Albufeira is the Algarve’s premier tourist destination, and is a fantastic location for your weeks holiday.
The majority of tourists come to relax on the beaches and socialise in the evenings, but if you want, there is so much more to discover. There are world-class golf courses, thrilling waterparks, scenic boat cruises and towns steeped in history.

Being such a magnificent holiday destination, the region attracts a diverse range of tourists, from those seeking an authentic Portuguese experience to those wanting to party all week long.

For this, we have designed two very different weeklong itineraries; the first encompasses the highlights of the region, while the second is activity and excitement focused.
Related articles: Albufeira introduction - Sights and activities

One-week itinerary, discovering the best of the Algarve region:
• Day 1 – The historic centre of Albufeira or beach day
• Day 2 – Day trip to Silves
• Day 3 – Water park or a day trip to Loulé
• Day 4 – Day trip to Faro
• Day 5 – Boat tour (dolphin watching, coastline tour or Benagil cave)
• Day 6 – Zoomarine
• Day 7 – Day trip to Vilamoura and Quarteira

 

 

A one-week entertainment and activity focused holiday:
• Day 1 – Boat tour and party night on "The Strip"
• Day 2 – Beach morning and kayak coastline tour
• Day 3 – Day trip to Vilamoura or a jeep safari
• Day 4 – Waterpark (Slide & Splash or Aquashow Park)
• Day 5 – Day trip to Silves or Zoomarine
• Day 6 – Albufeira marina; go-karting, jet boat ride and bungy jumping
• Day 7 – Parque Aventura (high rope adventure pack)

Related articles: Sights and activities in Albufeira - Albufeira boat tours
The remainder of this article will explain in depth the first tour (the best of the Algarve), and provide links to further in-depth information.

Albufeira is a family holiday destination

There is such a wide choice of sea-based tours and activities

Albufeira blends centuries of history with modern beach resort amenities. The town began as a significant Moorish trading hub in the 9th century and remained an important fishing port until tourism developed in the 1960s.

Exploring the historic centre reveals Albufeira's rich past through its winding cobbled streets and whitewashed buildings. Start at the remains of the Moorish castle near Praça Miguel Bombarda, then visit the 18th-century São Sebastião Church with its distinctive bell tower and blue-tiled altar. The Monumento dos Pescadores (Fishermen's Monument) on the beachfront honours the town's maritime heritage with a striking modern sculpture.

 

 

For lunch, try one of the traditional restaurants in the old town square where fresh seafood dominates the menus. Afterwards, follow the coastal path westward along the dramatic golden cliffs towards the marina, stopping at viewpoints to admire the scenary.

If relaxation is your priority on day one, Albufeira's beaches rank among the Algarve's finest. Praia dos Pescadores (Fishermen's Beach) and Praia do Túnel offer golden sands and clear, calm waters perfect for families. Beach facilities include sunbed rentals (€15-20 per day), water sports centres offering jet skis and paddleboards, and beachfront cafés serving cold drinks and simple meals throughout the day.
Related articles: Albufeira’s beaches

Glimpses of Albufeira’s past can be seen throughout the town

The glorious Praia dos Pescadores beach

The imposing and heavily fortified castle in Silves is a testament to the importance of the town during the Moorish era. From Silves, the Moors governed the entire Algarve region, and a wealth of trade flowed down the Arade River to the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Today, Silves is a fascinating place to visit, with remarkably well-preserved town defences, the magnificent castle and a distinctively Portuguese town centre.
If you make just one day trip from Albufeira, it must be to Silves.
Related article: A day trip to Silves

The ancient redbrick castle of Silves

The Sé Catedral de Silves follows a Gothic design

Albufeira is expecting a sell-out summer season for 2025, as visitors seek holidays to safe and established destinations within Europe.

With a combination of returning holiday-makers (who know how good the Algarve is), and first time visitors, means that Albufeira will sell out in 2025. We highly recommend that you book accommodation and flights early before prices increase.

