The Best Holiday Apartments in Albufeira, Portugal

The 31 accommodation units at Novochoro are split into two blocks, Star and Shell, arranged around the swimming pool at the heart of the resort. The decor of the former is rustic Mediterranean and all the apartments have terraces and a kitchenette. If you’d rather have a full kitchen, book into the Shell block which also has modern, colourful design and private terraces. Studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments are split across both blocks. It’s peaceful here, a little outside of town, but you’re still only minutes from the beach by car.

You’re just 2km (1.2mi) from Falésia Beach at Valle Carros Resort, which is about 15 minutes east by car from the centre of Albufeira. Falésia is a great beach with miles of red and white cliff-edged golden sand, and it’s more peaceful than the busier beaches of Albufeira. Valle Carros is within walking distance of the centre of the small town of Açoteias, which has plenty of amenities. The resort itself is secluded and surrounded by gardens, with neat studio apartments on the first floor and one-bedroom apartments on the ground floor. There are separate swimming pools for adults and children, and you’ll find a tennis court and a snack bar near the main pool, where evening entertainment is often provided. The wellness centre offers a variety of massages and facials.

This fun, family-friendly resort has mock classical-style buildings and pillars in the walls surrounding the pool, palm fronds on the parasols and live music and karaoke in high season. There’s also a spa with a jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna and a gym. Choose from studio up to three-bedroom apartments, all with kitchens. The studios have a microwave, toaster and fridge, while the other rooms have the same and either three cooker rings or an electric cooker. The Wander Inn pub and Fat Cats bar are a short distance away.

Oceanus is located in the centre of Olhos de Agua, another resort town a few kilometres east along the coast from Albufeira. The 102 studios and one-bedroom apartments are housed in two buildings surrounded by gardens. The small local beach still has the feel of the little fishing village it once was and is just 500m (1,640ft) away, while the even more intimate Maria Luísa Beach, popular with windsurfers and water skiers, is an 800m walk. The cobbled streets of the nearby villages are great to explore and there are a number of golf courses nearby, including pretty Balaia Golf Course.

If you want to be right by the beach in Albufeira, this is the place to be as the sands are just 150m (490ft) away. You’ve great Atlantic views, and many of the rooms have balconies from which to enjoy them, though the best vistas are from the sun terrace by the swimming pool. The scenic harbour is less than 500m (1,640ft) away. The apartments have simple furnishings and satellite TV, with kitchens that include a microwave, refrigerator and an electric oven.

These villas and apartments rise up in tiers away from the pool, making sure most have a sea views. Oura Beach is close and has a cove with rock pools and a number of bars and restaurants nearby. 3HB Golden Beach has a bar by the main pool, an outdoor jacuzzi and a children’s pool, plus there’s a playground and a room of video games and vending machines to keep the kids entertained.

A large resort further up the hill from Oura Beach, Vila Petra has enough going on to make a beach trip unnecessary if you’d rather not leave its comforting embrace. There’s a large pool, plenty of lush green garden in which to wander, a kids’ playroom and outdoor playground, while many of the rooms have their own terraces with room for dining. There’s a bar by the pool, three other indoor bars and the Xeirus Restaurant – try the duck magret with red berries sauce, served with green asparagus, pasta and foie gras with salt flower and poppy seeds.

These apartments are located about 1km (0.6mi) behind Albufeira Marina, with an outdoor swimming pool, garden and a children’s playground. There is both bicycle and car rental available. Albufeira Old Town Square is just over 3km (1.9mi) away and the Arrifes Beach – with cliffs to explore, unique rock formations in the water, and a seasonal eatery and bar – is within walking distance.

There are plenty of real golf courses on the Algarve but if minigolf is more your thing, the Ondamar Hotel is worth a look. That’s because it has the Minigolf Adventure Park, which hosted the Minigolf Open Standard, the first tournament organised by the Portuguese Minigolf Federation. Even if you’re not at competition level, you can enjoy a discount on tickets as a guest. A 15-minute walk takes you to Alemães Beach and you can be in the historical centre of Albufeira in the same amount of time.