Albufeira surf is chilled and easy going – this is probably the best spot in Portugal for complete beginners. But there are some heavy winter swells to add a challenge, not to mention some seriously gorgeous Algarvian beaches for when you just want to kick it.
An introduction to Albufeira surf
We won’t pretend that Albufeira surf is what put this part of Portugal on the map. It’s not. Not even close. While the towns of Ericeira and Peniche draw the serious riders and hardcore shortboarders, this corner of the country has cut its teeth on good old-fashioned tourism.
Yep: Once a tiny fishing village, Albufeira has exploded since around the 70s into one of the main sun, sand and sea getaways in Europe.
But there are waves to be had. Even the harbor breaks around quiet Praia da Baleeira are known to offer up some mushy swells on occasion. More likely, you’ll book onto a local surf camp or surf lesson and travel westwards nearer to Sagres to find stronger waves.
Others will have their own camper and make a tour of the gold-sand beaches that unfold around Portimao in that direction, before escaping north-west to the legendary Atlantic beaches that are also within reach.
The bottom line? Don’t come to Albufeira if you’re looking to surf day in, day out. Come if you want a chilled holiday with great beaches and lively nightlife but may want to drop in a session on the waves here and there if the hangover allows.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This is a part of our greater guide to surfing Portugal and a guide to surfing in Algarve
Albufeira surf at a glance
The good:
The bad:
What will I find in this guide to surfing in Albufeira?
Where is Albufeira?
Albufeira is considered the beating heart of the southern Algarve. It’s probably the best-known tourist town in the region (and that’s saying something). It lies roughly midway between Lagos and Faro, which are the two main gateways to this part of the country from the air. The main A22 motorway runs east to west just above the resort. To arrive from that, you’ll have to come off at Ferreiras and drive a little south on the Estrada de Ferreiras. Ferreiras is also where the nearest train station is located.
A guide to the best surf spots in Albufeira
Surfing Algarve has always been a challenge for those hunting big waves. That’s why we’d say stick to tried-and-tested places like Peniche if you’re after a pure surf trip. Down here, where the weather is sunny and only the strongest S-SW swells can get things truly pumping, you’re looking at much tamer beaches. Check out:
Baleeira Beach
Don’t get too excited about seeing how close this one is on the map to Albufeira. The surf here hardly even registers on the Richter scale. We’d say 90% of days are flat. When there are good swells – typically northerly pounders that make it round in the winter – it’s a harbourside jetty that creates a few short and challenging rides. Basically, not worth even knowing about.
Praia da Galé
Thanks to its south-westerly orientation, Praia da Galé is probably as close as Albufeira comes to a swell magnet. On shoulder seasons it’s perfectly positioned for picking up the S-SW swells that shoot straight into the Algarve. During the winter, it’s sandbanks and reefs can actually handle the dominant northerlies surprisingly well. The result? Some epic days of A-framers on the shore that can even hold up to barrels. There’s a reef at one end where the locals usually meet. You’ll see a whole clutch of surf schools here. They get popular in the summer months when the waves are mushier and good for learning.
Vilamoura
Vilamoura is known as one of the chicer Algarve resorts. It’s got glitzy hotels and golf courses coming out of its ears. It’s also only 20 minutes’ drive from Albufeira, which puts the beach-jetty break at Vilamoura-Falesia on the menu. This is a rare left-hand harbour option which can hold up well on bigger swells. Some hollow sections. Lots of air up for grabs in the winter. Popular with bodyboarders.
Praia da Rocha
On big (read: HUGE) swell days, the harbour at Praia da Rocha can cook up some big barrelling lefts. They come straight off the town’s jetty and move fast into the inside of the beach. It’s not the best wave but is good fun for more technical surfers. Don’t hit Praia da Rocha for surf in the summer months. It’s one of the most popular beaches in the region and is a parasol fest. But then the big town of Portimao is just behind, so what did you expect?
Praia da Luz
We’d say Praia da Luz is the first town where you can get a feel for what surfing Algarve is all about. You’ll have the pick of two classically Portuguese point breaks. One’s a left (on the east side of the bay) that has challenging drop ins onto a section little wedge over a rock bottom – great fun when its kicking. The other is a right that’s a notch down on the difficulty scale. In the middle, at least when it ain’t as flat as a pancake, you’ll catch sand-bottomed breakers that have nice whitewash for the surf schools.
The best surf camps in Albufeira
Probably the best way to go about hitting the surf in Albufeira is to book a ready-made package. The reason? These take care of everything you need to get on the waves without too much hassle. You’ll get board rental, breakfast, transport to the waves, and pro tuition included in just one price.
Just meditate on that a moment – transport to the waves! Remember we mentioned that Albufeira itself lacks great surf but is close to places that have it. Well, a surf camp will do all the logistical planning and get you right to where you need to be.
