Things to Do in Albufeira: Old Town, Beaches and Boat Trips

Albufeira is the Algarve’s busiest resort, but there’s more to it than the Strip: a pretty whitewashed old town, a fishermen’s beach, a colourful marina and some of the region’s best beaches nearby. Here are the best things to do in Albufeira, for families, couples and groups.

Quick answer: wander the old town and Praia dos Pescadores, ride the Penéco beach lift, take a boat trip from the marina to Benagil or to see dolphins, spend a day at Zoomarine or a water park, and hit Praia da Falésia. Party on the Strip if that’s your thing, but note the local rules on drinking in the street and wearing swimwear in town.

In town

The old town

Whitewashed lanes, little squares and church towers above the sea. Lovely in the evening when the restaurants fill up.

Praia dos Pescadores and Penéco

The town’s two central beaches. Pescadores (“fishermen’s beach”) is big and lively; Penéco is reached by a tunnel or the free 28m lift down the cliff from the old town.

Albufeira Marina

Pastel-coloured buildings around the harbour, restaurants and the departure point for boat trips. A short walk or taxi from the centre.

The Strip

Avenida Sá Carneiro in Montechoro is lined with bars and clubs, and busy until dawn in summer. The area is closed to traffic at night. Albufeira has a code of conduct with fines of up to €1,500 for drinking in the street and wearing swimwear away from the beach, so keep it on the beach.

Beaches

• Praia da Falésia: kilometres of sand under red cliffs, east of town.
• São Rafael: golden sand and rock stacks, one of the prettiest.
• Praia da Coelha: a small, sheltered cove.
• Praia da Oura and Santa Eulália: family-friendly beaches with facilities.

See the best Algarve beaches.

Boat trips

From the marina, trips head west to the sea caves and Benagil, or out to look for dolphins (about €30–35). Benagil can only be visited by licensed boat or guided kayak, with no landing on the cave beach. See Albufeira boat trips · all Algarve boat trips.

Family days out

• Zoomarine (Guia): dolphins, sea lions, rides and pools, open from March to late autumn, with a new attraction in 2026. See tickets.
• Water parks: Slide & Splash (Lagoa), Aquashow (Quarteira) and Aqualand nearby. See water park tickets.
• Paderne castle: free Moorish ruins in the countryside, 15 minutes inland.

See also Algarve family resorts.

Events

• 15 August: the sea procession of Nossa Senhora da Orada, the fishermen’s patron.
• New Year’s Eve: a free party and fireworks over Praia dos Pescadores.

Where to stay

See the best hotels in Albufeira, luxury hotels or all Albufeira stays. Browse Albufeira tours.

Day trips: the best day trips from the Algarve.

Some links in this guide are affiliate links (GetYourGuide, Booking.com, Discover Cars). If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our groups and this site free.