Albufeira Shopping

What to buy: During the summer months you cannot do without an umbrella (and sunhat). At the beach you can rent umbrella and deck chairs (5 euro each - sept 2009), but buying an umbrella shouldn't cost you more that maybe 7 euro 50 or maybe 10 euro.

Experience a truly local market - stalls selling locally grown produce and fresh fish, local meats. Don't miss out on the best oranges you will ever taste, and also the small sweet melons, and locally produced honey.

It is a fairly long walk there but all downhill coming back and will take about 40 minutes at a fair pace!

What to buy: Oranges (get them anywhere - even from the sellers on the sides of the road) - they taste divine
Melons (get the small ones the size of a large orange - they are so sweet!)
Local bread - dense, and so tasty - just pour olive oil on it and enjoy

Olives - any kind sold by the kilo
Honey - rosemary, orange blossom, etc etc - so special and delicious
Any locally caught fish - delicious!
Wine and White port - any red very acceptable and chilled white port is delicious!

What to pay: Honey - 2.50 Euros per 500g
Oranges - 2kg for 1 euro
Melons - 1.50 euros per kg
White Port - 4.19 per bottle from wine shop in city centre Albufeira
Wine - we bought red vino "casa" tinto - never paid more than 2.50 Euros and it was delicious!

The Old Town in Albuferia is filled with little shops with local crafts and gifts, but if you are looking for a mall there is one just outside Albuferia on the N125, about a 15min drive. In the 'Retail Shopping Mall' you will find almost everything from local pottery to a fashionable shirt.

Please help me!!! Need to know the name and number of the shop that sells carlos nazareth porcelein figure (they look like wood). The shop is on the main strip of Albufeira towards the bottom end - just a small shop that sells jewellry and art on one side and clothes on the other. The name is Exotica or Artistry???

This shopping mall is quite big with over 80 shops catering for all different needs. Lots of stylish clothes to toys for the children. There is also a cinema and food village there to spend the day out. The only problem is if you a big lady like myself you will not be able to buy many clothes that will fit. Altho their sizes go up to xl it more like a small medium to us uk people. So my tip is make sure you have everything you need for a very hot country.

When we were dining in Annabelle's Restaurant, Annabelle's daughter was wearing an attractive top, and Mary asked her if she bought it locally. Yes, she did, from Oceana a boutique just off The Strip.

Mary found similar tops for sale, and actually bought one at a reduced price.

Anna spent several years in Paris (well, somewhere in France!), and is a charming lady. Do go and have a browse around.

There is not just one shop there are probely about 50-80 with a bit of everything for everyone, if the men get annoyed then send them to do the food shopping(it least you wont have to hear the moaning) the parking is fantasic, underground and in the middle of summer that is a gift! This place is well worth a visit sometimes there are offers on in the shoe shops and everwhere else but honestley here there is something for EVERYONE!

What to buy: Some of the shops in algave shopping are perhaps a little more commerical but cheaper than england but for some real good local shopping go to albufeira OLD town on market day the maket is more gifts than fruit and veg..............but its has lots of hand made items that are well worth a look, normally very creative!

What to pay: in algarve shopping you could spend as much as you can afford but the old town i would suggest perhaps 80euros

A very nice shopping centre nearby Albufeira.