Albufeira

Albufeira is a bustling seaside fishing village-turned-resort. The architecture of its boxy, flat-roofed, whitewashed houses stepping up the cliffs from the beach harks back to its Moorish heritage. Its Moorish background also lingers in the name “Albufeira,” which means “castle on the sea” in Arabic. The town boasts a large, busy beach, which is reached by a tunnel from the main square. The predominantly white buildings are colorfully decorated with bright awnings. Shops and restaurants abound here, as do street vendors with multihued umbrellas covering their wares. Brightly colored boats are still drawn up onto the sand at night. The town has the potential to be outstanding, but its quaintness has been sullied a bit by the fact that it is such a magnet for swarms of tourists. Nevertheless, it’s an inviting place to stroll around the steep, narrow streets and inspect the shops and attractive cafés. Try to visit early in the morning before the mobs of tourists arrive.