Praia dos Salgados - Set around a kilometre east of the resort of Armação de Pêra is the Praia dos Salgados.

Praia da Coelha - Located on the lovely stretch of coast between Albufeira and Armação de Pera is the charming little Praia da Coelha.

Praia do Evaristo - Praia do Evaristo is far enough outside of the resort madness of Albufeira to retain an air of charm and remain civilised even in the summer!

Praia do Castelo -The small beach of Praia do Castelo is located on the wonderful stretch of coast between Albufeira and Armação de Pêra (about 6km from the former).

Praia da Galé -For those of you who are staying in the somewhat hectic resort of Albufeira, Praia da Gale offers a welcome respite.

Praia da Falésia - Boasting more than six kilometres of golden sand, stretching from Vilamoura in the west to Olhos do Agua in the east, Praia da Falesia is home to one of the longest beaches in Portugal.

Praia de São Rafael - The crystal clear, shallow waters and silky soft golden sand make Praia de São Rafael one of the most popular beaches in the Albufeira area.

Praia dos Pescadores - Praia dos Pescadores (Fisherman's beach) is situated right in front of Albufeira's old town.

Praia da Oura - Situated at the bottom of a steep hill in front of the resort village of Oura, is one of Albufeira's best beaches.

ABOUT Albufeira

Albufeira (Portuguese pronunciation: [aɫβuˈfejɾɐ] (About this sound listen)) is a city, seat and municipality in the district of Faro, in the southernmost Portuguese region of the Algarve. The municipality population in 2011 was 40,828, in an area of 140.66 square kilometres (54.31 square miles). The city proper had a population of 13,646 in 2001. It is 250 kilometres (160 mi) from Lisbon, and is within close proximity of Paderne Castle. Lagos is located 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the west, and Faro 45 kilometres (28 mi) to the south-east. A tourist destination (due to its coastal conditions), Albufeira expands to approximately 300,000 residents during the summer and during New Year celebrations, owing to the number of hotels and lodgings in the district, that includes marina facilities, golf courses, restaurants and bars for the annual flood of visitors.

Albufeira is the destination of choice for many Algarve holidaymakers. Its central location on the coast of southern Portugal makes it one of the region's most accessible resorts, and it's a favorite with tourists from across Europe and beyond. Set on sandstone cliffs above a wide sandy bay, the Albufeira of old was once a quiet fishing village, nothing more than a cluster of whitewashed cottages, a chapel, and a church. Step back further, and it was the Romans who built a castle here, strengthened later by the Moors. Little remains of their presence, but what Albufeira lacks in historical interest it more than makes up for with its animated spirit and vacation-time atmosphere. The resort's neon-lit streets illuminate a plethora of hotels, cafés, restaurants, and nightclubs. Top-notch leisure facilities exude an all-round appeal, and Albufeira is often the preferred choice of families.

But the destination's biggest crowd-puller is its beaches. Some of the best stretches of sand in the Algarve are within walking distance of the resort, spectacular cliff-backed coves lapped by warm, shallow water. This is why Albufeira is the tourist capital of the Algarve.