Albufeira is the premier resort town of the Algarve, situated on a coastline of magnificent sandy beaches. These range from lively and action-packed stretches through to deserted sandy coves, completely undiscovered by foreign tourists.

For anyone in the early stages of planning a holiday to Albufeira and wondering about the beaches: the answer is straightforward. The coastline delivers some of the finest beaches in the Algarve.

A glorious 1.9km sandy beach extends along the coastline of Albufeira Old Town, while the picturesque Praia da Oura sits at the base of the New Town. These two superb beaches account for where most tourists spend the majority of their holiday, but many more stunning beaches lie within the Albufeira coastline.

To the west of Albufeira, the limestone cliffs of the Sesmarias headland conceal many picturesque beaches, hidden at the base of weathered cliffs or ancient river valleys. The beautiful Praia de São Rafael, Praia dos Arrifes, and Praia da Coelha are all found within this region.

Slightly further from Albufeira, the two huge beaches of Praia da Falésia and Praia da Galé provide a fantastic alternative to the main town beaches, reachable with a short taxi ride.
This article provides a guide to the magnificent beaches of the Albufeira region.

 

 

Albufeira sits directly on a sandy shoreline, with glorious beaches within walking distance of the town. The best beaches in Albufeira are:

Praia dos Pescadores is the main beach of Albufeira, where fishing boats were historically pulled up onto the vast sand. Today Pescadores beach is a lively, family-friendly stretch, with the bustling town centre of Albufeira directly behind it. Sun loungers line the sand, sea inflatables keep children entertained, and banana-boats or parasailing cater to thrill-seekers.

Praia da Oura sits at the base of Albufeira New Town. As the main beach of the party-focused New Town, Oura beach is lined with trendy beach bars and populated by beachgoers recovering from the night before. The central section fills during summer, but a 10-minute walk leads to the deserted sands of Praia da Oura Leste.

Praia dos Alemães occupies the calmer eastern side of Albufeira's 1.9km sandy coastline. Alemães beach boasts the same golden sands and crystal-clear sea waters as Praia dos Pescadores, but with a less hectic atmosphere.

Praia de Santa Eulália is a glorious sandy beach sitting between Albufeira and Olhos de Água. A rocky headland shelters this beach, creating some of the calmest sea waters in the region. Santa Eulália is a fantastic beach for families and serves the mega-hotel complexes on the outskirts of Olhos de Água.
Related articles: Albufeira introduction - Sights and activities

The interactive map below shows the location of all beaches in the Albufeira region. Yellow pins display the main beaches of Albufeira, while blue pins show the quieter and less well-known beaches. (Note: zoom in or out to see all points)

The main beaches of the Albufeira region: 1) Praia dos Pescadores 2) Praia do Inatel 3) Praia dos Alemães 4) Praia da Oura 5) Praia de Santa Eulália 6) Praia dos Olhos de Água 7) Praia da Falésia 8) Praia da Galé 9) Praia de São Rafael
The quieter or less famous beaches of Albufeira: 10) Praia da Coelha 11) Praia do Castelo 12) Praia da Oura (east) 13) Praia Maria Luísa 14) Praia do Evaristo 15) Praia dos Arrifes 16) Praia dos Aveiros 17) Praia da Baleeira

Within 7km of Albufeira Old Town lie many other picturesque beaches. These beaches offer a more pristine or tranquil setting than the main tourist beaches of Albufeira, easily reached with a short Uber/Bolt ride.

Praia de São Rafael is an idyllic cove beach, surrounded by golden cliffs and the unspoilt countryside of the Sesmarias headland. Rafael beach is the largest beach of the Sesmarias region at 250m long, which makes it the most well-known and, in summer, the most popular. Praia de São Rafael has calm turquoise waters and is an outstanding choice for families. Kayaks can be hired from the beach to explore the coastline. São Rafael beach lies only 3km from the centre of Albufeira Old Town (4.6km by car).
Related articles: Praia de São Rafael guide

Praia de São Rafael is a wonderful beach, but expect crowds during the summer months

Praia da Falésia is the largest beach of the central Algarve, backed by distinctive orange clay cliffs. Falésia beach extends for over 5.5km from the village of Olhos de Água to the exclusive resort town of Vilamoura in the east. The huge size of Praia da Falésia means large swathes of the beach remain nearly deserted during the summer months. Praia da Falésia lies 6km from the centre of Albufeira Old Town (10km by car).
Related articles: Praia da Falesia guide

Looking along the cliff tops of Praia da Falésia towards Olhos de Água

Praia da Galé is a vast sandy beach on the western side of the Sesmarias headland. This section of the Algarve coastline comprises ancient sand dunes and established beach vegetation, with a glorious sandy shoreline stretching over 5km. The eastern side (Praia da Galé Leste) is the prettiest as it sits between limestone outcrops. Praia da Galé Leste lies only 6km from the centre of Albufeira Old Town (7km by car).

