Are you planning a family holiday to Portugal’s stunning Algarve coast and wondering if Albufera should be on your itinerary? You’re in the right place, this guide will tell you all about visiting Albufeira with kids. Including the best things to do and our family-friendly hotel recommendation.
We took a road trip through the Algarve, Portugal, and Albuferia was our third stop. We had an amazing time in Albufeira as a family and found some great things to do there, however, we preferred Montenegro for an April road trip. I’d recommend saving the Algarve for the summer months when you can enjoy the beaches more!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
We have guides on other places in the Algarve, Portugal:
– FARO – TAVIRA – VILAMORUA –
Also Read:
OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE EDEN RESORT AND SPA HOTEL
OUR FAMILY-FRIENDLY ONE-WEEK IN THE ALGARVE, PORTUGAL ITINERARY
The Best Time to Visit Albufeira & The Algarve
As I mentioned earlier, I feel that Albufeira (and Vilamora) are best as a summer holiday destination, when you’ll be able to enjoy the Algarve’s beautiful beaches.
The beaches are one of the main things to do in the Algarve. For us, visiting in April, the weather was pleasant and warm but not hot. We braved the beach for a while, but with the wind, we couldn’t stay too long. Luckily, we found some other activities to enjoy as well!
Things to do in Albufeira, Portugal with Kids
Below, I’ll share all the best things to do in Ablufeira, plus tips on enjoying them with kids!
Enjoy the Beaches
The Algarve region of Portugal is known for its beautiful beaches. I mentioned we didnt have beach weather, but if you do, this is an Albufeira activity kids will love. As Albufeira stretches across the Algarve coastline, it has plenty of beaches on offer.
The beach called Praia dos Pescadores, is the one closest to the city centre / Old Town Albufeira. This looked like a lovely family-friendly beach. It was also located in a cliffside cove accessed by steps or the Elevador do Peneco, making it more sheltered from the wind than other beaches.
If you want more information on the best beaches in Albufeira, I’d recommend reading this article on the Algarve Tourist website. It has lots of information and a handy map.
Elevador do Peneco (Elevator to the Beach) | Praia dos Pescadores Beach
Other Things to do in Old Town Albufeira
While the best things to do in Old Town Albuferia are probably the beaches, it’s still worth visiting here. I was excited to take a trip to explore Old Town Albufeira (also called Albufeira city centre). Our resort offered a free shuttle there, so we decided to use it.
I’d read that the Old Town was filled with sweet cobbled streets and beautiful boutique stores. While the streets are cobbled, I wouldn’t call the stores boutique. They mainly sold touristy souvenirs and cheap ‘tat’ or junk that kids will certainly want and probably break within 5 minutes. We found Old Town Albufeira to be very touristy, which, for me, makes it lose some of its charm.
Cobbled Streets and Shops in Old Town Albufera
There are plenty of places to eat in Albufeira’s Old Town, mostly aimed at tourists. If you’re visiting Albufeira with kids who are picky eaters, they will like it here! My 5-year-old was delighted to get fish and chips like in a British pub! Food prices here were generally much cheaper than in Vilamoura (which is another popular destination in the Algarve). There were also lots of deals and happy hours that went on all day (not complaining!) Cocktails for €6, yes please!
We ate at Bravo and the food was surprisingly good. We could see the tables at the restaurant next door and it didnt look great!
Enjoying Happy Hour drinks at an outdoor cafe & Food at Bravo Resteraunt
Enjoy Albufeira’s Family Hotels and Resorts
When I was browsing for where to stay in Albufeira, there were so many family-friendly resort options. We chose Eden Vilas and Apartments, and I’m so pleased we did!
Usually, being a city lover, I would book somewhere in the main town, but I knew my kids would really love the pool and other facilities at the Eden Resort (which they did!) We spent 4 days in Albufeira, you can explore most of the city centre in an afternoon, so unless you’re heading to the beach, there’s not that much to do there. Having the pool and other family entertainment here really made the trip.
It has indoor and outdoor pools, a small playground and lots of kid-focused entertainment on offer. It’s also close to the town (via a free shuttle) so, you can get the best of relaxing at the resort and exploring the town. I would highly recommend the Eden Resort (or a place like it) if you’re coming to Albufeira with kids.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK THE EDEN VILLA & APARTMENTS RESORT OR READ OUR FULL REVIEW HERE.
The Eden Resort: Adult Pool, Circus Entertainment tent for kids and the Kids Pool with slides
Other Top Albufeira Activities for Kids
There are more family-friendly activities in Albufeira that we considered but didnt end up doing. I’ll list them here and let you decide!
- ZOOMARINE ALBUFEIRA – an amusement park aquarium with water slides and dolphin shows.
- PLAY CRAZY GOLF – great for older kids!
- TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO THE BENAGIL CAVES – we did a similar experience in Kotor, Montenegro and loved it!
- LAGOA SLIDE AND SPLASH WATER PARK – a large water park located about a 30-minute drive from Albufeira town centre. As our kids are young, they were very happy at the hotel’s kids’ pool, so we didnt feel the need to go there.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
We have guides on other places in the Algarve, Portugal:
– FARO – TAVIRA – VILAMORUA –
Also Read:
OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE EDEN RESORT AND SPA HOTEL
OUR FAMILY-FRIENDLY ONE-WEEK IN THE ALGARVE, PORTUGAL ITINERARY
Thank you for reading our guide to visiting Albufeira with kids, I hope we’ve helped you to plan your trip to the Algarve and you have an amazing time in Portugal as a fmaily!
Happy Exploring,
