Albufeira is one of the most popular coastal towns in the southern Algarve region of Portugal. It is known for its wide range of classy and affordable hotels, souvenir shops, beach bars, and sunburnt tourists. However, there is more you need to know about Albufeira. Other than the many outlets for kebabs, fish, and chips, the beach resort town features some of the best Michelin Star restaurants on the Algarve.
Albufeira is one of the biggest towns in the Algarve and has therefore attracted many people looking for a place to live. Nonetheless, not everyone can fit into the town’s culture. This is because the Algarve has been a huge tourist destination for many years and receives travellers from all over the world for most of the year. Undoubtedly, some people may not like such liveliness and may prefer to spend time in more serene places, such as the Portuguese hills, and that is perfectly all right!
Having said that, Albufeira offers plenty of options to people looking to settle near the popular neon-lit streets and those seeking more family-friendly neighbourhoods such as the Old Town. You may choose to settle on the outskirts of Albufeira, like many people do, and you will still have immediate access to all the amenities you want.
There are many factors that make Albufeira an attractive place for many people to live. To begin with, there are fun activities to engage in all year round. For example, even during the winter, when most towns in the Algarve are somewhat dormant, many bars, shops, and restaurants remain open to serve the locals and the large number of tourists and expats flying in.
You are also likely to enjoy the amazing beaches in Albufeira. Most beaches in the town remain active even when the temperature reaches 20°C during winter; ordinarily, during this time, many beaches are closed, but Albufeira still manages to attract a fair number of holidaymakers.
The Old Town in Albufeira consists of striking cobblestone streets lined up with restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops. During the summer period, the streets and commercial spaces are full of life as buskers and holidaymakers interact and make the most of the weather.
Other than the lit strips and street joints, there are plenty of places within Albufeira’s Old Town you can visit and still have great fun. There are numerous bars in the Old Town and merchants selling their goods; however, the area is more family-friendly than The Strip.
If you want to enjoy the beach life, consider visiting Praia dos Pescadores, which is located directly in front of the Old Town and is linked to Praia do Inatel and Praia dos Alemães. These beaches cover a total length of about 2 km, which is more than enough space for the many tourists who visit the beaches.
The Strip, also called Areias de São João, is famous for its long road, lined up with numerous bars, restaurants, and brightly lit neon nightclubs.
Usually, people begin to party much earlier in Albufeira than in most places in the world; once you visit the place, do not be surprised to see people having fun and drinking as early as midday or earlier. The partying and nightclub life do not end until the wee hours of the morning.
As you walk along the road, there are numerous kebab shops and affordable food joints where you can enjoy a meal or a snack and get the energy you need to keep the party going until morning.
You can expect to find many stag and hen dos once you get to Albufeira. In addition, social gatherings for special events such as birthdays are common. If your goal for visiting Albufeira is to celebrate, consider visiting the town for a thrilling experience.
You can easily make your way to the beach, which is located about 10 minutes’ walk from the lower end of The Strip. The way back to The Strip is a steep uphill that has been nicknamed “cardiac hill,” but it is not a big cost for you compared with the joy of touring Praia da Oura.
Like many other locations around the world, each place has its gains and weaknesses, and the same is the case with Albufeira.
Gains
Attractive beaches: Albuferia is home to a number of lovely beaches that can be easily accessed by foot from the town centre (both The Strip and the Old Town) or by driving.
Ideal Location: The beach resort town is located in the heart of the Algarve, making it easy to travel and explore the entire region.
Vibrant all year: As most restaurants and bars close down during the winter, those in Albuferia remain active as locals and tourists continue socialising, drinking, and enjoying the moment.
Weaknesses
Many tourists: Albufeira is one of the biggest tourist destination towns in the Algarve; it has become popular around the world and attracts a diverse group of people during the summer.
It can be noisy: Most of the tourists that come to Albufeira come to party and have fun with friends. For this reason, you can expect the town to be rather noisy for some people.
Albufeira’s Supermarkets And Shopping Spaces
You can buy your fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat directly at the Mercado Municipal dos Caliços, which is Albufeira’s municipal market. Alternatively, you can do your shopping at any of the following supermarkets:
- Pingo Doce
- Aldi
- Continente
- Intermarché
- Lidl
Also, you can choose to drive to the Algarve Shopping Mall in Guia, which is just a few minutes from Albufeira town. Algarve Shopping Mall has an extensive range of food courts, clothes shops, and cinema halls such as the Cineplace cinema.
On the other side of the road is an Iceland Overseas store that offers British food, a Leroy Merlin for all of your DIY needs, and a Macro.
Health Facilities
The two main hospitals located a few minutes’ drive from Albufeira are Hospital de Faro in Faro (which is about 45 minutes away) and Hospital de Portimão in Portimão (which is about 30 minutes away).
Alternatively, you can get the health services you need from centro de saúde – a local health centre within Albufeira, or go to Hospital Particular de Alvor, which is a private hospital in Alvor (a few minutes’ drive from Albufeira).
Public Transport Services
You can use a train by accessing the Albufeira-Ferreiras station in Albufeira. However, as is the norm in Portugal, the train service is not available in the city centre. In fact, the Albufeira—Ferreiras train service is about 6 kilometres from Albufeira’s Old Town. Once you get here, it is easy to access other neighbouring towns on the Algarve, like Faro, Lagos, and Portimão, etc.
It is also quite affordable to travel by train from Lisbon to other places such as Coimbra, Aveiro, and Porto. There are plenty of decent bus stations that travel to other towns in the Algarve and other places like Porto and Lisbon. Albufeira’s main bus station is on Rua Paul Harris and is called Terminal Rodoviário de Albufeira. It is located near the town centre, about two kilometres away or 20 minutes’ walk.
Help Relocating to Albufeira
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