the fascinating remnants of an ancient Roman villa that dates back to when Caeser Augustus ruled the Algarve!

  • Praia da Marinha

    5. Praia da Marinha

    Considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful beaches, the clean sands and startling rock formations of Praia da Marinha are definitely worth the short trip from Albufeira.

  • International Sand Sculpture Festival

    6. International Sand Sculpture Festival

    A jaunt northwest of Albufeira lies Pêra – home to this celebration of spectacular sand sculpting. It's a must-see, and generously runs from March to October!

  • Dolphin spotting

    7. Dolphin spotting

    If seeing dolphins at Zoomarine isn't quite satisfying, why not board a boat tour to spy these majestic creatures in the wild? You can even explore the caves while you're at it!

Planning Your Visit

  • When to visit?

    Albufeira is famed for being a year-round destination. Unfortunately, the recession has forced many businesses to start closing off-season (November to March). Although the holiday season is probably the best time to visit, you might also want to take advantage of the city's winter prices! The weather will still be pleasant, if possibly too brisk for swimwear!

  • How to get there?

    Albufeira is just 40 km from Faro Airport. From there it can be easily reached by regional train, bus, or car/taxi. Note that Albufeira train station is on the outskirts of the city, so you'll need to complete your journey to the center by taxi. If arriving at Lisbon Airport, make your way to Gare do Oriente and catch a train from there.

Good to know

  • Language
    Portuguese
  • Currency
    Euro (€)
  • Time Zone
    UTC (+00:00)
  • Country Code
    +351
  • Best time to visit
    Albufeira is lovely all year round. Summers are hot, but not scorching, with a 70°F average, and winter temperatures don't dip below 50°F. From June to August Albufeira will be at its most festive, so the beach-happy in particular are recommended to go at this time!

Top Attractions in Albufeira

Things to Do in Albufeira

Cities in Portugal

Sightseeing in Albufeira

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What people are saying about Albufeira

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 7,300 reviews

If you want out of the tourist trap: Do this! Hugo was my guide and I totally recommend him. Next time I'm here I will do this again, with Hugo. Learned a lot and had a great time. This is not about money to him but showing the country he obviously loves. He also gave me two recipes and showed me a good place to eat. He almost cancelled but when I told him I could not reschedule I got a private tour. Again: Just do this! Totally recommended.

From Albufeira: Half-Day Algarve Jeep Safari Reviewed by Eric, 09/12/2020

Absolutely brilliant Time We do these quad bike trips where ever we go on holidays and this is the best one yet. You ride on road and dirt track and see a ancient castle on the way too The guide was such a good laugh and really knowledgeable about the area If you offered me £1000 to fault i, I honestly couldn’t I can’t recommend it enough! Absolutely bargain for the experience you get

Albufeira: Quad Bike Adventure Reviewed by Lauren-Marie, 03/12/2020

This was our next experience in Portugal! The guide was super friendly and easy to talk to. Ben went out of his way to ensure we had the best possible experience. I would recommend this to anyone seeking a fun water sporting activity! The guides knowledge of the local area and insight into the history of Portugal really impressed us! Ask for Ben if you want to have some fun!

Albufeira: Stand-Up Paddle Boarding at Praia da Coelha Reviewed by BootRoot, 20/12/2020

This activity is a must do in Algarve. The Caves are an absolute beauty, We could not see the dolphins and we chase them for about 45min, it was just bad luck. My tour was in English and Portuguese which I appreciated as my Portuguese is really bad . If I go back to Algarve would do the tour again and again. The tour last 2,5 hours and it is more than enough.

From Albufeira: Benagil Caves Boat Cruise Reviewed by Jesus, 03/01/2021

It was very cool to see the dolphins in the wild, we almost didnt see any but we managed to catch a group and they swam beside us. We also came across a species of whale(theyre not lot large and they were very shy so just caught a glimpse) Awesome! (take note: I didnt wear a jacket, IT GET VERY COLD OUT A SEA SO MAKE SURE YOU DO :'D).

From Albufeira: 2.5-Hour Dolphin and Sea Caves Boat Tour Reviewed by Anonymous, 20/12/2020

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