10 Things to Do in Albufeira in April

Albufeira is a popular tourist destination due to its beaches and lively nightlife. In this coastal city, belonging to the Algarve region in Portugal, you can practice water sports: surfing, paddle surfing, diving, snorkeling, etc. You will also find a wide range of boat trips to discover the surroundings. You will also find a wide range of boat trips to discover the surroundings.

If you visit the city in April, you will not only take advantage of the warm weather to discover its beaches, but you will also be able to taste the seasonal gastronomy and take a trip to Lagos or other nearby towns. Also, you can celebrate with the locals the Freedom Day, participate in the activities of Holy Week, among other of the best things to do in Albufeira, which I list below.

At the end of April in Albufeira, Freedom Day is celebrated annually. This is a date of great importance for the locals, where commemorative, recreational and leisure activities will not be long in coming. You can enjoy lectures, shows with traditional dances, boat rides, open sea sports, among other things.

For example, some of the activities that you can enjoy throughout this day are usually the following:

• The official city events, which incorporate the raising of the flag and the touching presentation of carnations by the population. In addition, you'll see the honor guard of the local firefighters, etc. All this, at the town hall and at the headquarters of the Parish Councils.
• The presentation of ballroom dancing D'Al-Buhera, held at the Sports Pavilion of Olhos de Água.
• The maritime activities, these take place at the marina. There, you can go deep sea fishing, live a parasailing experience in Albufeira, diving, take a boat ride along the coast and much more.

If you are in Albufeira during the first days of April, then your visit might coincide with Easter. If so, you will have to try a traditional sweet of Portuguese gastronomy, the folar. This is a preparation consumed annually during these religious festivities.

Traditionally, folar should be given as a gift between godchildren and godparents. However, if during these dates you go to any restaurant, cafes, bakeries, markets and street food stalls, you will be able to buy this delicious cake. You will delight your palate with the combination of flavors: anise, orange, sugar and encrusted eggs.

In fact, you could head to the village of Paderne, about 20 minutes from the center of Albufeira, specifically at the Estádio João Campos, where one more edition of the Paderne folar show takes place. This is a very popular event, where you will taste different versions of this recipe. In addition, you will enjoy traditional music and dances.

After this gastronomic experience, you can continue with other activities in your itinerary. Perhaps join a tuk tuk tour of Albufeira, stroll around the city's marina, go shopping, etc.

The weather in Albufeira in April is quite mild. While you will enjoy sunny days, it is also possible that occasionally the atmosphere will be a bit chilly. After all, it is still early in the spring season. So a good plan during your stay is to embark on a wine adventure. You'll warm up while enjoying delicious vintages of local wines.

Very close to downtown, you'll find a couple of long-established, family-owned wineries. Such is the case with the Cantor Winery, which is a 15-minute drive or about 20 minutes by public transportation, and the Quinta Canhoto Winery, about a 9-minute drive and approximately 20 minutes by public transportation.

Both wineries are easily accessible, so you can visit them on your own. There, you will be able to purchase fine award-winning wines. You will also have the opportunity to take guided tastings and learn step by step about the process of cultivation and production of the beverages, i.e. from the vineyard to the packaging.

Also, if you wish, you can join a tour of Silves and wine cellars from Albufeira. Not only will you visit its wine fields, but you will also explore this town, known for its legacy of Moorish architecture. Undoubtedly one of the best Albufeira tours for wine lovers, as it incorporates round trip transfer with a professional guide.

Albufeira is known for having a large number of beaches along its coastline. All of them with crystal clear waters, golden sand and bordered by stunning cliffs. Take advantage of the low influx of the month of April in the city and enjoy these paradisiacal natural spaces.

Among some of the best beaches in Albufeira that you can incorporate into your itinerary are the following:

• Baleeira beach; this is a laga beach with low rocks that allow you to contemplate the fish. It is about 12 minutes away by car.
• Galé beach. The access is through a footbridge, its waters are calm and the sunsets are amazing. It is about 18 minutes drive from the old town.
• Falesia beach, with a beautiful visual contrast. On one side, the turquoise blue water and on the other, the reddish cliffs. It is about 25 minutes by car.
• Santa Eulália beach, with small coves, fine sand and bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 10 minutes away by car.

In any of them you can swim and relax on the sand without annoying crowds. In addition, you will have the opportunity to practice some water sports on your own or join a surf lesson in Albufeira, kayaking, paddle boarding, among other specialties.

According to the season of the year in which you are, you will enjoy a different sunset. Therefore, watching the sunset during your trip to Albufeira in April is a unique moment. You will discover another perspective of the city and its surroundings, covered by the warmth and vitality of spring, thanks to the last rays of the sun.

A good place to watch the sun sink into the horizon and connect with nature is usually the Albufeira Marina. This is about 9 minutes by car or about 43 minutes on foot, so it will not be a problem to access.

There, you will find a number of terraces with bars and restaurants from where you will get a privileged view: the sea and the clear sky, both tinged with various shades of reddish tones of low intensity. You can also approach the pier and walk along it at your own pace while taking some pictures.

