Algarve - Albufeira Hotels

On the topic of business: there may well be more people in dancing hot spot Fastnet Bar at 3.30 a.m. than there are actually sleeping in the resorts! If you’re not one of them and actually manage to get up before midday, you can watch the pros teeing off at the Pine Cliffs Golf Club. Better yet, get a taste of Albufeira’s charming, hidden culture by venturing deep down the narrow streets of former fishing village Armacao de Pera. A little further – ahh, there you are…

Algarve-Albufeira History

• Castelo de Almoáda – A 12th-century Moorish castle.
• Ingreja of Sant’Ana (Church of St Anne) – This 18th-century church is a core Albufeira monument certainly worth exploring.
• Igreja Matriz (Matriz Church) – This 18th-century church contains a collection of intriguing statues. Tourists should be sure to check out the church’s bell tower.
• Torre da Medronheira (Old Watch Tower) – This 1550s tower was built to protect Albufeira from possible threats.
• Hermitage de Nossa Senhora da Guia – A fine baroque building surrounded by Salgados Lake in Albufeira.

Algarve-Albufeira Art & Culture

• Museu Municipal de Arqueologia (Archaeology Museum) – Located in the town hall, this museum houses exhibits that provide an insight into local history.
• Galeria Municipal de Arte (Municipal Art Gallery) – A small art gallery found near the Camara Municipal in Albufeira.
• Museu de Arte Oriental (Museum of Oriental Art) – A small museum unlike any other in Albufeira.
• Galeria de Arte Pintor Samora Barros/Museu de Samora Barros (Samora Barros Museum) – A gallery dedicated to Albufeira’s favourite artist, Jose Ricardo Júdice of Samora Barros.
• Museu de Arte Sacra (Museum of Sacred Art) – Situated within the Igreja de Sao Sebastiao (Church of St Sebastian), this museum contains a range of impressive ecclesiastical artworks.

Algarve-Albufeira Shopping

• Rua do 5 de Outubro – One of the main shopping haunts in Albufeira.
• Praca Duarte de Pacheco – An extensive spread of merchant kiosks and shopping boutiques selling everything tourists can think of, from swimming suits to wood carvings.
• Modelo Shopping Centre – Albufeira’s only shopping centre. The Modelo centre lies north of central Albufeira and is home to small, independently owned boutiques.
• Gypsy Market – One of Albufeira’s examples of local commerce. The market convenes twice monthly and can be found in the centre of Albufeira.
• Infante Dom Henrique House – A pottery shop and a great place in which to purchase souvenirs.

Gay & Lesbian Algarve-Albufeira

• Kadoc Disco – A gay-friendly mixed club in Algarve that attracts locals and tourists alike.
• Best of Bar – A gay bar featuring drag shows.
• El Panchito – A gay-friendly restaurant serving delicious Mexican cuisine.
• Kiss – A mixed disco bar perfect for dancing.
• Por do Sol – A mixed snack-bar serving up tasty treats in Albufeira.

Albufeira Events

Transporting tourists and locals back to the height of the city’s importance, January’s Paderne Medieval Festival celebrates the 14th century with music and feasting abound.

Marking Portugal’s liberation from a hated dictatorship, Liberation Day’s April celebrations include a street parade and dancing well into the night.

The skies fill with colourful hot-air balloons as Portugal’s top balloonists go up, up and away for Balloons Meeting in June.

August’s Sardine Festival is exactly what it says – three days of salty, tinned, skin-inclusive seafood.

October’s Feira da Guia celebrates Portuguese folk art and music from one of the city’s most postcard-perfect beaches.

When To Visit

July and August are especially hot, with the sheltered bays receiving no respite from passing ocean winds.

November and December are pleasant but busy as Portugal fills with vacationing northern Europeans escaping the cold.

February to April is the best time to visit, as you get the best of the Easter and Carnaval festivities.

Getting Around

Most of the city can be reached on foot, including some off-the-beaten-track discoveries.

Renting a car is a good option if you want to explore the untouched countryside surrounding Albufeira.

You can reach the city by bus or train from Lisbon, or vice versa if you need to make a quick escape.

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