Praia dos Pescadores is the most central beach in Albufeira, sitting directly below the old town cliff and accessible by a tunnel cut through the rock from the main square. It is compact, sheltered, and lively — the combination of golden sand, colourful fishing boats, and the terracotta-topped old town rising behind it produces the quintessential Albufeira postcard. The beach fills up in summer but rarely feels as crushed as some of the larger resort beaches to the east.
The boats are not purely ornamental: Albufeira's fishing fleet still operates from here, and on weekday mornings you can watch the catch being landed and sold directly on the beach. Early morning and evening are the best times to photograph the boats reflected in still water. Lifeguards are on duty from June through September, and the water is clear enough for snorkelling along the rocky eastern end.