Once a small fishing village, Albufeira was levelled by the earthquake of 1755. It has since been rebuilt but has lost a lot of what was once quaint and charming. You can still find pockets of the old town that are reminiscent of old Albufeira but for the most part; it has changed beyond all recognition.The centre of Albufeira is today a Mecca for tourists looking for all night revelry in the Algarve's Capital City of Fun. The area known as The Strip is not for the feint hearted. It is THE place to head for if you are looking for a pulsating, party atmosphere and a nightlife that simply does not stop. It is lined with neon clad cocktail bars and theme pubs and there is every imaginable fast food outlet serving food right through the night.
Located on the coast of central Algarve, just 29km from Faro's International airport, it boasts no less than 23 golden-sanded beaches, which are filled with holidaymakers soaking up the sun and enjoying a wealth of water sports in the almost Mediterranean temperatures.
Algarve Villas – Click here to search for holiday villas and apartments.
Water Sport in Albufeira
Jet Ski – At Dreamwave in the Marina de Albufeira you can hire Jet Skis. It's maybe not something you get to do everyday but it is a lot of fun and well worth doing. Riding a jet ski is a great way to live your holiday life to the fullest, so pack your swimming trunks and head to the Albufeira Marina to book a ride! The Yamaha Waverunners feature a quiet 4-stroke, 1100 cc engine with 110 horsepower. They can go very fast but don't worry, if you've never ridden a jet ski before, the guys at Dreamwave will provide you with safety and operational training until you feel comfortable at the wheel. You can book sessions of either 15 & 30 minutes at a cost of €45 and €80 respectively and pinion riders go free.Stand Up Paddle Boarding – This fun sport is gaining recognition as an alternative sport to surfing and boating despite being a combination of both disciplines. To enjoy this sport, you do not need to rely on waves or wind; all you need is the open water, a paddle and a board! Why not try stand up paddle boarding at Albufeira, on the Obidos lagoon?
Water Skiing – The calmer waters off the coast at Albufeira and at Oura Beach lend themselves perfectly to being towed along at high speed behind a racing powerboat with just two small planks for support.
Banana Boat / Tyres or Hoops – Oura Beach and Albufeira Marina are the locations for these fun waterbased activities as well as parasailing, pedal boating and Kayaking. Look for a representative of the company Ski Molhado, Their distinctive two flying dolphins motif can always be seen at Oura and at Albufeira beach.
Snorkelling / Scuba Diving - The seas along the Algarve coast are crystal-clear and very clean. Visibility under the water is very good and provides ideal diving conditions.
The most well-dived spots are the waters off Quarteira, Lagos and Sagres, but all along the coast you will find a breathtaking array of marine life.
Sailing or Boat Hire – The Algarve's warm waters and particularly the calmer ones off the coast of Albufeira, provide the perfect conditions for sailing of every kind. Whether you choose to do all the hard work yourselves or let a large outboard motor do it for you, you can hire all kinds of vessels from the smallest of sailboats, to the grandest of gin palaces.
Clubs and Bars in Albufeira
There are many clubs and bars in Albufeira pandering to every different taste in beverage and music. There are theme pubs, Irish Bars, English Pubs, cocktail bars, discotheques, and nightclubs of all sorts so you will never run out of choice. From Real Guinness to WKD blue and from Rusty Nails to Cosmopolitans, whatever you fancy is available here and you don't even have to go too far, if all you fancy is a cup of coffee.
Steps Bar in Rua de Outubro, Albufeira is said to be one of the best bars in Albufeira, but then the chap who runs it would say that! Another tripadvisor source however, has it as "the place to go at night, excellent live music, great staff." And gave it 5 out of 5 so it can't be bad. Other bars in the town offering live music are Six Degree Centrido, Floyd's bar and The Cho-bar, also look out for Eddies Bar and Diamonds, both of which are great for younger adults.
Augustos Sports Bar on Avenida da Liberdade attracts fans of all sport and whilst football is a clear favourite, they will show other high profile match ups including rugby, boxing and motor racing. The sports fans are good natured and friendly and the drinks aren't hugely expensive.
If you fancy a bit of a boogie, head for Capitulo V, Kiss and Planet C, there are loads of others you can go to for sure but these are right up there with the best that Albufeira has to offer with impressive light and laser shows and some great tunes.
Nightlife, sunshine, beaches and lots and lots of fun are just some of the guaranteed features of Albufeira. Here life takes on a rhythm of its own and it really comes alive after the sun goes down. There is every chance you'll bump into those sun worshippers you met on the beach earlier because here, in Albufeira, no one really wants to go to sleep.
illas in Albufeira – click here to browse our villas and apartments to rent for fun packed holidays in the Algarve
