Shopping in Albufeira, judging by the reviews of tourists, it is better to start from the old part of the city. The Largo Eng Duarte Pacheco square is one of the main shopping locations. Here you can find modern boutiques with branded clothes and shoes (Bata, Aldo, Zara Boutique, Bianca, C&A).
There are several shopping streets off the square: Rua Cândido dos Reis, Rua São Gonçalo de Lagos, Av. 25 de Abril, Cais Herculano and Praça dos Pescadores (here look for a wide range of souvenirs, leather goods and Portuguese delicacies). Rua 5 de Outubro and Av. da Liberdade are home to jewelry and watch stores. If you're interested in Portuguese clothing or shoes, check out the stores on Av. Sá Carneiro (Montechoro neighborhood).
The small boutiques are open all week (except Sundays) from 9:00am to 1:00pm, then siesta until 3:00pm before opening again (until 7:00pm).
Albufeira's major shopping centers are open weekends from 10:00 to 22:00. The Centro Comercial Modelo Albufeira is located in the northern part of the city and is the place to go for branded clothes, perfumes and toys. Another popular shopping center in Albufeira is the Algarve Shopping Mall.
There's a huge selection of goods, constant sales and promotions, lots of cafes and restaurants, and a state-of-the-art movie theater. The official discount seasons start on January 7 (until February 28) and August 7 (until September 30). The mall is located outside the town, near the village of Guia, and can be reached from Albufeira by cab (8-9 EUR).
In addition, you can take a bus from the city's bus station to the Algarve Shopping Mall (express for 3.25 EUR, regular for 2.25 EUR). Buses leave from 8:35 to 20:30 (on Sundays - from 8:40 to 19:10). The best time to make a shopping tour from Albufeira to the Algarve Shopping Mall is from March 17 to October 14 - during this time there is a free daily bus (only three trips - at 9:00 from Vila Galé Cerro Alagoa Hotel, at 12:30 and 15:15 from Olhos D'Agua Riu Palace Hotel). For the closest outlet to Albufeira, however, you'll have to travel to the outskirts of Lisbon and Porto.
In place of the outlet in Albufeira, visit the Albufeira Weekly market on Rua das Escolas. Here you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables, clothes, textiles, shoes and much more at affordable prices. The market is open on the first and third Tuesday of each month, as well as on St. Peter's Day (June 29) from 9:00 to 14:00.
