Algarve - Albufeira, any must see places or to dos?
Algarve - Albufeira, any must see places or to dos?
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Zippee

Original Poster:

14,144 posts

264 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
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We're heading to the Algarve for a week in July and was wandering if theres anything people would recommend doing or seeing around the area? We primarily want to relax but I do like to get out and explore a bit and will likely hire a car for a couple of days.

The Tea Boy

4,129 posts

265 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Good job I looked the topics, was about to ask the same question for same place!
Im going at the end of april smile

Matt

Rich1986

21 posts

212 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
I was there last year, with regards to Albufeira the "Old Town" is where you want to be. Lovely square where they often have live music and performances, as well as decent restaurants, bars and a fantastic beach.

Lots of shops selling tours to places of interested nearby, I would reccomend just going into them and looking at the brochures as seeing what takes your fancy the prices are all fairly similar. Some places in the old town are really lively at night and have a good atmosphere. I guess what you do depends on why your their e.g. sight seeing / drinking / family holiday.

Waterpark was worth a visit theirs two but cant remember wich one we went to - food was ridiculously over priced and horrible though.

If your in the new part of albufeira by 'the strip' thats more of a Malia/ Ayia Napa binge drinking place. Though if you follow the strip all the way to the sea the beach there is great and there are two nice bars/restaurants over looking the beach which were incredible to relax at during the day with a pint of cold lager.

Do be careful at night around the strip eg dont wander off alone drunk in the quiet back streets, just asking to be mugged and a few people ended up being very brutally assualted. It is fine in and around the strip and this problem may have been solved by now.

Rich1986

21 posts

212 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
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Also this may be of interest to you!

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g189112-A...


NAS

2,589 posts

261 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
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Was there 2 weeks ago on a conference:


Colleagues did this and loved it.

http://albufeira.com/directory/advert.asp?Pub=634

I did this:

http://www.quad-ventura.com/algarve-quads-photos.h...

Was good fun, a tad slow if you're experienced though.

Defcon5

6,476 posts

221 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
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A friend of mine works in Vilamoura, thats quite nice around the harbour - full of expensive boats and fast cars last time I went

valiant

14,289 posts

190 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Head west towards Portimao and Lagos. Excellent places to walk and explore with plenty of good restaurants (especially if you like sardines!) and not far from traditional beach resorts if you want to chill on the beach.

Silves and Monchique also worth a visit and a good drive to boot. a motorway (can't remember the number) basically goes from one side to the other but I prefered usung the coast road as you see more and can stop off in small villages along the way. (all though be careful as it once was the most dangerous road in all Europe!).

Been loads of times and is still one of my firm favourites.

Dr Gonzo

159 posts

203 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Albufiera was being redeveloped when I last went, but has some great places to eat. I would avoid eating in the main square - which can be overpriced. As has been said, it's worth going there for the buskers - especially the puppets if they're still there. smile

Lagos is worth a vist a bit to the west, and Cabanas to the east has one of the best beaches in the Algarve - accessable by a small ferry boat but unspoilt.

Alcoutim to the east is worth a visit if you want to go up country a bit and look at Spain across the river Guadiana. Lots of history and places to eat and drink.

Finally, and if you get the time, you can take the motorway into Spain and be in Seville after a few hours. Bit of a boring drive - but well worth it.

FUBAR

17,065 posts

268 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
valiant said:
Head west towards Portimao and Lagos. Excellent places to walk and explore with plenty of good restaurants (especially if you like sardines!) and not far from traditional beach resorts if you want to chill on the beach.

Silves and Monchique also worth a visit and a good drive to boot. a motorway (can't remember the number) basically goes from one side to the other but I prefered usung the coast road as you see more and can stop off in small villages along the way. (all though be careful as it once was the most dangerous road in all Europe!).

Been loads of times and is still one of my firm favourites.
Agree with this. Some more reading here

Portimao and sardines on the quay. The race track nearby. Up to Monchique, drive through to Foia and have some of the best chicken piri piri in the Algarve. Boat trip to the grottos/caves out of Lagos marina. Couple of hours dolphin watching of various beaches.

If you want a more in depth reply Tony, pm me smile

Edited by FUBAR on Wednesday 21st March 17:58

Simon Brooks

1,527 posts

281 months

Saturday 17th March 2012
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This vine yard is owned and operated by Cliff Richards. Wine is not bad either

http://www.winesvidanova.com/thepeople.htm

Zippee

Original Poster:

14,144 posts

264 months

Wednesday 21st March 2012
quotequote all
Thanks all, some interesting ideas there and I'll sit down with the wife at some point and take a more detailed look. We haven't been to Albufeira for 12 years so are hoping the area is still OK - I do remember the old town and port being quite nice.
Fubes - thankyou for the other link, sounds like you know the area pretty well so I'll likely be in touch at some point soon, we will however, be avoiding the strip like the proverbial plague.