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🇵🇹 Part of our 2 Weeks in Portugal Itinerary — Porto → Lisbon → Lagos → Albufeira. Everything here is based on first-hand experience.
Albufeira gets a bad reputation in some travel circles — dismissed as a British-package-holiday resort with a strip of overpriced bars and kebab shops. That reputation is not entirely undeserved, but it misses the point. The Old Town, the beaches, and the wider coastline around Albufeira are genuinely spectacular. And if you know where to go, you can step entirely outside the tourist bubble.
We spent three nights in Albufeira during our two-week Portugal trip, having come from Lagos. We booked through Booking.com which had a great range of options from self-catering apartments near the Old Town to beachfront hotels on the main strip. From Albufeira we also took the train to Faro for a day — one of our most unexpectedly wonderful days of the trip.
Here are 20 things to do in Albufeira that go well beyond the strip.
Things to Do in Albufeira
1. Visit Falésia Beach (Praia da Falésia)
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Falésia is the greatest beach in the Albufeira area and one of the most dramatic beaches in Portugal. A 6km stretch of golden sand backed by towering rust-red and white striped cliffs. The beach is wide, the water is clear and relatively calm, and the cliff walking path above offers extraordinary views.
Come in the morning (before 10am) or late afternoon (after 5pm) in summer to avoid crowds. Falésia runs between Olhos de Água in the west and Vilamoura in the east — you can walk the full length if you want a proper Algarve coastal hike.
2. Explore Albufeira Old Town
Many visitors to Albufeira never make it to the Old Town — they arrive at The Strip and never leave. This is a mistake. The Old Town is a warren of whitewashed lanes and azulejo-decorated buildings around a central pedestrianised square (Praça Miguel Bombarda).
The cliff-top terrace behind the church gives you one of the best coastal views in the Algarve — looking west over Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman's Beach) and east along the coastline. And the Old Town's restaurants serve dramatically better food than The Strip.
3. Watch the Sunset at Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman's Beach)
The beach right below the Old Town cliffs is Praia dos Pescadores — a compact strip of sand hemmed in by cliffs, accessible via a tunnel through the cliff. It used to be the working fishing beach; now it is the most atmospheric beach in town. At sunset, the light on the golden cliffs and the old fishing boats is beautiful.
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4. Take a Boat Trip to Benagil Cave
Benagil Cave — a sea cave with a hole in the ceiling that lets a shaft of sunlight onto the beach inside — is one of Portugal's most iconic natural sights. It is not technically near Albufeira (it is 40km east, between Lagoa and Carvoeiro) but boat tours depart from Albufeira marina and the journey along the coastline is stunning in itself.
Also on Tiqets: Benagil Sea Cave Cruise from Albufeira
5. Dolphin Watching Cruise
The waters off the Algarve coast are home to year-round dolphin populations — common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins are frequently spotted. Morning tours from Albufeira marina typically have the best encounter rates.
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6. Take the Train to Faro for a Day
One of the highlights of our time in Albufeira was jumping on the regional train to Faro — just 40 minutes away. Faro is the Algarve's understated capital: a beautiful walled old town, a cathedral with views over a vast lagoon, and the stunning Ria Formosa Natural Park stretching along the coast. Almost none of the tourists who stay in Albufeira make this journey. Read our Things to Do in Faro guide for the full Faro experience.
The train from Albufeira (technically from Ferreiras station, 6km from town — take a taxi, ~€6) to Faro costs just €3.80 and runs regularly. We took the Regional 5910 service and it was perfectly on time. Buy your ticket in advance on the CP app — the queue at Ferreiras station can be surprisingly long in summer. It is one of the best value moves you can make in the Algarve.
7. Try a Jeep Safari into the Serra do Caldeirão
The Algarve's coastal strip gets all the attention, but the hilly interior — the Serra do Caldeirão — is gorgeous: cork oak forests, village farmhouses, orange groves, and almost zero tourists. A jeep safari from Albufeira is one of the most popular and worthwhile day activities.
Book: Albufeira Algarve Jeep Safari Full Day
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8. Visit Praia do Peneco
The beach directly below the Old Town cliffs — separated from Fisherman's Beach by a rocky headland — is Praia do Peneco. Slightly harder to access (via a long staircase) which means it is quieter. The rock formations at each end of the beach and the sea caves along the base of the cliffs are wonderful to explore at low tide.
