albufeira or portimao ?

Question

Hi all ! Me and my girlfriend want to travel to portugal next week and i want to ask if someone knows which is the best place for a five day holidays. Albufeira or Portimao ?

Answer 1

Definitely Portimao, or outskirts. Albufeira is far too busy and touristy, Portimao is more quaint, and the beaches nearby.... like Praia da Rocha are absolutely fantastic. Not far from Portimao is a lovely fishing village called Alvor with lovely restaurants where you can watch the sun go down. Have been there twice and would gladly go back time and time again.

Answer 2

Here's what we wrote in our travelogue after visiting Portimao:

"Our next visit was to Portimao, south west of Silves. This is one of the largest towns of the Algarve and frankly turned out to be our least favorite by far. All that is left of the old town is a few stretches of medieval walls. The old town now consists of 19th and 20th century houses without much beauty or character. It appeared to be a busy commercial city and very difficult to drive thru, much less find parking. The gardens at the river front and the marina were the highlight. The major tourist draw to the area is the Praia da Rocha with its golden sands and turquoise waters meandering among the sculpted cliffs and rocks."

Answer 3

I can't tell you anything about Portimao but i would recommend against Albufeira unless you are big into the "Brits abroad" thing. I went there a few years ago and apart from the weather being great it was messy and noisy and may as well have been Blackpool Pleasure Beach. If that's your kind of thing then you'll probably love it. if however you want portuguese culture etc. i would steer clear.

Answer 4

Albufeira.. trust me.