Praia dos Olhos de Água is the charming beach of Olhos de Água, where fishing boats are hauled onto the sand after a day out on the sea. This golden sand beach is surrounded by rocky headlands and offers a likeable alternative to the main beaches of Albufeira. Olhos de Água lies 5km from Albufeira Old Town (7.3km by car).
Related articles: Olhos de Água town guide

Small fishing boats are pulled onto the pretty beach of Olhos de Água

The Albufeira coastline conceals many hidden beaches, barely known by foreign tourists. These beaches may require a walk or taxi ride to reach them, but the solitude and tranquillity is worth the effort.

Praia da Oura (Leste) is, surprisingly, one of the quietest and most pristine beaches of the Albufeira region, connected to one of the busiest. The only access to Oura Leste beach is a 10-minute walk along the sand, and few tourists are willing to make the effort. The result is a beach that remains deserted throughout the day.

The deserted sections of Praia da Oura Leste, only a 15-minute walk from the hectic area of the beach

Praia dos Arrifes lies on the quieter eastern side of Praia de São Rafael. This is a beautiful beach set within the golden cliffs of the Sesmarias headland, with rocky outcrops jutting out into the water. The beach is sheltered from waves and is an ideal location for snorkelling.

Praia da Coelha is one of the best beaches close to the village of Evaristo. The beach is surrounded by highly weathered limestone cliffs, and the sea formations include a small sea arch. Praia da Coelha is a favourite with locals and another excellent choice for a calm, family-friendly beach.

Praia da Baleeira is a small sandy beach at the mouth of Albufeira marina. Reaching it requires a long walk around the entire marina complex, which means it is often deserted. Baleeira beach is an enjoyable setting to watch the stream of pleasure craft entering or departing from the marina, and just above the beach sits the Ponta da Baleeira viewpoint.

Praia do Castelo is a picturesque beach hidden within the western cliffs of the Sesmarias headland. At only 150m wide, it is one of the smaller beaches of the region, but also one of the quietest. Castelo beach can be easily reached from Praia da Coelha, and many scenic clifftop walks wind around the beach.

The Algarve's beaches sit on the Atlantic Ocean, not the Mediterranean, and the water temperatures reflect this. Even in high summer, the sea rarely exceeds 22°C, and temperatures of 18-20°C are more typical during July and August. Earlier in the season, May and June see water around 17-18°C, while September often brings the warmest swimming as the sea retains heat from the summer months.

The cold owes much to the Atlantic currents that sweep down from the north, combined with upwelling of deeper water along this stretch of coast. On certain days, usually when winds blow from the north, temperatures can drop several degrees without warning as colder water rises to the surface.

For most visitors, the sea is refreshing rather than uncomfortable once the initial shock passes. Children and those accustomed to warmer Mediterranean waters may find extended swimming sessions challenging. The colder temperatures do bring benefits: the water clarity along this coastline is exceptional, and the beaches never develop the soupy warmth that plagues some southern European shores in August.

The Algarve enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, making Albufeira one of Europe's most reliable beach destinations. Summer provides up to 12 hours of sunshine per day with temperatures reaching highs of 33°C, and rain between June and September is virtually unknown.

The core beach season runs from late May through mid October, when conditions are ideal for a traditional beach holiday. July and August guarantee beach weather almost every day, though these peak months bring the largest crowds. June and September deliver similar sunshine with fewer visitors, making them the preferred months for many travellers.

May and October sit either side of the main season. Both months bring plenty of warm, sunny days suitable for the beach, though conditions are less consistent. By May, temperatures reach highs around 21°C with rainfall dropping to modest levels. October typically continues the weather patterns of late summer, with beaches still enjoyable and temperatures relatively high.

The winter months from November to March rarely offer beach weather. Temperatures remain mild at 16-17°C, higher than visitors from northern Europe may expect, but fall short of the warmth needed for comfortable sunbathing.

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