Couple travel

Albufeira in Winter is lovely. Enough bars and restaurants so not to be bored, but very much quieter than Summer. There is quite a flux of UK travellers, mostly retired on long stay holidays, giving a community feel and adding to overall safety. Quite a number are widowed and so plenty of opportunity to make new friends. Prices are average and a 3 course tourist menu can still be found for €10/15. Taxis are around €5 anywhere in resort. Generally , a safe resort, but avoid deserted streets at night for a slight risk of mugging. 40 mins from airport with a good bus network. Some beautiful places to visit. Winter is usually mild with sunshine. February is quiet and many places close. It's also Fiesta month!

Solo travel

I spent a few days in Albufeira, which was a strange mix of retirees and simply thousands of super drunk, super rude, middle-aged, non-Portuguese tourists. I was upset by the behavior of tourists there, and the locals told me that for this reason, they don't recommend Albufeira to anyone. I loved practically every other place I went to in the Algarve, but I absolutely hated Albufeira.

You need to be extra carefull whit some places when you go out at night and taking drinks at bars and uber home can be really dangerous, make sure you are never alone. The city during the day its realy calm in the winter, in the summer be a little extra carefull