Pedro DominguesWhen visiting Albufeira, in Algarve, I focused on the best that the region has to offer: its fantastic beaches with impressive cliffs. I visited several of them, with Olhos de Água beach being my favourite, closely followed by any of the ones located between Arrifes beach and the beaches of Ponta do Castelo, due to the dazzling green of its waters.
Below I will show you the 13 best and most beautiful beaches in Albufeira, and whenever possible I will tell you my experience on each one of them.
Video of the Best Beaches in Albufeira
I’ll start by leaving you a short summary of what I’m going to present, and I hope you like it! The video starts with Loulé (Quarteira and Vilamoura region), but then devotes itself entirely to the best beaches in Albufeira.
Where is Albufeira located, in Portugal?
Albufeira is located in the Western Algarve, south of Portugal, bordering Silves and Loulé, also municipalities on the region.
MORE ARTICLES FROM ALENTEJO AND ALGARVE: - Best Costa da Caparica beaches - Best beaches in Setúbal - Best Beaches in Sesimbra - Visit Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach - Best beaches in Tróia, Comporta and Melides - Best Beaches in Alentejo and Vicentine Coast - Things to do in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes - Things to do in Marvão - Things to do in Elvas - Things to do in Estremoz - Things to do in Vila Viçosa - Things to do in Monsaraz & Alqueva Lake - Things to do in Porto Covo and Sines - Things to do in Arraiolos - Best Things to do in Évora and surroundings - Things to do in Mértola and Guadiana Valley - Things to do in Beja - Algarve Road Trip Itinerary - Best Beaches in Algarve - Things to do in Sagres - Things to do in Lagos - Best Beaches in Lagos - Things to do in Portimão - Things to do in Armação de Pêra and Silves - The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail - Best Beaches in Carvoeiro - Things to do in Vilamoura and Quarteira - Things to do in Faro - Things to do in Tavira - Things to do in Olhão - Things to do in Monte Gordo
How to get to Albufeira?
As for how to get to Albufeira, the nearest airport is located in Faro, capital of Algarve. I recommend using Skyscanner and Google Flights to do some research before buying your tickets, comparing prices and flight conditions.
Once you arrive in Portugal, there are buses connecting Faro to Albufeira. If you are travelling to Albufeira from Lisbon, same thing applies. Check Rome2Rio website, if you are not sure how to get there from your location. For bus tickets in Algarve, use Rede Expressos or Vamus Algarve, and if you need to use trains, search for CP – Comboios de Portugal.
Rent a Car to visit Albufeira
To visit Albufeira, a car will help anyone who wants to explore not only the essentials next to the city, but also the surroundings, so I leave you a link to Discover Cars, if you need to compare some prices between rental companies and make a reservation.
Take out Travel Insurance to visit Albufeira
I also recommend that you take out travel insurance for your stay in Albufeira, and I recommend to do it with World Nomads.
Accommodations tips in Albufeira
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel | 9.2 | Falésia Beach |
| Falésia Hotel | 9.2 | Falésia Beach |
| Hotel California | 8.6 | Albufeira Center |
| Vila Algarvia Boutique | 8.8 | Albufeira Center |
| Santa Eulalia Resort | 8.5 | Santa Eulália Beach |
| Alfagar Aparthotel | 8.8 | Santa Eulália Beach |
| Hotel Sol e Mar | 8.8 | Albufeira Center |
| PortoBay Falésia | 8.7 | Olhos de Água |
| São Rafael Atlântico | 8.6 | São Rafael Beach |
| 3HB Falésia Garden | 8.7 | Olhos de Água |
| Pine Cliffs Hotel | 8.6 | Falésia Beach |
| Aqua Pedra dos Bicos | 8.7 | Oura Beach |
| Salgados Dunas Suites | 8.5 | Salgados Beach |
| São Rafael Villas | 8.6 | São Rafael Beach |
| Luna Solaqua | 8.6 | Germans Beach |
| Vila Gale Collection | 8.8 | Galé Beach |
| Velamar Boutique Hotel | 8.8 | Maria Luisa Beach |
1 – Rocha Baixinha Beach or Tomatoes Beach (Falésia Beach)
The brick orange color is occasionally sprinkled with some whitish tones, but it’s the orange that really stands out. On top of the cliffs there are huge fields of stone pine, which, due to their green color, contrast immensely with the orange and make the landscape so surreal. The sea is calm, like a children’s pool, and the sand on the beach also has a more orange tone due to the cliff that feeds it. The beach has paid parking per day, so if you are looking for a shorter stay, you should negotiate the price.
