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  • Algarve Holidays
  • Albufeira
  • Alfagar Alto da Colina

Alfagar Alto da Colina

TripAdvisor Review
Portugal, Europe
Albufeira

This superb beach aparthotel is located on a small hill overlooking the majestic ocean, close to Albufeira. The complex is a mere 1.5 km away from the sandy beach, and enjoys private access by steps through the touristic village of Alfagar. Guests will find themselves in close proximity to a host of attractions and entertainment venues and is just a few minutes' driving distance away from the bustling town of Albufeira. Guests will appreciate the relaxing environment and beautiful surroundings, and are always close to the heart of the entertainment. This charming complex invites guests into tastefully-decorated surroundings which exude a sense of calmness and tranquility. The guest apartments offer a relaxing home away from home in which to completely unwind in comfort.

Facilities

  • Paddle tennis*
  • Tennis*
  • Massage*
  • Steam bath*
  • Sauna*
  • Children playground
  • Sun loungers
  • Children’s swimming area
  • Outdoor freshwater pool
  • Indoor heated pool
  • Please note some facilities may incur an additional fee

Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.

The Local Area

Tripadvisor Reviews

Trip Advisor
4.0 Very Good1,984 reviews
Excellent
47%
Very Good
33%
Average
11%
Poor
5%
Terrible
2%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
TripAdvisor Review
A good five day break

A great hotel for the money for five days, clean and friendly staff they even make an effort to remove the sunbed warriors but they are limited what they can do. The only thing Jet2 could do is not let them fly. 😁 Wristband, give access it’s all four hotels so many pools in Splash Park available. Overall a good five day break.

Review by Mike F Essex, United Kingdom
TripAdvisor Review
Very nice hotel

My Alfagar review.

We spent 10 nights half board at the Colina Hotel, and overall, I have to say it’s a really nice hotel. The whole Alfagar complex is absolutely huge, and one of the best things is that you can use the facilities across all of the complexes.

The only exception is the buffet restaurants, which was a shame as we couldn’t use Alfazema for their Asian night. We could only use the Palm. We did eat out a couple of times and we tried Giovannies on site which was OK.

Food: The food was very nice, especially breakfast, but I did feel the evening meals lacked variety. The Tavern Bar does really nice food for lunch, as does the Bouganvilia. We didn’t try the cafeteria or the other pool bars.

Pools & sunbeds: We mainly used the large pool at Colina and had no issues getting sunbeds, although anything after about 9:30am and you’re left with the scraps! People were putting towels down well before 9am. There were tickets left on reserved beds saying towels will be removed if nobody is using the sunbed for half an hour, but unfortunately they don’t really enforce the rule. Some sunbeds were left reserved for most of the day.

Rooms: The rooms are very basic and definitely need some updating. There were no USB sockets, the air conditioning was quite noisy, and the decor is, shall we say, questionable 😂. On the plus side, the balcony was absolutely huge and ours overlooked the main pool. In fact, it was almost too big!

Location: The hotel is quite a way from everything, so you’ll be doing plenty of walking or using a taxi. One direction takes you to Olhos de Água, which is lovely, and the other takes you towards Oura/new town, which is also worth a visit — although probably better before 10pm!

Entertainment: This was probably the biggest disappointment for us. There was very little entertainment aimed at adults or older kids. There were some singers in the Tavern and Bouganvilia, but to be honest, the quality wasn’t great. There were no proper evening shows or anything that really kept us entertained.

For better evening entertainment, I’d recommend heading into Olhos de Água or the old town, where there’s much more going on.

For trips id recommend the high ropes down the main road to the right ,and the safari jeep through the algarve countryside.

Would we go again? Yes, I would go back. The hotel, pools and overall complex are really good, and we enjoyed our stay. However, my kids as being teens found the entertainment options too limited for them. It really is aimed at the under 8s.

Overall, a lovely complex with plenty of facilities just poor location but the rooms, evening food variety and entertainment could definitely do with some improvement.

Review by Dcfcsanke Derby, United Kingdom
TripAdvisor Review
We be back

Brilliant hotel if you have kids with you .. they have all the facilities & the staff are lovely . The only down was they were short with toilet paper ..

Review by Kyle M Mullingar, Ireland
TripAdvisor Review
Great for family with teens!

We stayed at Alfagar Alto da Colina , but we also used the facilities at their nearby sister hotel, the Alfagar Aparthotel , which was within walking distance. Their activities timetable conveniently integrates both properties. Our group consisted of four adults and two teenagers (aged 17 and 18).

In short, this is a fantastic resort, and I would highly recommend it!

