Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
289 583 700;
www.hotelsaovicentealbufeira.com
;
Largo Jacinto D'Ayet; r from €125, ste from €175;
)
This peaceful, classically decorated boutique-style hotel has handsome rooms with
polished-wood floors. It's a welcome relief from the town's theme-park atmosphere.
THE ALGARVE FOR KIDS
The Algarve is a fun, kid-focused area with loads of attractions, family-friendly beaches and cultural activities.
Try thrilling water parks such as Slide & Splash (
Click here
)
and Krazy World (
Click here
Click here
)
; the great
zoo (
Click here
) in Lagos; and, at Silves, the imagination-firing castle (
Click here
).
There are some excellent museums, too: in São Brás de Alportel there's a simple cork display in the Museu Et-
nográfico do Trajo Algarvio (
Click here
), and in Portimão, the wonderful Museu de Portimão (
Click here
) re-cre-
ates a former fish cannery.
Many towns along the coast run boat trips, and several have little trains.
Albufeira is particularly kid-friendly with a plethora of agencies in the area selling a variety of trips, from
horse riding to cruising on pirate ships. Most boat trips leave from the marina. Other kid-friendly activities in-
clude the following:
Albufeira Riding Centre
( 289 542 870; Vale Navio Complex; 1hr ride €30) On the road to Vilamoura. Of-
fers one- to three-hour horse rides for all ages and abilities.
Aqua Show
(
289 389 396;
www.aquashowpark.com
;
adult/child €25/15;
10am-6pm Jun-Sep, to 7pm
Aug) In Quarteira, 10km east of Albufeira, with parrots, reptiles and a wave pool.
Aqualand
(
282 320 230;
www.aqualand.pt
;
Alcantarilha; adult/child €20/15.50;
10am-6pm Jun-Sep)
Huge loop-the-loop slide and rapids.
Dolphins Driven
( 913 113 095;
www.dolphins.pt
; Marina de Albufeira) Offers three boat trips from Albu-
feira (from 2½ hours to full day) to caves, beaches, up the Rio Arade and to Ria Formosa.
Zoomarine
( 289 560 306;
www.zoomarine.com
; adult/child €24/15; 10am-7.30pm Jul-mid-Sep, to
5pm rest of year, closed Dec) Will satisfy all desires for aqua-entertainment, with huge swimming pools and
slides, as well as lakes, an aquarium and dolphin shows. Located at Guia, 8km northwest of Albufeira.
Eating & Drinking
British breakfasts? Thai curries? Tasty? Bland? Albufeira has every conceivable range of
dining option. The small market has fruits, vegetables and fish. Browse the menus near
Largo Cais Herculano, the main plaza or any streets leading off here, for foodstuffs and
flavours that will best appease your hunger pangs.
You can bar-hop your brain cells away in Albufeira. Bars throng the area around Largo
Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco and nearby Rua Cândido dos Reis. Nearly all offer happy
hours (at various times of the day) and similar cocktails, and are open until at least 4am in
summer.
