Things to do in Albufeira on the Algarve coast – 8 tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Tips on things to do in Albufeira on the Algarve coast! We are currently traveling in the Algarve with our camper van and would like to offer some tips. Albufeira is a nice holiday town with beautiful beaches, a charming marina, a cozy old town center and lively markets. From here you can also make excursions and visit other cozy towns along the Algarve coast.

Albufeira in Portugal

Albufeira is located on the Algarve coast in southern Portugal, between Faro in the east and Portimao in the west. Many tourists come here, for much of the year, to enjoy the beautiful beaches and climate.

History of Albufeira

At the beginning of the 20th century, this was a fishing village and fishing provided a large part of the population with a livelihood, but over time the catches became smaller and smaller. In the 1960s, tourism began to develop, and today many of the town's 40,000 inhabitants make their living from tourism.

10 things to do in Albufeira?

What to do in Albufeira? Albufeira is a great holiday town and there is a lot to see and do. We offer our top tips!

1. sunbathing and swimming

Below the old town of Albufeira there is a long fine sandy beach, and the beaches then follow each other in both directions. The Portuguese word for beach is "praia" and beaches that you will find in Albufeira include Praia da Oura, Praia da Oura Leste, Praia de Santa Eulalia, Praia da Balaia and Praia de Albufeira.

The reason why our photos look a bit crowded is because they were taken in January. It may be warm enough to sunbathe for an hour or so in the afternoon if you're lucky, but that time is relatively short. The water temperature is not exactly conducive to swimming at this time of year. At other times of the year, we imagine the beaches here are packed!

2. Visit the beach in Galé

The beach in Galé (Praia da Galé) is located just outside Albufeira and is, in our opinion, the most beautiful beach. In one direction, a long flat sandy beach runs as far as the eye can see, and in the other direction the beach is filled with small coves and rock formations. On the long beach we used to jog along the shore.

On the other part of the beach, at least during the low season, you can find your own bay where you are completely alone. When we have finished jogging, we have brought our packed lunch here, and then sunbathed for a few hours. This is truly a magical place!

3. Hang out in the Old Town

The old town sits on a small hill just off the beach in Albufeira. Here you can wander around the whitewashed houses and cobbled streets and browse the small shops for clothes and jewellery. Or why not sit down at one of the many cosy restaurants? Sitting in the sun with a beer and listening to the meditative sound of the sea is a truly luxurious feeling!

4. visit the harbour

The harbour in Albufeira is really charming with all the small boats moored close together. Most special are the colourful houses that undeniably brighten up the surroundings! The fishermen in town have their own beach, where they pull up their boats early in the morning and clean their nets.

5. Shopping in the Algarve shopping

If you get tired of shopping in the Old Town, you can take a trip to Algarve shopping, a large shopping centre located just outside. It is a large and beautiful complex with many shops. Here you will find mainly the usual large chains, such as HM, Zara and Mango.

6. go to the market

A few times a month, markets are held in town. Here you can find everything from clothes and bags to jewelry and cheap watches. There are also plenty of different delicacies such as cheeses and the national dish Bacalhau, which the Portuguese themselves really love.

7 Trying Portuguese food

In addition to the national dish bacalhau, there is a lot of other food and drink to try in Portugal. In a restaurant, you can order a fish stew (caldeirada de peixe or cataplana).

If you are cooking in your own kitchen, you can buy fresh fish, such as dourada (seabream/gold sparidYou can also try 'vinho verde' (green wine), which is a young, light and almost bubbly wine. Good with light fish and seafood dishes, or just as a sociable wine in the sun.

READ MORE: Portuguese food – 22 classic dishes to try

8. Go on excursions

If you have time, there are several interesting excursions in the area around Albufeira. Here are some tips on places to see and visit.

Tavira

Tavira is a charming town on the eastern part of the Algarve coast. Here you can stroll around beautiful houses, shop in small boutiques or head to Tavira's beaches.

READ MORE: Things to do in Tavira – 10 tips

Lagos

Lagos has a large marina and an old town centre with fine houses, shops and outdoor cafes. Boat trips are also organised here.

READ MORE: Things to do in Lagos – 12 tips

Cabo de Sao Vicente

In the most south-western corner of Portugal you will find Cabo de Sao Vicente. Here you can admire the view from the dramatic cliffs and be impressed by the very special fishing techniques of the fishermen.

READ MORE: Cabo de Sao Vicente - Europe's most south-western point

By campervan in Albufeira

If, like us, you are travelling by campervan, there are several campsites and pitches in the area, including Parque de Palmeira, which is a large and affordable site in a good location. There are service buildings with toilets and showers, electricity and WiFi for some of the motorhomes.

Weather in Albufeira

Now in January it is actually warm enough to sunbathe for a few hours in the early afternoon, but the evenings and nights are cooler. The average temperature in the summer months is 24-26 degrees, in autumn 18-24 degrees, in winter 14-15 degrees and in spring 17-20 degrees. The sun often shines, and it often feels much hotter than this!