Praia da Coelha – the #1 guide
Praia da Coelha is a small beach in the municipality of Albufeira, a couple of kilometres west of the town. It is surrounded by more nature than many other Albufeira beaches. Even though it is less known than some nearby urban beaches, its beauty speaks for itself. You can discover some hidden coves on this beach, as well as collect plenty of shells. Moreover, you can enjoy some beautiful views from the nearby cliffs. Let’s discover this beach.
Watch it in HD
Check out the short video below if you would like to see a preview of this beach.
The beach
Praia da Coelha is a small but beautiful beach. The beach has the shape of a small bay. Literally, Praia da Coelha translates as beach of the female rabbit. This name is a bit strange, since you won’t see any live rabbits on the beach. Still, when you enter the beach, you can see a man-made sign of a rabbit.
Praia da Coelha is surrounded by big rock formations. This also protects the beach against strong winds, so it is a relatively sheltered beach. However, keep some distance from the cliffs, as sitting right underneath them can be dangerous. Furthermore, there are some remote sections on the beach, especially on the west side. If you explore the beach, you will find small hidden coves.
On the west side of the beach there is also an interesting natural arch. This rock characterizes the beach.
The sand on the beach is especially soft and feels great to walk on. Moreover, you will find plenty of shells on the beach. If you love collecting shells, this is your beach.
Furthermore, the water here is calm and clear. Praia da Coelha is a great beach for both swimming and snorkelling. If you have any snorkelling gear, make sure to bring it to this place. After all, there is plenty of sealife to discover underwater here.
It is best to swim in the middle and eastern section of the beach. Watch out for some rocks in the water on the western end of the beach, near the natural arch.
Even though the beach is in Albufeira, it feels a bit secluded, However, Praia da Coelha can be quite crowded, especially in the summer. However, the beach is less crowded than the urban beaches in Albufeira town. The beach is mostly visited by young people and families. Praia da Coelha is popular among locals, who visit this beach often during the weekend.
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Cliff walk
There are some pathways on top of the cliffs surrounding the beach. From here you have a beautiful view over the beach and the sea. It is highly recommended to walk here and see Praia da Coelha from another perspective. Moreover, it is great to watch the sunset from the cliffs as well.
From the cliffs you can also walk to nearby beaches. A nice beach to the west is Praia do Castelo.
How to get there
The easiest way to move around in the Algarve is by car. If you don’t have one, make sure to rent a car. When driving on the A22, take exit 9. Continue on the N125 and then the N395 in the direction of Albufeira. At the big roundabout, turn right on the M526 and follow the signs towards the beach. There is a car park about 400 metres from the beach. This means you still have to walk a bit after parking. It is a nice walk however, where you will see olive trees and carob trees. Just follow the walking trail. At the end of the trail you will see a wooden stairway, which leads to the beach.
Beach restaurant
There is a restaurant right on the beach, with the rather obvious name of Restaurante Praia da Coelha. It is the only beach restaurant here. The restaurant specializes in fish and seafood, but you can also get small refreshments, such as drinks, snacks or ice cream. The food is good and prices are reasonable. Moreover, from the restaurant you have a great sea view.
Hotels
Praia da Coelha is relatively close to Praia do Castelo. Thus we recommend the same hotels as you can find in the article about Praia do Castelo.
Another option is to quickly check the availability of nearby hotels. Below you can find a map with the location of hotels near Sesmarias in Albufeira. By changing the date of your holiday, the map will show you the current prices.
Excursions
We strongly recommend to explore the nearby area, as there is plenty to see in this part of the Algarve. One of the best ways to discover the area is by going on an excursion. For example, what about seeing the coastline of the Algarve by boat and exploring the Benagil cave? Below you can find our favourite excursions in the area.
Facilities
Praia da Coelha is a Blue Flag beach. There is a restaurant on-site where you can get refreshments and there is a lifeguard on duty in summer. Basically, the beach is well-maintained and it has the most important facilities.
Facilities in Praia da Coelha:
- Restaurant: yes
- Bar/club: no
- Toilet: yes
- Shower: yes
- Water sports: no
- Sunbeds: yes
- Parking: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Blue Flag beach: yes
