Girls' trip guide to Albufeira
Updated: Apr 14
✿ Planning a trip to Albufeira? Poolside sunshine, beaches and partying in the gorgeous Algarve coastal town will exceeded all your expectations. I've put together a mini guide to help you plan an unforgettable, sunshine filled trip.
✿ This blog contains affiliate links, which means if you book or purchase through them (at no extra cost to you) I may earn a small commission. I only recommend experiences I genuinely enjoyed or that are highly rated and well reviewed.
✿ First of all, where should you stay?
I immediately recommend the Patio Suite Hotel to you, just 20 minutes drive away from Albufeira town. I stayed there myself with two other friends and had a faultless experience. Initially when booking the holiday I felt that it looked like a lovely hotel with good reviews at a very reasonable price, but I must say it was even better than expected. The whole hotel felt very grand. Our rooms were modern, comfortably furnished and clean. The pools (yes, multiple!) were beautiful with plenty of sun loungers and located either side of the Hotel so you can maximise sunshine all day. When it comes to the restaurant, bars and snack bars the staff, food and service , they were all impeccable.
Nearby within walking distance there were a few restaurants and small supermarkets/shops, and it was lovely to be a little further out from the centre of town for a more tranquil feel but with the option to head into the bustling centre if we wanted. Taxis to get from the hotel into the Old/New town were cheap, readily available day and night, and reliable with taxi apps like Uber and Grab. The Patio suite hotel also runs shuttle buses to the local beach, as well as options to book activities like boat trips and tours. We had the all inclusive package, and it was 100% worth the money for the cocktails alone, which had daily specials as well as an extensive menu, and the buffets and snack bars were phenomenal too with a huge variety of fresh food.
✿ What to do?
Nights out in Albufeira Old Town
The old town is fantastic for early evening drinks and a dance, with the streets are often full of people partying. You can then get a quick taxi to the new town later in the evening. The strip has so many bars and nightlife venues. Matt's Bar was a particular favourite.
Boat trip to the Benagil caves + dolphin watching
The Benagil Caves are stunning, and our boat trip with dolphin watching and swimming was the highlight of the trip. Tours such as this one from GetYourGuide look fantastic if you'd like to pre-book. Alternatively, if you don't mind risking a last minute booking, head down and explore the Marina where you can watch the fish in the water, explore a few shops and also book a boat tour of the caves in person with a selection of different tour companies operating bookings in the harbour.
Watching the dolphins was truly mesmerising, they swam right up beside the boat and followed us along for a while. The guides are skilled at monitoring their behaviour and sightings to give you really good chances of seeing dolphins. These boat trips often lack shade, so bring plenty of water, snacks and sun cream.
Shopping
Albufeira town is full of all the shops, restaurants and bars you could ever wish for. The beach is right next to a central shopping area, perfect for a beach day with some rest in the AC as you shop.
Beach day
There are many beaches along the Albufeira coastline. If you'd like to be near to shops and the town centre head to Praia de Albufeira. For a gorgeous sandy cove, add Praia da Coelha to your itinerary.
Water Park
Fancy a fun day out? Whilst researching I stumbled upon the Aquashow Park, a 25 minute drive away from Albufeira old town and looks to be a fantastic day out. If you don't have a car, transfers are readily available to book.
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