Across Europe, several coastal destinations have been rated by international publications for the way they balance authenticity and modern tourism. The Algarve city of Albufeira was named by travel experts from the British newspaper The Telegraph as one of the ugliest in Europe. The article describes the former fishing village as a tourist center dominated by modern buildings, bars and cheap accommodation.
The analysis brought together the opinions of travel journalists who compared the most beautiful and most degraded bathing areas on the European continent. Between praise for places like Comporta, in Portugal, or Collioure, in France, there are severe criticisms of other coastal areas and Albufeira did not escape negative evaluation.
From fishing village to mass destination
According to the source cited above, Albufeira was once a picturesque fishing village, but rapid urbanization has made its traditional charm disappear. The city “has been taken over by bland, modern apartment blocks”, which now dominate the landscape and have altered the character of the historic center.
The publication admits that, for some visitors, the lively environment may be a reason for attraction. However, anyone looking for the more authentic side of Portugal “will be disappointed” with the transformation of the Algarve destination, where mass tourism and nightlife predominate over heritage and tranquility.
Reviews of the best-known areas
British journalists pay particular attention to Praia da Oura, described as a place “more aimed at recovering from the previous night’s excess than relaxing”. The article suggests that this space is a symbol of the type of tourism that has lost part of the local identity, contributing to the city being classified today as one of the ugliest on the continent.
Praia dos Pescadores, located at the foot of the old city, receives a more balanced appreciation. It is considered one of the best options for bathing and walking, “as long as the gaze remains directed towards the sea and not towards the interior, where modern buildings are multiplying”.
A destination that divides opinions
Although the tone of the article is critical, Albufeira’s popularity among British tourists remains high. The destination continues to attract thousands of visitors during the summer, mainly due to its accommodation offer, climate and nightlife, characteristics that, for many, are precisely what gives life to the city.
Even so, the British publication makes it clear that rapid growth and tourism concentrated in certain areas have profoundly altered the image of the city, which has lost part of its original character and has come to be seen by many as a city that, despite being vibrant, is among the ugliest and most uncharacterized in Europe.
Other European cities criticized
Albufeira appears alongside several cities on the list of the least appealing destinations in Europe, according to experts from . Monaco is described as a “concrete bubble of luxury”, where skyscrapers compete for every inch of sea view. In Italy, Ostia is criticized for its “urban landscape without greenery” and for the water “to be avoided”.
Croatia has not escaped either: Ploče is classified as an “industrial port without charm”. In Türkiye, Kemer is seen as a “characterless” resort, built from scratch for mass tourism. In Spain, La Línea de la Concepción is criticized for its proximity to the refinery and the tall buildings that hide the view over Gibraltar. Laganas, on the Greek island of Zante, is described as a destination “to be avoided by anyone over 25”, due to the intense nightlife.
The contrast with the praised destinations
In the same article, British experts also identify the most beautiful cities in Europe, highlighting Collioure, in France, Cefalù, in Sicily, and Comporta, in Portugal, for their harmony between nature, architecture and authenticity.
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