| If you're planning to visit Portugal, then Albufeira is | | | | paintings from past centuries. Nearby there are ruined |
| one of the most exciting and vibrant places to visit | | | | castles, or the caverns at Ponte Grande if you want |
| there. Located in the heart of the Algarve region, | | | | to explore some natural history.Perhaps sitting back |
| Albufeira is only a 30 minutes drive Faro international | | | | and relaxing is more your style, in which case you |
| airport. There are over 25 golf courses within easy | | | | should grab a coffee on the central square, Largo |
| reach of Albufeira, as well as stunningly beautiful | | | | Engonheiro Duarte Pacheco, and sit back to watch |
| beaches. Add in some great nightlife and shopping, | | | | the world go by. When you're done, there's a nearby |
| and there's something for everyone to enjoy at | | | | pedestrian-only mall and tunnel that leads through to |
| Albufeira.Until the 1960s, Albufeira was little more | | | | the town's main beach, so you can go and soak up |
| than a town reliant on fishing. Gradually tourists began | | | | some sunshine.For a family day out, visit Zoomarine |
| to discover the charms of this beautiful, | | | | and enjoy the shows of seals, dolphins and other sea |
| sun-drenched region, and Albufeira became a prime | | | | animals. Your children can swim with the dolphins, as |
| tourist destination. More than 5 million tourists visit the | | | | well as enjoy various other interactive programs. You |
| Algarve region every year, with large numbers of | | | | can travel a little further afield and fine water slides |
| them heading for Albufeira. This influx of visitors has | | | | and other fun activities.One of the best things about |
| caused Albufeira to expand, with many facilities being | | | | Albufeira is that it's a great place for a holiday all year |
| developed specifically for visitors. Recent additions | | | | round. In some ways, it's actually better to visit |
| include the huge Algarve Shopping Center near Guia, | | | | outside the peak time of summer, so that you can |
| and the Albufeira Marina. Restaurants, shops and | | | | avoid some of the crowds. The low season from |
| cinemas have sprung up to provide entertainment for | | | | November through to February is particularly good if |
| tourists, as well as the more recent influx of | | | | you want a little bit of peace and quiet and fast |
| permanent residents.If you're interested in historical | | | | service in the restaurants. The weather is still very |
| things, then you will enjoy wandering some of the | | | | mild, and you get more of an opportunity to |
| older parts of Albufeira, where there are narrow | | | | experience the friendly locals.There are so many |
| streets, whitewashed houses and a feeling that | | | | great things to see and do in Albufeira and the |
| you've stepped back a few centuries. Albufeira also | | | | Algarve region of Portugal, that this article can't do |
| has a small museum with historic Ming ceramics, as | | | | the area justice. Still, take a holiday there yourself |
| well as the new Virtual Archaeological Museum. The | | | | and you'll soon discover what so many others have |
| Municipal art gallery also regularly holds exhibitions with | | | | found before you - it's hard to leave. |