Albufeira
Portugal City Travel Guide: Albufeira & The Algarve
City Guide I Turismo I Arrival I Accommodation I Entertainment I Internet
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Albufeira, The Algarve
© Jean Kugler |
Albufeira
- The Algarve's biggest resort.
- Fine sandy beaches.
- Water sports and sailing centre.
- Old centre remains intact.
- Lively nightlife scene of bars and discos.
- Pedestrianized streets full of stalls & entertainers.
- Local population of 30,000 people.
Albufeira is without doubt the Algarve's largest
and liveliest resort, packed with bars, restaurants, shops and tourist
facilities for all the family.
Albufeira (from the Arabic al-buhera meaning "Castle on the Sea")
is a fun resort, popular with people from the UK of all ages, with plentiful nightlife and things to do for children
during the day. Enjoy a stroll on the pedestrianized seafront, a drink in one of the town's many fine bars and a sample a variety of food that takes in British fish and chips as well as Indian and Thai curries.
The beach in town is the Praia do Penico but there are other fine
beaches within easy reach: to the east of the town centre is Praia
dos Pescadores (Fishermen's Beach) about half a kilometer distant,
Praia da Oura about 3km, Praia da Falésia 10km and Balaia
and Olhos de Água slightly nearer to town. All of these beaches
can be easily reached by local bus. To the west of Albufeira are some
beaches located in coves such as the jet-ski and water-skiing center of
Praia da Galé. Easily reached by car, there is no direct
bus - its a 2km walk from the main road to Portimão.
Back in Albufeira town the main square is the pretty Largo Engenheiro
Duarte Pacheco. Albufeira is all about sand, sea and fun but for
sightseeing there's a free Archeological Museum (Museu Arqueológico)
in the old town hall, the Ermide de São Sebastião and
the Igreja de Santana - two historic chuches set in the old town. Albufeira's
main festival is the Festa da Ourada held on August 14 which
celebrates the patron saint of fishermen with a procession and giant
fireworks display.
Other things to do besides soaking up the sun on the beach include a
visit to Zoomarine (Tel:
289 560 300) 8km northwest in Guia with a host of swimming pools, water
slides as well as an aquarium and dolphin shows.
Aqualand
- The Big One (Tel: 282 320 230) claims to be Portugal's
biggest water-theme park with a variety of huge water slides and
pools. Aqualand is 15km from Albufeira in Alcantarilha. There are
buses from town.
Aqua Show (Tel:
289 389 396) claims Europe's largest wave pool and also has exotic wildlife,
bungee jumping, mini-golf and various water rides. Aqua Show is in Vilamoura,
10km east of Albufeira.
There are numerous golf
courses in the Algarve, riding facilities and tennis courts within
easy reach.
Albufeira Tourist Office
Rua 5 de Outubro (tel. 289 585 279)
Getting to Albufeira
Albufeira bus station (tel: 289 589 755) is 2km north of town reached
by a shuttle bus from outside the Bus Shop on Avenida da Liberdade. There
are buses to Faro, Lagos and
to Lisbon as well as to Heulva in
Spain for Sevilla.
Albufeira Station has daily trains to Faro, Lagos and
to Lisbon - change at Tunes. There
is a shuttle bus to the station from the bus station.
Albufeira easily connects with the east-west IP1/EO1 (for the Algarve
and Spain) and north-south A2/E1 (for Setubal and
Lisbon) motorways. From the west, take Route 125. From Spain, get onto
N125 going west or the IP1/EO1 motorway.
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From the Airport
The nearest airport is Faro 40 minutes by bus to the east.
Featured Hotel
 Baia
Grande Hotel - 4 Star, 131 rooms, Sesmarias - 8200.
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this hotel
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Albufeira has some of the most varied cuisine outside of Lisbon from
traditional Portuguese through Indian, Chinese and British-style breakfasts
and fish and chips.
Rua Candido dos Reis is the centre of the bar and disco scene as rival
establishments compete for your Euro.
List your restaurant/bar/hotel/rental villa contact Advertising
GOLDSPOT
In front of Hotel Paraiso de Albufeira, 2 mins from Modelo Supermarket.
Goldspot Rua Alves Corriera 81 8200-090 Albufeira
Tel: 289585084
Dedicated 10 mbit, all sport channels available.
www.goldspot.pt
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
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