Albufeira Strip and Old Town
Resort Zone in Albufeira
Albufeira is the Algarve's most popular resort town by volume of visitors and the one that most completely divides opinion. It has two distinct identities. The old town, built on a hillside above a sheltered cove, retains a recognisably Portuguese character, with narrow cobbled lanes, whitewashed houses, tiled facades and a cluster of restaurants and shops arranged around the Largo Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco, the main square. The new town, centred on the strip, known locally as the Oura strip or simply a strip, is a long avenue of bars, clubs, restaurants and souvenir shops that runs from the Montechoro area down to Praia da Oura and constitutes one of the liveliest nightlife districts in southern Europe.
Accommodation across Albufeira covers the full range. Budget travellers will find hostels, guesthouses and two-star hotels in both the old town and the strip area, with prices in summer starting from as little as thirty to fifty euros per night. Mid-range options include the numerous three and four-star hotels and aparthotels that line the clifftops between the old town and Oura, many of which offer pool complexes, buffet restaurants and organised entertainment. At the upper end, the Sao Rafael Atlantico and the EPIC SANA Algarve represent the five-star segment, though these are set away from the town centre in quieter positions along the coast.
The old town beach, Praia dos Pescadores, is accessed by a tunnel cut through the cliff and opens onto a wide sweep of sand flanked by weathered rock formations. It is one of the most photogenic town beaches in the Algarve and gets extremely busy in high summer. To the east, a sequence of cove beaches stretches towards Oura and beyond, each separated by sandstone headlands. Praia da Oura, Praia de Santa Eulália and Praia da Falésia are all excellent, with Falésia in particular rated among the best beaches in Europe for its six-kilometre stretch of sand beneath rust-coloured cliffs.
Albufeira's nightlife is centred on the strip, where bars open from late afternoon and the noise builds through the evening until the clubs take over after midnight. The atmosphere is emphatically British-oriented, with English-language signage, Premier League football on screens and karaoke a nightly fixture. This is not to everyone's taste, and visitors seeking a quieter experience should note that the old town, while not silent, is considerably calmer and more varied in its dining and drinking options.
During the day, boat trips to the Benagil sea cave, dolphin-watching excursions and fishing trips depart from Albufeira marina, a modern development on the western edge of town. The marina also has a selection of restaurants and is connected to the old town by a free shuttle bus. A waterpark, Slide and Splash, and the Zoomarine theme park are both within a short drive.
Albufeira is well-served by public transport. The Gare Rodoviária bus station has connections to Faro, Lisbon and other Algarve towns, while the railway station at Ferreíras, six kilometres inland, is linked to the centre by a local bus. The town is roughly forty minutes from Faro Airport by road. For families seeking affordable beach holidays, couples looking for nightlife, or groups of friends on short breaks, Albufeira remains the Algarve's most accessible and energetic base.