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Deposits from only £25 per booking
Albufeira's best dramatic feature is its glorious beaches, tons of them over 20 if you include all the little beach bays. Some of the best beaches on the Algarve are here - particularly to the West down from Guia at Gale East and West beaches (great rock pooling, sunsets and stunning rock formations here indicative of the Western Algarve Coast). To the east sits the beautiful beach of Oura, conveniently situated down from the central tourist hub in Albufeira - Montechoro and 'The Strip' crammed with bars, restaurants and holiday shops - and English Chippys of course.
To the west of Albufeira centre sits Albufeira's colourful marina. It's a great spot this for passing a lazy afternoon watching people and boats, and sipping coffees or a beer from one of the many chic coffee shops come bars lining the marina. You can tell considerable effort, and investment, has gone into Albufeira Marina. It's beautifully colourful, with dolphin sculptures and more. There's a yacht club here, plus shops, and various boat trips depart from the marina.
Albufeira's best feature (although the new Albufeira Marina comes a close second) is its breathtaking sandy beaches - over 20 glorious beaches are here, each with a slightly different character due largely to the distinctive rock formations lining the Albufeira coast. Praia da Oura tops the Albufeira beach chart to the east of old town Albufeira, whilst to the west sits the sublime Praia da Gale - endless sands with fascinating rock formations unique to the Algarve coastline and superb sunsets are here at quieter Gale beach. Gale beach is so long there's an east and west Gale. To the east charming small beach bays are created naturally by rock formations, whereas to the west of Gale beach there are less rock formations, just endless golden sands. It's quieter here away from central Albufeira beaches and Gale is a blue flag Albufeira beach.
In between Gale Beach to the West of Albufeira and Oura Beach to the east you've Praia Manuel Lourenco just adjacent to Gale beach. Like Gale this Albufeira beach is a blue flag beach and nice and quiet, but you've less rocks here, although enough for a good round of rock pooling with the kids. Next down the coast towards Albufeira centre is Praia do Evaristo near the Casa do Castelo top notch club. Much like Manuel Lourenco beach, Evaristo is relatively quiet and also a blue flag beach.
Pretty Praia Do Castelo beach bay down from Evaristo is nicely sheltered. Worth noting if you've mobility issues is that steps lead down to this Alburfeira beach. There's just no end to Albufeira's beach bays encased by stunning rock formations which begin here at Albufeira, and can be seen all along the western coastal region of the Algarve. There's Algarve beaches to suit all tastes on the Albufeira stretch of coast including crowd-free beaches, accessible beaches, romantic beaches, family sheltered beaches and get active watersports beaches. Check the Visit Algarve weblink right for the complete Albufeira beach guide.
On the coast near Albufeira's old town sits Praia dos Pescadores (which links to Praia do penco). This beach area is where what remains of Albufeira's longstanding fishing industry parks up their rather attractively colourful fishing boats. It's a popular tourist beach area too, getting crowded in the peak summer months. The parking area adjacent also fills up in peak season so better to walk to it. Good amenities are here including toilets and adjacent restaurants. More, and indeed more beaches at Albufeira include Praia do Inatel, Praia dos Alemaes, Praia dos Aveiros and further to the east Praia de Sant Eulalia, a stunning Albufeira beach backed on by pines. For a full and comprehensive guide to Albufeira's beaches checkout the Visit Algarve weblink right and click on the PDF beach guide.
Albufeira Marina just to the west of Albufeira centre is well worth a visit. There's something here for all tastes, including relaxing waterside cafes (serving great coffee!), bar cafes, quality ice cream outlets and plenty for the kids too including a mini train which tours around the marina. Roller skating is popular here too - in fact kids often grab onto the back of the mini train on their roller skates!
Also for the very young tots there's a playground area. A great relaxed atmosphere, enhanced by usually chilled music and pretty marina views, all of which combine to make Albufeira Marina a superb place to be - less crowded usually than the beaches too.
Kids will love the colourful dolphin sculptures - it all comes together rather well. Plenty of mooring space here too.
Ski Molhado located on Praia da Oura. Their Head Office is on Vivenda Chico da Oura, Rua do Sol Areias de S. Joao, 8200 Albufeira. Tel ( 351) 91 729 44 97 / 91 720 28 11. See their weblink right for watersports activities list.
Dream Wave Boat Charters, Jet Ski & Dolphin Watching, Lda Escritorio MT No1, Marina de Albufeira, Albufeira - Portugal. Tel: Mobile 962003885/962003801 (weblink right for details).
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