Praia dos Pescadores (Fishermen's Beach), Albufeira

Fishermen’s Beach lies at the foot of Albufeira’s old town and has long been central to the town’s identity. For centuries, this sheltered stretch of sand functioned as a working beach rather than a place of leisure. Small fishing boats were pulled directly onto the shore, and nets were mended on the sand.

The character of the beach began to change after the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami of 1755, which reshaped the coastline and destroyed much of the town above. Even so, fishing activity continued here for generations. Only in the second half of the 20th century, with the rise of tourism, did Fishermen’s Beach gradually transition into a recreational setting, becoming one of Albufeira’s most recognisable landmarks.

Today, Fishermen’s Beach is framed by an amphitheatre of multi-coloured houses to the west and a pier to the east. It is a large urban beach, stretching over 700 feet along the shoreline and expanding by roughly another 300 feet at low tide. Access is possible via several flights of steps from the old town, or more easily from the wide, paved 25th of April Square on the western edge of the beach. Bordering the sand is a lively tourist zone filled with shops, bars, and restaurants. Calm waters make the beach suitable for swimming, but as a city beach it is frequently crowded, especially in summer, while quieter beaches lie farther along the coast.