5 Best Nightlife in Albufeira

The Montechoro Strip is the liveliest part of Albuferia, where you can grab the dancing shoes and stretch those boogying muscles. You'll find it about 30 minutes' walk from the Old Town area, but taxis can whiz you back and forth to the clubs for around just €10 each way. You'll want to aim for Avenida Sa Carneiro, which is the official name of this hedonistic quarter.

Between May and August, the whole run of Montechoro is alive with revellers. Loads start drinking al fresco beers on the roadside bars around early afternoon. As the evening nears, the action moves to neon-lit karaoke joints and DJ-pumping dance arenas.

The Albufeira Marina is the place to head to for dolphin-watching cruises and see shiny yachts bobbing in the harbour. It's also a fantastic place to grab a bite to eat and sip some cocktails when the sun dips low. You can get there by walking along the clifftops above Fisherman's Beach from the Old Town – the stroll is a pretty one and takes around 30 minutes.

The north side of the marina is its most vibrant part. Japanese-fusion sushi kitchens mingle with tapas taverns there, so you certainly won't go hungry. After dinner, how about a round of 10-pin bowling or perhaps some sangria jugs in the local surf-themed bars?

The Old Town of Albufeira is the most historical part of the resort town. It's wedged between Fisherman's Beach and the marina, meaning it's very much in the thick of things. By day, the winding cobbled lanes and whitewashed cottages are a great backdrop for souvenir shopping. By night, they come alive with music venues and glass-clinking cocktail bars.

A lot of the energy is focused around Av da Liberdade, where just about everything – from burger bars to Port wine cellars – coexist. However, venture to the side streets and you can discover charming Algarvian bistros and moody jazz clubs.

The district of Quarteira is actually closer to the nearby resort of Vilamoura, but it's a hot spot for partygoers in Albufeira looking for multistorey megaclubs that go on until the early hours. Venues like Discoteca Lick and BLISS satisfy those needs, listing closing times that match the sunrise between May and September.

Shindigs usually come with local DJs or even globally known deck spinners running the music. The dancefloors pack to bursting as midnight approaches. Some clubs offer laser light displays and smoke machines. Regular themed events add to the mix here, with carnival shows in winter and huge season-end parties in August.

Down by the seaside at Praia da Oura, an evening of relaxation is the MO. A suntrap of a beach that's enfolded by rugged cliffs right at the end of the Montechoro Strip, it's an excellent place to slowly kickstart a night out in Albufeira.

Praia da Oura’s biggest draw is the peppering of local taverns and beer bars sitting at the top of the headland. These venues often have open terraces bathed in the salty breezes of the Atlantic. As the evening draws near, you can catch some wallet-friendly happy hour deals to bag a bargain brew.