Tomatoes beach is beautiful, isn’t it? For me one of the best beaches in Albufeira, for sure. Here I went for a swim in the sea before heading to Barranco das Belharucas beach and its fantastic viewpoint, also known as the Falésia viewpoint. Barranco das Belharucas is the next beach in this article.
2 – Barranco das Belharucas Beach (Falésia Beach)
On top of the cliff of this beach is the Falésia viewpoint, in a privileged location: on one side, incredible views that go as far as Vilamoura, and on the other, the remarkable rock formations of Olhos de Água beach. Both are magnificent.
I stayed there until I got tired of the view: ok, that didn’t happen, but my point is, it’s hard to leave, you always want to stay a little longer, to see it one last time. Below, the first photo was taken by cell phone, and the others are drone photos.
3 – Olhos de Água Beach
The one that, in my opinion, is the queen of the best beaches in Albufeira is Olhos de Água beach. Let’s start with the images, because this beach needs no comments.
Rock formations at Olhos de Água beach
No words. Pure and astounding nature!
Fresh Water Springs
Did you know that Olhos de Água beach owes its name to the springs of fresh water that sprout from the sand next to the sea, right among the rock formations that I exposed before? They are visible, especially at low tide, but you will have to look for them, especially under the rocks on the beach. I just found a small one, but the locals claim that there are much bigger sprouts than the one I found.
These freshwater springs are an unusual but easy to explain geological phenomenon. Basically, they are discharges of fresh water from underground lines in the region. As fresh water is less dense than salt water, the turbulence generated makes it easier to distinguish them when they emerge from the sand. They are undoubtedly one of the reasons why I consider Olhos de Água one of the best beaches in Albufeira.
The sand of Olhos de Água beach
The beach is as good or even better than the rock formations. It’s a fishermen’s beach, with a small section dedicated to them, with little blue houses and a ramp full of colorful boats. Next to this place I found many nets and other fishing instruments, and of course, fishermen. The water is fabulous, and from inside you have an incredible view of the many kilometers of orange cliffs in this region. Once again: the queen of the best beaches in Albufeira in my opinion, and one of the best beaches in Algarve.
4 – Fisherman’s Beach
It is impossible to talk about Fisherman’s beach without mentioning the historic center of Albufeira which is right behind it. I will share in this section my experience there.
City of Albufeira
It was on the 31st of July 2020 that I visited both. It was the day after visiting Olhos de Água, and from there to the city of Albufeira I skipped beaches like Maria Luísa, Santa Eulália, Oura, or even the Germans Beach, which clearly must be beautiful, but which I didn’t think would add to the itinerary I planned for the best beaches in Albufeira.
Pau da Bandeira Viewpoint
Pau da Bandeira viewpoint is on top of the cliff right after arriving in Albufeira, and that’s where I started my visit. It’s the best viewpoint in town and on Fisherman’s beach, so I parked the car right next to it, in a parking lot I found there. Not far from the lookout there are rolling stairs (that’s right!), which allow easy access to the beach and to the historic center, smoothly overcoming a high gap and saving energy for a good swim in very attractive waters.
25th of April Square / Rua Cândido dos Reis
The escalators will take you to 25th of April Square. I didn’t go straight to the beach and continued along Rua Cândido dos Reis, which I consider to be the street of bars in Albufeira. This street was deserted at this time of day, in the morning, but I noticed that it is actually a highly prepared street to encourage consumption, with the flag and colors of Portugal spread everywhere, and even statues of Cristiano Ronaldo: everything to attract tourists, especially foreigners.
Eng. Duarte Pacheco Square / Public Garden of Albufeira / Rua 5 de Outubro
Rua Cândido dos Reis leads to the pleasant Square of Eng. Duarte Pacheco, where the Public Garden of Albufeira is located: a huge tree dominates the center of the square that I believe is the most central in the old town of Albufeira. On the day of my visit there was street music, and some movement, it was a good place to stop and rest a little, before heading to Rua 5 de Outubro, which took me to the tunnel that led to the beach.
Elevator, beach and Peneco Viewpoint
Despite the appetizing water and sand, I turned right and continued to where Peneco Elevator and viewpoint are located. There are those who say that this part of Fisherman’s beach is already called Peneco beach, and maybe the reason is Peneco Rock that you will find around there.
There was a wooden walkway to the elevator so it was very easy to walk there. I had to go up all the stairs because the elevator was closed. If the same happens to you, be prepared to take the stairs one by one as there are no escalators available like before.
There is another viewpoint a little further on, if you walk towards the cliff from the top of the elevator. It’s a kind of wooden walkway that also overlooks the beach, but truth be told, the one at Peneco is more than enough.
Fisherman’s Beach
Descending from the top of Peneco viewpoint back to the beach, I went to discover a few more corners of the historic center of Albufeira, namely the municipal archeology museum, the clock tower and the art gallery. As I approached 25th of April Square again, I turned towards the sea, to enjoy the water!
