Albufeira was called the sea castle by the moorish ("Al-Buhera", VIII century designation). The narrow streets, the old castle and the white houses with arches, are still a simbol of the five centuries of arab presence in the region.

Today, the progress has turned Albufeira into a city with tourism and leisure, but the city still in the holds the picturesque appeal of whitewashed houses. On the beach, the bright colours of the fishing boats contrast with the blue of the sea. Indifferent to the tourists sunbathing nearby, the fishermen carry on the task of mending and preparing the nets, as they have done for hundreds of years.

A walk by the sea will offer you a magnificent view over the city, the beaches and the cliffs which are part of the charm of Albufeira. The sidewalk leads to the pretty cave at Xorino, where according to the local tradition the Moors took refuge when the town was reconquered by the Christians in the 13th century.

Albufeira is famed for its beaches, for the countless shades and tones of its rocks and cliffs. This is a place where people live to the rhythim of the great holiday destinations, sunbathing during the day and at sunset flocking to enjoy the restaurants, bars and discos that enliven the night-time hours. Just a few miles inland and everything changes. The green of the countryside is dotted with almond, fig, orange and pine trees and decorated chimneys stand out against the ochre of tiled roofs.

Bucolic villages invite you to experience a way of life rooted in the traquility of nature, to add another dimension to your holidays. Nightlife, sunshine, beaches and lots and lots of animation are just some of the guaranteed features of Albufeira. Here the life has the rhythm of a tourist metropolis and, as the sun goes down, meet the sun lovers at the many discos, restaurants and bars.

What to see. The Church of São Sebastião on Praça Miguel Bombarda has an impressive Manueline doorway. From here, Rua 5 de Outubro leads through a tunnel to the beach. At Praia dos Barcos you can see Albufeira's colourful fishing boats and the fishermen unloading fish or mending their nets. Nearby. The small sandy coves around Albufeira are surrounded by high sandstone cliffs, providing shade in summer and protection against the wind in winter. The most important satellite developments are situated to the east of Albufeira, including Montechoro, Areias de São João and Oura, where there is a density of hotels, bars, restaurants and discotheques.