Albufeira

Portugal

Portugal Travel Guide

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
Portugal, Algarve, Albufeira, high angle view of crowded street

Getty Images/AWL Images RM

Why visit Albufeira

Once a scenic fishing village, Albufeira gained popularity for its sharp, red-gold sand beaches. Today, it's devoted to mass-market tourism, particularly cheap package deals, and has all but lost the vestiges of its past. Fishing boats are now moored at the ultramodern marina southwest of the centre, and the old town – with its pretty cobblestone streets and Moorish influences – is concealed by gaudy signs, English menu boards and rowdy bars.

Meet your new travel partner

Stay connected in Albufeira

Holafly eSIM provides unlimited mobile data with no hidden fees, giving you peace of mind wherever you travel. Stay connected even after your plan ends with Always On. Use code LONELYPLANET for an exclusive discount.

Get 5% off

Take your Portugal trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

Portal Through Portugal: Lisbon, Porto, the Douro Valley, and the Algarve

10 days / 9 nights

highlights

  1. 1 Sampling Port wine straight from the source in an atmospheric wine cellar on the River Douro
  2. 2 Road-tripping to the village of Évora, where preserved monuments meet macabre relics
  3. 3 Time traveling into an era of aristocratic opulence in the coastal idylls of Sintra and Cascais
from $3,492

per person

book this trip see trip details

Explore more trips

  • Portugal's Azores in 8 Days: Terceira to São Miguel
    Portugal

    8 days / 7 nights

    Portugal's Azores in 8 Days: Terceira to São Miguel

    FROM $2,260

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Portugal’s Azores: 9 Days of Whale Watching, Nature, and Culture
    Portugal

    9 days / 8 nights

    Portugal’s Azores: 9 Days of Whale Watching, Nature, and Culture

    FROM $2,880

    per person

    See Trip Details
Want our experts to design a custom trip for you?
start planning

Top places to visit in Albufeira

Discover the best attractions in Albufeira from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

Explore all

Travel Guides

Albufeira travel tips from Lonely Planet experts

Find practical guidance from our team of contributors around the world who bring their decades of first-hand travel experience to your next trip.

Best Things to Do

The Algarve’s capital of partying by the beach, Albufeira also has history, culture and nature – if you know where to look.

Read full article

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.

Explore all books

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Albufeira