Sightseeing in Albufeira - what to see. Complete travel guide

Albufeira is a large port, an old city and one of the most popular Portuguese resorts. Here you will find everything you need for interesting and comfortable rest – clean beaches, large selection of sights and excursions, modern shops and restaurants, rich nightlife and local color that is hard to transmit unless you visit this wonderful place.

The Old City is the most notable and recommended place for visiting as the majority of 18th century buildings have remained here. Each monument is connected with some important event in the history of the city and the country. The earthquake of 1755 was very hazardous and ruined biggest part of Albufeira, but several churches, villas and houses managed to survive until now. The main religious sight of the city is the Church of St. Anna, which was built in the 18th century. The main decoration of the church is an altar that is made solely of wood. This altar was created by famous Portuguese masters Zhou Baptista and Francisco Javier. The church also has several fantastic wooden sculptures, amazing icons and frescos.

Local Archeological Museum remains the most important historic object. It has been opened in the building of the local municipality. Here visitors of the museum will find a unique collection of archeological artifacts, manuscripts and other exhibitions that illustrate the history of Portugal starting from prehistoric times and up to our days. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Albufeira restaurants can be also called a sight as here you will find absolutely everything. Fuji restaurant is considered the most “multi-functional” and universal as here you will see dishes from Japanese cuisine, vegetarian menu, a menu for kids, rich wine selection and fantastic choice of desserts. Another popular restaurant is Casa da Fonte that is opened in one of the medieval castles. This place is filled with romantic atmosphere and here you can taste dishes of local traditional cuisine. Finally, if you prefer Thai and Indian cuisine above all, Monsoon restaurant will fit your requirements the most.

In the old town there is a very interesting historical object - the Clock Tower. This ancient tower can serve as an excellent guide during the walks, as it is visible from almost all parts of the city. At the top, the tower is equipped with a great viewing platform, which can be accessed for free; though you may need to climb a little. It is most exciting to admire the ancient tower in the day of a national holiday. It is crowned by an unusual "crown", in which a bell is fixed, and during public holidays it is illuminated beautifully. 

One of the most interesting religious objects is considered to be the church of St. Sebastian. It is a vivid example of Manueline - national architectural style, however, the church is notable not only for its unique architectural outlines. It features a fascinating museum, which presents the works of art, all of which were made by local priests. The most valuable exhibit is a large wooden panel, on which the images of saints are carved. 

Within the half-hour drive from Albufeira is a charming ancient village of Paderne, which also offers a variety of attractions. Here you can take a stroll for free on the territory of the ancient church, which was built in the 12th century. In the village there are lots of beautiful old houses. Today those houses are handicraft shops, which the tourists always find fascinating, as well as small national restaurants. 

The usual beach holiday in Albufeira can also be entertaining. Many tourists go to the coast during low tide, when the absence of water presents some very beautiful coastal areas with a lot of stones covered with algae. For the curious tourists this coast - the real find. They can observe the small fish and crabs, which are left in the puddles of water, and even go to gather some beautiful shells. During low tide not only tourists hurry to the beach, but also local housewifes. Here they gather some species of crabs and snails to cook them later for a good dinner.