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Albufeira Vacations, Portugal

Albufeira in the Algarve region of Portugal

Author: Ted Ellis

Planning to go to Portugal? How about trying Albufeira?
Albufeira is just a 30 minutes drive from Faro international airport and is centrally located to reach any of the 29 beautiful golf courses and many superb beaches.It has developed over the years from a small fishing village into one of the most targetted resorts of holiday makers.

There is the easy sunshine life through the day

and a vibrant night-life in the town at night.

A touch of the USA has crept into Albufeira locality with its magnificent Algarve Shopping Centre near Guia.In it there are many shops,restaurants,and cinemas.
The nearby Zoomarine provides a wonderful day outing for the family with its scheduled shows of seals,dolphins and many other sea animals. Children can enter the interactive program offered by the Zoomarine to have supervised swimming with the Dolphins with photos and videos of the event as a souvenir. The children will also just love the Splash and Slide park just 15 kms from Albufeira.

Of course Albufeira is not just for summer holidays,as the weather can still be perfect for walking the beaches and cliff tops. Some discerning holiday-makers actually prefer to go to Albufeira during the low season months from November through to February. Then the air fares and accommodation are then quite inexpensive,there are less crowds,the service in the restaurants is fast,and best of all the climate is still very mild.

The new marina at Albufeira is now fully operating with its colourful buildings and is truly worth a visit even if you are not a mariner, just to see all of the various sea-going vessels.

A word or two should be said too about the local people.They are so very friendly and gentle towards the holiday-makers and most are able to converse in the English language.

All in all this article is just touching on the surface of the good things about Albufeira

If you haven`t yet been there, then do plan a visit -you will most surely enjoy it.

About the Author:
Ted Ellis - A Blogger for Albufeira Web Blog.

Albufeira, Portugal

Things To See And Do

Author: Gordon Phillips

If you're planning to visit Portugal, then Albufeira is one of the most exciting and vibrant places to visit there. Located in the heart of the Algarve region, Albufeira is only a 30 minutes drive Faro international airport. There are over 25 golf courses within easy reach of Albufeira, as well as stunningly beautiful beaches. Add in some great nightlife and shopping, and there's something for everyone to enjoy at Albufeira.

Until the 1960s, Albufeira was little more than a town reliant on fishing. Gradually tourists began to discover the charms of this beautiful, sun-drenched region, and Albufeira became a prime tourist destination. More than 5 million tourists visit the Algarve region every year, with large numbers of them heading for Albufeira. This influx of visitors has caused Albufeira to expand, with many facilities being developed specifically for visitors. Recent additions include the huge Algarve Shopping Center near Guia, and the Albufeira Marina. Restaurants, shops and cinemas have sprung up to provide entertainment for tourists, as well as the more recent influx of permanent residents.

If you're interested in historical things, then you will enjoy wandering some of the older parts of Albufeira, where there are narrow streets, whitewashed houses and a feeling that you've stepped back a few centuries. Albufeira also has a small museum with historic Ming ceramics, as well as the new Virtual Archaeological Museum. The Municipal art gallery also regularly holds exhibitions with paintings from past centuries. Nearby there are ruined castles, or the caverns at Ponte Grande if you want to explore some natural history.

Perhaps sitting back and relaxing is more your style, in which case you should grab a coffee on the central square, Largo Engonheiro Duarte Pacheco, and sit back to watch the world go by. When you're done, there's a nearby pedestrian-only mall and tunnel that leads through to the town's main beach, so you can go and soak up some sunshine.

For a family day out, visit Zoomarine and enjoy the shows of seals, dolphins and other sea animals. Your children can swim with the dolphins, as well as enjoy various other interactive programs. You can travel a little further afield and fine water slides and other fun activities.

One of the best things about Albufeira is that it's a great place for a holiday all year round. In some ways, it's actually better to visit outside the peak time of summer, so that you can avoid some of the crowds. The low season from November through to February is particularly good if you want a little bit of peace and quiet and fast service in the restaurants. The weather is still very mild, and you get more of an opportunity to experience the friendly locals.

There are so many great things to see and do in Albufeira and the Algarve region of Portugal, that this article can't do the area justice. Still, take a holiday there yourself and you'll soon discover what so many others have found before you - it's hard to leave.

About the Author:

If you want to read more about travelling in Portugal,

click over to Gordon's site at http://www.travelportugalinfozone.com.

Things To Do in Albufeira

Historical Roman Portugal Tour, Albufeira
Guided tour of Roman Portugal. Visit ruins of a Roman settlement in Cerro da Villa,

near Vilamoura; during the Roman Empire, the harbour was a hub of commercial

and trading activity. At the Roman Museum in Loulé, peruse Roman artifacts.

In Faro, explore Vila Adentro, the oldest part of the city to see significant

monuments, including the Sé Cathedral, the Convent of Nossa Senhora da

Assunção, as well as authentic Roman tiles in the Museum of Faro. The last

stop is Tavira, famed for its stunning architecture. Cross the ancient Roman

bridge and retreat to the parish church to observe a variety of art pieces

and architectural styles. Then, trace Roman tracks through Tavira's oldest

quarter to the 11th-century castle, and the Church of Santa Maria.
Attraction type: Ancient ruins; Historic site

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