From the pier at Fisherman’s Beach I took some spectacular pictures with the drone, see if you don’t agree?
Albufeira Marina
Albufeira Marina was my next destination, a little away from the city. What surprised me the most was not the marina itself, but the colorful houses next to it. I still thought about going to Ponta da Baleeira, next to the marina, but I ended up deciding not to go.
5, 6 e 7 – Arrifes Beach / Vigia Beach / São Rafael Beach
These are three beaches very close to each other, and all three are among the best beaches in Albufeira. Upon reaching Arrifes Beach, I went straight to the cliff that separates it from Vigia Beach. After that, I walked towards São Rafael beach. You’ll realize that from here it was pure exploration, and it was shot after shot, even with the drone: personally, I think the landscape is amazing.
In the following photos, use the first one to guide you:
- On the left, the beach of São Rafael;
- In the centre, right after the large rock formation, Vigia Beach;
- Finally, on the right, Arrifes beach, with the 5 rocks in the sea, right in front of the sand.
You have useful bars next to these beaches and parking for cars. I found São Rafael beach to be the busiest, despite being bigger, but that’s where I went for a swim. This beach is beautiful from every perspective.
8, 9 e 10 – Ponta Grande Beach / Secret Beach of Albufeira / Ponta Pequena Beach
This stretch of coast is a paradise for photography, which is why it is on my list of the best beaches in Albufeira. On my trip to the Algarve, I went to the secret beach of Albufeira, which is located between the beaches of Ponta Grande and Ponta Pequena, a secret opening in the cliffs that, in this place, have an impressive shape when seen from above.
In the following photos, use the first one to guide you:
- To the left, Ponta Grande beach (also known as Buraco Beach), accessible only by boat.
- In the center of that huge mouth-shaped rock, secret and hidden inside a cave, is the Secret Beach. Access to this beach is by land and it was the only one I set foot on the sand: the others I only saw from afar.
- This is followed by the beach of Ponta Pequena, whose access is recommended by boat, but I believe it is possible to access it by land via the adjacent beaches. I didn’t, so I don’t know if it’s safe.
- Barely visible in the first photo, but well seen in the second, we have Ninho da Andorinha beach and also Pirates Beach. I have not highlighted them here as some of the best beaches in Albufeira, but they are certainly not behind any of the above.
- And finally the beach of São Rafael! Yes, the same one I mentioned before, as they are all close to each other on this stretch of coastline. Everything close, everything extraordinary, magnificent Algarve coast!
If you pay attention to the third photo, you can see the entrance to the secret beach, in the upper left corner of the photo. In the fourth photo it is still possible to see Salamitras beach on the left, after Ponta Grande beach.
Albufeira Secret Beach
As I said before, this was the only one I went to, and it’s one of the best beaches in Albufeira. I’ll tell you my experience next!
To get to Secret Beach, I had to go down the cliffs along a path that wasn’t merked, but it was easy to understand and quick to get there. The secret beach is very small, and the only water it has comes from the sea through the cave.
Unfortunately, it is no longer a secret, as there are many motorized boats that approach the cave from the outside to show tourists the fantastic opening to the beach hidden there. This is also uncomfortable for those on the beach, as it generates a rougher sea, and prevents you from swimming freely through the cave to the cove outside: I went there quickly once, but came back soon after due to the boats.
On the other side of the cave I saw boys climbing the cliffs without any support, grabbing the ledges of the rocks to climb several meters and then jump into the sea and do some acrobatics. Awesome… but dangerous… I wouldn’t do that, but loved to see!
This was the beach that made me realize that I had finally entered the most touristic part of the Algarve, with many boat trips and excursions, and many caves. From here, and to the west, there were always more people on the beaches.
11, 12 e 13 – Castelo Beach / Coelha Beach / Maré das Porcas Beach
I visited these beaches right after the previous ones, and they were very close to each other! I parked the car next to Castelo Beach and went exploring. This beach is extraordinary because it allows access through the sand to many nearby natural rock formations, allowing you to see them up close.
I clearly preferred Castelo Beach over the other two, but they are also very beautiful. Next to them, there is also Fraternity Beach, which is not in my top list of the best beaches in Albufeira, but it could easily be.
These are the last beaches I mention in this article about the best beaches in Albufeira. Galé Beach and Salgados Beach are also beautiful, but comparing them to Fisherman’s Beach or Falésia Beach (which are also large), I prefer the latter, so I opted not to include them.
