Albufeira

Albufeira Town Centre

The majority Albufeira's cultural and social attractions are here in the town centre. Most visitors stay near the São João area, also known as "The Strip". This area is perfect if you want to party your holiday away with some late night entertainment; there are pubs and clubs galore. At the opposite end of the scale, the Old Town and its narrow cobbled streets are just waiting to be explored and there are plenty of places for a more sedate evening with good food. There are plenty of churches in Albufeira, including SantAna Church, Church of So Sebastião and Matriz Church. You can also visit the archaeological museum to see the area's treasures. The beach in the town centre is reached by a tunnel and is great if you want to hang out in the centre of the action.

Marina

Accommodation at Albufeira Marina is largely in residential apartments, and with a further than average distance to the area's beaches you might want to keep it that way. The buildings are all brightly painted though, making for a fun and vibrant place to spend some time. The marina has been nicely landscaped with water features and walkways and with plenty of restaurants all serving the day's catch it's a popular place to go for lunch or dinner. Then you can take in all the swish boats with a post-gluttony wander. If you want to head out a little further the Ponta da Baleeira offers great views across the bays and out over the sea.

West Albufeira

The area between the Town Centre and the Marina is the best place to look for accommodation if you're after cheap holidays in Albufeira. It's just a short walk from The Strip as well as the central beach, meaning you can have the best of both worlds whilst saving your pennies. Most places here have their own pools too so if you've partied 'til late you can sleep your day away on a sun lounger and still return home with a tan!

East Albufeira

Albufeira sprawls out to the east with a huge number of apartment complexes and hotels. This area is closer to the huge beach making it a great place to stay if you want to have your own bit of sand within easy reach every day. Prices tend to be higher for places closer to the sea, so be prepared for a bit of a walk or to hop on a bus every day if you want to save some money. Many of the hotels here are resort-style with the opportunity to go all inclusive. Book one of these if you want to fully relax and not move a muscle from the poolside all day whilst on holiday in Albufeira.

Further Out

Aqualand and Zoomarine are the top attractions for those who fancy jumping in their cars in search of adventure a little further away. For a more sedate thrill there are plenty of great golf courses along the coast. The beaches that line the Algarve coast are certainly worth visiting, with some of the harder to reach ones fairly quiet even at the height of the tourist season. If you want to see more of the area's history then Paderne castle, which is depicted on the Portuguese flag, is only a short drive away.