Facilities & Activities Alfagar Alto da Colina & Indoor Pool

Sauna: Must be booked at least one hour in advance at reception so staff can turn it on. They provide keys for the sauna, Turkish bath, and a locker. The space felt private as no one else was there during my visit, and it included a small seating area to relax, a shower, and extra amenities for €10.

Indoor Pool: A lovely, tempered indoor swimming pool that was almost always empty—perfect for swimming laps. It felt exclusive and peaceful.

Aparthotel Spa & Massage The spa uses an external service located at the sister Aparthotel property. You can easily book an appointment via email or WhatsApp. I booked a head, neck, and shoulder massage alongside a hot stone massage with Carol, who was incredible! Having had many massages over the years, I can always tell when a therapist truly cares and puts in effort. She knew the exact pressure points to target, which made a tremendous difference to my relaxation.

Note: They only accept cash (no cards), and you should book at least a day in advance.

Aparthotel Yoga Also hosted at the Aparthotel grounds, this was a massive highlight for me. Having practiced yoga for 7 years, I often find resort classes stick to basic stretching. Here, I was thoroughly impressed by Nuno Machado, a proper instructor who led daily morning sessions at 10:30 AM. He offered genuine balance poses and guided stretches, carefully supervising posture and tailoring guidance for all ages and skill levels. His classes made a noticeable difference to overall well-being, elevating the resort experience to the next level. Thank you very much, Nuno!

Outdoor Pool & Entertainment Alfagar Alto da Colina

Sunbed Policy: Staff actively walk around in the morning to prevent guests from reserving sunbeds with towels when not in use—a fair policy that kept things balanced.

Pool Entertainment at Alfagar Alto da Colina : The reps were very enthusiastic and deserve credit for their energy. However, the aqua fitness/aqua gym routine fell flat. As someone who does aqua fitness regularly, the underwater movements were unnatural, hard to follow, and could potentially risk injury for guests trying to mirror land-based moves. Simple routines adapted specifically for water (and more engaging music) would be a great upgrade.

Teens & Sports: On the plus side, my son really enjoyed the water basketball.

Noise Level: Music plays throughout the afternoon. If your room faces the pool and you like taking naps between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, it can get a bit loud, though manageable.

Beach & Surroundings Access: From the Aparthotel, head toward the football pitch and follow the clear signposts down the steps to the beach. While I found the steps manageable, friends in our group found an alternative route that avoids the stairs altogether.

Beach Beds: You can hire a front-row beach bed set for €15 (9:00 AM – 2:00 PM) or €30 for the whole day (extra beds are €8). The back rows are cheaper, and many people bought parasols from the local beach kiosk instead.

The sea was a bit colder than expected, but lovely once you get in. It is an absolutely stunning sandy beach!

Watersports & Dining: Paddleboarding and kayaking are available directly on the beach. Right next to the beach kiosk steps, there are a couple of dining options. I especially loved Café —it offered delicious, reasonably priced food alongside breathtaking views. (Note: Public restrooms are located up near the café, not on the sand).

Resort Services & Accommodation Minimarket: Surprisingly well-stocked with fresh pastries, fruit, vegetables, bread, eggs, souvenirs, and daily essentials. There is also an ATM on-site (be aware there is a €5 transaction fee, so bringing cash is ideal).

Reception: Excellent customer service. Staff were courteous, multilingual, and quick to respond to email inquiries prior to and during the stay.

The Room:

Kitchen Details: Features induction stovetops (remember: cookware must be placed on the burner before turning it on, or it won't activate!). The room included pots, pans, glasses, coffee cups, plates, a toaster, a fridge, a mini grill, cutlery, and a microwave.

Comfort & Layout: Equipped with two strong air conditioning units (one in the living area and one in the master bedroom). The master bedroom had two 1.5 single beds pushed together; while they weren't the most comfortable at first, we got used to them. Extra duvets and pillows were stored in the closet. A wooden sliding door conveniently separates the master bedroom from the living room area.

View & Extras: Our sea view was stunning. A laundry room is accessible in the hall, and reception delivered an iron and ironing board swiftly upon request.

Activities for Teenagers & Nightlife Football Matches: A massive selling point for our family! The resort organizes two daily matches—one for younger kids and one for older teens and adults. My son (18) and his friend (17) joined every single day. The pitch can be accessed anytime by asking reception (floodlights incur an extra charge at night). Finding resorts with targeted options for teenagers rather than just small children's clubs is rare, making this a huge advantage.

Lounge Area: In the evenings, the boys loved hanging out in the Aparthotel lounge playing pool and table tennis with other guests.

Exploring nearby: We took a short Uber ride into the Old Town for dinner, browsing souvenir shops and visiting local bars.

Review by Miriam S Bury St. Edmunds, United Kingdom
TripAdvisor Review
Super!

Melio & Léo were very good animators for the aquadance. It was very funny.

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