Surf spot

Albufeira

Forecast conditions and map view for Albufeira in Portugal, Algarve. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Portugal, Algarve
Coordinates: 37.0856, -8.2487

Metric
Metric	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Wave height (m)	0.4	0.4	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Wave direction	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	W	WSW	W	W	W	W	W	W	SE	W	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE
Wave period (s)	4.3	4.5	4.8	4.8	4.8	4.7	4.5	4.8	4.7	4.8	5	5.3	5.3	5.2	4.8	4.8	4.9	5	5	5	5.1	4.3	4.5	4.5	4.7	4.7	4.5	4.3	4.3	4.1	4.3	4	4	4.2	4	4	4	4.5	3.1	3.1	3.3	3.4	3.5	3.5	3.5	2.8	3.5	3.1	3.3	3.6	3.9	4	4	4	3.9	3.6
Wave energy (kJ)	5	7	14	16	18	15	13	15	15	22	31	37	36	33	27	23	25	25	26	26	21	16	12	11	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	1	1
Wind speed (km/h)	7.1	6.2	4.8	3.4	20.8	15	5.8	8.7	8	10.2	9.4	10.7	21.9	26	15.1	11.2	8.8	8.9	8	7.3	19	10.5	14.5	5.4	6.9	6.4	5.7	8	15.5	13.9	27.2	26	32.1	26.3	19	19.9	14.3	16.6	24.6	26.1	16.3	6.9	7.3	4.3	18.4	16.3	10.4	1.8	3	8.6	7.8	12.7	17.5	14.8	8.3	6.7
Wind direction	NNEOffshore	ESECross-on	NNEGlassy	ESEGlassy	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	ECross	ECross	ECross	NECross-off	ESECross	SECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	NECross-off	ENECross	NECross-off	NNEOffshore	ECross	SSECross-on	SSWOnshore	WSWCross	NWCross-off	NOffshore	NECross-off	NECross-off	NNWOffshore	WCross	WCross	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NOffshore	NOffshore	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	NWCross-off	NNWOffshore	NNWOffshore	NOffshore	NNWOffshore	NEGlassy	SOnshore	SECross-on	SECross-on	NGlassy	ESEGlassy	ECross	ENECross-off	ESECross-on	SSECross-on	SSEOnshore	WCross	NWCross-off

Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal — Surf Spot Description

Albufeira is a popular surf destination in the central Algarve, better known for its lively town and beaches than for heavy, consistent surf. It can still offer fun beach-break waves, especially when Atlantic swells hit the coast.

What to expect

Wave type: Mostly beach breaks
Best swell: Works best with west to southwest swells
Wind: East to northeast offshore winds are usually best
Wave quality: Can be playful and fun, but often inconsistent and can get crowded
Skill level: Good for beginners to intermediate surfers, depending on conditions

Conditions

During smaller swells, the waves are generally softer and easier, making it a decent place to learn.
When the swell gets larger, some beach sections can produce faster, hollower waves, but the quality varies with sandbanks.
Summer tends to have smaller surf and more stable weather; autumn and winter usually bring the best waves.

Hazards

Crowds in peak season
Rip currents on stronger days
Changing sandbanks and variable wave shape
Busy beach areas and swimmers in summer

Overall vibe

Albufeira is more of a convenient surf option than a world-class surf town. It’s best for surfers looking for a session near a lively coastal base with a mix of surf, beaches, and nightlife.