- 5 Day Yoga and Surf Holiday at Gal̩ Beach Boutique Hotel in Albufeira, Algarve РThis surf camp is run out of the lovely Gal̩ Beach Boutique Hotel, a stylish, adults-only property steps from the glinting Algarve beaches. It includes 2x hours of guided surfing each day, a daily yoga session, and even a massage. What more could you ask for?
- 5 Day Yoga and Sea Addiction Holiday with Surfing, SUP, and Kayaking in Albufeira – The Sea Addiction package is also run by the Galé Beach Boutique Hotel. It’s a good option for mixed groups of surfers and non-surfers because you get to choose your ocean activity – prefer sea kayaking to wave catching? No worries.
Want more suggestions on the top surf camps in the country? Read this guide for tips on the 10 best surf camps in Portugal for 2023. There are some seriously awesome choices there. We also have a complete guide to the top surf camps in the Algarve region itself.
Surf lessons in Albufeira
The other way to have the logistics all done for you but not have the accommodation aspect of a surf camp is to plump for a standalone surf lesson, or a group of them.
These are day-long trips that make sure everything’s included – boards, wetsuits, lessons. Most packages have designated meeting points where you go to start the activity. Either way, it’s a simple way to get surfing in Albufeira.
It’s usually a good idea to book online if you’re traveling any time between May and August – this corner of the Algarve is popular, remember?
Our top picks for this would be…
- Albufeira: Surfing Lesson at Galé Beach – Super family friendly and exceptionally highly rated, this 2-hour lesson is run by surf4fun on Gale Beach, the best of all the surf spots in the region. With small group sizes of up to eight people, it’s particularly great for learners.
- Albufeira: 2-Hour Falesia Beach Surf Lesson – If Praia da Falésia is closer to your hotel then this is probably a better choice. It’s two hours of learning that’s fantastic for total beginners, with out-of-water-training and in-water support. Groups are no bigger than nine to each instructor.
Where to stay in Albufeira (with some good options for those who want to surf)?
Albufeira is one of the Algarve’s most popular resorts. It’s got hotels and villas coming out of its ears. We’d say move around to Gale if you really want to be nearer the waves. For that surf-party-sun trip we talked about, try to stick to the hotels that are near to Albufeira Old Town (it’s by far the best place to be!)
Apartamentos Tucha ($$)
Within walking distance of the gorgeous Pescadores Beach and in the heart of the Old Town of Albufeira (the best place to be for nightlife and restaurants), Apartamentos Tucha offers a stay in a charming little Algarvian cottage. There are three rentals in all: A studio for surfing couples, and two larger flats for groups. All are stylish (white walls, modern furniture) and come with good WiFi and a spacious kitchens.
Velamar Boutique Hotel ($$)
Recently renovated Velamar Boutique Hotel is a good option for families and couples looking to enjoy the beaches and town life of the Algarve’s favourite resort. There’s a palm-dotted garden with its own pool. Rooms have breezy balconies and contemporary interiors. You’ll even find a games room with a billiard table.
Hotel Sol e Mar ($$$)
Every surfer likes to be right on the beach. Cue the Hotel Sol e Mar. It gazes right across the golden sands of Pescadores Beach down to the azure waters of the Atlantic. You’ll be able to hear the waves lapping against the sand when you go to bed! Other highlights include the indoor pool and the gorgeous breakfast/bar terrace – hello one of the best views in town!
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Albufeira?
Generally speaking, the spring and the autumn are the best times to come to Albufeira to surf. Those are the seasons when the surrounding Algarve really hits its stride and has the most regular NW-W swells.
There’s one general rule to remember about surfing Algarve’s south coast waves: Summer = small; winter = big. That might seem strange considering that the winter (November-March) swells are predominantly N-NW, but there’s such power in this quarter of the Atlantic that there’s usually enough to feed the points as they wrap around the Sagres headland.
Summertime is usually really flat. Seriously, it’s sunbathers only on a lot of the beaches mentioned above. For beginners, we’d recommend trips in either April or October, when you will find there’s a tad more punch about. Better yet – get in touch with a local surf school and ask them how things are looking!
Things to do when you’re not surfing in Albufeira
Because Albufeira surf is hardly the headline act in this part of the Algarve, there’s oodles to do in the town on flat days. From gorgeous beaches to rollicking waterparks, there’s tonnes to get through…
Pescadores Beach
Pescadores Beach is a sunbather’s, swimmer’s and photographer’s dream come true. Running beneath the cliffs right by the centre of Albufeira Old Town, it’s the main place to kick back in the high summer. The water is perfectly turquoise. The sand is a postcard-worthy shade of yellow. There are also loads of bars and fish restaurants dotting the hillsides just behind.
Go party on The Strip
Albufeira is known all over Europe for its wild nightlife. The hub of that is on Infante Dom Henrique, a road a little to the west of the Old Town. After dark, you can head that way for pumping karaoke parties and DJ sets. Things get going around May and don’t wind up until at least October.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