The map below shows the best hotels and rental rooms in Albufeira. If you adjust the dates to your holiday plans, it will display current prices and availability.

Booking.com

The Algarve is famed for its insane and thrilling waterparks, with their gravity-defying flumes, near vertical slides and drop towers that can be seen for miles around. Our favourite waterpark is Slide n Splash (€29/€21 adult/child), close to the town of Lagoa. Their official website is: www.slidesplash.com

If the waterparks are not for you (or are visiting outside of the high season), consider a day trip to Loulé. This is a traditional market town and a great location to experience typical Portuguese daily life. At the centre of Loulé is a covered market (closed Sunday) with stalls selling local produce, handicrafts and fresh fish. Surrounding the market are pretty cobbled backstreets, traditional houses and scenic plazas.
Related articles: Loulé introduction

Faro is a delightful and historic city, which makes for an enjoyable excursion from Albufeira. There is a charming old quarter, encircled by ancient city walls, a gothic cathedral, traditional cobbled streets and an abundance of Portuguese charm.

A truly unique sight of Faro is the Bone Chapel, where the bones of over 1,100 monks line the walls and skulls even form decorative patterns.

Faro is the gateway to the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a series of saltwater lagoons and mud flats, which are a haven for bird and marine life. Departing from Faro harbour are boat tours of the Ria Formosa, or taxi boats to the sandbar islands, which lie the edge of the lagoons.
Related articles: Faro introduction

The coastline to the west of Albufeira is formed of dramatic natural scenery, and a boat tour is highly recommended. There are steep sandstone cliffs, vast sandy beaches and unique weathered rock formations, including the much-photographed Benagil Cave.

The Algarve sea waters are the migratory route for dolphins heading from the warm Mediterranean to the food-rich Atlantic Ocean. There are daily sightings of dolphins in their natural environment, at seeing one in is a magical experience.
Note: The Portuguese respect their wild dolphins and will never cause distress to them just to please tourists.

If you're after exhilaration take a ride on the jet boat tours or if luxury is more your thing, charter a stylish yacht for the day. For keen fishers, there are fishing trips which head out for bass, mackerel and grouper, or deep-sea fishing trips for Swordfish, Tuna or Dorado.

There is a wide variety of boating activities departing from the Albufeira marina complex, and the general standard of all of them is very high. We have worked with GetYourGuide.com for the previous 6 years, and a selection of their best tours includes:

Zoomarine is a tremendous theme/water/wildlife park, which is highly recommended to visit during your holiday to the Algarve. The site has a lot of offer including dolphin shows, an artificial beach, exotic bird displays and decent waterpark. The animals are well cared for and housed in modern facilities, and the entire park is professionally operated, their official website is:
www.zoomarine.pt/

An alternative activity are the high-rope adventures and assault course of Parque Aventura. Here rope bridges and cargo netting spans the tree tops, along with ziplines whizzing through the forests. Parque Aventura offers three different levels of courses (€12 - €17), and makes it suitable for all ages and abilities, their official website is: https://parqueaventura.net

Zoomarine

These neighboring towns offer two contrasting experiences of the Algarve, conveniently located within walking distance of each other.

Vilamoura is an upscale resort town centered around a luxury marina lined with expensive yachts, fine dining restaurants and stylish bars. Known for its five championship golf courses, it attracts wealthy tourists and sports enthusiasts from across Europe. The marina area offers pleasant waterfront strolls, while the Cerro da Vila museum (€5) displays impressive Roman ruins including well-preserved mosaics and ancient foundations.

A 20-minute coastal walk leads to Quarteira, a traditional Portuguese fishing town that maintains its authentic character. The morning fish market (7am-1pm, closed Mondays) offers a glimpse into local life as fishermen bring in their daily catch. The long beachfront promenade is perfect for a leisurely afternoon walk, lined with affordable cafés and family-run restaurants serving excellent grilled fish at reasonable prices.

Quarteira's expansive beach attracts more locals than tourists, with good facilities and calmer waters than many Algarve beaches.
Related articles: Quarteira guide – Vilamoura guide

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