Europe’s ‘ugliest’ seaside town that’s ‘an absolute dump’ and ‘full of drunk Brits’ | World | News
Much is written about stunning European gems yet to be explored.
From lesser-known spots such as the Albanian Riviera to the ultimate European classics, including Greece’s Santorini and Italy’s Florence – there are a host of magical regions that will be sure to captivate anyone’s heart who ventures there.
However, not every destination in Europe is deemed worth going to by experts, and one has been recently branded the continent’s “ugliest”, with a travel writer claiming that anyone who ventures there will be “disappointed”.
Albufeira is a city and a municipality located in the Algarve region of southern Portugal and is a major tourist destination thanks to its ideal coastal location.
In the first five months of 2024 alone, Albufeira demonstrated to be favoured by tourists, as it recorded the “most significant increase in overnight stays from residents (+14.3%), among the municipalities with the greatest representation, while overnight stays from non-residents recorded a more modest growth (+1.8%)”, according to data by the country’s National Statistics Institute.
Despite its appeal to many Brits, the region was given a rather damning verdict by The Telegraph’s destination expert, Mary Lussiana, who was less-than-impressed with what Albufeira had to offer, calling it “ugly”.
Albufeira’s “endless number of bars, pulsating nightlife and cheap accommodation in ugly, modern apartment blocks” were some of the reasons she cited for such a damning verdict.
She added that those who venture to Albufeira for the quintessential Portuguese experience “will be disappointed” by the transformation the once little fishing village has experienced over the years.
The writer’s view mirrors that of some social media users. On a Reddit forum, Albufeira was described as being an “urban hell” due to its “ugliness” with other social media platforms calling the region a “town of drunk Brit meltdown”.
Moreover, one review on TripAdvisor read: “What was once a picturesque fishing village, has now become an absolute dump due to mass tourism of the worst kind.”
It added: “It’s dirty, and full of the worst kind of cheap bars and fast food and mainly English tourists. It makes Blackpool look classy. Avoid at all costs.”
But these damning views of Albufeira aren’t shared by all those who venture there. Another reviewer on TripAdvisor defended the area, saying: “Stayed in Albufeira and drove all around the coast and honestly it is the most beautiful area, easy access with lots of parking available.”
Another chimed in with the positivity, adding: “Brilliant location with gorgeous scenery and friendly locals”.
“Absolutely beautiful coastline. The red cliffs are stunning. Only criticism is that there are no toilets at the beach,” added another.
Another expert previously praised a beach within the town, calling it in an article for Metro the “perfect place” to recover from work, and spend time “blissing out and doing nothing”.
