A guide to Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal
A guide to Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal
Albufeira is a Portuguese city located in the Algarve within the district of Faro. Like a large number of the towns and villages up and down the coast, Albufeira was once a humble fishing village, but is now mostly supported by its booming tourist trade. The population of the city massively increases every summer period as tourists flock to take advantage of the local beaches, restaurants and facilities. The golf courses in the area caters to enthusiasts and the wide range of hotels makes the location ideal for both those hoping for cheap holidays in Albufeira and those looking for more pricey experiences. A number of interesting museums as well as an art gallery, which holds regular exhibitions, can be found in the town to attract art lovers and those interested by the history of the town. The sun, sea and sand is well complemented as an attraction by the rich culture, nightlife and services provided by this former fishing town.
To help you choose the best place to stay in Albufeira, we’ve reviewed a wide selection of Albufeira Hotels to help you find the perfect cheap holiday in Albufeira, including reviews from people who have stayed in the hotels previously.
A Brief History
Albufeira has been a thriving port town for hundreds of years and was given its name from the Arabic word for lagoon. Its successful fishing trade was originally the primary economic base for the village and the surrounding area was protected by its own castle. It is thought to have exchanged hands numerous times and was once occupied by the Romans, who named the town Baltum. Later, the Moors changed its name to Al-Buhera as they controlled the port and turned it into a hugely important trading centre. The town has been badly hit by two earthquakes in its history, the first in 1532 then again in 1755 when the castle was partly destroyed. Furthermore, during the ‘War of the Miguels’, the town was besieged and set ablaze. In fact, Albufeira has only recently recovered as the tourist trade, triggered by the construction of an international airport in the area, brought in thousands of visitors.
In Town Attractions
Albufeira has become a popular tourist resort for several reasons. The primary quality of the town that draws thousands of visitors during the summer months is undoubtedly its proximity to the beautiful sandy shores. The beaches are easily accessible from the streets and are just a few minutes from the town square. The main beaches are the Praia de Balaia, Praia de Castelo, Praia de Falésia, Praia de Galé, de Olhos d’Agua, Praia de Maria Luisa, and Praia de São Rafael. These offer visitors the delights of sun, sea and sand over the hot summers. Many of them also offer boat rides and boats for hiring as well as water sport facilities. In the centre of town there is plenty to interest art and history lovers who can visit the museums and art gallery. There are also areas in the town that retain much of the traditional architecture and classic Portuguese culture in the narrow streets and little cafes. Albufeira is home to a vast array of accommodation from a selection of hotels to a campsite where hundreds of people enjoy live music at night. The town also boasts a range of restaurants, bars and a buzzing nightlife.
Surrounding Attractions
For those who have experienced all on offer in the town and want a break from the beaches, there are numerous places to visit and things to do in the surrounding area. Armacao de Pera, a former fishing village is nearby as well as Guia and Paderne whose castle can be found sitting at the top of an isolated hill. Grand caverns, arches and underwater coves can also be visited at Ponte Grande and Grutas do Xorino not too far away.
Further Albufeira Holidays Information
The Stag and Hen Group - Stag and Hen weekend specialists. With warm temperatures all year round and unrivalled nightlife it is not surprising that Albufeira is a popular tourist destination. A stag weekend in Albufeira is the perfect location for stag and hen celebrations…..
thestagandhengroup.co.uk
Algarve Rentals - Villamania offers holiday villas, apartments and all the extras you need, in the Algarve including Airport transfers, Car hire, Home massages, Equipment hire, Chef for a night, Days out, Golf packages and more…
villamania.pt
Self Catering holiday apartments, Algarve - Algarvelet.com is a web site that offers self catering apartment rental at the São Rafael resort near Albufeira. The site has information on various apartments available, including photos and prices. As well as this, the site has travel information on the region, weather news, car hire links and much more…
algarvelet.com
Thai Restaurant World Directory - Find over 12500 Thai Restaurants listed in more than 30 countries worldwide including Portugal….
simply-thai.com
Property for Sale in Algarve - Buy Property Portugal offers a wide selection of properties in the most popular regions of Portugal, including the Algarve, Douro, Alentejo, Lisbon, Silver coast and Blue coast. Find villas, quintas, plots, gated communities and developments….
buypropertyportugal.com
Holiday Villas and Apartments for Rental - Owners Direct advertises villas and apartments rentals worldwide. Booking is direct with the owners. Villas, apartments, chalets, cottages, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts are available in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Florida,Cyprus, Turkey and many other destinations…
ownersdirect.co.uk
Accommodation in Albufiera - Askberyl.com offers apartment rentals in the Algarve resort of Albufeira. The website includes photos, information and pricing on the apartments. As well as this, the site offers information on the region of Albufeira, golf, flights and much more…
askberyl.com
Holiday in the Algarve - OwnersrRentals.com specialises in self-catering vacation rentals all over the world. This includes a wide range of rentals: cheap, luxury and wheelchair friendly holiday rentals. The site also offers featured travel reviews, information on vacation rental hot spots, answers to various travel questions and much more…
ownersrentals.com
Travel the World - magicaljourneys.com offers convenient and secure online booking for hotels and tours around the globe. The site has information on hotels, villas, bed & breakfasts, inns, apartments, residences, guesthouses, as well as information on tours, travel tips, sight-seeing and much more…
magicaljourneys.com
Check your destination - Bay.tv is a collection of webcams showcasing different landscapes on the planet. The site features over 2 500 bay side locations, covering 7 continents and 86 countries. The collection provides a visual eye to these parts of the world via static webcams, streaming webcams and video clips. Try to find the Algarve…
bay.tv
Hotels worldwide - All Hotels is a site for all hotel and hostels reservations or lodgings bookings worldwide. The site boasts online instant reservations at 140,000 hotels in 13,500 locations…
all-hotels.com
Algarve holiday apartments - Luxury 2 bedroom apartment to rent on the popular Club Albufeira resort in the Algarve, Portugal. The site has detailed information on the apartment including prices, availability and photos. As well as this, the site offers general tourist information on the Algarve, Golf and much more…
algarve-holiday-apartments.com
Holidays in the Algarve - Isango.com offers both consumers and travel professionals an authoritative source of varied holiday experiences. From tours, sightseeing, attractions, activities to the must see and best things to do in more than 50 countries across the world…
isango.com