9. Praia de São Rafael
One of the most photographed beaches in the Algarve east of Lagos. An intimate cove of golden sand bracketed by extraordinary sculpted rock formations — arches, stacks, and sea caves accessible at low tide. Worth arriving early or late to avoid the crowds.
10. Visit the Slide & Splash Water Park (Day Trip)
If you are travelling with children, the Slide & Splash water park near Lagoa (30 minutes from Albufeira) is one of the best in Portugal. A taxi or rental car makes it easy.
11. Explore Carvoeiro Town
30 minutes west of Albufeira, Carvoeiro is a much quieter, more upscale resort town with its own beautiful beaches and the Algar Seco rock formations (a must-see coastal boardwalk). A great half-day trip by hire car.
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12. Go on a Coasteering Adventure
The sea caves and rock formations around the Albufeira coastline are excellent for guided coasteering — swimming, scrambling, and cliff-jumping along the base of the cliffs. Wetsuits provided. Minimum age typically 10 years.
13. Sunset Catamaran Cruise
A 2–3 hour catamaran cruise along the Albufeira coastline at sunset — drinks included, swimming stop at a sea cave, music on deck. One of the most popular organised activities and genuinely lovely.
Also on Tiqets: Sunset Boat Cruise Albufeira
14. Try Stand-Up Paddleboarding
The calmer coves around Albufeira — São Rafael, Olhos de Água — are excellent for SUP. Boards available to rent from most beach kiosks from May to October.
15. Eat Cataplana in the Old Town
The cataplana — a copper-domed pot used to steam seafood, pork, and vegetables with local herbs — is the signature dish of the Algarve. The Old Town has several excellent restaurants serving proper cataplana. A Ruína restaurant at the cliff edge is the most atmospheric (book ahead).
16. Taste Algarvian Wine at a Local Quinta
The Algarve is an underappreciated wine region. Several quintas (wine estates) near Albufeira offer tastings and tours — the local Lagos and Lagoa DOC wines are worth discovering.
17. Visit Olhos de Água Village
A tiny fishing village 7km east of Albufeira, mostly bypassed by tourists. There is a small beach, a handful of excellent seafood restaurants, and a completely different atmosphere from the resort chaos of central Albufeira. We ate some of the best grilled fish of the trip here.
18. Surf Lessons at Praia de São Rafael or Galé
The Atlantic swell reaches the Albufeira coastline reliably from October through to May. Several surf schools operate from the wider beaches of Galé and Salgados. Summer is calmer — better for beginners.
19. Day Trip to Silves (Medieval Capital of the Algarve)
Just 20 minutes inland from Albufeira, Silves was the Moorish capital of the Algarve — a beautiful red sandstone castle dominates the hilltop above the whitewashed town. The Cathedral of Silves and the old market are also worth visiting.
20. Explore the Nightlife in the Old Town (Not Just The Strip)
If you are going to go out in Albufeira, do it right. The Old Town has excellent bars — Esplanada, Beerhouse, The Garden — that attract a mix of locals and travellers rather than just package tourists. The Strip (Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro) has its place if you want big-club energy, but the Old Town is where the better nights begin.
Practical Information for Albufeira
| Getting there | Train to Ferreiras station (6km from town, then taxi/bus), hire car, or transfers from Faro Airport |
| Getting around | Most beaches within walking distance of Old Town; hire a car or scooter to reach Falésia and São Rafael |
| Best for | Couples, families, groups, beach lovers, watersports |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October |
| Where to stay | Our Albufeira accommodation guide |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Albufeira worth visiting? Absolutely — if you choose your beaches wisely (Falésia, Peneco, São Rafael over the main strip beach) and spend time in the Old Town rather than The Strip, Albufeira is wonderful.
How far is Albufeira from Faro Airport? About 45km — approximately 35 minutes by car. Taxis cost around €45–55. There is no direct bus from the airport; you need to change in Faro.
Is Albufeira family-friendly? Yes. The beaches are excellent for families and there are good restaurants, water parks, and boat trips suitable for children.
How do I get from Albufeira to Faro? Take a taxi (~€6) from Albufeira centre to Ferreiras train station, then the Regional 5910 train to Faro — takes 40 minutes and costs €3.80 each way. Book your ticket in advance on the CP app to skip the ticket queue at Ferreiras. See our Things to Do in Faro guide for what to do when you arrive.
Coming from Lagos? Read our Lagos to Albufeira guide. Planning the full route? See our 2 Weeks in Portugal Itinerary.
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