You can also connect with one of the best boat tours in Albufeira at sunset or opt for a private yacht charter in Albufeira. This way, you will enhance the experience.

Your travel itinerary during April in Albufeira won't be complete without a day of shopping. Because this month is low season, you will get good prices in the different stores in the old town and in the shopping malls. You will be able to buy clothes, jewelry, accessories and many souvenirs.

This is an activity that you can do at your own pace. You will spend a different day exploring the shopping areas of this city. For example:

• The Albufeira Shopping Center, with all kinds of stores, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets.
• The pedestrian street 5 de Octubre, considered the main commercial artery of Albufeira. There, you will find Casa Raminhos and Portucale .LOVE, with ceramics and handicrafts. Also, fashion stores and a supermarket.
• Avenida da Liberdade, with fashion stores, shoes, handicrafts and accessories. In addition, in this area you will find some bicycle rental companies.

Another of the best activities in Albufeira during April is to discover its cultural heritage. This, on the occasion of the International Day of Monuments and Sites, which is celebrated annually on April 18. You can visit some places of great historical importance.

On this day, officialized by UNESCO since 1983, you can learn about the diversity of cultural heritage and how vulnerable it can be. To do so, you can visit the Paderne Castle, located about 30 minutes drive from the center of Albufeira. It is a fortress built in sandstone during the twelfth century, considered of public interest.

You can admire this castle, representative of the predominant Muslim military architecture in the Iberian Peninsula and walk along its long marked trails. You will also cross the Paderne Bridge or Roman bridge, whose simple structure was built on the banks of the Quarteira River.

In addition, if you want to delve deeper into the cultural heritage of the city, you could go to the Municipal Museum of Archaeology. You will learn about the history of the city through the collections exhibited in its rooms, starting from prehistoric times and going through the Roman and Islamic period until you reach the Modern Age.

The pleasant April temperatures in Albufeira and the few rainy days are ideal weather conditions for an excursion during your trip. Escape the hustle and bustle of the old town and visit the seaside town of Lagos, located about 50 minutes away by car.

This is a must-see destination if you are in Albufeira. During the tour, you will see the church of San Antonio, named National Monument and representative of the baroque style; the medieval Castle of Lagos, whose walls surrounded the city; the Forte da Bandeira, built in the seventeenth century.

Afterwards, you should take a walk along the coast of this city. You will be amazed by the natural beauty of its Atlantic beaches. You can approach the area of the cliffs of Ponta de Piedade; with a great tourist attraction from where you will get a privileged view.

There is also the Dona Ana beach, with crystal clear waters and the Camilo beach, protected from the waves by large rocks and easily accessible through a wooden staircase. In any of them, you can walk along the warm, fine sand or dive into its waters, which reach 17ºC in April.

April temperatures are mild in Albufeira, so you can do outdoor activities without fear of heat stroke. Such is the case of walking along the west coast of the city through the Alvor promenade. You will enjoy an amazing natural landscape and connect with nature.

For this adventure, you will have to travel about 35 minutes by car to the fishing village of Alvor. There, you will embark on a 5-kilometer route along a wooden walkway bordered by the estuary (natural pool with fishing boats and sport boats).

Along this hike you will observe crystal clear lagoons, white sand dunes and some wetlands. You will also have the opportunity to see birds native to the region such as flamingos. You can stop at the walkway to take amazing pictures and breathe the fresh air of this magical place.

The Mercado Municipal dos Calicos is another must-see during your trip to Albufeira in April. You will get fresh produce from the countryside and the sea, belonging to the spring season. All of them brought daily by local farmers and fishermen.

The market is located a few meters from the old town and is open from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Upon arrival, you will be amazed by the colorful fruits and vegetables. You will find bananas, blueberries, apples, oranges, among others, the latter being one of the protagonists of this month. Also, chard, beans, spinach, tomatoes, carrots and much more in the fruit and vegetable area.

During the tour you will see the fish stalls, two butcher shops and a deli. In addition, you can have breakfast or lunch, depending on the time of your visit, in the restaurants and cafes set up inside the market.

Temperatures in Albufeira in April register a maximum of around 19ºC to 21ºC and a minimum ranging from 11ºC to around 13ºC. This is due to the fact that a daily increase of up to 2ºC is recorded. However, temperatures rarely rise above 25ºC or fall below 8ºC. It is a rather cool season, in which you should expect only 3 to 8 rainy days.

In this month the sky in the city remains clear and winds reach approximately 13 kilometers per hour. In addition, the seawater temperature usually averages 17ºC. All these are good weather conditions for water activities such as a kayak tour or paddle surfing through the caves and hidden beaches of Albufeira, among others.

If you are planning to visit Albufeira in April, you should know that during this spring month the city offers a mild climate. You will find several sunny days and a few rainy days. Therefore, you can pack some beach dresses, shorts, T-shirts with or without sleeves, among other clothes that will keep you cool.

It is important to bring a light coat, as temperatures tend to drop a little at night. Also, don't forget a hat, sunglasses and UV protection +50. You'll need it during outdoor activities: strolling the streets of the old town, taking a speedboat ride in Albufeira, among other adventures.