Excellence Luxury Villas · Albufeira
Luxury Villa Rentals in Albufeira
Villas and sea-view apartments above the cliffs and coves of the central Algarve, from Galé to Falésia
As featured in
A fishing town with two reputations, and a coast that outshines both
Albufeira has two reputations, and it has earned both. One is the late-night bars of the Strip. The other belongs to a whitewashed fishing town on a clifftop above the Atlantic, with sandstone coves to the west and one of Europe's great beaches to the east. Most of our guests come for the second and hardly notice the first, and the town's layout makes that easy.
Our Albufeira collection runs to 170+ properties. There are villas with private pools in São Rafael, Galé and the hills behind the coast, apartments with sea views above the old town and in Montechoro, and residences at Pine Cliffs above Praia da Falésia.
Here is how the coast divides, and where each part suits best.
Albufeira at a glance
- Villas
- 170+ villas and apartments, with up to 9 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,400 to £4,600 a week, from around £1,100
- Best areas
- São Rafael, Galé and Sesmarias to the west; Olhos de Água and Falésia to the east
- Best time
- June and September for the beach; spring and late autumn for golf and coastal walks
- Airport
- Faro, around 40 minutes by road from the town
Browse all 170+ villas in Albufeira
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Quinta Falesia Albufeira: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Beachfront Access and Sauna, Albufeira5 bedrooms
Villa Gale Hibiscus Portugal4 bedrooms
Villa Penhasco | 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Albufeira4 bedrooms
Algarve Corner IV Portugal4 bedroomsWhere to stay in Albufeira
São Rafael, Galé and Sesmarias for coves and quiet villas, the old town and Montechoro for restaurants within reach, and Olhos de Água and Pine Cliffs for Praia da Falésia.
Whitewash, fishing boats and a tunnel to the sand
Albufeira started as a fishing village on a cliff, and the old town still has that shape: white lanes that step down to the sea, the Igreja Matriz near the top, and Praia dos Pescadores below, where fishing boats are still pulled up at one end of the beach. A tunnel through the rock leads down to the sand, and a lift drops to the beach at Peneco.
Close to the marina is the small Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Orada, the fishermen's chapel, which dates from the fifteenth or early sixteenth century. If you stay in Montechoro or the hills just behind town, all of this is a short taxi ride away, and you still finish the evening by a quiet pool.
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Freshwater springs and six kilometres of red cliffs
East of the old town the tone changes. Oura has the Strip, Albufeira's nightlife quarter, which is easy to visit and easier still to avoid. Further on, Balaia and Olhos de Água are much quieter. Olhos de Água is a small fishing village, named after the freshwater springs that bubble up on its beach at low tide.
Next comes Praia da Falésia, around six kilometres of sand under cliffs striped red, ochre and cream, running east towards Vilamoura. Walk a few minutes from any of the access points and the crowds thin out. Pine Cliffs sits on the clifftop here, and Vilamoura's marina and golf courses are a short drive away.
Browse villas in Vilamoura
Sandstone coves, a lagoon and the best chicken in Portugal
West of town the coast breaks up into coves. Praia de São Rafael and Praia do Castelo are small and sheltered, with stacks of golden sandstone. Galé opens onto a long beach that runs towards the Salgados lagoon, a good place for birdwatching, with the Salgados golf course next to it. The villas around Sesmarias, São Rafael and Galé are some of the most popular in Albufeira.
Inland, the village of Guia is known across Portugal for its piri-piri chicken, served with chips and salad at long tables without any fuss. A little further north, the ruined Moorish castle of Paderne looks over the valley of the Quarteira river.
Browse villas in Guia
Sardines in August, quieter sand in September
Most of what you eat here comes from the sea: grilled sardines in summer, octopus salad, and clams cooked with garlic and coriander, with a glass of white from one of the Algarve's wineries. Olhos de Água holds a sardine festival on the second weekend of August. In mid August, Albufeira celebrates Nossa Senhora da Orada, patron of its fishermen, with a procession that goes out by boat in front of the town.
July and August are hot and busy. In June and September the sea is still warm and there is more room on the beach, while spring and late autumn are best for golf and the clifftop paths. Our concierge can book tee times, boat trips along the coast, restaurant tables and transfers from Faro.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Albufeira
Rent Lux Albufeira Portugal4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £10,010 a week
Casa Da Praia Portugal8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £9,794 a week
Quinta Figueira Albufeira: Spacious 5-Bedroom Apartment with Seaviews and Pool, Albufeira5 bedrooms · sleeps 11From £9,604 a week
Casa Musica Portugal7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £8,877 a week
Villa Dourado Olhos de Agua Albufeira: Spacious 4-Bedroom Apartment with Pool and Sea Views, Albufeira4 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £6,272 a week
Fuentes Pera | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Pera Guia6 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £7,556 a week
Rent Beach House Albufeira Portugal4 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £7,364 a week
Quinta Rocha Albufeira: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Pool and Beach Access, Algarve5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £6,293 a weekWhy book your Albufeira villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Albufeira changes a great deal over a few kilometres, from busy streets to quiet clifftops, and we know which villas are within walking distance of a cove and which are well away from the Strip. With 170+ properties in Albufeira, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Tee times at Salgados and Vilamoura, boat trips along the coast, restaurant reservations, a private chef, car hire and transfers from Faro. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best area to stay in Albufeira?
São Rafael, Galé and Sesmarias, west of town, are best for quiet villas near small coves. Olhos de Água and Pine Cliffs put you close to Praia da Falésia. Montechoro and the area above the old town are best if you want to be near restaurants.
When is the best time to visit Albufeira?
June and September have warm sea and quieter beaches. July and August are the hottest and busiest months. Spring and late autumn are best for golf and walking the clifftop paths.
Is Albufeira only about nightlife?
No. Most of the nightlife is on the Strip in Oura, and it is easy to avoid. The old town, the coves to the west and the long beach at Falésia feel quite different, and most of our villas are in quieter residential areas.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Albufeira?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Albufeira cost?
Across our 170+ villas in Albufeira, weekly rates typically range from £1,400 to £4,600, with the most affordable from around £1,100 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How far is Albufeira from Faro airport?
Albufeira is around 40 minutes by road from Faro airport. Villas near Falésia and Olhos de Água are a little closer. Our concierge can arrange private transfers.
Are there villas in Albufeira for large groups?
Yes. Our Albufeira collection includes properties with up to 9 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Albufeira
170+ villas and apartments from the old town to Falésia, with our concierge a phone call away