Albufeira is about 40 km west of the Faro airport, which will cost you half an hour via the highway IP1. Although Albufeira is known as a major tourist resort, it is amazing that you still find hardly any tourists in the old center. When coming from the Tunnel (every tourist will end up there) turn right and you will arrive at the central place of Albufeira with all its restaurants. From there you may continue through the narrow touristic streets, back to the beach. Shortly before you arrive at the old fish market and "The Ruin" you find a street at your right hand. This will lead you to the old part of Albufeira, from where you have a magnificent view in both directions. The side streets are untouched by tourists and you still may see the local people chatting with each other from their windows.

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You can find all the information you need in this Albufeira travel guide. It provides an overview of this Portuguese city, including main sites, how to get to the city, and other suggestions. Albufeira is a main tourist spot in Portugal, and there are many facilities here to accommodate the thousands of travelers that visit each year.

Getting Around the City

The main industries in Albufeira are commerce and tourism, and the city is about 40 minutes from the nearby airport. The town is a mix of modern development and traditional, pale white houses along narrow streets. There is even a “Legoland,” as called by the residents, as the marinas in Bryn are colored blue, yellow and pink, and make for a strange but interesting sight.

Local Food

There are a couple of well known gastronomy delights in the city and you should not miss the steamed shellfish called "cataplana." You can find grilled sardines almost everywhere as well, and the popular favorite: fish stew. The city is right on the coast, so seafood is a main stable and can be found in all restaurants and cafes. The Vila Joya restaurant is a Michelin star restaurant located on a cliff that offers gorgeous views. You will need to make a reservation far in advance for this place. Other recommendations include Cream Wave, Teodosio and O Bom Garfo.

Nightlife

The city absolutely comes to life at night, and the main nightlife spot is “the strip.” This is by the Montechoro part of town, where you will find all the popular bars and nightclubs. A few favorites include Garage, Erin’s Isle, Mustang, La Bamba, Linekers, Matt’s Bar, Wild & Co, Reno’s, and Cafe del Mar.

Sporting Events

If you are a football fan then, there are regular tournaments as well as the Algarve Cup for you to enjoy. You can also view many pre-season games played by British football teams as they come down for pre-season training. The Almond Blossom cross-country competition also takes place each year. This is an international running race that first started in 1977.

Go to the Beach

There are many beaches along the coast, and the city has the highest number of blue flag beaches as well as beaches that are known as Golden Beach Seals. You can find secluded little spots surrounded by rocks as well as long stretches of gorgeous sandy beaches. There are many water sports and you can participate in such as scuba diving, sailing, wind surfing, paragliding, boating, and much more. The main beach season is from April to October. It is completely safe to swim, as there are many lifeguards patrolling the coast.