Go on Guided Tours in Albufeira and Algarve
It is completely mandatory to go on a kayak or boat tour in Albufeira, as there are many caves to explore. Below are examples of possible guided tours in Algarve with Civitatis, Viator and Get Your Guide. Some are in Albufeira, or with Albufeira as the destination. If you do your own research, you will find even more alternatives on these websites. 😉
Guided Tours with Get Your Guide: 1 - Tavira Tuk Tuk City Tour 2 - Albufeira: Benagil Caves & Dolphin Watching Speed Boat Tour 3 - Portimão: Benagil Caves Speed Boat Tour with Sunset Option 4 - From Lagos: Boat Cruise to Ponta da Piedade 5 - From Faro: 4 Stops, 3 Islands in Ria Formosa Catamaran Tour 6 - Benagil Caves and Secret Spots Guided Kayaking Tour 7 - 1-Hour Carrapateira Horseback Riding Tour 8 - From Albufeira: Half-Day Algarve Jeep Safari 9 - From Lagos: Kayaking and Boat Cave Explorer Tour 10 - Loulé: TechSalt’s Rock-Salt Mine Tour 11 - Portimão: Pirate Ship Cave Cruise 12 - Albufeira: Single, Double or Triple Parasailing Tour
Guided Tours with Viator: 1 - Dolphins and Benagil Caves from Albufeira 2 - Boat trip to the caves of Benagil (from Lagos) 3 - Benagil Caves Tour from Portimao 4 - Benagil Cave tour from Faro 5 - Benagil Long Boat tour (From Carvoeiro to Praia da Marinha) 6 - Boat Tour to Benagil Caves from Armacao de Pera 7 - Kayaking in Secret Algarve Benagil Caves 8 - Benagil Area Kayak and SUP (from Albufeira) 9 - Kayak Trip in Lagos and Ponta da Piedade 10 - Parasailing from Albufeira Marina by Boat 11 - Coasteering and Cliff Jumping Near Lagos 12 - 2 hour Off-Road Buggy Adventure Tour from Albufeira 13 - Jeep Safari in the Algarve Mountains (Albufeira) 14 - Sunset Tour on a Luxury Sailing Yacht from Vilamoura 15 - Ria Formosa Natural Park and Islands Boat Cruise from Faro 16 - Boat trip to the 3 Islands of Ria Formosa (Olhão) 17 - Classic Food Tour in Lagos 18 - Wine Tasting Tour from Albufeira 19 - Tandem Skydiving in Algarve 20 - 2 Hour Surf Lesson at the Algarvian West Coast
Guided Tours with Civitatis: 1 - Tuk Tuk Tour in Tavira 2 - Benagil Caves Speed Boat Ride from Portimão 3 - Ponta da Piedade Caves Kayak Tour from Lagos 4 - Ponta da Piedade Caves Boat Trip from Lagos 5 - Albufeira Half Day Safari Tour 6 - Faro Walking Tour 7 - Parasailing in Albufeira 8 - Ria Formosa Eco Boat Trip from Faro 9 - Benagil Caves Boat Tour from Carvoeiro 10 - Deserta and Farol Islands Cruise from Faro 11 - Lagos Dolphin Watching in Lagos or Dolphin Watching in Albufeira 12 - Sagres Coast Sunset Jeep Tour from Lagos
Things to do in Albufeira surroundings?
On the outskirts of Albufeira, you can head to the municipality of Loulé or even to Ria Formosa, to discover a different Algarve, without cliffs. Or, how about heading to Silves, or even Lagoa?
Have a good trip! 😉 Through the links below you can access other articles on this blog. If this article with the Best beaches in Albufeira (South of Portugal) was useful for you, please send me your feedback below, in the comment section.
MORE ARTICLES FROM ALENTEJO AND ALGARVE: - Best Costa da Caparica beaches - Best beaches in Setúbal - Best Beaches in Sesimbra - Visit Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach - Best beaches in Tróia, Comporta and Melides - Best Beaches in Alentejo and Vicentine Coast - Things to do in Odemira and Vila Nova de Milfontes - Things to do in Marvão - Things to do in Elvas - Things to do in Estremoz - Things to do in Vila Viçosa - Things to do in Monsaraz & Alqueva Lake - Things to do in Porto Covo and Sines - Things to do in Arraiolos - Best Things to do in Évora and surroundings - Things to do in Mértola and Guadiana Valley - Things to do in Beja - Algarve Road Trip Itinerary - Best Beaches in Algarve - Things to do in Sagres - Things to do in Lagos - Best Beaches in Lagos - Things to do in Portimão - Things to do in Armação de Pêra and Silves - The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail - Best Beaches in Carvoeiro - Things to do in Vilamoura and Quarteira - Things to do in Faro - Things to do in Tavira - Things to do in Olhão - Things to do in Monte Gordo
