With a pick of beaches, a cutesy old town and a party-‘til-dawn strip, Albufeira holidays get a big tick in every box.
Top dog
The Algarve’s in the business of Blue Flag beaches – and Albufeira waves a massive 25 of them. It’s probably how it got its crown as the region’s number one. This place has nailed the historic-meets-modern combo, with a whitewashed old town and a new, bar-packed strip. Plus, it’s got a mammoth beach for a doormat.
All the works
Albufeira’s not your typical Portuguese fishing village. You’ve got a charming, cobblestoned centre, with live music in the squares and warren-like back streets lined with restaurants and bars. But it’s added a new town to its books, as well, with a strip to rival Vegas’. To the edge of town, there’s also a spruced-up marina, where the surrounding buildings look like pastel blocks of LEGO®.