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🇵🇹 Albufeira was days 11–13 of our 2 Weeks in Portugal. We arrived from Lagos and spent three nights before heading back to Porto for our flight home.
We will be honest: we had modest expectations for Albufeira. The reputation precedes it — the strip of British-friendly bars, the all-inclusive hotels, the karaoke. But Albufeira surprised us. Falésia Beach turned out to be one of the most dramatic beaches we have ever seen. The Old Town was charming and almost tourist-free at breakfast time. And our day trip by train to Faro was one of the highlights of the entire two weeks.
If you go in knowing where to direct your time and which parts of Albufeira to skip, you will love it. Here is exactly how we spent three days.
Where to Stay in Albufeira
We stayed at an apartment booked through Booking.com — close to the Old Town with a pool, €85 per night. The Old Town area is the best base: walkable to Fisherman's Beach and Praia do Peneco, with easy taxi access to Falésia and São Rafael. GuestReady also manages quality short-stay apartments in the Albufeira area for those who want a more serviced experience.
Avoid: The Strip (Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro) area for accommodation — noisy, generic, overpriced.
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Day 1 in Albufeira: Old Town and the Best Beaches
Morning
Start in the Albufeira Old Town — the whitewashed pedestrian quarter around Praça Miguel Bombarda. Have breakfast at a local café (try Pastelaria Jardim on the main square) with a pastel de nata and galão (a milky coffee). The square, the surrounding lanes, and the cliff-top terrace with views over Praia dos Pescadores are best enjoyed before the crowds arrive (before 10am).
Walk down through the tunnel in the cliffs to Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman's Beach) — the most atmospheric beach in town, hemmed in by golden cliffs and flanked by old fishing boats. Not the best for swimming (it can get very busy and the sand fills up quickly) but essential for the atmosphere.
Afternoon
Take a taxi (€10) or hire a car and drive east 5km to Falésia Beach — the most spectacular beach in the Albufeira area. A 6km sweep of golden sand backed by towering rust-red and white striped cliffs. Arrive by 11am to secure a spot before it fills up. Sunbed hire available; beach bar at the Sheraton end (Falésia Hotel end).
Walk westward along the cliff path above Falésia for the best view of the beach and cliffs from above.
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Evening
Return to the Old Town for the evening. Visit the cliff-top terrace behind the Old Town church at sunset for the best views in Albufeira. Have pre-dinner drinks at one of the terrace bars overlooking the sea. Dinner at A Ruína restaurant on the cliff edge — the most famous (and atmospheric) restaurant in Albufeira. Book ahead.
Day 2 in Albufeira: Boat Trip and Benagil
Morning
Early start (9am departure) from Albufeira marina for the Benagil Cave boat tour. Benagil is 40km east of Albufeira but regularly cited as one of Portugal's most unmissable natural sights — a sea cave with a domed ceiling open to the sky, through which a shaft of sunlight illuminates the beach inside. The journey along the coastline from Albufeira is itself spectacular.
Also on Tiqets: Benagil Sea Cave Cruise
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The tour typically stops at Benagil cave, Carvoeiro beach, and 2–3 other sea caves. Allow 3 hours total.
Afternoon
After returning to the marina, head east to Praia de São Rafael — one of the most photogenic beaches in the Algarve, with extraordinary sculpted rock formations and sea caves accessible at low tide. The rocks at each end of the small cove frame perfect photographs.
Continue east to Praia dos Olhos de Água — another excellent beach with a small fishing village above it. More local, less touristy, and with some excellent fish restaurants on the seafront.
Evening
Sunset catamaran cruise — a 2-hour evening cruise along the Albufeira coastline with drinks included and a swimming stop at a sea cave. One of the most popular organised activities in Albufeira and genuinely worth it for the views back to the lit cliffs.
Book: Albufeira Sunset Catamaran with Drinks
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After the cruise, dinner in the Old Town — try Cabaz da Praia or Evaristo (the latter is out of town at Praia Evaristo but worth the taxi for beachside dining).
Day 3 in Albufeira: Day Trip to Faro by Train
Full Day
This was the best day of our three nights in Albufeira. We took the train to Faro — a journey so easy, cheap, and rewarding that we could not understand why more visitors do not do it.
How to get to Faro from Albufeira:
- Taxi from Albufeira centre to Ferreiras station (6km, ~€6, 10 minutes)
- Regional 5910 train Ferreiras → Faro (40 minutes, €3.80 one way)
- Walk 5 minutes from Faro station to the old town
Pro tip — buy on the CP app before you go: The ticket queue at Ferreiras can be long. We bought both our outbound and return tickets the night before on the CP app and walked straight through. Takes 2 minutes to set up an account.
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What to do in Faro:
- Explore the Cidade Velha (walled old town) and Largo da Sé
- Climb the cathedral tower for views over the Ria Formosa lagoon (€3.50)
- Visit the Chapel of Bones at Igreja do Carmo (€4)
- Take the ferry to Ilha Deserta — a completely wild barrier island with an extraordinary beach and one restaurant
Read our full Things to Do in Faro guide for a comprehensive Faro day trip plan.
Return to Albufeira by train in the early evening. Last dinner at a restaurant in the Old Town or at Olhos de Água village.
Getting from Albufeira Back to Porto
We returned to Porto for our final night before flying home from Porto Airport. Options:
- Bus: Rede Expressos coach, Albufeira → Porto, takes ~4 hours 30 min, very comfortable, from €20
- Train: Ferreiras → Porto Campanhã via Faro or Tunes, takes ~4 hours, from €25
We took the express bus — excellent value and the most direct option. The bus station is central in Albufeira.
Albufeira Itinerary: Quick Reference
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Town, Fisherman's Beach | Falésia Beach | Cliff-top sunset, A Ruína dinner |
| 2 | Benagil Cave boat tour | São Rafael, Olhos de Água | Sunset catamaran cruise |
| 3 | Train to Faro | Faro old town & Deserta Island | Return to Albufeira, last dinner |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2 days enough in Albufeira? Two days covers the essentials: Falésia Beach, the Old Town, and a boat trip. Three days lets you add the Faro day trip, which we highly recommend.
Is Albufeira good for families? Excellent. Falésia Beach is safe and spacious. Boat tours are suitable for children. There are also water parks nearby (Slide & Splash, 30 minutes).
What is the best beach in Albufeira? Falésia Beach, without question. The striped cliffs and 6km of sand make it one of the best beaches in Portugal.
How do I get from Albufeira to Lagos? Renex express bus from Albufeira bus station to Lagos — direct, takes 1 hour 15 minutes, costs €8. Or hire a car (1 hour drive west on the A22).
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